Orchard Valley Grooms Read Online Free PDF

removed a warm croissant and a cup of fresh coffee. The last time she could remember eating had been at O’Hare, and although her pizza had looked decent, she’d been too upset to feel very hungry.
    “What’d Rowdy have to say?”
    “Just that he’d heard about Dad’s heart attack. He asked if there was anything he could do.”
    Valerie smiled to herself, pleased that Rowdy had taken a few minutes out of his busy schedule to call. It seemed to confirm her thoughts of the night before; she was increasingly convinced that his interest in her was more than business.
    “Who else phoned?” she asked, purposely turningher mind from Rowdy. There’d be plenty of time later to mull over her recent revelation.
    “Steff.”
    “How’s she doing?” Valerie asked before biting into the flaky croissant.
    “Not very well, I’m afraid.” Norah’s shoulders slumped forward slightly. “She sounded desperate.”
    “I take it she hasn’t left Italy yet?”
    “She can’t. Apparently the whole country’s at a standstill. Like I told you, she’s trapped in this tiny village a hundred miles outside Rome. She’d gone there to spend a few days with a friend’s family.”
    “Why doesn’t she rent a car?”
    “Seems everyone else thought of the same thing. There’s not a car to be had.”
    “What about her friends?”
    “From what I understand, the people she’s with don’t have a car. She and her friend got a ride there from someone else, and everyone she knows is away on spring break. She’s very upset. I called her back, but she was out, so I left a message.” Norah shook her head in frustration.
    “What did you tell her?”
    “That you’d arrived. That I’m on leave from my job as long as necessary. And…that Dad’s condition is stable.” It was a small lie, but necessary, Valerie agreed, for their sister’s peace of mind.
    “I’ll try to give her a call later,” Valerie said, sipping the rapidly cooling coffee. She glanced at her watchand calculated the time difference between Oregon and Texas. If she phoned now she might be able to catch Rowdy. If he was in the office, she’d ask him to locate the best heart surgeon in the state. No, on the West Coast.
    She knew there were restrictions against using cell phones in hospitals, so she lined up at the pay phone, which didn’t afford her much privacy. But that couldn’t be helped. To her relief, she was immediately connected with her boss.
    “Valerie,” he said, his big voice booming over the wire. “Good to hear from you. How’s your father?”
    “We don’t know yet. It could go either way.”
    “I’m sorry to hear that.” Rowdy sounded genuinely concerned and again her heart warmed toward him. “If there’s anything I can do, let me know.”
    “There is,” Valerie said, lowering her voice in an effort not to be overheard. She looked around to make sure no staff members were within earshot. “I need the name and phone number of the best heart surgeon on the West Coast. Dad’s too ill to be transferred to another hospital just yet, but the one here in Orchard Valley is small. I can’t be sure he’s getting the best possible care. I want to make other arrangements as soon as I can.”
    “Of course, I’ll get right on it.”
    Not for the first time, Valerie felt a twinge of conscience. Colby Winston obviously cared about her father. If she hurt his professional pride by going behind his back, then she’d apologize. For now, though, her primaryconcern had to be her father, and if that meant offending a family friend, well, too bad. It couldn’t be avoided.
    “How can I reach you at the hospital?” Rowdy asked.
    “It’s easier if I call you back. In an hour or so?”
    “Sure thing.”
    “I really appreciate this,” Valerie told him.
    A few minutes later, she strolled into the waiting room, where she’d left Norah. Colby had joined her and it struck Valerie a second time how perfect Norah would be for him.
    Valerie should’ve