The Doctor's Daughter

Judith Bowen

MEN OF GLORYA cowboy town in a cowboy country. This is a place a woman could love. These are men a woman could love!Virginia Lake left town more than a decade ago–after a memorable night with a man her parents forbade her to see. Lucas Yellowfly, they said, was a troublemaker. Off-limits. Half-Native American and from the wrong side of town, he wasn't good enough for Dr. and Mrs. Lake. But now…everything's changed. Now Lucas is a successful lawyer in Glory. Practically a pillar of society.And now Virginia's back, a single mother with a five-year-old son. She's looking for a job–and Lucas finds he needs someone with exactly her qualifications. Because he's always been half in love with the doctor's daughter.He's finally got the chance to convince her that this man from Glory will make a good husband…and a good father. Her reasons for marrying him might have more to do with need than with love, but things can change. Who knows that better than Lucas Yellowfly.

“I want to thank you, Lucas, for all the help you’ve been to me and my son.” (#uc4aef688-fe94-58dd-874f-365498c7b621) Letter to Reader (#u34005017-bafb-5f96-88d6-2c6e0f810661) Title Page (#uca730682-7af2-5bd4-8e4c-8e96882c34e7) Dedication (#uf06afa0f-6b05-51fb-a050-1effeca18c19) CHAPTER ONE (#u74566ad3-56d8-5ac2-8842-39d87dd1b1f8) CHAPTER TWO (#u9a44de09-c38e-5c5a-bc28-761da392544f) CHAPTER THREE (#u64c6951e-dd7a-587a-9929-855b1b6d869c) CHAPTER FOUR (#u372f6931-5f7e-544a-8d46-6af511a92ba3) CHAPTER FIVE (#u2a5f6c68-1a37-5d33-aa0a-aeab28e332fb) CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo) CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo) CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo) CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo) CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo) CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo) CHAPTER TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo) CHAPTER THIRTEEN (#litres_trial_promo) CHAPTER FOURTEEN (#litres_trial_promo) CHAPTER FIFTEEN (#litres_trial_promo) CHAPTER SIXTEEN (#litres_trial_promo) CHAPTER SEVENTEEN (#litres_trial_promo) CHAPTER EIGHTEEN (#litres_trial_promo) CHAPTER NINETEEN (#litres_trial_promo) CHAPTER TWENTY (#litres_trial_promo) Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

“I want to thank you, Lucas, for all the help you’ve been to me and my son.”

Virginia’s voice was low and urgent. “It was a huge thing for me to come back to Glory. I only hope I’ve made the right decision.”

“Hey, Virginia.” Lucas held her gaze and felt something start to hum and burn inside his chest. She had this effect on him; she’d always had this effect on him.

“You’ve been terrific. And...and I really appreciate it. Especially since things aren’t always the way I’d like them to be with Mother and Father.”

Lucas had noticed that she always referred to her parents rather formally It seemed odd, since everyone in town knew how much Doc and Doris Lake had doted on their only daughter.

Lucas wanted to reach out and touch her. Suddenly he did. He leaned forward and placed both his hands on her shoulders. “Listen, Virginia, I’m happy to be a good friend to you. But that’s not all I want to be. When we’re at work, I’m a hundred percent professional. But when we’re not...I intend to court you. Seriously.”

There was a moment of strained silence. Then “S-seriously?” Her voice was faint.

“Damn seriously.”

“Oh, Lucas...then kiss me. Please.”

Dear Reader,

There’s a wrong side to every town.

Sometimes it’s the east end, if the prevailing wind is from the west. Sometimes it’s across the tracks, where the cinders and smoke once flew and the freight whistles meant sleepless nights for the nearby residents. Sometimes it’s on the far bank of the river or creek, with a graveled path leading toward it, away from the brighter lights.

Rarely it was a hilltop. Generally that’s where “Society” lived, with a good view of those less fortunate folk below.

Lucas Yellowfly is poor, half-Native American and from the wrong side of town. But he’s got big plans for himself.