Roxanne Rustand - Almost A Family

Dressed in Levi’s and loafers, with a stethoscope hanging over his open-collared polo shirt, he looked the perfect yuppie doctor. “I just want to talk to you for a few minutes.”

“Sure.” She gestured toward the two chairs facing her desk. “Anytime.”

He settled into one and gave her a weary smile. “This is…a personal situation.”

Oh, God. Erin’s mouth went dry.

“And apparently it’s no good.” He studied her for a long moment. “I ran into your kids again on Saturday, Erin. I’d like to know what’s going on.”

Lily. Had he noticed anything? Had he caught that dimple in her chin—or the pale gray shade of her eyes? Taking a deep, steadying breath, Erin recalled the promises she’d once made to her cousin Stephanie, and gave a vague wave of her hand. “I—I’m not sure what you mean.”

“They were way up in the wood.”

“Oh.” Closing her eyes, she leaned back, pinching the bridge of her nose.

“I’ve seen more than just tracks—I saw a large black wolf on Saturday morning, just north of my house.”

“I’ll talk to them right away.”

“While you’re at it, I get the feeling that they’ve got the wrong impression of me. I’m not the monster who lives up on the hill.”

Dear Reader,

Blackberry Hill is a small town nestled in a heavily forested lake area of northern Wisconsin. It’s a town where most people have known each other all their lives, but there are a few newcomers, as well. Like Erin Lang, the new administrator at Blackberry Hill Memorial Hospital.

Six months ago Erin Lang’s life seemed perfect—until her husband abruptly walked out, leaving her with the three troubled children they’d recently adopted. She hopes to create a warm and secure home for her young family in Blackberry Hill. She doesn’t expect to run into her late cousin’s husband, Dr. Connor Reynolds, or to discover that all is not what it seems at the cheerful little hospital. Patients are unexpectedly dying…Connor could be involved…and if she doesn’t uncover the truth in time, someone in her own family will be next.

I hope you enjoy the story of Erin and Connor, and come back to town in 2006 for the next two books of my BLACKBERRY HILL MEMORIAL trilogy.

I also invite you to join me for Back in Texas in October 2005. It’s the first of five books in the ranch series, HOME TO LOVELESS COUNTY. Each book, written by a different Superromance author, is set in a dying town in the beautiful Hill Country of central Texas and involves the unique people who move there as part of a modern-day homesteading program. They’re all in search of new beginnings…and some of them find far more than they expected!

I love hearing from readers. There are contests, articles, photos, a free downloadable cookbook and previews of upcoming books at www.roxannerustand.com and www.booksbyrustand.com. Or you can write me at P.O. Box 2550, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52406-2550. Send a business-size SASE and I’ll send you bookmarks and other goodies!

Wishing you peace, prosperity and love,

Roxanne Rustand

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Many thanks to the wonderful people who so graciously

provided their expertise: Adrian P. Wydeven, mammalian

ecologist, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, for

his information on the wolves of northern Wisconsin; and

Michelle Klosterman, RN, CEN (Certified in Emergency

Nursing), whose experience in the operation of small-town

hospitals was invaluable. Any errors in this book are mine

alone. As always, best wishes and thanks to Diane, Jacquie,

Nancy, Pamela and Muriel, who are continuing sources of

encouragement and support.

To author Lyn Cote, with many thanks for our friendship,

and for the wonderful “writers’ getaway” weekends spent

at your lovely lake home in northern Wisconsin. You are a

treasure. Also, to my mother, Arline, whose gracious spirit,

energy and humor have always been an inspiration.

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

ERIN LANG HAD EXPECTED challenges when she moved to Blackberry Hill.

She hadn’t expected to run into Connor Reynolds the moment she stepped out of her minivan.

Tall, broad-shouldered and self-assured, he’d been strikingly handsome in college, but now his dark hair was longer, the lean planes and angles of his face far stronger and more interesting. Impassive, he sauntered down the sidewalk past her bumper, clearly lost in thought.

And then he caught sight of her.

He snagged his sunglasses off. The crinkles at the corners of his silver-gray eyes deepened as his startled gaze swept from her to the kids piling out of the minivan.

That glimmer of a smile faded to a grim line as he gave her a polite nod and continued on without another word.

He was, she noticed with a shake of her head, just as cool and distant as ever—not that it was any surprise.

She and her cousin had attended the same college as freshmen. Stephanie had skillfully pursued this guy, apparently choosing flash over substance, but from all accounts, their troubled marriage had been a mistake from day one.

If the family rumors were true, she’d paid for that mistake with her life.

Connor had apparently ignored his wife and immersed himself in his career, while Stephanie spiraled into deepening loneliness and depression. Two years ago, she’d lost her life driving too fast on a curving mountain road. Maybe it had been ruled an accident, but Erin still had her doubts.

Drew jostled her elbow. “Who was that?” he demanded.

Erin smiled down at her ten-year-old adopted son and tousled his curly black hair. “Someone from the past.”

Righteous indignation flashed in Drew’s deep brown eyes. “He knows you, and he didn’t even say nothin’!”

“Yes, well…” She chose her words carefully. “We were never close friends.”

Since her college days, she’d seen Connor just once—at Stephanie’s funeral. It was one of the most difficult services she’d ever attended. All of Stephanie’s friends and relatives had been grieving the loss of such a young, vibrant woman, but from her parents there’d also been a palpable undercurrent of hostility toward Connor.

In return, he’d been stony-faced and silent, holding in whatever emotions he might have felt. When Erin offered him her condolences at the grave site, the flat, cold expression in his eyes had chilled her blood.

Drew’s seven-year-old brother, Tyler, tentatively edged closer to her, thumbed up his thick glasses and peered down the sidewalk, a worried frown wrinkling his forehead.

Erin rested a reassuring hand on his thin shoulders, wishing for the thousandth time that she could erase everything the boys and Lily had gone through in their young lives before they’d come to live with her. She’d adopted the boys ten months ago and Lily five months later, and they were all still struggling with the adjustment.

“Maybe that man doesn’t remember my name. It’s no big deal.” Forcing a cheery smile, she shifted her gaze to the minivan and beckoned to Lily. “Come on, let’s get the key from the Realtor so we can settle into our new place, okay? The mover’s truck should be meeting us out there in an hour.”