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The Truth About Hope
Kate James
Who is Hope Wilson? Is she the girl her former hometown thinks she is? Or the girl Luke Carter once loved–and maybe still does?When Hope returns to Canyon Creek, Texas, to honor her father's last wishes, there's only one person on her mind: her high school sweetheart, Luke. The boy she lied to when she had to leave Canyon Creek as a teen, finding it easier to hide what she really felt than deal with the grief of loss. Her father's fortune could make a big difference to Canyon Creek–but Hope finds that the townspeople have a long memory when it comes to his misdeeds. With a plan to make amends on his behalf, Hope learns the truth about herself. And the truth about love.
Who is Hope Wilson?
Is she the girl her former hometown thinks she is? Or the girl Luke Carter once loved—and maybe still does?
When Hope returns to Canyon Creek, Texas, to honor her father’s last wishes, there’s only one person on her mind: her high school sweetheart, Luke. The boy she lied to when she had to leave Canyon Creek as a teen, finding it easier to hide what she really felt than deal with the grief of loss. Her father’s fortune could make a big difference to Canyon Creek—but Hope finds that the townspeople have a long memory when it comes to his misdeeds. With a plan to make amends on his behalf, Hope learns the truth about herself. And the truth about love.
“Hope? It’s really you? Ah...hi. What are you doing here?”
Luke reached out. With the utmost care, he clasped Hope’s elbow to help her up.
Hope mumbled a thank-you, and became absorbed in brushing off her legs and her clothes. Drops of blood welled on her knees. When Luke pulled a blue-checked bandanna out of his back pocket and held it out to her, Hope’s eyes shifted from the bandanna to Luke’s hand...free of a wedding ring. Appalled by her own thoughts, she frowned.
“It’s clean,” he assured her. “Go ahead. Use it.”
Her look had nothing to do with the bandanna and everything to do with bumping—literally—into the one person she was least prepared to see.
She didn’t move, so Luke bent down and, placing one hand behind her knee, gently dabbed at the abrasions.
That simple, impersonal touch made her feel as if a two-hundred-and-twenty-volt electric current surged through her body.
Dear Reader (#ulink_3fe812b5-c816-57d2-b6fd-7ef75af95f3d),
My heroine, Hope, and I have a number of things in common, most notably our love of animals. Veterinarians have worked miracles for our furry, four-legged family members. They restored our Malamute’s sight after a congenital disease rendered him nearly blind when he was barely a year old, saved our yellow Lab following a horrific adverse reaction to a vaccination, and years later cured his cancer.
When my husband and I had to say goodbye to our last three dogs, we were heartbroken. Then by happenstance we met Harley and Logan—both black Labs. They were eighteen and fourteen months old respectively at the time, didn’t know each other and had only lived in kennels up to that point in their lives. Whether we thought ourselves ready for more dogs or not, they stole our hearts, adopted us and have enriched our lives in so many ways.
I offer sincere thanks to Hope’s real-life counterparts—people who care for, rehabilitate and locate forever homes for the animals that find their way into shelters.
Thank you for choosing to read Hope’s story. Whether by email, a letter, a comment through my website or a Tweet—I would love to hear from you.
Happy reading!
Kate
Email: readers@kate-james.com
Website: kate-james.com (http://www.kate-james.com)
Mail: PO Box 446, Schomberg, Ontario, L0G 1T0, Canada
The Truth About Hope
Kate James
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
KATE JAMES spent much of her childhood abroad before attending university in Canada. She built a successful business career, but her passion has always been literature. As a result, Kate turned her energy to her love of the written word. Kate’s goal is to entertain her readers with engaging stories featuring strong, likable characters. Kate has been honored with numerous awards for her writing. She and her husband, Ken, enjoy traveling and the outdoors with their beloved Labrador retrievers. Watch for her upcoming trilogy featuring a K-9 unit.
To my parents.
