Here to Stay
Authors: Catherine Anderson
Tags: #Fiction, #Romance, #Contemporary, #General
Table of Contents
Praise for the Romances of Catherine Anderson
“Emotional and heartfelt, her stories make you believe in the power of love.”—Debbie Macomber
“Anderson comes up with another winner by deftly blending sweetness and sensuality in a poignantly written story.”
—Booklist
“Catherine Anderson has a gift for imbuing her characters with dignity, compassion, courage, and strength that inspire readers.”
—Romantic Times
“A major voice in the romance genre.”
—Publishers Weekly
Early Dawn
“Never stinting on the harsh reality inherent in the setting, the author tempers the roughness with a powerful love story and remarkable characters. She draws out every emotion and leaves readers with a true understanding of life and love.”
—Romantic Times
(4½ Stars)
Comanche Heart
“Riveting, passionate, and powerful ... everything a romance should be.”—Amanda Quick
“Highly sensual and very compelling ... a truly spectacular read.”—Linda Lael Miller
“I thoroughly enjoyed [
Comanche Heart
].”
—Karen Robards
Star Bright
“When opening an Anderson novel, readers encounter great characterization as well as complex emotional issues. Poignant and funny, yet laced with danger, this is a truly enchanting read.”—
Romantic Times
(4 Stars)
Morning Light
“This is a story not to be missed.
Morning Light
delivers on all levels, and is a fantastic read that will touch readers at the very core of their being.”
—The Romance Readers Connection
Sun Kissed
“This smart, wholesome tale should appeal to any fan of traditional romance.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Another heartwarming chapter in the Coulter family saga is on tap in the always wonderful Anderson’s newest release. ... Anderson is at her best when it comes to telling stories that are deeply emotional and heartfelt.”
—
Romantic Times
(4½ Stars)
Summer Breeze
“Anderson understands the inner workings of the human soul so deeply that she’s able to put intense emotion within a stunning romance in such a way that you’ll believe in miracles. Add to this her beautiful writing style, memorable characters, and a timeless story, and you have an unmatched reading adventure.”—
Romantic Times
(4½ Stars)
“The kind of book that will snare you so completely, you’ll not want to put it down. It engages the intellect and emotions ; it’ll make you care. It will also make you smile ... a lot. And that’s a guarantee.”—Romance Reviews Today
My Sunshine
“With the author’s signature nurturing warmth and emotional depth, this beautifully written romance is a richly rewarding experience for any reader.”—
Booklist
Blue Skies
“Readers may need to wipe away tears ... since few will be able to resist the power of this beautifully emotional, wonderfully romantic love story.”—
Booklist
“A keeper and a very strong contender for best contemporary romance of the year.”—Romance Reviews Today
Bright Eyes
“Offbeat family members and genuine familial love give a special lift to this marvelous story. An Anderson book is a guaranteed great read!”
—
Romantic Times
(4½ Stars, Top Pick)
Only by Your Touch
“Ben Longtree is a marvelous hero whose extraordinary gifts bring a unique and special magic to this warmhearted novel. No one can tug your heartstrings better than Catherine Anderson.”—
Romantic Times
(4½ Stars, Top Pick)
Always in My Heart
“Emotionally involving, family centered, and relationship oriented, this story is a rewarding read.”—
Library Journal
“[A] superbly written contemporary romance, which features just the kind of emotionally nourishing, comfortably compassionate type of love story this author is known for creating.”—
Booklist
Sweet Nothings
“Pure reading magic.”—
Booklist
Phantom Waltz
“Anderson departs from traditional romantic stereotypes in this poignant contemporary tale of a love that transcends all boundaries ... romantic through and through.”
—
Publishers Weekly
OTHER NOVELS BY CATHERINE ANDERSON
The Comanche Series
Comanche Moon
Comanche Heart
Indigo Blue
Harrigan Family Novels
Morning Light
Star Bright
Here to Stay
Coulter Family Contemporary Novels
Phantom Waltz
Sweet Nothings
Blue Skies
Bright Eyes
My Sunshine
Sun Kissed
Coulter Family Historical Novels
Summer Breeze
Early Dawn
Other Signet Books
Always in My Heart
Only by Your Touch
Sun Kissed
Bonus Book
SIGNET
Published by New American Library, a division of
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eISBN : 978-1-101-47693-2
Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices:
80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
First published by Signet, an imprint of New American Library,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
First Printing, February 2011
Copyright © Adeline Catherine Anderson, 2011
All rights reserved
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Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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To my husband, Sid, who has always been my rock; and to our wonderful sons, Sidney and John; my daughter-in-law, Mary; and my three grandsons, Joshua, Liam, and Jonas, who always make me smile. I also want to thank Kate Allen, who works so hard to keep my writing day uninterrupted so I can be productive, and my assistant, Julia Stapp, for her unflagging enthusiasm and encouragement.
Acknowledgments
Over the course of this book, I had to pick the brains of different individuals to get my facts straight. I greatly appreciated the knowledge that my son John, my husband, Sid, and Ashley Buck shared with me about horses. Special thanks are also due to Mona Ramoni and her beautiful mini guide horse, Cali, for all the inside information about these fabulous little equines who make such a difference in the lives of the sight impaired; Ann Edie, who helped me temper my passion for the guide horse movement with facts so I could present both sides of the issues; Dolores Arste, who shared information about the guide horse training process; and Renata Di Pietro, a trained guide dog handler who sent me so much information, about both guide dogs and horses. I also want to thank John Newman, who guided me through the legal issues involved when individuals are charged with a crime in Oregon, and also explained what kind of evidence is needed at an arraignment hearing to document the abuse or endangerment of animals.
Prologue
Music blared from the barroom stage where the Bushwhackers, Crystal Falls’ top country-western band, pounded out rhythms that kept the dance floor packed. The lead singer, a tall dude in Wranglers, a spangled Western shirt, shiny cowboy boots that had never met up with cow shit, and a Stetson studded around the crown with silver conchos, offered a fervent rendition of John Michael Montgomery’s dated hit “Be My Baby Tonight.” The fast beat throbbed in the air, inspiring couples to pick up the pace as they executed the intricate heel-and-toe steps of a country line dance on the well-waxed plank floor surrounded by small tables.