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  TRUE LOVE IN WHISPERING PINES

  As Jack was throwing beans into the pot, it occurred to him that his girls would be staying at the farm alone now. His girls. That was what he’d called them last night, and he remembered how their faces lit up. He realized he wasn’t just thinking of Jane and Claire as his girls. He’d included Addie in that thought. He heard Addie sniffle and he glanced her way. He saw her wiping away tears again. He set the coffeepot over the flame and walked to her.

  “It’s going to be okay,” he said, pulling her into his arms.

  “I know. I truly am thankful for Davey’s sake, but the girls are going to be heartbroken.”

  “He won’t be that far away, and the girls will see him at school and at church. They can have him over for visits.” Jack was trying his best to stay positive, and he hoped he sounded more convincing to her ears than he sounded to his own.

  Addie looked up at him. “Thank you.” She knew he was trying to make her feel better about the situation. “I haven’t thanked you for everything you’ve done for me today.”

  Jack smiled at her. “You could thank me the way Claire thanks me.” He was trying to make her smile by teasing her. At least he told himself he was only teasing.

  Addie didn’t think about what she was about to do. She placed her hand around his neck and pulled his head down and brushed his lips with a soft kiss. “Thank you.”

  Her bold move wiped the smile off his face. He stared into her eyes, and she didn’t look away. “That’s a fine thank-you.”

  Addie didn’t know what possessed her to do such a thing. It wasn’t like her to make such a daring move. She was a reserved schoolteacher, not some shameless woman who threw caution to the wind. She didn’t have an excuse. The plain truth was, she was attracted to him and had been from the moment she stepped off that stagecoach . . .

  Books by Scarlett Dunn

  The McBride Brothers Trilogy

  PROMISES KEPT

  FINDING PROMISE

  LAST PROMISE

  The Langtry Sisters Trilogy

  WHISPERING PINES

  RETURN TO WHISPERING PINES

  CHRISTMAS AT DOVE CREEK

  Published by Kensington Publishing Corporation

  RETURN TO WHISPERING PINES

  SCARLETT DUNN

  ZEBRA BOOKS

  KENSINGTON PUBLISHING CORP.

  http://www.kensingtonbooks.com

  All copyrighted material within is Attributor Protected.

  Table of Contents

  TRUE LOVE IN WHISPERING PINES

  Also by

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  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

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  ZEBRA BOOKS are published by

  Kensington Publishing Corp.

  119 West 40th Street

  New York, NY 10018

  Copyright © 2018 by Barbara Scarlett Dunn

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

  To the extent that the image or images on the cover of this book depict a person or persons, such person or persons are merely models, and are not intended to portray any character or characters featured in the book.

  If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the Publisher and neither the Author nor the Publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”

  Zebra and the Z logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off. BOUQUET Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.

  ISBN: 978-1-4201-4450-5

  eISBN-13: 978-1-4201-4451-2

  eISBN-10: 1-4201-4451-0

  To those in the midst of

  their darkest hour—keep believing.

  Chapter One

  For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.

  Psalms 91:11 (NIV)

  1876

  It was only the second day of September, but the air was crisp and falling leaves were floating on a gentle breeze, a sure indication summer would soon be saying good-bye. Adelaide Langtry was thankful the journey home to Whispering Pines, Colorado, had been much more pleasant than the trek east five years prior. She, along with her two sisters, had left Whispering Pines on a hot July day, and the entire trip had been one laden with dust, unbearable heat, and cranky, smelly passengers wedged elbow to elbow inside the coach. She couldn’t imagine a more miserable experience, and she’d nearly jumped for joy when she’d learned there would be no additional passengers on the last leg of this trip. Actually, it was a godsend; the three children she was taking home were able to stretch out and sleep, as they were at this moment.

  After the children had worn her out with their many questions, she’d suggested they settle on the coach’s bench seats while she read the story of David and Goliath. It was their favorite Bible story, and she’d read it to them so many times she knew it by heart. The children were quiet, listening intently, waiting for their favorite part of the story, David slaying the tormenting giant. Adelaide didn’t make it that far this time; the rhythmic motion of the stagecoach lulled the children to sleep in minutes.

  Adelaide’s eyes flickered over their innocent faces as they slept. She smiled, thinking of their many questions about their new home and cowboys. Davey, who was twelve years old, going on twenty, wanted to be a cowboy, and to his utter dismay he had yet to see what he thought was an honest-to-goodness cowboy. Adelaide had all but promised him that a cowboy or two would be traveling with them, but it was not to be, and Davey was sorely disappointed.

