“You’re so much more than normal. I’m not going to argue this with you. Quit pitying your legs. You have so much to be proud of. If you never walk again, who cares? I couldn’t care less one way or the other. As long as you’re happy, I’m happy.” Beside her on the bench, Johnny pressed his lips together. “When we get to the having-children bridge, we’ll cross it. I’m not opposed to adoption. But I’m not worried about any of that. I just want you.”
He pointed over his shoulder like Lisa stood there. “And as for Lisa, if it makes you happy to try to get her into your life? I can handle it. Maybe I can even help you figure out how to get through to her. I do know her more than you do, after all. I’m sure that if we get you and Rosie together, you can convince her to at least listen.”
“As my boyfriend, you’re going to have to go to Michael and Rosie’s wedding.” She gnawed on her lip. “Do you think we should invite Lisa?”
His heart melded back together in one fell binding of the tissue and spirit. “You’re okay with all this?” Johnny almost didn’t speak loud for fear her answer would be scared away.
“I am definitely okay with all of this!” She threw her arms around his neck and their lips met, tentatively at first and then firmly with intent.
Finally in each other’s arms, Johnny welcomed the slight weight of her against his chest. She was his. He could breathe again. He’d thought he’d lost her – his friend and the woman he loved. He wasn’t ready to tell her how he felt. He’d have to break the news to her gently over time. Sara Beth might not know it yet, but they were destined to be together. He could wait until she was ready to acknowledge her feelings. Until then, he would bide his time and fall further in love with her every day. Oh, boy, he was a sap.
They pulled back as if in a well-choreographed dance. Without hesitation, their lips met again, sealing the whispered promises between them.
Johnny would let Sara Beth know later about a man named Jason Mendes who was asking about her and Lisa the other day at the offices. Jason had identified himself as FBI. For the moment, Johnny just wanted to hold his girl and partner and think of how far they’d both come since finding each other.
Falling had taken more than gravity to push them closer.
The end of Riding for Redemption. Continue reading for the first chapter of Lisa’s story, Resisting Redemption, where you can order here! Sign up for my newsletter and get more information about all things survival and my work.
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for following the story of Sara Beth and her trials at discovering she’s so much more than a pair of legs.
One thing I would hope for you is that you realize no matter what your limitations are, your potential is so much greater than even you can imagine. Don’t give up. Pretend you have a Sugar to conquer and then go out and conquer it!
The Caracus girls are warming my heart the more I get to know them. I hope you are enjoying them as well. Lisa gets into trouble and her heart is in danger of never loving – but even her cynicism can’t hold back affection from the unlikeliest of sources.
If you’re curious about whom the MacAllisters are and haven’t had a chance to read the Lonely Lace Series, check out the first book which is free.
This was a fun story to tell and what started out as just a two book series quickly turned into five. The five sisters all play an integral part in each other’s recovery toward redemption. I do hope you’ll stay tuned.
Thank you again for spending time with me and the Clearwater County residents.
I hope to hear from you and am enjoying each and every email I receive.
Thank you for your support!
Stay Alive!
Bonnie Paulson
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About the Author
Bonnie R. Paulson is all about survival. Do you have what it takes to turn the page?
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RESISTING REDEMPTION
Lisa
Chapter 1
The wedding invitation glared at Lisa from the clipboard sitting on the seat beside her. Or maybe Lisa glared at it. Either way, there was no happiness about that invite which irritated Lisa more.
She loved her job and heading out to Mr. Noland’s house to work with his son Jesse had become the highlight of her week.
Tapping her thumb ring on the vinyl steering wheel cover, Lisa ran her tongue over her teeth. She’d worked too hard to get where she was to let some... some... sisters get in her way. Sisters for crying out loud. She didn’t have sisters. She had girls born from the same sperm donor as her. That was it! Even Mary... well, that was a different time, a different place.
But these new ones – ugh! They’d tricked her. Somehow. Not that it mattered. Lisa wasn’t going to play anyone’s games. Hell, she made her own rules – all the way down to changing her last name so no one would recognize her on paper.
Even Charlie.
Especially Charlie.
He couldn’t find her. He couldn’t.
She couldn’t handle the repercussions on her heart.
One of the bordering ranches on the west side of Clearwater County, Noland’s land had a carefully groomed appeal to someone like Lisa. She liked things neat and clean and controlled. Anything out of line and she had to rein in her abject terror.
Even physical therapy was a form of controlled chaos. She was molding, melding, helping someone regain what they’d lost or helping them find something they didn’t know they were missing.
She turned onto the sleekly maintained drive bordered by river rock and oak trees standing sentient. Soon the season would turn to fall and Lisa would give anything to see the colors along that driveway as they changed.
Disembarking the truck, Lisa swung her bag to the side and up her arm to rest on her shoulder. She absorbed the peacefulness as a breeze picked up strands of her dark brown hair and caressed it back to her shoulders.
She looked good. Nothing was wrong with how she took care of herself. Lisa had everything together. She looked like a million bucks. And on a good day, she felt like it.
