“Since you were once our mayor, I’d think making speeches would be second nature to you,” Tim joined in.
“I liked your speech, Uncle Paul,” Eric said.
Paul’s face softened as he looked toward his nephew. “You did?”
“Yeah, it was short.”
Paul rocked back in his chair with a shout of laughter as the rest of the table guffawed. Once he stopped laughing he looked at his watch. “I’m officially off duty, and I have better things to do than be abused by my nearest and dearest. You ready to go, sweetheart?”
Julia nodded and everyone called out their good-byes. Paul retrieved their helmets and her leather jacket from the coat check and soon they were roaring down the highway toward home, the silk of her evening trousers rippling in the wind. She snuggled up against him, enjoying the fine wool of his tux against her cheek.
She felt him slow and lean into a right turn off the road. Peering around his shoulder, she saw the gates of Healing Springs Stables lit by the bike’s headlight. Why in the world was Paul bringing her here at eleven o’clock at night?
He slowed down as they approached the barns, keeping the engine sound to a low grumble. He parked and cut the motor.
“What are we doing here?” Julia asked, as he helped her off the Harley.
“Visiting Darkside.” He put her helmet on the bike’s seat.
“At this hour?”
“He’s your horse. You can visit him anytime you want to.” He took her hand and started toward the stable. “Besides, I kept you in DC for two weeks straight. He needs more quality time with you.”
“These shoes were not made for walking anywhere but a luxury hotel,” she said, as she wobbled over the gravel on her four-inch heels.
“Up you go then.” He dropped her hand to scoop her off her feet.
She wound her arms around his neck. “Much better but I still want to know why we’re trespassing at Sharon’s.”
“You ask too many questions.” He stopped to lower his head and kiss her long and intensely. She subsided against his chest and let him take her wherever he wanted to without comment.
“Hey there, Darth.” Paul’s voice rumbled through his chest. He still referred to Darkside as the devil horse, but it had taken on a certain tone of affection. He lowered Julia’s feet to the ground and steadied her.
The stable lights were dimmed for nighttime, but Darkside’s coat caught a gleam as he arched his neck over the stall door and whickered sleepily. “Hey, buddy,” she said, running her hand up to scratch behind his ears. “Sorry to wake you up.”
Willow’s head appeared over her stall door. “You too, Willow,” Julia said. She turned back to Paul. “Okay, now that we’ve wakened every horse in Sharon’s barn, what are we here for?”
He took a breath. “At the banquet, I called myself an agent of change, but the truth is you’re the real transformer. You’ve changed a lot of lives for the better, and none more than mine and this guy’s.” He smoothed a hand down Darkside’s nose. “So we came up with a joint proposal for you.”
Joy flooded her. “A proposal?”
Paul took both her hands in his and sank onto one knee on the pine bark, his expression solemn. “We both want you to marry me.”
“Yes, yes, oh yes!” She yanked at his hands to get him to stand up. She wanted to wrap herself around him so he could feel her happiness and love.
“You just made Darkside a very happy horse,” he said, before he gave her a kiss that seared her soul with its tenderness and passion.
As he pulled away, he reached behind her ear and brought out a ring, its stones flashing even in the low light. She laughed in delight.
“May I?” he asked, holding out his other hand.
She put her palm on his, savoring the warm strength of his long fingers as he slid the ring on. “It’s a horseshoe,” she said. “With black diamonds.”
“Darth insisted.”
“I love you so much,” she said, feeling as though there wasn’t enough room for her heart inside her rib cage.
He locked his arms around her and smiled. “I’ve loved you since I saw you standing beside a broken-down old car looking like a disgruntled wood sprite.”
She shook her head. “You tried your darnedest to drive right by me.”
“But I couldn’t. I thought I was there to rescue you, but you’re the one who saved me.” His smile was replaced by a look of love so powerful she felt it in her bones. He lowered his mouth to hers.
As Paul’s hands began to move over her body, focusing her attention on the swirl of heat and pleasure he knew so well how to evoke, she felt an insistent tug on the back of her jacket.
