ANNIE'S CHRISTMAS
By: Pat Pritchard

ISBN: 0-8217-7764-5
Pub Date : Oct-04
Publisher: Kensington Books
Imprint : Zebra
Format : Paperback

The White River is treacherous even in good weather, but steamboat captain Isaac Chase hopes to make one more round trip before winter sets in. He has no choice - he must earn enough money to repair the vessel by spring. Then, during a sudden storm that traps him on the river, an explosion on board knocks him unconscious - and the first face he sees when he comes to is Annie Dunbar's.

Annie knows taking in the injured captain is the only decent thing to do. Someone has to care for him, and there is a spare room at the boardinghouse she owns. But she'd have slammed the door and locked it had she realized that he was the one man who could bring her carefully constructed world tumbling down - and heal her wounded heart. Yet with that healing comes the yearning to love again...

Now Christmas is coming, the season of gifts and miracles - and the perfect time for wishes to come true...

CHAPTER ONE

Her voice was back. The angel, the one whose fleeting touches drew him back to the edge of light. This time, perhaps he'd find some way to let her know that he heard her words even though he didn't understand them.

The struggle weakened him. He quit trying when another voice answered her, a deeper one, a man. This time the hands that touched his face and pulled down the covers were his, bigger and not as gentle. Something cold touched his chest briefly.

Pain screamed up his arm when the man moved it. What had happened? As the two voices whispered and conspired above him, he tried to take stock of his own condition. His arm was injured; that much was clear. And his leg felt heavy and stiff. It took some effort, but he managed to move his foot. Or at least he thought he did.

He'd heard horror stories about amputees who nearly went crazy from the sensation that their missing limb was still there. Is that what was wrong, why his wouldn't move? He tried to move the other leg. That one was easier. Until he was able to open his eyes, the best he could guess was that he'd managed to hurt one leg and one arm.

But how?

The soft voice would tell him, if only he could let her know he had so many questions that needed answering. Unless he was mistaken, the man had left the room, but she was still there. He could feel her warmth hovering close by. A cool cloth brushed across his forehead, easing the pain that burned behind his eyes.

He concentrated the little strength he could find on opening his eyes. Until he could do that much, he was a prisoner of the darkness and the pain. One try would be all he would get at the moment. Already he could feel his control slipping away again.

When she took his hand and caressed his arm with the cool cloth, he squeezed his hand around hers. He wanted to whimper when she let go and jumped back from the bed. Had he scared her? He hadn't meant to, but he had no words to tell her so.

"Captain Chase?"

He puzzled over the name and finally decided that it was his, another piece of information to tuck away and cherish. He was Captain Chase. That answered who he was, but where was he? And who was the angel with such gentle hands?

"You're safe, Captain Chase. All of your men are as well."

He could have listened to her talk for hours. Her hand grasped his again.

"Squeeze my hand again, Captain, if you can. Just so I know that you meant to the first time."

His heart raced with the effort, but he succeeded in closing his fingers around hers. She immediately squeezed his hand, letting him know without words that she knew he'd answered her.

"I'll be right back, Isaac. Stay with me."

Isaac? She'd called him Captain Chase before, but the names went together. Captain Isaac Chase. It sounded familiar, right somehow, especially when she said it. As if he'd heard her say his name a thousand times before.

Who was she? Before he could give the matter any serious thought, he heard more voices-men this time.

"Captain? Are you awake? It's me-Barton. Joe is here, too. Can you talk to us?"

A big rough hand took his and squeezed. "Captain, can you hear me?"

But it was too much for him. Wishing he could do as they asked, regretfully, he let sleep claim him. This time his dreams were restful. After all, she said he was safe.

"Pritchard gifts us with a lovely holiday story that's not only about second chances, it's also about the importance of understanding and redemption. The lessons of Annie's story will reverberate after the holidays are over, and the heartwarming glow of this sweet tale will keep you warm all winter." - Romantic Times

top