But on a day like today, when she had her half-sister’s wedding invitation mocking her from her work pile, she couldn’t shake the sensation that something was chasing her. Whatever it was, it didn’t care how put together she was or how well she fit her size eight jeans.
“Lisa!” Jesse’s exuberance dimmed the green pasture and brilliant orange poppies growing alongside the fence. He waved from the path leading around the barn to the back patio. “I’m back here. Come eat with me.” Turning, he braced himself on the foam-covered handles of his walker and pushed himself forward, his feet turning and rolling as he struggled to keep them facing forward.
She smiled, following his awkward gait. Easily catching him, she leaned toward his shoulder and arched her eyebrow. “I see you’re leaning a bit more on the right than the left. We need to work on that.”
“By we, you mean me. Right?” His go-get-‘em attitude was contagious.
She fell into step beside him, a bit slower than she was used to walking, but not an uncomfortable pace either. Half-shrugging, she glanced around the spacious patio set up to accommodate Jesse’s walker and no-longer-required wheelchair. “No, I meant we. I’m here with you and I’ll work beside you. You know that.” She nodded toward the table where four plates had been set up for lunch. “Where’s your dad?”
A small butterfly flickered inside her stomach at the ch
ance she’d get to see the aloof Mr. Noland. His coloring reminded her of the local Salish tribe but then she’d see his eyes – the startling green of emeralds – and she’d be searching for some ethnicity that would accommodate such a mix.
She understood genetic mixing. Wasn’t she herself a mix of outlaw and librarian?
Jesse’s coloring was a softer contrast, more blond with brown eyes versus the rarity of the green.
Claiming the seat beside Jesse’s, Lisa set her bag on the ground beside her and tucked her clipboard on the table next to her plate. “Oh, I’m dying of thirst. This lemonade looks amazing.” She lifted the glass to her lips and sipped the tart drink. If the Noland’s cook was on today, Lisa would be eating a solid meal that didn’t resemble macaroni and cheese or ramen noodles crunched together with lettuce and mayonnaise.
“What’s that?” Jesse pointed an inquisitive finger at the copper and blue colored card on her board. “It’s pretty.”
Gazing at the card and the jumbles of words claiming Michael Rourke and Rosie Scott had decided to tie the knot. In just a number of days. Lisa cleared her throat. “It’s just a wedding invitation.”
His eyes lit up. “Whose? I haven’t been to a wedding before. My dad says I shouldn’t be so interested in them, but...” Jesse glanced down as he situated himself in his seat and dragged it forward. He peeked around behind him then lowered his voice. “I want to be able to walk down the aisle and then turn and wait for my bride. They do that on TV, you know. And they don’t have legs like mine.” He scrunched his lips to the side like he tried not crying about it.
Taken aback, Lisa leaned over her plate setting, reaching for his shoulder. “Look, you’re ten, Jesse. You shouldn’t be worried about walking at your own wedding yet. Remember what I said, practicing for your goals is just as important as reaching them, right?”
He nodded, lifting his gaze. “Do you really think I can walk normally? Without my walker or other help?”
Did she? A kid born with spina bifida shouldn’t have as much progress as he already did – at least not that fast – but Jesse defied the odds daily. Lisa opted for complete honesty. He expected that from her, heck, most people did. “You know what? I’m going to tell it to you straight. Anything is possible. It’s ninety percent attitude in getting there, right? Without the right attitude, you’re more likely to...?” She let the question dangle, while she waited.
“Fail.” He nodded. “Okay, I won’t give up then. So, are you going to the wedding? Whose wedding is it?”
She pursed her lips and drew her eyebrows together. “You know, I don’t know how to describe her. She doesn’t fit a niche yet.”
“What does that mean? How do you know her?” He rubbed his nose, all his attention focused on Lisa.
She straightened in her seat and cracked her knuckles. “It means I’m not sure where she fits in my life yet, if she fits, and I met her on another physical therapy appointment but I found out we’re related.”
“Wow, how?” His eyes widened.
“She’s my half-sister. Well, she claims to be, but I don’t know.” She didn’t want to go into further detail, not because she was against getting to know the Scott sisters – much – but more like she didn’t understand herself what was going on. How did she fit them into her life when she didn’t even know if she wanted them there?
Suddenly dreamy-eyed, Jesse looked out over the field filled with dark brown and black bison. “I’d give anything for a brother or sister – even a half one.”
Lisa patted his shoulder. She hadn’t considered that. She’d always been the only child. To suddenly have sisters didn’t seem realistic when she’d wished for some all the time growing up. “Well, maybe you’ll get one someday.”
“For that to happen, Ms. Trinkett, I would have to be married.” Ryan Noland strode across the smooth cement of the patio floor. His well-stacked jeans over dark black boots worked well with his black and blue flannel shirt stretched taut across his shoulders. His dark black hair had been styled back from his high forehead and his lazy smile as he reached his son had Lisa’s tummy turning cartwheels.
Shifting on her seat, Lisa maintained her professional composure. “Of course, Mr. Noland. We were just discussing my newly discovered half-sisters and how Jesse would like siblings of his own.” For some reason, she never could get completely comfortable with the man. Like he held her at a formal distance on purpose, never allowing her to get too close or even close enough for first names.