  In truth, Adelaide was as excited as the children to reach Whispering Pines. She couldn’t wait to see her grandmother and her sister, Rose. She’d longed to return home for over a year, but she had promised to work for a period of time at the orphanage in Boston, and she had to see it through. It was always her plan to return home to teach, but when she started working with the children at the orphanage, she’d found her true purpose. Once she’d shared her desire to open an orphanage in Whispering Pines, the superintendent of the Boston orphanage lent his full support and plans quickly came together. Everything had fallen into place so perfectly, Adelaide’s inner voice told her the orphanage was her destiny. She knew that as surely as she knew her name.

  It wasn’t without some regret that she was leaving some close friends behind, but Whispering Pines called to her soul. Her thoughts drifted to Prescott. Prescott Adler III and his parents were benefactors of the orphanage in Boston. They had donated the stately Colonial Revival–style home in Boston where the orphanage was located. She’d met Prescott the day she’d in
terviewed for a teaching position with the superintendent, and not long after their initial meeting, Prescott invited her to dine. Since that night, Prescott had been her escort to every social function he deemed worthy of his time and effort. Over the last few months he’d often hinted that one day he might make an offer of marriage, but it never materialized. She wondered if he missed her now that she was gone.

  No doubt, Prescott’s mother was overjoyed that Adelaide had left Boston. His mother never failed to remind her how fortunate she was to have caught her son’s eye. Mrs. Adler had a way of looking down her patrician nose when she discussed Adelaide’s inferior background, as though she’d had a choice in the matter of the family or circumstances into which she’d been born. The Adlers were one of Boston’s wealthier families; old money, as Mrs. Adler would quietly discern when introducing her to Boston’s elite. Frankly, Adelaide found it difficult to appreciate the difference between old money and new money. As Granny always said, Money didn’t determine a person’s character.

  Pushing aside her thoughts of Prescott, and what might have been, Adelaide decided it was the perfect time to check her appearance while the children were sleeping. She opened her reticule to retrieve the elegant tortoiseshell compact that had been a Christmas gift from Prescott last year, and peeked at her reflection. She fiddled with her hair until she was satisfied her unruly curls were under control, then turned her attention on her pale face. As she pinched her cheeks to add a little color, she wondered what her sister Rose thought when she looked in a mirror. What would it be like to see the image of an uncommonly beautiful woman instead of an average face? She would never know; she had long ago accepted she would never have a face that would launch a thousand ships. Checking the mirror one last time, she muttered, “Not bad for an old maid.”

  She snapped the compact closed and glanced out over the passing landscape. No matter her accomplishments during the last five years, she worried her marital status would be the first thing everyone would mention when she arrived home. She’d told herself that twenty-six wasn’t such an advanced age, yet she was well aware most women her age were married with children. Even her younger sister had recently wed the most handsome man in Whispering Pines, so Adelaide thought folks were bound to pity her all the more. It was generally considered unseemly for younger sisters to marry before the eldest married. Perhaps she wouldn’t be subjected to as much salacious gossip, since her eldest sister, Emma, had never married.

  It had occurred to her that once she told Prescott she was leaving, he might ask for her hand. But she hadn’t made her decision to leave Boston to force his proposal. Even if he had asked her to marry, it wouldn’t have made a difference in her decision to go home—at least that’s what she told herself when he didn’t profess his undying affection. She was fond of Prescott, but she’d always dreamed of marrying a man who took her breath away. Like her sister’s husband, Morgan LeMasters. Not only was Morgan considered the most handsome man in the territory, he was also the most eligible, and there wasn’t a woman in Whispering Pines who wouldn’t have jumped at the chance to marry him. It came as no surprise Morgan had been smitten by Rose, and Addie couldn’t wait to hear how he’d wooed her. Rose had had her choice of suitors in Boston, but she’d always kept them at arm’s length, not encouraging their attentions. Adelaide sighed. If she were as comely as Rose, she wouldn’t worry about being an old maid. Everyone would think she was just waiting for the right man. Sometimes the truth was more difficult to face, and more painful.

  She told herself not to waste time worrying about what people might think. She was happy with her choices. Nothing would be as rewarding as opening an orphanage and providing children a home until they were adopted. Like the three children traveling with her now; they were starved for love and attention. Adelaide wanted to fulfill their emotional needs and provide them with some stability in their lives. Faith, hope, love. Isn’t that what Granny taught were the most important things in life? What could be more important than loving children? She might die having never experienced the love of a man, but that didn’t mean her life would have been meaningless.

  Prescott often reminded her she shouldn’t become so attached to the children since they would leave the orphanage one day. He’d said he couldn’t imagine living on the premises of an orphanage as if the children were his own. Prescott was financially generous, giving the orphanage more support than she could imagine, but that was where his commitment ended. After spending a year with these three children in particular, she almost dreaded the day they would be adopted. If Prescott had asked her to marry and agreed to adopt the children, she might have been tempted to stay in Boston.

