Lone Star Lovin’
Contents ( 11)
Escape again into one more Orchard Valley love story! Enjoy this classic romance from #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber.
When Sherry Waterman leaves Orchard Valley, Oregon, for Pepper, Texas, she’s definitely not in the mood to be “courted.” But if anyone could change her mind, it’s the hardworking, good-looking Cody Bailman. But Cody’s got neither the time nor the patience for pursuing a woman. Fortunately, his twelve year old daughter, Heather, is determined to teach him about romance. Because she’s got her eye on Sherry as the woman who’s “just perfect for dad.”
Sherry’s discovering that Texan men truly are a breed apart. She’s definitely attracted to Cody—in fact, she’s darn close to falling in love with him—but she’d like a little romance first!
Originally published in 1993
Lone Star Lovin’
Debbie Macomber
CONTENTS
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
CHAPTER ONE
“You’re a long way from Orchard Valley,” Sherry Waterman muttered to herself as she stepped out of her PT Cruiser and onto the main street of Pepper, Texas. Heat shimmered up from the black asphalt.
Drawing a deep breath, she glanced around with an appraising eye at this town, which was to be her new home. Pepper resembled any number of small mid-Texas towns she’d driven through in the past twenty-four hours.
The sun was pounding down with a vengeance, and Sherry wiped her brow with her forearm, looking for someplace to buy a cold drink. She was a couple of weeks early; she’d actually planned it like this, hoping to get a feel for Pepper and the surrounding ranch community before she took over her assignment. In an hour or so she’d drive on to Houston, where she’d visit her friend Norah Cassidy for a couple of weeks, then double back to Pepper. Although it was considerably out of her way, she was curious about this town—and the job she’d accepted as a physician assistant, sight unseen, through a medical-employment agency.
Her car didn’t have air-conditioning, and she’d rolled down both windows in an effort to create a cooling cross-draft. It had worked well enough, but along with the breeze had come a fine layer of dust, and a throat as dry as the sun-baked Texas street.
Clutching her purse and a folded state map, she headed for the Yellow Rose café directly opposite. A red neon sign in the window promised home cooking.
After glancing both ways, she jogged across the street and hurried into the, thankfully, air-conditioned café. The counter was crowded with an array of cowboy types, so she seated herself by the window and reached for the menu tucked behind the napkin canister.
A waitress wearing a pink gingham uniform with a matching ribbon in her hair strolled casually toward Sherry’s table. “You’re new around here, aren’t you?” she asked.