A Hero for Her Heart (Truly Yours Digital Editions Book 885) by Nancy Toback, Candice Miller Speare Read Free Book Online Page A

Danny. She’s always worked so hard. I just want to take care—”
    Her jaw snapped shut, and she glared in Derrick’s direction. Obviously his presence had slipped her mind.
    Shannon grabbed Allie’s hand. “Please understand. I’m hoping she’ll be able to work here full-time soon. Manage the place. That means she can stop the cleaning job. In the long run, that will be easier on her.”
    Allie inhaled, and her shoulders sagged. “Okay. I give up. You’re right.” She lifted one corner of her mouth—a poor effort at a smile.
    Shannon took game pieces out of the box. “And it will be lucrative, too. I’m going to work it out that Betsy gets a percentage of sales. That’ll help you guys pay—”
    “Let’s talk about it later.” Allie slid another quick glance Derrick’s way.
    A distress signal shot through him that went beyond just caring for his nephew. It was concern for the petite farrier and her mother. He tried to stifle the feeling. He couldn’t afford to get deeply involved. Yet their well-being did directly affect his nephew. And the things Allie had left unsaid raised some doubts in his mind. How could he pursue this without giving away his real purpose?
    Derrick sighed inwardly as Shannon began to pass out Scrabble letters. He got the letter X . No matter. Perhaps he’d earn extra points by using the word pretext.

Six
    A high-pitched blare startled Allie from sleep. She jolted forward in bed, her heart pounding. “Wh–what?” Was someone playing a poor rendition of reveille? Early morning sun glowed around the edge of her blinds. She scanned the bedroom through slit eyes, focused, and caught sight of Danny’s dress shoes poking out from beneath floor-length curtains.
    “What in the world?” Allie glanced at the digital clock. It was eight thirty. She’d forgotten to set her alarm. “Daniel James Vahn!”
    Allie pulled back the covers, got out of bed, and groaned from stiffness. She tiptoed toward the window where the muslin curtain billowed, then settled back, outlining her nephew’s wiry form. “Danny? You little monster.” She poked at where she thought his shoulder would be.
    Danny giggled. His face appeared between the two curtain panels. “It’s Sunday morning. You were oversleeping. I had to wake you up.”
    She smiled but might’ve cried. He was growing so quickly. At almost nine, his facial features were more defined, emphasizing his coal black eyes. Before long he would be a man. A striking man.
    He stepped forward, shedding the curtains like a cloak. Dressed in his uniform, he held his dented bugle in his left arm like a soldier and saluted her.
    Allie planted her hands on her hips. “Soldier, that horn is for camping with the boys’ group, not for use at home.”
    “Yes, ma’am.” He snickered.
    She bit back a smile. “Now skedaddle so I can get ready.”
    “Ma’am, yes, ma’am.” Danny saluted again and hurried from the room, closing the bedroom door.
    Allie sank to the edge of the bed and put her face in her hands. She hadn’t rested well, tossing and turning, between worry about finances and the memory of Derrick. Playing Scrabble with him had been fun, with his bright smile and quick wit. Definitely a charmer and clearly a confident man. Michael had been that way to a degree.
    While engaged to him she’d thought how nice it would be to marry and give Danny a family again—a mom and dad. Her heart ached for the losses Danny had suffered. He deserved better than he’d had in his life. She often wondered about his biological mother, but knew nothing except the little her sister-in-law Cindy had told her. His mother had been young and living on the street. She couldn’t give him what he needed.
    That was ironic. Allie was beginning to think she wouldn’t be able to provide for him either. She stood and stretched. With so much debt left by Luke, she was on the verge of declaring bankruptcy. She wanted to give Danny a secure life. In her heart of hearts,