Surrender Your Heart Read online

  Surrender Your Heart

  Book #1 of the Sweet Savannah Home Series

  American Historical Western

  By: Marie Higgins

  Edited by: Lynda Floyd, Veronica Mesia,

  and Cherub Angel

  Copyright © 2018 by Marie Higgins

  Edition License Notes

  This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Other published stories from Marie Higgins

  ONE

  TWO

  THREE

  FOUR

  FIVE

  SIX

  SEVEN

  EIGHT

  NINE

  TEN

  ELEVEN

  TWELVE

  THIRTEEN

  FOURTEEN

  FIFTEEN

  SIXTEEN

  SEVENTEEN

  EIGHTEEN

  NINETEEN

  TWENTY

  EPILOGUE

  Watch for other books in this series coming soon...

  Author’s Bio

  Sign up for Marie Higgins's Mailing List

  Other published stories from Marie Higgins

  “Bargaining With a Rogue” – Regency Romance

  “Dangerously Close” – Romantic Suspense

  “Royal Revenge” – Contemporary Romance Short Story

  “Finding the Perfect Man” – Romantic Comedy

  “Stealing the Duchess” – Regency Romance Suspense

  “Secrets and Lies” – Victorian Romance Suspense

  “Haunting Secrets” – Victorian Paranormal Romance

  “Love Lost in Time” – Victorian Time-Travel / Suspense

  “Waiting for You” – Paranormal / Time-travel Romance

  “Aim for the Heart” – 1920’s Romantic Suspense

  “Becoming a Lady” – Regency Romance

  “In the Arms of Danger” – Romantic Suspense

  “Crazy For You” – Romantic Comedy

  “My Heart’s Treasure” – Victorian Romantic Suspense

  “Protecting the Heart” – Contemporary Short Story

  Sweet Savannah Home Series (American Historical)

  “Surrender Your Heart” – book 1

  “The Reluctant Widow” – book 2

  “Destinies Unite” – book 3 (not yet available)

  “Love Heals All” – book 4 (not yet available)

  The Gifted Series (Regency Romantic Suspense – touch of paranormal)

  “Madison’s Gift” – book 1

  “Katrina’s Sight” – book 2

  “Felicia’s Spirits” – book 3

  Your Every Day Hero Series (Romantic Suspense / Romantic Comedy)

  “Prince Charming is a Liar” – Romantic Comedy / Suspense

  “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Altar” – Romantic Suspense / Romantic Comedy

  “You Are My Everything” - Romance

  Where Dreams Come True Series (fairy tales)

  “The Witch Hunt” – Young Adult Fantasy

  “Champion” – Robin Hood / time travel

  “Her Very Own Godmother” – Modern-day Cinderella, romantic comedy

  “Keep on Believing” – Historical Cinderella

  “Once Enchanted” – Rapunzel romance

  Christian Historical Series

  “A Walk in Heaven” – book 1

  “Touching Heaven” – book 2

  “Reach for Heaven” – book 3

  Regency Romance Series – Sons of Worthington

  “The Sweetest Kiss” – book 1

  “The Sweetest Touch” – book 2

  “The Sweetest Love” – book 3

  “The Sweetest Secret” – book 4

  “The Sweetest Challenge” – book 5

  “Sweet Memories” – book 6

  Regency Romance Suspense Series – Heroic Rogues

  “Pretending You’re Mine” – book 1

  “After the Loving” – book 2

  “Wonderland by Night” – book 3

  “Worth Fighting For” – book 4

  Victorian Romance Series

  “Love Me Always” – book 1

  “Charmed by Knight” – book 2

  “True Love’s Deception” – book 3

  “Belong To Me” – book 4

  “Love Comes Blindly” – book 5

  Christmas Stories

  “A Thrill of Hope” - Contemporary

  “Dreaming of You” – Romantic Comedy

  “Love Lost in Time” – Victorian Time-Travel

  “Her Own Fairy Godmother” – Romantic Comedy

  “Becoming a Lady” – Regency Short Romance

  “Worth Fighting For” – Regency Short Romance

  “Dangerous Kiss” – Contemporary Short Romance

  “Snow Angel” – Contemporary Short Romance

  “Mistletoe Magic” – Contemporary Short Romance

  After a lifetime of heartache, Adam Hamilton knows bad luck follows him like a stray dog. He doesn’t dare get too close to anyone for fear something terrible will happen to them – like what happened when his wife and son died. After five years of drifting, Adam returns home to Savannah, Georgia, and learns his brother has been murdered. Determined to find answers, Adam decides to stay, but in his quest for truth, he’ll have to fight the ghosts of the past.

  Emily Black races to Savannah after the sudden death of her sister’s husband. There Emily meets the coldhearted Adam Hamilton, and the man quickly proves to be an utter pain in her backside. However, as she gets to know him, she realizes a broken man is hiding beneath an aloof façade. Slowly, Emily softens toward him, determined to show him that good still exists in his life, and hoping he’ll include her in it.

  ONE

  Texas 1885

  Pa will forgive me.

  I hope.

