Westin Family Ties. Alice Sharpe

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       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      This book is dedicated to my mother, Mary Rose LeVelle.

       I will miss you forever.

      Many thanks to Kellie Waggener who shared not only her

       expertise, but also her passion and excitement for the animals and

       lifestyle that define family ranching.

      ABOUT THE AUTHOR

      Alice Sharpe met her husband-to-be on a cold, foggy beach in Northern California. One year later they were married. Their union has survived the rearing of two children, a handful of earthquakes registering over 6.5, numerous cats and a few special dogs, the latest of which is a yellow Lab named Annie Rose. Alice and her husband now live in a small rural town in Oregon, where she devotes the majority of her time to pursuing her second love, writing.

      Alice loves to hear from readers. You can write her at P.O. Box 755, Brownsville, OR 97327. An SASE for reply is appreciated.

      CAST OF CHARACTERS

       Cody Westin —The oldest of the Westin brothers, he thinks he knows why Cassie left him but he’s in for a surprise. Now he must not only plumb the very depths of his heart to understand himself, but also foil the relentless killer who is after her—and their future.

       Cassie Westin —She’s been living in limbo with a broken heart and an explosive secret. Can she can rebuild her marriage—or will her recent past exact an excruciating price on everyone she loves?

       Vera Priestly —What does this wealthy, elderly woman really see the night she peers out her window into the dark?

       Dennis Garvey —This rebellious teen has plenty of reasons to feel vengeful toward the Westin family. Is he angry enough to target the most vulnerable member for ultimate destruction?

       Victoria Banner —Vera’s daughter likes the good life. When that is threatened, she goes on the attack and it doesn’t appear anyone is safe from her wrath.

       Emerson Banner —He’s been handling his mother-in-law’s finances for years but she’s on to his cheating ways. How far will he go to protect himself? Who will he destroy in the process?

       Robert Banner —After his grandmother’s death, this successful restaurateur begins to implode. Is his grief fueled by family troubles or are there other factors at work?

       Donna Cooke —She’s under a lot of stress, but there’s one thing she knows for sure: what’s hers is hers.

       Bennie Yates —What part, if any, did he play in the events that resulted in death and destruction?

       Kevin Cooke —He disappears the day after a murder. Now it seems he’s everywhere but in plain sight. What is he up to? Can anyone find him before it’s too late?

      Contents

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter Six

      Chapter Seven

      Chapter Eight

      Chapter Nine

      Chapter Ten

      Chapter Eleven

      Chapter Twelve

      Chapter Thirteen

      Chapter Fourteen

      Chapter Fifteen

      Chapter Sixteen

      Chapter Seventeen

       Chapter One

      Late October, Saturday Night

      Her new name, spoken in a whisper, woke her from a troubled sleep.

      “Laura?”

      She glanced at the clock as she reached for the monitor button. Two o’clock. Before she could respond, the voice continued.

      “Come quickly. Don’t turn on any lights. Hurry.”

      Untangling herself from the rumpled bed sheets, Laura grabbed her robe off the end of the big four-poster, fumbling in the dark.

      No lights? Why?

      Her employer’s suite was through a connecting door, and Laura took the familiar steps quickly, concern for Mrs. Priestly making her heart race. The old lady wasn’t well, and after the stress of the evening who knew what had happened?

      The bed seemed to be empty. Fearing a heart attack or a broken hip, she scanned the Persian carpets. “Mrs. Priestly?”

      The responding voice crackled with undercurrents of distress. “Over here, by the window.”

      Laura finally made out Mrs. Priestly’s frail shape enveloped in the chair that overlooked the riverside garden at the back of the house. In the daylight hours, the view was one of Mrs. Priestly’s favorites.

      But this was the middle of a fall night and not a typical night, either, not even for Idaho. A storm had broken earlier that evening, and all that was visible through the window now were shifting shadows thrown by wind-whipped branches and shrubbery. “You shouldn’t have gotten up without calling for my help,” Laura said gently. “That’s what I’m here for.”

      Mrs. СКАЧАТЬ