Healing Hearts (Easton Series #2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

sun-streaked
brown hair touching lightly at his collar.
       “Doctor Sutton.” His voice hitched
as if he were trying to catch his breath. He offered his arm. Her smile
brightened, and she slipped her hand into the crook.
       “Doctor Rutherford.” She mocked
seriousness as they stepped out the door and walked through puddles of sunshine
splattered between buildings, to the little church on the other side of the town.
        He jerked a thumb in the direction of the church. “We don’t have call
for fancy balls or afternoon teas.”
       She shook her head. “That suits
me. I’m partial to an occasional modest social with close friends and family.”
       He smiled.
       “You look beautiful.”
       His words knocked the breath out
of her. The man wasn’t what she’d expected. At times he was normally hard and
coarse and harsh, but today he was bright and sincere and gentlemanly. Above it
all, his heart was reflected in those blue eyes, shining warm and deep. They
reminded her of the sky on a summer day, holding wide dreams she had no right
to ponder but relished in this unguarded moment anyway.
       “You clean up nice yourself,” she
choked, and her cheeks reddened. She forced herself not to stare. Uh, you’ll
have to help me with the names and faces,” Hannah put forth.
       “No problem. The groom is Ned, and
the bride is Geneva. You’ll meet the rest of the Easton clan. You already know
the sheriff, Roy. His older brother, Cal, runs the Mineral Creek Ranch, and
he’ll be Ned’s best man. He’s tall like his brother, and his word is better
than a handshake. Cal’s wife is Sarah. You’ll recognize her because she’ll be
carrying a month-old baby named Thomas.” He winked. “Yes, I delivered him.”
       Hannah’s lips curved up. “Sounds
like good people.”
       “The best. Sarah’s blond little
sister is Emily. Roy dotes on her like crazy. Sarah and Emily were orphan
sisters, and the Eastons took them in.”
       “That’s very fine,” she whispered.
       He cleared his throat. “And you
know the Watkins clan, from the store.”
       She nodded and cast a sidelong
glance, studying him beneath lowered lashes. “I also know the Wrights from the
bank.”
       “Yes. They’ll be there, and --“
       “Doc!” A strange voice hailed them,
stopping them in their tracks.
       Jed and Hannah turned in unison to
see a figure approaching from a side street.
       Jed touched his hat brim as the
stout man approached like a ship coming over the horizon. “John. On your way to
the wedding?” The men shook hands.
       “Yes I am, and Nelda Rose will be
joining me right soon.” The man was wearing his Sunday best, and his hair was
clumped in combed lines above his broad freckled face.
       Jed cocked his head toward Hannah.
“John, this is Doctor Hannah Sutton. Hannah, this is John Hawkins. Mr. Hawkins
owns the hotel. He runs it with his lovely wife, Nelda Rose. She plays the
piano for visitors in the parlor.”
       “Pleased to meet you.” Hannah stuck
out a hand after recovering from the stricken look she’d seen as it flashed across
John Hawkins face. The man, who still looked like he’d seen a ghost, pumped her
hand with an iron grip.
         “I heard you’re Doc’s new partner,
Doctor Hannah! Is it all right to say Doctor Hannah? It’s what folks are
calling you.”
       Hannah was pleased to hear the now-familiar
moniker. “I like that. Thank you.”
       “No use bothering with a last
name! A lucky man’s going to change yours soon enough.”
       Hannah felt blood rush to her
cheeks. “Oh, I-I have no time for such pursuits.”
       John Hawkins’ nervous laugh was
low and hearty. “You don’t need time. You’ll get a bushel of offers at your
door.”
       Jed moved impatiently and kicked
at the dirt. “We better get a move on, or we’ll miss the fanfare and vows.”
       “Right. I’ll see you there. I have
to stop at the store