The Deputy's Heart: Prospector's Cove, #7

By S. D. Wells

Joe Summersby was shy of his twenty fifth birthday and was a deputy sheriff for the small town he had grown up in. After growing up watching the love his parents shared, he knew that was what he wanted. However, to find the perfect girl was almost impossible. That is until the beautiful new grocery store owner stole his heart.

Tracy Richards had just turned twenty three and had come to the small town to take over her uncle's store. All her life she was considered bad luck and after losing the love of her life she had sworn off any and all relationships. However, the sexy deputy who first greeted her when she arrived had her rethinking that theory.

Joe is determined to win her over and goes out of his way to prove he is the man for her. Just when he catches her, tragedy strikes and she pulls away. Now he must work double time to not only protect her but prove that he loves her. Can this small down deputy win the heart of his lady love? Can Tracy let go of the pain and embrace a future with Joe?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sandra Wells
• Release date: Apr 30, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386927532

S. D. Wells

I am married with 3 grown children. I was raised in Dallas, Texas and have always loved to read and write. I have been married since April of 2001 to my best freind. I have experince loss of my own in my past. My eldest child died in 2006. I am a Christan and am strong in my faith. To me family is important as are freinds and God.

Book preview

ACKNOWLDGEMENTS

I want to first start off by thanking you as my readers and hope you enjoy the story.

To JJ Ellis for her help and support.

To Gina Chipman for all her help, advice and editing.

To Dalene Dunkerley for your advice and support.

To the Emergency staff at Baylor Hospital in Carrollton, Texas for your medical advice.

To the Clinic of

To

To my husband, Stephen Wells for his love and support through this experience. He is truly a blessing to have.

I especially want to thank God for giving me the courage to go for this adventure and for giving the wisdom to write this book.

SPANISH WORDS TRANSLATED

Mija ~ Baby girl or daughter

Mi Flor ~ my flower

Flor Slivestre ~ wild flower

Mi penquena flor Slivestre ~ My little wildflower

Maia Sauerte ~ Bad Luck

Mi Amor ~ My love

Ti Amo ~ I love you

Burro ~ Donkey

PROLOGUE

November 26, 2015 ~ 12:08 pm ~ Prospector’s Cove

It was Thanksgiving and the Summersby clan was gathered at the Summersby Ranch to celebrate the holiday. As Joe looked around the room, he could not help but envy what they all had.

Joe was the eldest son of Mark and Lisa Summersby and was close to celebrating his twenty fifth birthday. His parents had been married twenty six years and still acted like newlyweds. Each of his uncles and aunt had all found their own happiness. Uncle Bryan had been married to Aunt Becca twenty years and they had two girls. Aunt Karen had married Uncle Doug sixteen years ago and they had four kids of their own. Uncle Kevin and his first wife, Jennifer, had been married for almost seven years with two kids when she was killed in a car accident. After living six years mourning the love he lost, Kevin met Katelyn. She, too, had been widowed and raising two kids on her own. Now the two were blissfully happy with his and her kids as well as twins that were born almost eight months after they had been married. Of course the one that surprised them all was Tyler. The man had been against marriage and fatherhood until Holly had come into his life. Now he welcomed his role as both father and husband. Sighing, he then looked into the faces of his older cousins and smiled. They were each married with children of their own and very happy. Even his grandmother had found love again and remarried. The couple now lived in Florida but travelled a lot. Seeing everyone happy and in love only made him want that for himself. The problem was most of the women he had grown up with were now either married or living in other parts of the country. The closest he had ever come to that kind of love was his high school girlfriend, Cathy. After graduation she had gone off to college to study law. Their relationship slowly died down before it ended almost two years after she left home. Now, as he heard it, she was living in New York and engaged to be married.

We have an announcement, Ethan announced as he stood.

Are you guys pregnant? Katelyn questioned.

Not that we know of but we will keep you posted on that.

So what’s your announcement? Bryan asked.

Anna, Chase, Cole and I recently received a letter from mom. Her attorney was supposed to send it to us three years after her death.

And? They all asked in unison.

It turns out that our dear old dad fathered another child. Mom had tracked him down and wants me to go talk to him.

Holy crap, no offense but your father was a cheating bastard, Mark stated.

That he was. Our brother is in the Coast Guard and his name is Christian Thomas. Once the holidays are over I’m going to fly out to meet him. Kev, I was hoping that you guys could help me find out all I can about him before I go.

No problem. Get with me later and I’ll get what info you have. We’ll start the background check on him once we are back in the office.

You alright, Joe, his mom quizzed him once the chatter died down.

Yeah. I’m on duty tonight. I was just thinking I should head out soon.

Do you want me to bring you a plate later tonight?

I’d appreciate that, Ma. He kissed his mother and said his goodbyes before heading into town. First he had to stop off at his place so he could shower and change before heading to the station. He had been with the police force for almost two years and though he loved his job he still felt like something was missing.

Almost an hour after leaving the ranch he entered the station as he pushed thoughts about his future aside. He prayed that someday he’d find his own happiness. For now all he could do was bury himself in his job and hope he did not grow into some grumpy old man.

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December 13, 2015 ~ 01:22 pm ~ Boston, Massachusetts

Tracy Richards was the only child of Robert and Camilla Richards. Her mother was full blooded Mexican while her father was a mix of English, Spanish and Cherokee. Camilla’s family had emigrated from Mexico to a place in Texas to work on a cattle ranch when she was only five years old. Robert’s parents had been killed in a car accident and he had moved to the same small town to live with his only living relative, Carl Richards.