  Emily Black nibbled on her bottom lip as she gently urged the horse pulling her wagon slowly toward the grassy knoll. A stream gurgled nearby, and she eyed it warily as anticipation grew inside her. Shielding her eyes, she glanced up at the blistering sun. Today’s sultry weather had her gown practically fused to her body. Moisture coated her forehead, and she’d consumed almost all of the water in her canteen.

  As much as she wanted to refresh herself in the cool water, she knew her father expected her back home soon. The trip to Lubbock to gather supplies for the family’s livery hadn’t taken as long as she had expected, but the more she rode near the stream, the greater the temptation became to park the wagon, remove her stockings and shoes, and dip her toes in the cool water. Pa would forgive her...wouldn’t he?

  Splashing water on her face and neck sounded very stimulating right now. She was close enough to the water that it wouldn’t take much time out of her schedule if she stopped and dipped her feet into the cool water before traveling home.

  As the family’s best horse continued to pull the wagon, Emily narrowed her gaze on the back of the animal. If she wasn’t mistaken, Mischief’s steps appeared sluggish. Perhaps Mischief was in need of a rest, and some water, too.

  Decision made, she stopped the wagon, set the brake, and jumped down. Holding in a giggle of excitement, she pulled off her leather gloves and placed them on the seat. She ventured past the shrubs and trees, closer and closer to her destination. Pa wouldn’
t expect her back for another hour anyway. It wasn’t as if he needed her or the supplies anytime soon. And a few minutes out of her time wouldn’t be noticed at all.

  As Emily neared the stream, the sound of rushing water grew louder. Apprehension expanded her chest until she reached the edge and stopped. She groaned and her hopes plummeted like a boulder in the sea. A perfect blue color from the cloudless sky was reflected slightly in the unusually grayish colored water, making it appear clearer and definitely more inviting. Apparently, winter had given them plenty of moisture because the water level was higher than it had been the first day of spring two weeks ago. Wading would be out of the question now.

  Unless of course, she was careful and remained by the bank.

  Without another thought, she plopped on the ground and yanked off her boots and stockings. She was eager to feel the slippery rocks under her feet and the sand squishing between her toes. It’d been a while since she’d had such a luxury. She spent all of her time working in the livery with her father and brothers. Her two older sisters were married and had their own families, and Emily felt she needed to assist her younger brothers and her father whenever she could.

  Slowly, she slid her foot in the chilly water. The cool temperature caught her off guard and she sucked in a quick breath. Feeling like a young girl again, she eased both feet into the water. The torrential waves crashed over the boulders jutting out of the swiftly moving water with a deafening noise. The stream’s flow was stronger than she’d expected, and almost knocked her over. She steadied herself as confidence grew inside of her.

  A laugh bubbled up from her, remembering all the times she and her siblings used to try to knock each other down in the water. She was usually the last one standing since she’d been more of a tomboy than her older sisters.

  Daring to venture further, she took another step. Her foot landed on a slippery rock, and this time she tilted toward the water. Flailing her arms to keep upright, she teetered on unsteady legs. Another strong current knocked against her, taking her down.

  In one big splash she landed on her butt, but before she had a chance to gain her bearings and stand, the water tugged her downstream. She fell back, the cool liquid covering her face. Holding her breath, she fought to sit upright, but the strong rapids kept pulling her under.

  Just as her face broke the surface she gasped for air. Seconds later, another undercurrent pulled her back under. Water closed quickly over her head. Her wet dress weighed her down even more. She thrashed her arms and legs, trying to gain control. Her struggles were for naught.

  Once more she lifted her face above the water and took a breath of air. This time, she screamed for help, hoping someone would hear even if this area was practically the middle of nowhere.

  As the water pulled her under another time, despair settled in her chest. Never had she felt so helpless. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stand, and her body was being dragged down the stream as if she was a rag doll.

  Terror engulfed her fully now. Her chest burned. This couldn’t be happening to her. No! I’m too young to die!

  She resurfaced and gasped for breath, but before she could do any more, she was pulled under again. The hollow echo of crashing water filled her ears. She swung her arms about, hoping to catch something—a tree branch or anything that might be able to stop her, but nothing connected fully to her grasp.

  Her head broke the surface and she spat water from her mouth before gulping deep breaths. Her exhausted limbs grew weak from the struggle and her body cried out in pain from being slammed into boulders along the way. How far downstream she’d been dragged, she had no idea, but she fervently wished that someone was out there close enough to hear her and come to her aid soon.

  “Grab the rope!” a voice called to her out of nowhere.

  Hope sprang inside her. Her prayer was answered! She blinked, trying to keep the splashing water out of her vision, but she couldn’t see a rope. Then again, she couldn’t see anything but blurry water.

  As the furious stream swallowed her once more, she thought her lungs would burst. An object struck the top of her head, and in the next moment, her hands touched something rough and round. Blindly, she grabbed the rope and clung to her lifeline.

  Slowly, she shifted in a different direction—toward land. She pulled her face out of the water again enough to take another breath. Soon two strong hands grasped her wrists, tugging her out. Within seconds she fell against a warm body.

