Healing Hearts: Quinn Valley Ranch, #5

By Kay P. Dawson

Vicki is the last Quinn standing...

Over the past year, all of her cousins and siblings have fallen in love, leaving her the sole focus of her matchmaking grandmother's attention.

When one of the residents in the nursing home where she works asks Vicki to accompany her on a road trip, along with her estranged grandson, Vicki isn't sure it's a good idea. But, without her, the trip can't happen—and Vicki wants to be able to give the woman this chance to go back home one more time.

But, the one problem is the grandson who has been absent for years. Can she ever trust that he has his grandmother's best interests at heart?

After their less than ideal first meeting, they are forced to spend days on the road together, where they will both learn a lot about family, loyalty and forgiveness.

Can hearts that have been hurting for so many years ever truly be healed? Or, will Vicki remain the one Quinn who will never find their happy ever after?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kay P. Dawson
• Release date: Apr 11, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224670970

Book preview

Chapter One

S ome days I just wonder why I stay at my job. It makes me so upset when things like this happen, and I just end up taking it home with me. Maybe I’m not cut out to be a nurse anymore.

Vicki leaned on her cart next to the produce in the Quinn Valley Quick-EE Mart, where she stood talking to her sister Brooke. Days like today left her feeling completely drained, and the last thing she’d wanted to do after work was to come grocery shopping. But she knew there was no food in her cupboard and now that her brother Travis was married, she couldn’t really show up there every evening for supper like she’d always done before. He liked to cook, and she didn’t.

It had been a perfect arrangement. Until every single one of her siblings had fallen down the rabbit hole of wedded bliss within just a year.

Now, she had to face many evenings eating alone. She cringed inwardly as she had the familiar feeling hit her that she was actually the last Quinn standing without a ring on their finger—out of all twenty-five Quinn cousins.

Just over a year ago, they’d all been happily single, living life free and full of joy. Family get-togethers were chaotic, but fun, and they’d all laughed off their Grandma Gertie’s attempts at telling them they needed to start giving her great-grandchildren.

Vicki had never dreamed there would actually be any hurry to settle down and start a family, but apparently she was the only one who didn’t get the memo. Now, in a short time, every single one had been hit with cupid’s arrow. Meanwhile, the only thing she’d been hit with was the bill for numerous bridesmaid’s dresses, wedding gifts, and the realization she would always be the extra when getting together for family game nights now.

If that didn’t make a person want to sit down and eat three tubs of chocolate ice cream for supper, she didn’t know what would.

Vicki, stop talking like that. The reason you care so much is also the reason why you’re one of the best nurses out there. It’s just what makes you who you are. I know how much it sucks having days like this. But you also need to remember why you’re doing this job. And that’s so you can make a difference in these people’s lives. Trust me, every single resident in the nursing home loves you like a daughter. I’ve seen how their eyes light up when they see you walk into the room.

Brooke was a doctor in Quinn Valley and worked closely with many of the residents in the nursing home where Vicki was the head nurse. If anyone could understand the feelings she had right now, it was Brooke.

I know. And I know I could never give up being a nurse. It’s just so hard some days. Seeing Margaret sitting by the window, just giving up on life, breaks my heart. Every morning she has a glimmer of hope in her eyes when she asks if I’ve heard anything from her grandson. Then that spark fades when I have to tell her no once again. Maybe I should have just stayed out of it and not given her any false hope at all.

You did what you had to do for someone you care about a great deal, Vicki. There’s nothing wrong with that. The only person who should be feeling bad in all of this is the grandson who can’t be bothered to come and see a woman who obviously loves him. All you can do is be there for Margaret and let her know that even though you might not be her family by blood, she has someone to care for her in her final days.

Vicki let her eyes follow the people in the store going about their shopping without a care in the world. Since Quinn Valley was a small town, many of the shoppers were stopping to chat with someone they knew or smiling and offering a quick greeting in passing.

As she said goodbye to Brooke and continued around the aisles in the store, her mind wandered back to Margaret.

She was glad she’d met up with her sister so she could talk about her concerns. With patient confidentiality, she wasn’t able to discuss personal matters about the residents with anyone else. But Brooke was Margaret’s doctor and had been with them both often, so she already knew what was going on.

