Orchard Valley Grooms by Debbie Macomber Read Free Book Online Page A

why Norah wasn’t at home. Norah stirred, her eyes fluttering open.
    “Hello, Sleeping Beauty,” Valerie said, smiling tenderly.
    “Where were you?” Norah asked, sitting up. She swept tangled hair away from her face, and Valerie saw that her soft blue eyes were puffy, as though she’d recently been crying.
    “Down in the cafeteria with Colby.”
    Norah blinked, looking mildly surprised.
    “He hadn’t had dinner yet and asked me along so we could talk.”
    “I feel bad about what happened this morning,” Norah said. “I was upset about Dad and angry with you for going behind Colby’s back. But then I realized I should have explained things better—you know, told you about his qualifications.” She sighed. “I was angry that you hadn’t talked to me first.”
    “If I had, I might have saved myself a lot of trouble,” Valerie agreed. “Don’t worry about it, sis—I would’ve been upset, too.”
    “If there was ever a time we need to stick together, it’s now. We can’t allow a quarrel to come between us.”
    Valerie nodded. Norah looked small and lost, and Valerie crossed the room to sit down beside her, placing a protective arm around her sister’s shoulders.
    “I wish Steffie was here,” Norah murmured.
    Valerie did, too, but in some ways perhaps it was best that their sister hadn’t arrived yet. Her absence might well be the only thing keeping their father alive.
    “What did you and Colby talk about?” Norah asked, pressing her head against Valerie’s shoulder.
    “Dad, and what’s going to happen.”
    “Does Colby know?”
    “No, but it looks like he may not have the option of waiting until Dad’s lungs clear before performing open-heart surgery.”
    “But his chances of survival would be practically nil if Colby went ahead with it now!”
    Valerie had felt the same alarm when Colby described the procedure to her. He’d drawn a detailed diagram on a napkin and answered a multitude of questions. Although the surgery would be risky, it seemed to be the only alternative available to them. Valerie had understood and accepted Colby’s reasoning, even though her father’s chances were slim. She prayed the surgery could be delayed, but that was looking less promising every hour.
    “The likelihood that he’ll survive is a whole lot better with the operation than without,” Valerie reminded her sister. “Still, he said he’d defer it as long as he could.”
    “Yes, but…oh, Val, it’s so scary to think of what our lives would be like without Dad.”
    “I know.” She stroked her sister’s hair, offering what reassurance and comfort she could.
    “Isn’t Colby wonderful?” Norah asked after a while.
    Valerie smiled to herself, then nodded. He’d made the surgery, with all its risks, seem the logical thing to do. For the first time since her arrival, she felt hopeful for her father’s chances. She held on to that small surge of confidence with both hands. Colby had been patient, answering her questions, giving her reassurance and hope when she’d felt none.
    “Now can you understand why everyone likes him so much?” Norah asked, her voice soft.
    “Yes.” She’d intentionally baited him, determined to find out how he really felt about her. She’d looked for some reaction, some sign, but he’d given her nothing.
    The more reserved he was, the more challenged she felt. Valerie doubted he ever raised his voice or lost his cool, composed air. Even when she’d pressured him, he’d shown almost no emotion. Yet Valerie couldn’t shake the conviction that he was a man of deep feeling—and strong passion.
     
    Colby was smiling; he’d been smiling ever since he’d left the hospital. He wasn’t sure what had prompted him to invite Valerie down to the cafeteria. But he suspected it was because…well, because he enjoyed being with her. He’d never known a woman who was so willing to speak her feelings. She was direct and honest and, damn it all, interesting. It wasn’t that he