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Rita Hestand Author
Category:
Romance
Publisher: Self Published
ISBN-10: 148195928X
Type: Fiction
Pages: 152
Copyright: Jan 9, 2013
ISBN-13: 9781481959285
Price: $2.99 (eBook)
Julie's father died and she must go home. Going home isn't easy for Julie McKay since she hadn't seen her father in a long time and she's had a daughter he never got to see. But in her father's will she is shocked to find out that the father that adopted her, is her real father, and that if she agrees to stay on the ranch for a year she'll be a very rich woman. Can she up end her life and go home?
Book One of the McKay's. Julie McKay hasn't been home for years, and there is a very good reason for it. However, it's too late to tell her father, he has died and left her with an astounding admission in his will. He not only adopted her years ago, but she is his real daughter, the first of four.
Nearly ten years ago, Julie left the McKay ranch, confused and surprisingly pregnant. Not wishing a shotgun wedding on the father of the child, she ran away. Now she must return, and not only that, she has to tell her daughter about her father. Will she lose Kellie in the process?
Excerpt
"Cade?" Julie spoke hesitantly into the phone.
There was a quiet moment on the other end before anyone answered. "Uh…yeah Julie, this is Cade. How are you doin'?"
The rich timber of his voice sent a shiver through Julie. She'd forgotten how his voice affected her.
"I'm fine…just a little surprised to hear from you? I mean… it's been a while…and I didn't know you had my number." Julie sighed and leaned against the door frame as she pondered what this call could be about. Now, hearing Cade's voice over the phone brought back that strange impasse she never wanted to broach.
Cade Weston, the man Julie marked in her mind as Mr. Wrong, was the only man that ever made love to Julie McKay. Not that she was in love with him, but there was something deep down that niggled within her, just hearing his voice. It wasn't so much that he'd made love to her, but the way he'd made love sent a warm fuzzy feeling flooding through her she couldn't explain even now. Over ten years now and she still hadn't forgotten how he always seemed bigger than life to her. How many times had she told herself he was the wrong man? And how many times had the feeling she had made some grave mistake swept through her?
What should have been the clue was her own submission. She knew before they made love that she didn't want to stop and that this was not Wade Weston. Something echoed in her mind. It had been the one time in her life she had relaxed and let it happen. And despite all her own inner scoldings, she didn't regret that one time. In fact, she'd spent a lot of time relishing the night they made love. Cade had been everything she wanted Wade to be: tender, loving, sweet.
Cade's voice held a certain amount of strain that she had never heard from him. Understandably so, and yet not like him at all. "I didn't think you'd recognize my voice."
"Well, I never told you…" She hesitated, wondering if she should admit anything. "But you have a very distinctive voice. Just don't let it go to your head." She laughed.
He was quiet again.
That would never happen; Cade hadn't a vain streak in his body.
"Uh…look, Julie, I guess you didn't expect me to call. And that's perfectly understandable, after all this time, but this isn't a pleasurable call. And I hate to be the one to tell you this…but it looks like I’m elected."
"Tell me?" she queried. "Tell me what? You sound so mysterious."
"Yeah…it's your father, Julie…he's had a heart attack," Cade said with such exaggerated slowness it took a minute to sink into Julie's brain exactly what Cade was telling her.
"A heart attack…oh my God, well…he's okay though, right?" Julie affirmed. "He's in the hospital, being monitored, right? What hospital, Cade?"
Another long pause had Julie gripping the phone, and holding a pen and paper to write down the number. "Cade…he's okay, right?"
The silence was unbearable and tears clouded her vision as an ominous feeling swamped her from his silence.
"Honey…" His velvet voice melted all over her as she swallowed hard. "I'd give anything in the world not to tell you this. I'm sorry I'm the one, but no, he didn't make it." Cade let out a held breath.
Taking the phone from her ear, Julie stood staring at the phone for a long moment. His words slowly resounded and made sense, and yet they didn't. She gripped the phone with a choke hold, held it away from her and never even realized that tears were beginning to blind her.
"Julie…." Cade called into the phone softly.
When she still didn't answer, he made some kind of noise. "Julie, are you alright?"
"Uh….no, of course I'm not alright. I can't believe it. I just spoke with him a few weeks ago and he was fine. Now you're telling me he's dead?" she barked, her tears beginning to choke her. "Please tell me this is some cruel joke. Cade…please…."
"I'm sorry honey, I didn't know how to break it to you; I'm probably not the best one for this job, but…I had to call, to make sure you knew…" Cade whispered the compassion in his voice, sending an alarming thrill through her. It wasn't the time nor the place, but it happened. Cade always was kinder than his brother. Julie never fully appreciated it until now. No one could have broken the news to her like this but Cade. "I guess I didn't do a very good job. Wade should have been the one to call you but he gave me the honor."
His voice cajoled for some reason, like a calm settling over a stormy sea. Cade had that effect; so powerful, in fact, it felt as though he were putting his arm around her.
Julie took a breath and sighed heavily, her hands beginning to shake. Something in her head said she wished Cade was here in person, to lay her head on his big shoulders, to smother her tears in his strong cheek.
"Julie, look, I'm sorry to intrude into your life, but you need to get out here, as soon as you can. Wendy is the only one here, and she's pretty choked up too. Wade's in no mood, and the lawyer is comin' out in a day or two to read the will. You'll need to help make some decisions about the funeral, I guess. You'll get a letter, probably tomorrow from him, informing you to come home."
"Of course….yes, you are right. I'll be there as soon as possible. Thank you so much for letting me know. And…Cade, it was very kind of you," Julie murmured, still in a state of shock. "I'm sorry you were elected, but I can't think of anyone who could deliver this kind of news better."
"Honey, I didn't want to deliver this kind of news. I just thought someone should." Cade's voice went flat. "Wade told me he hadn't notified you, so I took it upon myself to call when he gave me the list. Your name wasn't on the list, but you're the first one I thought of. So I took it on myself to find your number in your dad's things. I hope I haven't stepped out of line, I just wanted you to know."
"I-I appreciate it, Cade; I just can't believe it. It was very thoughtful of you. Tell Wendy I'll be there as soon as I can arrange it here. And Cade…."
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for letting me know…I mean, personally. I may not deserve it, but I really do appreciate it." Julie tried to get a hold of herself.
"Sure thing. Guess I'll see you when you get here then. If you need any help or anything…let me know."
"Thanks."
"Talk to you soon…" Cade said, his words strung out like a slow violin.
Julie hung up the phone and glanced about her. Her nine-year-old daughter, Kellie, stood in the living room watching her.
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