  Chills shook through her and rattled her teeth. Weakness sapped her ability to even open her eyes as she rested her head against a man’s chest and inhaled deeply. Breathing had never felt as wonderful as it did now. Tears filled her eyes. During those terrifying moments in the stream, it was as if her life passed before her...and the thought of her dying a lonely old maid made her shudder.

  “Miss? Are you all right?”

  The man’s deep voice shook through her, bringing her out of her state of exhaustion. She lifted her head and peered into a pair of the most caring eyes she’d ever seen, green with a touch of gray. Water dripped from the ends of his blondish-brown wavy hair as it hung over his ears and forehead, yet he was nowhere near as wet as she.

  “Miss, will you answer me?”

  Studying his face, she nodded. He was incredibly handsome, and extremely rugged. Blinking, she pushed the idea aside. Perhaps she was just idolizing him because he saved her life. Yet, when she looked at him again, she nearly sighed aloud. If she was dreaming, she hoped to never awaken. “I...I think I’m all right.”

  He released a heavy breath as the corners of his mouth tugged higher. “Oh, what a relief. You can talk.”

  “Yes. I just needed to catch my breath.”

  “What were you doing in the water?”

  She glanced at the rapid stream as another shiver shook through her. “Rafting, I think. At least that’s what it felt like.”

  A full smile spread across his mouth and a chuckle escaped his throat. “May I suggest next time doing it with someone—and please, use a raft.”

  His deep voice soothed her, and she nodded. “Excellent idea. Thank you for the suggestion.”

  “Can you stand?”

  “Yes.”

  He helped her rise and then released her, taking a step back. It was then when she realized his attire. Never had she seen such a wealthy man before. He wore a gray frock coat and burgundy vest, and a gray tie wrapped around his upright white stiff collar. Gray striped trousers fit his legs perfectly. His shoulder-length hair surprised her, however. But she wouldn’t comment on it. Not yet, anyway.

  This being the first time she’d come face-to-face with such a refined gentleman, she couldn’t stop staring. She guessed him to be in his mid-thirties if even that old.

  Another chill shot through her and she rubbed her palms over her arms. Her yellow gingham dress clung to her like a second skin. Pa would certainly tan her hide now. If only she had a blanket, perhaps she could dry herself enough before arriving home. But then she had only planned on being gone a few hours so why would she carry a blanket?

  She glanced around them, trying to find the main road. How far were they from her wagon?

  “Oh, forgive me for not thinking.” He removed his frock coat. “Put this on. It’ll warm you up until we can get you home.”

  “Thank you.” She shrugged into his coat with his assistance. His manly scent of musk and vanilla surrounded her, and for some odd reason, the unique feeling comforted her better than any blanket could. The urge to close her eyes and sigh became strong, but she didn’t dare. She didn’t want him to think her foolish.

  “I’m grateful you happened by when you did,” she said. “Tell me, sir, are you from around here?”

  “My friend and I were traveling to the small town of Plain, when we saw your empty wagon. I had almost decided to keep traveling until I heard you scream. In fact,” he looked over her shoulder toward the road, “my friend should be coming along soon with your wagon. He assured me he
would watch over your vehicle while I pulled you from the water.” He motioned toward the road. “Come. I believe we should find him.”

  Side by side they headed up the road. She bundled the man’s coat closer to ward off the chill from the slight wind blowing against her face. Still, she couldn’t believe she was actually talking, and walking, with a wealthy gentleman. Her friends back home would get an earful tomorrow.

  Within seconds, she spotted her wagon. The man driving it wore black clergyman robes and turned white collar. On his head was a black hat, so she couldn’t quite see the color of his hair. It surprised her to see her rescuer’s friend was a man of God. His horse was tied to her wagon, following behind.

  “Ah, splendid,” her rescuer cheered. “There’s Father Brian now.”

  The closer the other man came, the more familiarity tugged at her memory. If she didn’t know better, she would have thought he was her cousin who had gone to Ireland two years ago. After all, her cousin and this clergyman shared the same first name.

  Her legs were still weak from her ordeal, and she stumbled. Immediately, the man’s strong arms circled her waist and held her up. Embarrassment washed over her, burning her cheeks. She’d never enjoyed looking like a weakling in front of strangers.

  “Dagnabbit,” she muttered.

  The handsome man chuckled and she looked up into his eyes. His cheeks seemed redder for some reason. Unless...she’d probably offended him with her language. If Pa caught her saying this, he’d take a willow branch to her backside for sure.

  Pa had always told Emily she had a temper that frightened the devil himself. Although she knew her pa was teasing her, she had to admit that her temper flared much too often. Was it her fault that she wanted everything perfect and was irritated when that didn’t happen?

  She smiled up at her rescuer. “Sorry for my language. Sometimes my frustration gets the better of me.”

  “That’s understandable, Miss.”

  From the wagon, a loud laugh erupted from the clergyman, and she swung her attention toward him. Landsakes, but not only did he resemble her cousin, he also sounded like him.

  “I think my ears are deceivin’ me. Is my favorite cousin cussin’ again?”