Read Hunter's Bride and A Mother's Wish for Free Online Page B

in stories than you can explain. I’m not saying folks can’t have happy marriages even though the dolphin’s not there anymore. Look at your daddy and momma—they’re as much in love as ever. But it seems to me God’s plan got messed up when that dolphin disappeared, and we need to see him back where he belongs.”
    Gran had always had a strong streak of the romantic in her, but Chloe hadn’t expected this. She didn’t know what to say.
    â€œDon’t worry about it, Gran. We’ll all find the right someone to love, eventually.” It was the most comforting thing she could think of, though none of the grandchildren had managed a happy ending yet.
    â€œIt’s not just that.” The lines in Gran’s face deepened as she looked from Chloe’s father, on one side of the room, to his brother, as far away as he could get and still be in the same room.
    The breach between her daddy and Uncle Jefferson had existed long before Chloe was born, an established fact all her life. Everybody on the island knew that Uncle Jeff called Daddy a straitlaced prig and a failure, and that Daddy felt his brother’s ambition had killed off his honor. They kept up a semblance of civility for Gran’s sake, but their feud obviously still hurt her.
    â€œI’m sorry,” she said softly.
    â€œNot much we can do about them, I’m afraid. But as for you young ones—seems to me you’ve found someone to love, dolphin or no, haven’t you.”
    â€œI don’t know. It’s not…not really serious between us—not yet, anyway.”
    Gran’s wise old eyes studied Chloe. “Don’t think you can fool me, Chloe Elizabeth.”
    Her heart stopped. “What do you mean?”
    â€œI mean, I can see how well the two of you fit together. You care about him, don’t you?”
    She couldn’t lie about it with Gran looking at her. “Maybe so. But that doesn’t mean it’s going to be a lifetime love or anything.”
    Gran patted her hand. “You just keep in mind that verse I gave you on the day you were baptized. God has plans for you, plans to give you hope and a future. You trust in that, you hear?”
    She blinked back tears, thinking of the needlepoint sampler Gran had made—the one that went everywhere with her. “I’ll try.”
    â€œBesides, now that Luke’s here, maybe we can help things along.”
    Panic ripped through her. “Don’t you dare do any matchmaking. If things are meant to happen between us, they will.”
    â€œNo harm in helping it along. I want to see another Caldwell bride before I’m too old to enjoy it.”
    â€œGran—”
    â€œAre you ladies having a private conversation, or can anyone join in?”
    Chloe’s breath caught at the sound of Luke’s voice. She’d been so intent that she hadn’t noticed him cross the room to them. She looked up, trying to smile, hoping Gran hadn’t heard that betraying little gasp. Hoping even more that Luke hadn’t heard it. There were no two ways about it—the sooner they got back to Chicago and their normal lives, the better for everyone.
    â€œAlways glad to have a good-looking man to talk to.” Gran fluttered her eyelashes at him outrageously. “Especially one that I haven’t known since he was in diapers.”
    â€œGran,” Chloe murmured. Just a few more hours, and we’ll be on a plane. I’ll forget this weekend ever happened.
    Luke’s baritone chuckle was like a feather, tickling her skin. “If you want someone to flirt with, Mrs. Caldwell, I’m your man.”
    â€œThought I told you to call me ‘Gran’. Everyone else does. How are you liking Caldwell Cove, now that you’ve been here a spell?”
    â€œBeautiful,” he said promptly. “Now I know why Chloe is always talking about this place.” He put his arm around