Hard Hat Man (27 page)

“The statute of limitations has probably run out on that. I’ll check on it.”

“Thanks, Casey.” A
now very
docile
man, Alex followed the deputy.

“Well, that should put an end to the shenanigans out at the farm,” Casey
told Kyle as the deputy closed the door.
“You should be able to finish your project in peace.”

“I hope so. Thanks for your help. ”Kyle rose and shook his hand.

***

As they drove back to his house, Jan’s mind circled with dread. She knew she must say goodbye and begin her drive back to Chicago.
Her job here was done. She had no reason to stay. Except she didn’t want to leave. Not any more. She swallowed back tears and stared out the truck window at the passing landscape. Summer had made all the fields green with growing crops. Rows of corn a foot tall gave way to green alfalfa laid out in windrows, ready for the baler to pick it up and bale it for winter feed for the beef cattle now grazing beside a wandering creek.

Kyle eyed Jan. She’d been almost silent since they’d left the sheriff’s office.
He turned into the driveway of his house and parked.

“I have to get to work,” he said. “I’ll see you tonight, okay?”

Jan turned to him, her eyes brimming with tears. She reached up and brushed them away, managing a smile. “No, Kyle. I’m going to start back to Chicago this morning.”

His mouth dropped open. “But…”

She gave him a sad smile. “There’s no reason for me to stay, now that the house has burned. Sheriff Casey and Mom will arrange for Nancy’s cremation.”

He reached for her and took her in his arms. He kissed her thoroughly, then leaned back to look in her eyes. “Doesn’t that mean anything to you, Jan?”

“Of course. I-I don’t make love with every man I meet.” Her voice broke over the words. “I’ll miss you
terribly
.”

“Don’t go, Jan.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, stay here. You can teach school here as well as in Chicago, can’t you?”

“I suppose
I could. I’d have to take the state boards for my
Minnesota Teacher’s Certificate
, but…what are you saying, Kyle?”

He ran a frustrated, work-roughened hand through his dark curls
and shifted on the truck seat
. “I’m not good at words like you are, Jan. But…well, I love you. I can’t stand the idea of you going back to Chicago.
I know my house isn’t finished yet, but
it’s livable and
we can finish it together.
Stay here and be my wife, will you?”

Jan smiled through her tears. “Are you sure, Kyle?”

His gaze held hers with certainty.
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. Say yes.”

“Yes, Kyle. I love you, too.” She leaned forward and kissed him again.

“Thank God.” Kyle wrapped his arms around her and held her close.

“
Now I really
do
have to get to work.
I’ll see you tonight.
Call your mom and start making wedding plans, o
kay?”

“Okay.”

The End.
###

About the author:

Edna Curry lives in MN and often sets her novels there among the lakes, evergreens and river valleys. She especially enjoys the Dalles area of the St. Croix Valley, gateway to the Wild River, which draws many tourists who give her story ideas. Besides non-fiction articles, she writes mystery, romance and romantic suspense novels.

Edna is married and is a member of the Romance Writers of America and four of its chapters: Midwest Fiction Writers, KOD, WISRWA and Northern Lights Writers.

Circle of Shadows (half of Deadly Duos #1) was a finalist in RWA's prestigious Golden Heart Contest.

Visit her webpage at http://www.ednacurry.com

Recent or upcoming books:

2010   My Sister’s Keeper by Edna Curry

4/2010    Secret Daddy by Edna Curry              Whiskey Creek Press

8/2010   Best Friends by Edna Curry     reprint           

10/2010  Bear Trap by Edna Curry      reprint             

2/2011   Double Trouble by Edna Curry   reprint       

5/2011   Dead in Bed by Edna Curry                   Whiskey Creek Press

10/2011  Never Love a Logger  by Edna Curry   Whiskey Creek Press

2011  I’ll Always Find You by Edna Curry    Whiskey Creek Press-Torrid

8/2012   Meet Me, Darling by Edna Curry          Melange Books

2012  Traveling Bug by Edna Curry   (reprint)

1/2012  The Lilliput Bar Mystery by Edna Curry

Hard Hat Man by Edna Curry

Seven Short Stories by Edna Curry

Never Love a Logger by Edna Curry

Never Love a Logger by Edna Curry

Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press

Genre: Historical

Length: Full Length (329 pgs)

Heat Level: sensual

Rating: 4 books

Reviewed by Aloe

A historical romance set against the background of the largest log jam ever that occurred in 1886 on the St. Croix River at Taylors Falls, MN. It depicts life in the logging days with lots of detail about the lives of people during that time.