Acknowledgments (#ulink_4cf14560-8925-506d-b494-1ce6eafe2228)
I am privileged to have Paula Eykelhof as my editor. Her brilliance, industry expertise and generosity of spirit never cease to amaze me. I can’t thank her enough for both teaching me and challenging me as I strive to perfect my craft.
I am also grateful to senior editor Victoria Curran and the entire team at Mills & Boon. They are a dream to work with!
Contents
Cover (#u3abeb357-16f5-5476-a9a5-e666bcaa74d3)
Back Cover Text (#uccfc1376-7625-5b93-9e91-412c8d9d46c3)
Introduction (#ua3915ecd-245f-5856-8c86-4b4898a69d95)
Dear Reader (#ulink_76c07f94-b8ab-51fd-bdb8-fd75eb1d5b7b)
Title Page (#u28b1a09c-3024-548a-8020-298491141568)
About the Author (#ufdcfdb31-a621-598f-868d-a2963c3fcb6d)
Dedication (#uf424972e-fa97-596f-8822-f0e27730bd1f)
Acknowledgments (#ulink_93c8f169-e488-529f-b3c2-7bdbfc175bc7)
CHAPTER ONE (#ulink_c317988e-f2fc-5401-b7a4-433d9aa33966)
CHAPTER TWO (#ulink_1685fc98-a477-5bdb-88f9-e754ddf5db6e)
CHAPTER THREE (#ulink_75f32488-6350-5360-a5ec-718361935de1)
CHAPTER FOUR (#ulink_3db52456-8bfe-51de-8ac1-0fc39bad3258)
CHAPTER FIVE (#ulink_4be3fcb7-eb6e-5002-9ee3-7927adc681d4)
CHAPTER SIX (#ulink_7026847a-56ff-577f-8eca-03cd88ecfcf4)
CHAPTER SEVEN (#ulink_3fbfe2c5-33a7-5a18-85f2-cbceae0e96ee)
CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER THIRTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SIXTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINETEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWENTY (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ONE (#ulink_f230fffe-d6e7-5bc1-9c65-3323d510a968)
Canyon Creek, Texas August 2001
“I AM NOT moving to San Jose!” Hope Wilson surged out of her chair and sent it toppling.
Arthur Burrows raised a hand. “Calm down, please. I know this isn’t easy for you.”
Hope leaned forward, bracing her hands on the lawyer’s desk. “Isn’t easy for me?” Her eyes stung and she felt the familiar tightening in her chest, but she refused to let the tears come. The anger somehow made her feel alive again. “My mother’s funeral was yesterday, now you tell me this, and you say it’s not easy?”
“I know this is all very difficult. No one could’ve foreseen your mother passing away so suddenly. Why don’t you sit down?” he encouraged her. “Let’s finish going over your mother’s will.”
Instead, Hope spun around and moved to the window. Outside, the brilliant sunshine filtered through the high canopy of ash and oak trees. Wicker baskets hung from decorative lampposts, their profusion of flowers spilling over in bold sweeps of color. People strolled along the wide, cobblestoned sidewalks of Center Street, as if they didn’t have a care in the world.
How could everything look so normal when her life was over?
“Hope, please sit down,” Arthur repeated.
She was on the verge of another tirade but stopped herself. She couldn’t blame Mr. Burrows. He hadn’t caused her problems. He was her mother’s lawyer, and if anybody could help her find a way out of this predicament, it would be him. It certainly wouldn’t serve her purposes to antagonize him.
She turned from the window and strode to the chair, righted it and flopped down. Continuing to fight a battle with her temper, she could almost hear her mother’s admonition about being polite and respectful. It made her want to cry again. “Sorry about the way I behaved just now,” she said in a subdued voice. “But I’m not moving to San Jose.”
“Now, Hope.” Arthur sat back. “I’m afraid you don’t have much choice.”
“But my mother wanted Aunt Clarissa to take care of me. You said it’s in her will.”
“That’s true,” Arthur agreed patiently. “However, your father’s rights override your mother’s wishes in this case.”
