Sherry found that all rather endearing. She liked his terminology, too. Smitten, besotted. Here she was in her late twenties and no man had ever felt that way about her—nor she about any man. This was one of the reasons she’d decided to move out of Orchard Valley. If she stayed, she had the sinking feeling the rest of her life would have gone on just as it had been. She’d been content, but never excited. Busy, but bored. Liked, but not loved.

She’d lived her entire life in Orchard Valley, a small town where neighbors were friends and the sense of community was strong. It was one of the reasons Sherry had accepted the position in Pepper—another small town.

Norah had made the transition from Orchard Valley to Houston without difficulty, but Sherry wasn’t sure she’d have done nearly as well. She didn’t have a big-city mentality. But Norah’s calls and e-mails about the Lone Star state had intrigued her, and if she was going to make a change, she couldn’t see doing it by half measures. So she’d answered the agency’s ad with a long letter and a detailed résumé. They phoned almost immediately, and she was hired so fast, without even a personal interview, her head spun. She did learn from Dr. Colby Winston, Norah’s brother-in-law, that her references had been checked and this eased her mind.

They’d been driving for about twenty minutes when Cody braked suddenly to turn off the main road and onto a rugged dirt-and-gravel one. Sherry pitched forward, and if not for the restraint of the seat belt, would have slammed against the dash.

“You all right?”

“Sure,” she said, a bit breathless. “How much farther?”

“Ten miles or so.”

Sherry groaned inwardly and forced a smile. Even if they’d been driving at normal speed, the road would have been a challenge. Her body jerked one way and another, and she had to grip the seat with both hands.

When at last Cody pulled into the ranch yard, the road smoothed out. He eased to a stop in front of a two-story white house, which to Sherry looked like a desert oasis, a welcoming refuge from the heat and barrenness. The windows were decorated with bright blue shutters, and brilliant red geraniums bloomed in the boxes out front. The wraparound porch was freshly painted. Sherry watched as the door swung open and a tall, rangy cowman barreled out and down the steps.

“What took you so long?” he hollered. “Ellie’s in pain.”

Sherry was still fiddling with her seat belt when Cody opened the door for her. His hands fit snugly around her waist as he helped her down from the cab.

“Sherry, meet Luke,” Cody said.

“Where’s Doc?” Luke demanded.

“Fishing,” Sherry explained, holding out her hand. “I’m Sherry Waterman and I—”

Luke’s hand barely touched hers as his gaze moved accusingly to Cody, interrupting her introduction. “You brought some stranger out here for Ellie? Cody, this is my wife! You can’t bring just anyone to—”