Orchard Valley Brides Read Online Free PDF Page B

anyone from the media. They’re worried about what’ll happen to the stocks.”
    Norah walked out of Rowdy’s room with Karen. Now she understood why the plane crash had received only a brief mention in the news and why Rowdy’s name had been omitted. “When will he be able to travel?” she asked.
    Karen gave a frustrated shrug. “I don’t know, but my guess is it won’t be soon. His leg’s going to take a longtime to heal and the less he moves it now, the better his chances for a complete recovery later. He may end up walking with a cane as it is.”
    Norah couldn’t imagine the proud and mighty Rowdy Cassidy forced to rely on a cane. For his sake, she hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
    Â 
    At home that afternoon, Norah was still bothered by the thought of a vital man like Rowdy hobbling along with a cane. But she didn’t want to think about him. He wasn’t her patient and really, other than the fact that her sister had once worked for him, there was no connection between them.
    She’d managed to stay away from him for three days, despite the way she felt drawn to his presence. She shook her head, bemused that he’d succeeded in causing so much turmoil. The hospital had become a whirlwind of activity and it all seemed to focus on one man. Rowdy Cassidy.
    â€œHi,” Steffie said, breaking into Norah’s thoughts.
    Norah, who’d been making a salad for their dinner, realized her hands were idle. She was thinking about the hospital eleven miles down the road, instead of her task.
    â€œI didn’t know if you’d be back for dinner or not,” she said, hoping her voice didn’t betray the path her mind had taken.
    â€œI wasn’t sure, either,” Steffie admitted, automatically heading for the silverware drawer. She counted out cutlery and began to set the kitchen table.
    Norah continued with the salad, glancing up now and then to watch Steffie. Her sister looked lovelier than ever and her calm, efficient movements revealed a new contentment. A new self-acceptance.
    So this was what love did. Her sisters seemed to glow with the love they felt—and the love they received. In both of them, natural beauty was enhanced by happiness.
    For most of her life, Norah had been referred to as the most attractive of the three Bloomfield girls. She was blonde, blue-eyed, petite. But lately, Norah felt plain and dowdy compared to Valerie and Stephanie.
    â€œHow’s everything at the hospital?” Steffie asked absentmindedly.
    â€œI take it you’re asking about Rowdy Cassidy?”
    Steffie laughed. “I guess I am. You know, I can’t help feeling a bit guilty about not giving Valerie his message.”
    â€œYou weren’t the only one.”
    â€œYou didn’t give her his message, either? You mean he called more than once? Oh, dear.”
    â€œI didn’t talk to him,” Norah countered swiftly. “But Dad did.” Rowdy had never actually said so, but he’d implied that he’d phoned Valerie several times. If Steffie had answered one call and Norah none, that left only their dear, meddling father.
    She was about to explain that when the phone rang. Norah reached for the receiver; two minutes later she was so furious she could barely breathe.
    Slamming the phone down, she whirled on her sister. “I don’t believe this. Of all the high-handed, arrogant—it’s outrageous!”
    â€œNorah, what’s wrong?”

Three
    â€œR owdy Cassidy has had me transferred out of the emergency room!” Norah shouted, clenching her fists. “The nerve of the man!”
    â€œBut why?” Steffie wanted to know.
    â€œSo I could be there to wait on him hand and foot like everyone else.” Norah stalked angrily to the other side of the kitchen. “I don’t believe it! Of all the—”
    â€œNerve,” Steffie supplied.
    â€œPrecisely.”
    â€œSurely