Hope’s fury began to simmer once more, but it was overshadowed by a debilitating sense of anguish and fear, of being alone. “You can’t make me leave Canyon Creek. I’m not a child anymore,” she cried, but suddenly felt very much like one. Even to her own ears she sounded like one. She blinked furiously to stave off the tears.
“Look, Hope. I understand how upsetting this is for you, but you really don’t have a say in the matter. According to Texas law, at seventeen you’re still a minor. When I notified your father that Rebecca had passed away, his lawyer contacted me immediately. He was unequivocal about the fact that your father wants you to live with him.” Arthur’s voice turned conciliatory. “He’s your father. He’s family. Where better for you to be, with your mother gone?”
“He is not my family!” Hope raised her eyes to the ceiling and took three deep breaths. “He stopped being my father when he walked out on Mom and me, when I was two. I don’t even remember him. Don’t make me go,” she pleaded. “Mom had some money saved, and I have our house. I can work part-time while I finish school.”
“Hope, you don’t have to do that. Your father is a very wealthy man. Financially, he’s prepared to give you a lot more than the allowance your mother was receiving from him. He’s willing to take you in, pay for your education. You can’t imagine how hard that would be for you on your own, even if it was a possibility.”
“What about what he did when he left? Closing down his business and hurting all the people who depended on those jobs? He and my mother grew up with the people who worked for him. What kind of man does that to his friends? How guilty do you think that’s always made me feel? And you want me to go live with a man like that?”
“It’s not a matter of me wanting you to live with him. It’s what he wants.”
Hope swiped a hand under her nose. “I don’t want to leave. I want to stay here. Aunt Clarissa said she’d move to Canyon Creek to be with me. You’re a lawyer. Can’t you figure something out?” she beseeched. “Other kids my age are allowed to live on their own.”
“It’s called emancipation and it’s rare. There has to be a reason for a court to grant that. I’m afraid there’s no compelling argument in your case. Take some time, Hope. Get used to the idea. I’m sure it’ll turn out just fine.”
* * *
LUKE CARTER PUSHED away from the bicycle rack he’d been leaning against as soon as Hope came out of the building. With his long strides, he was next to her almost instantly. “How did it go?”
“Okay,” she mumbled, walking past him.
“Hey. Hey!” He hurried after her and reached for her hand. “You don’t look like it went okay.”
She yanked free and stuffed both hands in her pockets to keep Luke from grabbing one again. Her head bent, she moved forward at a brisk pace.
“Hey!” He passed her and stopped directly in her path, grasping her shoulders. She kept her head lowered, her long mahogany hair hiding her face. Luke shook her gently and bent down to study her face. “It’s me. You can’t lie to me.”
When Hope remained silent, he gave her another light shake. “It’s me,” he said again. “You can tell me anything.”
On top of the pain and fear, Hope was now livid with herself. What was she doing, shutting him out? This was Luke. Her best friend since they were in grade school. Her boyfriend since last year. Luke had been there for her all her life. She knew firsthand how hard it was when people you cared about left you—as her father had and now in a different way her mother, too. How could she tell Luke that she was leaving Canyon Creek? That she was leaving him.
Hope let out a ragged breath. Through lowered lashes, she studied Luke’s perfect face, the thick mop of chestnut-brown hair and those expressive gold-flecked amber eyes that made her think of a lion. How was she going to do it? How was she going to break the news to Luke, explain to all their friends that she was going to live with the man who’d caused so much harm to their town and to many of their families?
She pulled one hand out of her pocket and placed it gently in the crook of Luke’s arm. “I just need a little time.” She saw the flicker of frustration on his face before compassion eclipsed it. He took a step back and to the side. “Yeah, okay. But remember I’m here. Whatever you need. We’ve always been there for each other.”
“I know.” She rose up on her toes to kiss his cheek. “I appreciate it.”
Hope walked home alone to the little brick bungalow she and her mother had shared since they’d been on their own and let herself in.
Once inside, she stood very still. Everything was the same, but everything had changed.
She knew Aunt Clarissa was there because her Camry was parked in the driveway.
