Lori Wick Short Stories, Vol. 4 , livre ebook

Harvest House Publishers, Inc. - Lori Wick

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Bestselling author Lori Wicks novels have warmed the hearts of millions of fans! Now for the first time ever, Loris short stories are released to her ebook readers in this new Lori Wick Short Stories collection, with a personal note from Lori after each story.Volume 4, The Ranchers Lady, showcases Loris western romance flair. Shasta McGregor leaves Australia for a temporary wrangler position in California, giving her heart time to heal after being jilted by her fiance. Kyle Harrington, the ranchs crusty owner, at first mistakes Shastas natural, graceful beauty for lack of skill. Although in time they soften toward one another, it takes a tragedy for them to wonder--could God have brought together this rancher and this lady?BONUS! The Prologue and Chapter One fromEvery Little Thing About You, the first book in Lori Wicks Yellow Rose Trilogy, is included.

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Publié par	Harvest House Publishers, Inc.
Date de parution	25 juillet 2017
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9780736968430
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0092€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS
EUGENE, OREGON
Verses marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. ( www.Lockman.org )
Cover by Harvest House Publishers
Cover photo fotohunter / Shutterstock
LORI WICK SHORT STORIES, VOL. 4
Selected from Beyond the Picket Fence
Copyright 1998 Lori Wick
Published by Harvest House Publishers
Eugene, Oregon 97402
www.harvesthousepublishers.com
ISBN 978-0-7369-6843-0 (eBook)
All rights reserved. No part of this electronic publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means-electronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any other-without the prior written permission of the publisher. The authorized purchaser has been granted a nontransferable, nonexclusive, and noncommercial right to access and view this electronic publication, and purchaser agrees to do so only in accordance with the terms of use under which it was purchased or transmitted. Participation in or encouragement of piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of author s and publisher s rights is strictly prohibited.
Contents
A Note to Readers
The Rancher s Lady
free sample: Every Little Thing About You
free sample: Westward Hearts
More eBooks in the Lori Wick Short Stories Collection
Other Books by Lori Wick
About the Author
About the Publisher
A Note to Readers
Dear Reader,
Lori Wick s novels of faith and romance have touched generations of readers, pointing us all to the great, redemptive power of God s love. We re now very excited to present to you Lori Wick s short stories in ebook form for the first time ever!
The Lori Wick Short Stories collection is designed especially for ebook lovers. Each volume contains one or two Lori Wick short stories (previously available only in the print book Beyond the Picket Fence ) along with bonus content: an excerpt from one of Lori s beloved novels and notes from Lori with behind-the-scenes insight into her writing.
Here at Harvest House we have been honored to partner with Lori in sharing God s love through the power of story. It is a privilege for us to share this collection with you, and we know you ll enjoy these happy endings!
Blessings from our house to yours,
Harvest House Publishers
The Rancher s Lady
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6