  She gave herself a mental shake. One couldn’t live her life with what-ifs, one had to go forward. She glanced out the window once more and realized they were close to town. “Children, wake up. We are almost there.”

  Davey’s eyes snapped open, and he slid across the bench to stick his head out the opening. “Really?”

  Adelaide shook her head at his question. Davey reminded her of a doubting Thomas; he had to see everything with his own eyes to believe. “Yes, really.” She leaned over and gently shook the girls. “Girls, time to get ready.”

  “Ready for what?” Jane asked as she slowly moved to a sitting position.

  “Time to straighten your dresses. We are almost there.” Adelaide watched as Jane’s eyes moved to her younger sister, Claire. Jane was the middle child, and at ten years old, she’d taken on the responsibility of looking after her baby sister.

  Jane stood and ran her hands over her blue dress, smoothing out the wrinkles before she squeezed beside her brother to look out the window.

  Claire was only four years old, but she understood they were going to a new place where they might find people who wanted to adopt them. She climbed in Adelaide’s lap and focused her large, sky-blue eyes on Addie. “Are we going to find my papa now?”

  Adelaide ran her fingers through Claire’s blond curls and kissed her cheek. The question was asked with such yearning that Adelaide knew it was one Claire had long considered. “We are going to our new home. Right now, that is what is important. You will meet my grandmother, my sister, and her new husband. They will be part of your family too.”

  Claire scooted off her lap and tugged at her pink dress with her chubby little dimpled fingers. “Does it look good?”

  Adelaide smiled at the beautiful child. “Perfect.” She glanced at Davey and Jane as they craned their necks out the window. “Do you see anything?”

  “No, ma’am, not yet,” Jane said. “Miss Addie, do you think your grandmother will like us?”

  Hearing that question brought a lump to Adelaide’s throat. Sometimes the children would ask such questions so unexpectedly that it would catch her unaware. It never failed to sadden her that they thought no one would love them, or want them. “I know Granny will love you, just as my sister Rose and her husband, Morgan, will love you.”

  “Are they as nice as you, Miss Addie?” Davey asked.

  “I think they are, but you will see for yourself.”

  “Will we really learn to ride a horse?”

  “You most certainly will. To live out here, riding is a necessity.” Addie had wanted to teach them to ride in Boston, but the superintendent at the orphanage wouldn’t hear of it.

  “I think I see something,” Jane said. “There aren’t very many buildings. Are you sure this is the right place?”

  Adelaide felt the coach slowing, and she leaned to look out over Jane’s head. “It’s a much smaller town than Boston.”

  “I want to see,” Claire said, worming her way to the window.

  The coach pulled to a halt in front of the hotel. Davey made a move to open the door, but Addie cautioned, “Wait for the driver.”

  The stagecoach driver, George, opened the door to see the two older children ready to jump to the ground. “I bet you children are happy to be here.”

  “Yes, sir,” Davey said, leaping fro
m the stagecoach. He looked around, and his eyes landed on two very large men and two women walking toward the stagecoach.

  Jane jumped to the ground next, and Adelaide was holding on to Claire’s hand to help her out, but Claire pulled away and vaulted out the door.

  “Claire!” Addie exclaimed in horror.

  Sheriff Jack Roper had been talking with Granny, Rose, and Morgan when the stagecoach arrived, so he walked with them to greet Rose’s sister. He was saying hello to George when he saw the little girl out of the corner of his eye. She was holding her arms out as though she expected someone would be waiting to catch her when she jumped. Reacting quickly, Jack took one step closer to the coach and scooped the child up before she hit the ground. His heart was in his throat when he looked down at the curly blond bundle in his hands. Her eyes were fixated on his face, and she didn’t seem the least bit rattled by the incident. He couldn’t help but smile at her trusting, impish face. He’d never seen such an adorable child. “Well, hello.”

  “Hello,” Claire said, her blue eyes boring into his with more intensity than any outlaw Jack had ever faced.

  “Claire! Don’t you ever . . .” Addie stopped. Claire was safe and secure in the arms of a tall man who had his back to her. Seeing Claire was not injured, Addie’s heart rate settled.

  “Addie!” Rose exclaimed when Addie appeared at the coach’s door.

  Jack turned, positioned Claire on his hip, and extended his hand to assist Addie to the ground. She didn’t look a thing like Rose. Addie had auburn hair and blue eyes, and she was taller than her younger sister, not to mention she had a much fuller figure. While she might not be considered a heart-stopping beauty like Rose, she had a sweet, innocent look about her, and the bluest eyes Jack had ever seen.