Robert and Camilla had met through mutual friends and over the years they went from being just friends to a couple in love. Camilla’s family had not approved of the relationship because Robert was not a devout Catholic. Actually, Robert had been raised Jewish and the Lopez family had tried forcing their only daughter to marry someone else. When Camilla had turned eighteen the couple eloped before moving up north where they began their life. They had even started their own little grocery store and almost five years later they had Tracy.

The family had lived a blissfully happy life until the day Robert had been killed during a robbery gone bad. Tracy had barely been seven and even now she still blamed herself for his death. Sighing, she looked at her mother who was sitting up in her hospital bed.

Mama, do you want anything?

No, Mija but I’d like to talk to you. Come sit with me. Tracy slowly moved to her mother’s side. Camilla took her hand and patted it as she began to speak. I want to talk to you about your Uncle Carl.

What about him?

He’s not doing well, Mija. The doctors say he is going blind. My time is almost up and.....

No, Mama, don’t say that!

Honey, we have known for a while my time is almost up. There is nothing left for them to do for me. When I’m gone I want you to go help Uncle Carl. He needs you.

But Mama he lives in a small town....

That your papa and I grew up in, Camilla scolded. It’s a good town and it full of good people. Our good friends Mark and Lisa will help you out as much as they can. Your papa would be proud of the woman you have become and he would want you to go help Uncle Carl. Remember he was there for us after your papa died. Promise me, Mija, promise me you will go. With tears in her eyes, Tracy nodded and sat in silence as her mother slowly slipped away. Camellia had signed a do not resuscitate order and by six o’clock on the morning of December 16, 2015 she took her last breath.

Tracy was now orphaned but as her mother said she still had Uncle Carl. Whatever it took, she would keep the promise she made to her mother and go to Texas to look after the older man.

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And suddenly you know: It’s time to start something new and trust the magic of the beginning. By: Meister Eckhart

ONE

January 23, 2016 ~ 02:00 pm

Shortly after her mother’s funeral Tracy had started the process of selling off her family possessions. Once the house and store were sold, she packed up her things and shipped them to her uncle’s house. The older man had tried to get her to fly into the town’s only airfield but since she feared flying she ended up hopping on a Greyhound bus to head south.

Now as the giant sardine can on wheels bumped along the road she huddled against the window and prayed she would not toss her cookies all over the older woman next to her. Looking out the window she watched the buildings of the town come into view. There was a field full of vegetation with a large red barn and a blue house next to it. There was also a gas station, a police station, a post office and a large white building where the bus came to stop. Tracy quickly grabbed her overnight bag and purse before following the crowd off the bus. As soon as her feet hit the pavement she was half tempted to fall to her knees and kiss the ground. Instead she found a bench and looked at the town around her. Across the street there was a diner and bakery. Next to them was a clinic of some sort, a lawyer’s office and her uncle’s grocery store. Plus there was a small apartment building that sat in the adjacent parking lot of the super market. At the end of the road was a hotel that looked new.

I have your bags, the bus driver said as he approached her. I would be glad to help you to the lodge.

No, thank you. Someone is meeting me here. The man nodded and jogged across the street to the diner. With a huff, she looked toward the store and wondered what was keeping her uncle. Had he forgotten about her?

Ms. Richards? someone called out. When she looked up she was met with a pair of blue eyes that had her thinking she was staring into the depths of the ocean. Are you Tracy Richards? All she could do was nod as she studied the hunk before her. He was about six foot, three inches with wavy dark brown hair and a body that was well sculpted. The policeman’s uniform did little to hide the muscles on his body. She was certain whatever fever she might have had increased a few degrees. Are you alright?

"Just a long bus ride. Where is Uncle Carl? Is he hurt?

No, ma’am. He got tied up at a meeting and asked if I would take you over to his place and help you get settled.

Thank you, officer.

Just call me Joe. Is this all you have? he asked as he took her overnight bag and purse.

No. Those are mine as well, she replied as she pointed to the luggage near the bench.

Very well. Let’s get you settled in my truck and then I’ll grab your other bags. All she could do was allow the sexy officer to escort her to a black and white truck. Once she was settled, she leaned her head back and looked out the window. Joe picked up her suitcases without any effort and she had to hold back a moan as she quickly closed her eyes. She didn’t need to get involved with some sexy country boy because she was determined to do what she could to convince Carl to move with her to the big city.

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Once Joe had his passenger secure he quickly gathered her luggage and stowed them in the bed of his truck. When he first laid eyes on the lovely Tracy Richards his mind conjured up many ways they could get acquainted. However, his first mission was to get her to her uncle’s place. After climbing in behind the wheel he looked at the beauty beside him and shook his head.

She had long chestnut colored hair and milk chocolate eyes that had him thinking of his mother’s famous chocolate pie. Her five foot, three inch frame was slender but curvy in all the right places. Holding back a moan, he started up the engine and quickly got them on the road.

Five minutes later he pulled into Carl’s driveway and quickly jumped out to go help his passenger.

Do you know how long Uncle Carl will be?

No. I’m sorry. He just asked me to make sure you got settled. I’ll get your luggage and then we’ll head inside. Once he had her things gathered, they headed up the walkway. Carl’s place was a three bedroom, one story frame home. The faded white and black trim paint job only meant it was time for Joe and his brother to make good on the many favors Mr. Richards had done for them.

Inside he sat the bags near the hallway that led to the bedrooms and stuck his hands in his pockets. Thank you for your help, officer.

Please just call me Joe. Our families have been friends for years. It was my parents that introduced your parents.

Your parents are Mark and Lisa Summersby?

They are. I guess your mom told you about them.

A little.

"Why