“Lisa’s been invited to her sister’s wedding.” Jesse turned back to Lisa. “Are you going? What are you going to give as a present? Do you think they’ll have cake?”
“Probably not, Jesse. And if they’re getting married, they have to have cake. Why else would anyone get married?” Lisa laughed, ruffling Jesse’s hair as he giggled with her.
“Is this the Rourke wedding this weekend? I got an invite, too. Sounds like it will be a fun affair.” Mr. Noland settled across from Lisa and pointed at the empty place setting. “Who’s that for, Jesse? Someone else coming I don’t know about?” He winked and unfurled his cloth napkin to place in his lap. He avoided meeting Lisa’s eyes, focusing completely on his son.
His indifference stung, but it wasn’t the first time and Lisa didn’t need the stress that would accompany a possible flirtation with a patient’s father.
Jesse shrugged. “Grandpa’s supposed to be here soon, too.”
Mr. Noland visibly tensed and Lisa raised her eyebrows, sipping her drink again to cover her shock. Word around the county was Mr. Noland’s father – an elder in the Salish tribe – didn’t speak to his son because of his choice to live off the reservation.
Hopefully, by the time he arrived, she’d be finished with Jesse and on her way out of there. She needed family drama in her life about as much as those bison needed to get hit with an ugly stick.
Too late for wishes as a different truck rolled into place beside hers. The engine cut and Mr. Noland’s father stepped from the cab.
Mr. Noland rose from his seat. He set his napkin on the table, his hands clenched into fists.
As he walked toward his father, Lisa leaned toward Jesse. “Did you do this?”
“Maybe?” He chewed his lower lip and watched anxiously from over her shoulder.
Lisa closed her eyes. “Oh, Jesse, I hope this doesn’t blow up in our faces.” She returned to her seat and calmly pretended like nothing was happening. Like when she was little and her mom let that man abuse her in front of her daughter. He’d never loved them, but when he wanted in, nothing would convince Lisa’s mom to keep him out.
Even if Lisa did have a fling with anyone, she’d never be as attached as she was to Charlie – even if her stomach did flip-flop around him.
She was smarter than her mother. Smarter than all of them.
End of the Excerpt!
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Did you love Riding for Redemption? Then you should read Resisting Redemption by Bonnie R. Paulson!
Allergic to love?
A woman resisting family…
A man resisting love…
Can this cowboy prove her past won't change his heart?
When Lisa is wrapped up in the search for her outlaw father's other daughters, she has to decide between forgiving who he was or losing who she wants to be.
Ryan promised himself he'd never love again. But when his son's therapist breaks through his walls, he has to convince her she's so much more than her past.
Can Lisa allow herself to love Ryan? Or will she believe she's not the best thing for him?
If you love great stories and redemption, this story is for you!
***Books by Bonnie R. Paulson***
Clearwater County Romances
Spurs and Lace
Secrets and Lace
Sorrows and Lace
Romancing Redemption
Riding for Redemption
Resisting Redemption
Regretting Redemption
Rewarding Redemption
Broken Trails
Forbidden Trails
Unbridled Trails
Hidden Trails
Forgotten Trails
Endless Trails
Forsaken Trails
Lonesome Trails
Lost Trails
Untamed Trails
Contemporary Romance
CLICKANDWED.COM SERIES
With This Click, I Thee Wed (book 1)
IDo.com (book 2)
DIY Vows (book 3)
eHoneymoon (book 4)
Keyword: I Do (book 5)
Let US-B Wed (book 6)
The Right Click (book 7)
MADE FOR LOVE SERIES
Made for Me (book 1)
Made for You (book 2)
Made for Love (book 3)
DOWNSHIFT SERIES
Downshift (book 1)
Full Throttle (book 2)
Block Pass (book 3)
LOVE NOTES SERIES
Love Notes
Love Chords
Read more at Bonnie R. Paulson’s site.
Also by Bonnie R. Paulson
Clearwater County, Redemption series
Romancing Redemption
Riding for Redemption
Resisting Redemption
Regretting Redemption
Redemption Complete Series, Books 1 - 5 (Coming Soon)
Rewarding Redemption (Coming Soon)
Clearwater County, The Montana Trails series
Montana Trails Series Box Set
Downshift Series
Downshift
Watch for more at Bonnie R. Paulson’s site.
About the Author
Real people, real loss, real love. This USA Today Bestselling author, Bonnie focuses on the emotional thrill of the romance, the discovery of self and the dynamic forces at play to both pull and push love growth. With 6 children and her own eternal romance at home, Bonnie lives her own dream every day. She's spoiled with blessings and wants to share the joy of ever-after possibilities with others. Whether it's a happy-ever-after or a happy-for-now, the emotions will leave you story drunk for days, if not years. Feel good romances with sweet twists. Or is it Sweet romances with bold twists? You decide. You'll be able to say where you were when you closed the book. Surviving all things real and coming out better on the other side. Some of her favorite authors are Robyn Carr, Pamela Kelley, and Christine Kingsley!
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