What happens when a rough and ready logger who wants no responsibility and thinks he doesn’t deserve a second chance at love falls for an attractive lady with a ready made family?

Will and Carrie think there is no chance for them to have a family of their own. Each has reasons to avoid love and entanglements. Will is burned out on responsibility after helping his widowed mother raise his siblings after his wife and infant son died. Carrie thinks no man will want her and her brother. She promised her father she’d raise her brother. While she’s attracted to Will, duty comes first.

She’s a young woman raising her younger brother and he’s a widower who owns a logging company. She’s attracted to him, but her Aunt warns her that loggers just love ‘em and then leave ‘em…

Ms. Curry does a very nice job of describing logging life back in 1886 on the St. Croix River. I grew up in the state of Washington and visited a lot of logging camps and exhibits. It made it easy for me to visualize the saws they used and the pikes for moving the logs. My father-in-law still had his spiked boots. Life was different then. Everything was done by manpower or with horses. The author’s description of the life and times of the loggers and how they impacted towns is very accurate and authentic.

Carrie is aware that at 21 she’s turning into an old maid. But she hasn’t found the man who makes her blood race faster and besides, who’s going to take her as a wife when she has her young brother, Tom, to care for? All Will wants to do is get away in the woods and forget about how life was and what he lost.

The author takes two wounded beings and starts their relationship with a near collision outside the tavern. Will gets knocked out of the tavern and almost falls on Carrie. From there, Ms. Curry takes them on the slow dance of courtship. It’s fraught with potholes. They are both working and haven’t much time together. Other people are vying for their attention. Then there is Carrie’s Aunt’s warning ringing in her head. And he will go home and will only return for the fall logging again. What hope is there?

This author entertains you with a good solid story that keeps you reading as you wait to see what happens next in the fragile relationship between the two main characters. It’s a very good historical romance that I enjoyed reading. Why not get a copy and see what you think?

***

Dead Man’s Image

By Edna Curry

Lacey Summer’s Mystery #2

Copyright 2001 by Edna Curry

________________________________________

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

This is a work of fiction. All names in this story are fictitious and any resemblance to any person living or dead is purely coincidental.

No portion of this book may be reprinted in whole or in part, by printing, faxing, E-mail, copying electronically or by any other means without permission of the author, except for short excerpts for reviews.

Smashwords Edition.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

***________________________________________

Sample of:

Dead Man’s Image

By Edna Curry

Chapter 1

Paul Menns entered the crowded truck stop for a bite to eat and coffee. A delicious mixture of food aromas met his nose, and the warmth of the cafe felt wonderful after working outdoors in the chilly spring air. He sat down at the counter, wrapped his long legs around the base of the stool and placed his order.

Picking up the Minneapolis Star-Tribune from the end of the counter, he scanned the headlines, then turned to the Metro section. For a long, confused moment, Paul thought he was looking at his reflection. That looks like me. What is my picture doing in the paper? Then he read the caption through bleary eyes and realized it was a computer image, not a photo. It was someone the police were looking for --a sketch made from an eyewitness's description of a murder suspect. What the hell?

Reading further, Paul discovered a body had been found upriver. The unidentified dead man was white, about thirty-five, six feet tall, a hundred and ninety pounds, brown eyes and hair, and had no ID, scars or tattoos. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, and he reached up to rub them. Jeez, the description of the dead guy sounds even more like me. This is weird.