Margaret was one of the sweetest and kindest ladies Vicki had ever known, besides her grandma Gertie, of course. She wasn’t much older than her grandma, but unfortunately Margaret’s health had been declining since she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease a few years ago. She had moved herself into the nursing home shortly after her husband passed away, knowing she was going to require more care and didn’t have any family who could help her.

Over the past few months, Vicki had formed a close relationship with the woman, and Margaret was more than just a resident in the nursing home where she worked. She would do anything to make Margaret happy before the disease took over her body.

Which is why Vicki had been trying to reach the only family Margaret did have—a grandson in Boise. Vicki had seen pictures of him as a young boy, but apparently Margaret hadn’t been in contact with him for years. She didn’t have pictures, letters, cards or anything except the faded photo album from years ago.

Margaret had spoken of him often and said how much she would love the chance to see him again. Vicki hadn’t asked what happened or why there hadn’t been any contact because she sensed the sadness the older woman felt and didn’t want to bring up bad memories. She figured Margaret would tell her when, and if, she wanted to.

But a few weeks ago, Margaret had asked her if she could help her find her grandson. Vicki hadn’t been able to say no, even though she wondered what would happen if she couldn’t find him. Or worse, she found him, and he wasn’t interested in coming to see his grandmother.

And it seemed like that was exactly what had happened. After she found him, Vicki had left messages on his voice mail and had tried sending emails telling the man about his grandmother and how she’d like to see him.

It was obvious he was ignoring her.

Vicki couldn’t control her agitation as she thought about the ungrateful grandson who was missing out on the chance to make his loving grandmother happy. She pushed her cart angrily out the door onto the sidewalk in front, not even paying attention to the people she passed by. All she wanted to do was get home and make the hot dogs she had planned for supper. Just forget about work and how upset poor Margaret was going to be again tomorrow when she asked about her grandson.

She walked along the sidewalk until she got to the yellow striped crossing and shoved her cart toward the pavement. Not designed to be pushed with such force on the uneven surface, the front wheels rattled. With a sudden jolt, her stomach slammed into the handle as the small wheels stuck into a ridge between the sidewalk and pavement of the parking lot.

Before she could even figure out what was happening, she felt her entire body being lifted up and over the now tumbling shopping cart. She flailed helplessly, trying to stop everything from going over. But because she’d chosen a smaller cart and had also picked up a large water bottle to replace on her cooler at home, all of the weight went to the front, propelling her forward.

All she could think about as she flew over the top of the cart like a gymnast, making a fabulous dismount off the vault, was that she was glad she was wearing scrubs and not a skirt. Her legs were over her head and she knew nothing would have been left to the imagination for the horrified onlookers who were no doubt watching in shock.

She landed with an undignified thud on the ground past the toppled shopping cart with her groceries strewn around her. Everything seemed like it was in slow motion as she turned to watch her three oranges slowly roll down the incline toward an oncoming car. Her large water bottle caught up to the oranges and bounced into the air as it hit a speed bump before rolling into the tire of a parked car, just narrowly missing the one that had stopped for the oranges.

Vaguely, she heard some gasps from the people who had witnessed her display of gracefulness. No one seemed to know whether they should come and help or turn and pretend they hadn’t seen anything to save her from even more embarrassment.

At this point, she was sure there was nothing in the world that could possibly make this worse anyway, so saving her from embarrassment wasn’t even an option. She moved to stand up, not daring to make eye contact with anyone around her, but before she could get up, a hand reached down and a man’s voice sent shivers down her spine. Maybe it was the knock she’d taken on her head, but she was sure she’d never heard a voice so sexy and soothing.

Are you all right? Here, let me help you up.

When she lifted her head and met the bright blue eyes staring at her with a mixture of concern and barely contained laughter, she groaned inwardly.

Of course a gorgeous man she didn’t know would have been coming along at just the right time to witness everything.

She took his hand and let him help her up, keeping her eyes down as she tried to wipe all the dust and dirt from her clothes. What little dignity she had left was gone the minute she heard his voice again.

You really have to be careful when driving these shopping carts. Maybe they should come equipped with air bags.

When she met his gaze again, she squinted in annoyance. Those blue eyes were dancing with amusement, and even though she appreciated that he was the only one who had stopped to check on