Shasta McGregor, dressed in well-worn jeans, boots, and a light cotton shirt, stepped down from the cab of the truck and followed her boss, Morgan Clark, into the largest saddle shop in Brisbane, Australia.
I think you need a change, Morgan told her, continuing the conversation that had begun in the truck.
I changed just before we left the ranch, Shasta told him dryly, ignoring his real meaning.
I want you to leave Burbarra.
Shasta s wry humor fled, and she stopped in an aisle filled with horse blankets and various tack, forcing Morgan to stop with her. His gray head was turned in her direction, and for a moment Shasta couldn t say anything. Leave Burbarra? Could he be serious? Morgan owned Burbarra, a huge sheep ranch outside of Dalby and her home for the last 11 years.
You re firing me?
No, he said gently, wishing his wife, Peg, had accompanied them. I m suggesting some time away. You re thin and pale, and I think it stems from a fear that you re going to run into Frank and DeeDee every Sunday at church or each time we come into town. I saw the way you tensed when that green Ford truck went by, and it wasn t even Frank s. If you left here, you wouldn t have that anxiety.
Leave Burbarra?
Not just Burbarra, he said quietly, his eyes watching her carefully. Australia.
Again Shasta stared at him before saying very slowly, And just where, Morgan, do you suggest I go?
California, her boss replied without a moment s hesitation.
The United States ! Shasta exclaimed in horror, staring at Morgan as if he d taken leave of his senses.
Morgan s mouth tugged into a smile. Come now, Shasta, it s not Outer Mongolia.
It might as well be, Shasta said with a shake of her blonde head, and for a time they dropped that particular topic of conversation.
Morgan s supplies were being loaded into the rear of the truck when Shasta asked, Why California?
Because I have a mate there. He runs several cattle ranches, one of which doubles as a vacation ranch during the summer months. I know he would value a rider with your experience and way with people.
I m not interested, Shasta told him flatly, and Morgan let it go.
They made several more stops: Morgan went to the barber, and Shasta worked at filling a list Peg had sent with her. After a late lunch, they were back on the road to Burbarra. Morgan had not referred to California since they left the saddle shop, but knowing they would be in the truck for hours, he no longer hesitated.
I think you should consider it.
Shasta didn t feign ignorance. Oh, Morgan, she spoke softly. I can t imagine leaving here. This year has been painful enough without adding a separation to my load.
Morgan had no immediate answer to this, so they both fell silent, their minds reflecting back to last December and this February.
Just before Christmas, Frank Iverson, a wonderful Christian man Shasta had been seeing for more than a year, asked her to be his wife. Believing for many months that this was the man God had willed for her, Shasta had accepted with a joyful heart.
However, in February, not even two months later, a woman Frank had not seen in ten years moved back into the area. Shasta had not been worried; after all, she and Frank loved each other and were scheduled to be married on July 29. But Shasta had been wrong. Frank had come to her at the end of February and said that seeing DeeDee Wharton again had changed everything. He said that it would be a lie for him to pretend that nothing was wrong. He could not marry Shasta when his feelings had changed so much.
Shasta had not begged him to reconsider or lashed out in anger. She just quietly returned the ring. A month later, at the end of March, Frank and DeeDee were married in a very private ceremony. It was now the end of April, and Shasta still thought about Frank all day, every day. There was no bitterness in her heart, but Morgan was right, she was hurting in a way that felt akin to mourning and thought she would continue to do so for many months.
Let me give him a call, Shasta.
Who? This time she didn t really know.
Kyle Harrington, the man who owns and runs the Harrington Cattle Company. His vacation ranch is in Fort Ross, right off the Pacific coast. Peg and I were there years ago. It s a beautiful spot, and I think a job there for the summer might act as a type of balm for the hurt you re feeling.
Shasta opened her mouth to protest yet again, but Morgan forestalled her with a gentle hand on her arm.
Just think about it, Shasta, and do some praying. Peg and I are not trying to push you away. In fact, Peg cried last night just at the thought of your leaving. I m suggesting this for you. Will you at least give it some thought?
Yes, Shasta agreed quietly. She was a reasonable, levelheaded woman, and besides that, she would do just about anything for Morgan or Peg Clark.
The remainder of the ride home was uneventful, but that suited Shasta very well. She had a great amount of thinking to do, and quiet was just what she needed.

One month later a sober Peg stood next to Shasta at the Brisbane airport. Morgan had gone off to find some cups of tea. Peg had so much to say, but nothing would come.
Finally, You will come back, won t you, Shasta?
You know I will, she said simply.
I ll come after you if you don t. Peg tried to keep her voice light but couldn t quite manage it.
Why wouldn t I, Peg? Shasta shifted in her seat to look up at the older woman.
Oh, Shasta, Peg nearly groaned. You re a lovely girl who s lived in the outback for years. I despaired that you would even recognize an eligible male if you saw one. Then when one did come into your life, you fell headfirst into love, but he didn t know a good thing when he had it and broke your heart.
Shasta wasn t hurt by Peg s words. She thought she understood, but when she spoke, her voice was more than a little dubious concerning Peg s theory.
Let me get this straight. You re sure that some American bloke is going to think I m a walking dream and propose on the spot, and I ll never come back to Australia because I ll have stars in my eyes and forget where I m from, right?
Peg sighed. Her eyes searched the face of this young woman who was like a daughter to her. In so doing, she felt something clench around her heart. Shasta was lovely, but she d never known it and never needed or tried to do anything to enhance it. Her dark blonde hair was thick and fell in a fat braid down her back. Wispy bangs sat gently against her brow. Technically her chin was too stubborn, but even that was redeemed by the largest pair of brown eyes Peg had ever seen and high cheekbones that were always a rosy pink.
Just promise you ll return, Shasta, she managed at last. At least for a visit. Say you ll come back.
Seeing how serious she really was, Shasta nodded and the women hugged. Morgan appeared with mugs of tea just minutes later, but no one could drink a drop. All too soon her flight was called, and the Clarks hugged their precious Shasta one last time. Feeling much younger than her 32 years, Shasta forced herself to walk away and not look back. She had prayed long and hard about this and felt a true peace, but a tiny corner of her heart couldn t help but wonder if she might be making the biggest mistake of her life.

Shasta had never been so disoriented in her whole life as she was when the huge Qantas airplane finally touched dow