Crazy Daisy

By Maggie Adams

Daisy Jones has loved Gideon McElroy her entire life. Painfully shy, she lived for the summers spent at her grandpa's cabin as a child, when Gideon would come to stay with his grandfather, the Colonel. While the old men reminisced on happier times and discussed the sad state of the future, Daisy would follow Gideon like a puppy, happy just to be in his presence. To her, he was everything a girl could want in a Prince Charming. When he enlisted, she was heartbroken but took solace in the fact that he would still come to visit his aging grandfather when time allowed.

Fate had other plans, and when his grandfather passed on, and Gideon didn't attend the funeral, Daisy knew he was gone forever.  She married, had a child, and tried not to think of Gideon or what had become of him. It was a childish infatuation.

Fifteen years have come and gone, and Daisy stayed on the summer island after her own grandfather died to raise her little girl. As the local vet, she sees to the needs of the tiny town and keeps to herself after her husband's suicide.  But when rumors fly that a strange man is squatting on the Colonel's land, she makes it her duty to investigate. She finds Gideon, a battle-scarred, ruthless man now, who wants nothing to do with the town or her.  Can she help him overcome his experiences, or will his wounded soul drag her into his dismal world?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Maggie Adams
• Release date: Feb 28, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386821076

Maggie Adams

Maggie Adams is an internationally known contemporary romance author. Her first book in the Tempered Steel Series, Whistlin’ Dixie, debuted in Top 100 for Women’s Fiction, humor, on November 2014. Since then, she has consistently made the best seller 5-star list with her Tempered Steel Series.  She also writes erotica, paranormal romance, young adult romance and women’s fiction. Maggie’s books can be found on eBook and paperback on her website and all book sites. When she’s not writing, she can be found dancing, singing and cooking (usually all at the same time), and spending time with her family and friends. .

Book preview

Chapter One

I ’m telling you, Verlynne , the man was as big as these here mountains, and shaggy to boot! Mabel Hastings commented. She adjusted the floral scarf that covered her purple-tinted gray hair, tying it tighter under her chin.

You don’t say? I heard he moved into the old McElroy cabin, Verlynne said. Rumor has it he’s all messed up in the head and the face. Brought a dog with him that looks more like a wolf than not. I haven’t seen him, though. Mr. Willikey opens the store up special for him at night. She shook her head. Like he was a vampire or something. I guess so he doesn’t have to be around us normal folk.

Daisy Jones rolled her blue eyes as she waited in line at the local Piggy Wiggly. These damn old biddy gossips were running somebody through the mud again and were going to make her late to open the clinic. She cleared her throat rather loudly to get their attention as she put her items on the conveyor belt.

Why Daisy, I didn’t see you back there! Mabel exclaimed. You were friends with him as a child. Has he contacted you? Or maybe brought that dog thing in for shots?

I’m sorry, but I don’t know who you are talking about. She said as she tried for a smile. I really must get...

Oh, you haven’t heard? Verlynne leaned across the groceries, the nametag on her uniform pinned to her sagging boobs and knocking over the box of cereal. She fixed her with a hawk-like stare. The old Colonel’s grandson has come back to claim the place.

Gideon? Daisy’s head came up, whipping her blonde ponytail around and into the gum rack. She disentangled it, as her heart skipped a beat. Gideon McElroy had been her childhood crush. Ten years older, and to her young mind back then, a thousand times more sophisticated, she had often dreamed that he would come back from serving his country to sweep her off her feet, and then they would live happily ever after. She sighed. Those dreams had been replaced with the harsh realities of life as a single parent now.

Yes! And he’s like a hermit. Never comes into town during the day. Very mysterious, if you ask me, Mabel sniffed. I know he’s full of scars, but folks here don’t pay that no mind. After the initial shock of seeing them, we would do our Christian duty and welcome him back to the community.

Leave it to Mabel and her cronies to be insulted by a wounded soldier who doesn’t care to socialize with the Ladies’ Solidarity of the Watertown Welcome Committee from the Baptist church.

Daisy held her temper and pushed her items closer to Verlynne, hoping she’d get the hint and check her out as she replied, I’m sure once he gets situated, he’ll come around more often. It takes a while for those who have served to get back into the flow of small town life.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Mabel’s eyes narrow. Verlynne finally concerned herself with ringing up the groceries, casting covert glances at her friend as Mabel leaned closer. And some don’t ever recover from it. She grabbed Daisy’s hand, patting it in false comfort. I hope you’re not still dwelling on your poor husband’s death. It had nothing to do with you and your girl. He just wasn’t right in the head when he got back from serving. Probably got it into his head that the child wasn’t his. She does look just like you. He couldn’t help but take his own life. Don’t go blaming yourself for not being able to stop him.

I don’t. Please excuse me. Daisy felt her eyes fill. It had been two years. She had recovered from it; well, unless some old biddy brought it up as fodder for the gossip mill. She threw some money at Verlynne, pushed past Mabel, snatched up her purchases and started to walk away. The tears fell as