It is with heavy heart that I write to tell you that Father passed away. He went peacefully with a smile and mother’s name upon his lips.
And so damned much pride. Your letter had arrived announcing the birth of your son. He proclaimed that Damon Montgomery would be the next earl of Ravenleigh.
I have a feeling in my heart of hearts that he was correct in his assumption, and I am glad of it. I have a fondness for daughters, and Elizabeth has just blessed me with one who looks very much like a Montgomery as I hold her while I pen this letter.
I believe Clarisse smiles down on us from heaven and shares in our happiness. I also think she would heartily approve of your decision to put your funds toward medical research rather than flowers.
With love,
Christopher
Earl of Ravenleigh
Kit bowed his head, his throat tightening and his chest aching. Even when death was expected, grief was overpowering and came without warning. He was grateful that he had reconciled any differences he had with his father, more grateful that in the end his father had respected his decision.
Kit heard the soft footfalls and glanced up as Ashton knelt beside him.
“Your father’s gone,” she said quietly, resting a hand on his arm.
He nodded as his eyes filled with tears. “I had not expected to miss him. He was an ocean away, for God’s sake. When I saw him off in Galveston, I knew I would never see him again, but I did not weep.”
She placed her palm on his chest, right over his heart. “Grief knows nothing of distances measured in miles. Love dictates its depths.”
He pulled her onto his lap and nestled her head within the crook of his shoulder. “My wife has become a philosopher. Whatever shall I do with you?”
“Grow old.”
He gazed into her penetrating blue eyes that dared him to deny her words. She was stronger than she’d ever been with a glow to her face that he hoped would never fade. In the farthest recesses of his heart, he knew he would watch her hair turn silver and wrinkles form across her brow.
He wiped the tears from his eyes. “Christopher says Father proclaimed Damon to be the next Earl of Ravenleigh.”
Ashton smiled. “It seems appropriate that our son would be, since his father should have been.”
“We shall have to see that he receives a proper education and is well mannered. None of this spitting tobacco and cursing that these Texans are so fond of! We shall have to endeavor to bring culture to this state.”
She laughed lightly. “First you bring law to the western part of the state, and now you want to bring culture to Texas. Whatever am I to do with you?”
“Grow old,” he murmured, before he gathered her into his arms, stood, and carried her to the bedroom where he planned for them to grow old together.
Author’s Note
Several years ago as I was browsing through a bookstore, a book caught my attention. I long ago stopped questioning why certain books stood out on the shelf and simply got into the habit of purchasing them when they did, certain there would come a time when I was glad that I had.
Doc Susie, written by Virginia Cornell, is the biography of a physician diagnosed with consumption who traveled west to die at the age of thirty-seven. Incredibly weak and occasionally coughing up blood, she had to be carried to the train. When she arrived at her destination and word spread that she was a physician, she found herself called upon to walk to the homes of people in poor health to offer what medical assistance she could. No one knows if it was the air, an improved diet, her brisk walks, or simply a determination not to die, but Susan Anderson, M.D., soon discovered that her health was improving, and in time, no signs of consumption remained. She lived another fifty-three years.
Her story served as the inspiration for my character, Ashton. Although Ashton is not a physician, she does eventually recover from her illness. As the author, I should know if the air, the improved diet, or the brisk daily walks improved her health. As a romantic, however, I have to believe it was the very special love of Christian Montgomery.
I hope you enjoyed Kit and Ashton’s story and find it possible to accept that sometimes miracles do happen.
About the Author
LORRAINE HEATH always dreamed of being a writer. After graduating from the University of Texas, she wrote training manuals, press releases, and articles, but something was always missing. In 1990, she read a romance novel and became not only hooked on the genre, but quickly realized what her own writing lacked: rebels, scoundrels, and rogues. She’s been writing about them ever since, for both adult and young adult readers. Her work has been recognized with numerous industry awards, including RWA’s RITA®, a HOLT medallion, a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, and several Texas Gold Awards.
Lorraine loves hearing from readers. You can write her at [email protected] or visit her website at www.lorraineheath.com.
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Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
NEVER MARRY A COWBOY. Copyright © 2001 by Jan Nowasky. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
EPub © Edition JULY 2006 ISBN: 9780061760945
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