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Storm Clouds
Cheryl Wolverton
VOICE FROM THE PASTAn urgent call from a brother Angelina Harding hadn't seen in years brought her thousands of miles to Australia. Only to find Marcus gone.DANGER IN THE PRESENTWhat was a former Secret Service agent to do? Ditching the men who ambushed her at the airport was a start. But it was only with the help of her brother's friend, David Lemming, that Angelina had a chance to find Marcus.QUESTION FOR THE FUTUREAcross the Outback…and into the enemy's lair, Angelina raced against time – but her brother wasn't the only one at risk. Angelina's life, her new romantic interest…and perhaps even her country were on the line this time.
PRAISE FOR CHERYL WOLVERTON
“This tender tale…is a suspenseful and enjoyable read.”
—Romantic Times on Shelter from the Storm
“A captivating delight. Among the Tulips is a heartwarming Cinderella story for the keeper shelf. (41?2 stars)”
—Romantic Times
“What an incredible, spiritual journey for readers.”
—Romance Reader on the Run on A Wife for Ben
“Ms. Wolverton’s love of writing and joy in God once again shines through In Search of a Hero.”
—Scribesworld
“For Love of Zach delivers a great beginning that gains momentum all the way to the conclusion.”
—Romantic Times
“Ms. Wolverton does a lovely job of demonstrating how two Christians turn to the Lord for help with their innermost struggles in this warm, touching and fun book.”
—Romantic Times on A Father’s Love
CHERYL WOLVERTON
RITA® Award finalist Cheryl Wolverton has well over a dozen books to her name. Her very popular Hill Creek, Texas, series has finaled in many contests. Having grown up in Oklahoma, lived in Kentucky, Texas, Louisiana and now living once more in Oklahoma, Cheryl, her husband of more than twenty years and their two children, Jeremiah and Christina, always considered themselves Oklahomans, transplanted to grow and flourish in the South. Readers are always welcome to contact her at P.O. Box 106, Faxon, OK 73540, or e-mail at Cheryl@cherylwolverton.com. You can also visit her Web site at www.cherylwolverton.com.
Cheryl Wolverton
Storm Clouds
ISBN: 9781408967270
Storm Clouds
© Cheryl Wolverton 2005
First Published in Great Britain in 2005
Harlequin (UK) Limited
Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, including without limitation xerography, photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.
This ebook is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated, without the prior consent of the publisher, in any form or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
All characters in this work have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II B.V./S.á.r.l.
® and TM are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended: but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
—Philippians 3:13–14
To my dear Australian friends at Harlequin,
since chatting with you in e-mail, I have
always hoped to set a book in your country.
You guys are the greatest!
Also to my friends online: Aussie, aka Lisa from
ChristianRmWriters, who read my story to correct
me on anything wrong—so if you find mistakes,
as I’m sure you will, they’re mine.
And to my mom—it’s so much fun to live nearby
again after twenty years and have you getting
on me for missing a day of writing!
And as always to my dear kids, who are now
adults, Christina, twenty-one and Jeremiah,
eighteen and to my husband, Steve.
And finally, Steve’s dad, John, for giving us this
wonderful eighty-eight-acre farm to live on—
a place that truly inspires my life and writing.
You guys have been wonderful
through this entire book. Thanks.
Dear Reader,
Wow, do you have any idea the hundreds and hundreds of letters and e-mails I’ve received begging me to write Angelina’s and Todd’s stories? Guess what? I’ve wanted to write them, too—especially Angelina’s. She tried to take over in Shelter from the Storm, so I had to send her to Australia. And here is her story.
She is such a strong woman that she wore me out trying to write about her. I fell absolutely in love with this stalwart yet vulnerable woman. We all have pasts, no matter how innocent, because at one time we were all without the knowledge of God’s love and forgiveness. And in Angelina, we see how sometimes we just can’t learn to let go of the past, forget about it and strive onward, toward the goal that God has set for us—and that is Jesus Christ. If you hurt or have pain, please let it go and let God show you His love. Know that God will use those things to shape us and form us so that we can do His work as he did with Angelina. He loves you, dear one, and He won’t ever leave you.
I love to hear from readers, and I now live in Oklahoma. If you write to me, please be sure to make note of my new address: P.O. Box 106, Faxon, OK 73540, though my e-mail address remains the same: Cheryl@cherylwolverton.com.
In Christ’s love,
Prologue
You’re coming here, Angelina. You have no idea what you’re walking into. I’ve waited a long time for this and I’m not going to let you get in the way this time. Oh, no, not this time. I can kill two birds, as the saying goes. Angelina Harding. It’s been a long time. And you’re coming right to me here in Australia. You’ll be within my grasp. Though this is going to put a kink in my plan, you’re finally going to be mine. Time to play the mind games—again. And you won’t even know it.
Come on, Angie, doll. I’m waiting. Come on and try to find your brother and walk into the maze of my own making. Search for him and play awhile, before you die.
Contents
Prologue
About the Author
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 Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
COMING NEXT MONTH (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter One
The fuss over her pistol was not the most auspicious start to Angelina Harding’s flight. They’d made her check it—fortunately she had a smaller bag she could unzip from her backpack and check.
She’d gotten no sleep on the ride over, but she needed to be here for her brother.
Oh, how she wanted to be back in Pride, Louisiana, the tiny little town with a population of less than one hundred. She’d lived there for three wonderful years, with several of her friends who’d started a security firm. She liked it there in the small town, and she didn’t want to venture out into the real world.
But what could she do when she got the call…a call she hadn’t expected? She hadn’t talked to her brother in over fifteen years, and he needed her help.
Stepping into the cool air of Australia, she realized she hadn’t dressed for spring but late summer.
It was hot as an oven in Baton Rouge.
And it was just finishing winter here.
She shivered and cupped her hand over her eyes to glance toward the sunny sky. Wearily she grabbed a handful of her dark hair, tied it in a knot at her neck and then released it when she realized it had been shading the back of her neck.
Taking a deep breath, she paused to slip her pistol back into her ankle holster, rearrange her backpack and find the paper containing the information she’d jotted down about her brother.
Her internal clock told her it should be nighttime.
Her brother had said catch a plane to Sydney—and to hurry. Like she should drop everything for him. Glancing around, she noted the cars driving on the wrong side of the road.
She’d been so angry with her brother when he’d become a Christian nearly twenty years ago and decided to move to Australia….
She shook her head as she watched the hustle and bustle. Same as in any city but different too. Not seeing her brother, she started down the sidewalk looking for any sign of him. Bitterness nipped at her as she remembered her one visit to Australia when she was sixteen. She’d come here to see her brother.
He had sent her back home, telling her she shouldn’t have stolen money from her uncle and should have gotten his permission.
Permission!