Pulling away from Paul, she turned to find Darkside nibbling at the leather. She laughed as she eased the hem of the jacket out of his mouth and stroked his nose. “Don’t worry, buddy, I said yes.”
“He just wants to make sure,” Paul said, “because I promised him a lifetime supply of horse treats if he could convince you to marry me.”
Julia wound her arms around Paul’s neck and locked her body against his. “I’m convinced.”
Discussion Questions for Country Roads
1) Julia’s relationship with her uncle, Carlos, is complicated because she loves him but chafes against his overprotectiveness. Where is the line between protecting someone and controlling them? Do you think Carlos crossed it?
2) Paul also wants to protect Julia but does so without curtailing her freedom. Is this because he did not see her when she was affected by epilepsy? Do you think he would act differently toward her if she still had seizures?
3) Darkside plays a major role in giving Julia the confidence she needs to present her art to the world, stand up to her uncle, and fight for Paul’s love. How can an animal, especially one that can be dangerous, help people work through their problems? Have you ever felt an animal helped you through a difficult time?
4) Julia’s art changes throughout the book. How did each of her paintings reflect the events in her life? Do you see the Night Mares as sinister figures or as something different?
5) In Take Me Home, the first book in the Whisper Horse series, Claire Arbuckle is a principal character. She also plays an important role in Country Roads. Does including a familiar character help tie the books together? Would you like to see Julia and Paul play a part in the next book?
6) Julia grew up feeling fragile and damaged because of the way her family treated her. Despite many instances of courage and independence on her part, it is hard for her to believe she is strong until those around her see her as such. What affects our self-image? Is it dependent on other people’s opinions or do we determine it? Do you have something you believe is special about yourself, as Julia believed her art was?
7) Paul remains in Sanctuary to take care of his alcoholic brother, Jimmy. Do you consider it noble or foolish for Paul to sacrifice his own happiness for the sake of Jimmy’s? If Jimmy hadn’t had his son, Eric, do you think Paul still would have stayed?
8) The town of Sanctuary, West Virginia, is an important part of the story in Country Roads. What other books have you read in which the setting plays a strong role in the book? Do you have a favorite kind of setting?
Don’t miss these novels by Nancy Herkness!
TAKE ME HOME
A Whisper Horse Novel
In the mountains of West Virginia, Claire and Tim find love through the power of a whisper horse.
SHOWER OF STARS
Charlotte offers Jack a business proposition; he counters with a most unusual proposal.
A BRIDGE TO LOVE
When Kate tells Randall he was a one-night stand, he refuses to take no for an answer.
MUSIC OF THE NIGHT
Detective Anna Salazar must resist the seduction of Maestro Nicholas Vranos and his music to die for.
“Smart, sexy, and deeply emotional.”—Barbara Bretton, USA Today bestselling author
Acknowledgments
I COULD NOT write my bo
oks without the help of family, friends, and colleagues. You all make my creative life richer and more satisfying. Many, many thanks to:
Kelli Martin, my editor, who champions my books and makes me feel valued as an author;
Jane Dystel and Miriam Goderich, my agents, who never cease to amaze me with their professionalism and support;
The author relations team at Montlake, who are helpful, knowledgeable, and just plain nice;
Andrea Hurst, my developmental editor, who makes every book she touches better;
Tara Doernberg and Deb Taber, my copy editors, and Toisan Craigg and Sara Brady, my proofreaders, who allow me to sleep at night;
Miriam Allenson, Cathy Greenfeder, and Lisa Verge Higgins, my critique group, whose wise and judicious reading of my work makes it infinitely stronger;
Rebecca Theodorou, English major extraordinaire, who developed the thoughtful, provocative discussion questions for this book;
Patti Anderson, my exercise guru, who helps me take care of myself in so many ways;
Clemente Brakel, Bruce Funderburke, and Mary McElroy, my friends and treasured resources, who have the answers when Google doesn’t;
Brodie and Rocky, my whisper dogs, who keep me healthy by taking me on long walks; and
Jeff, Rebecca, and Loukas, my family, whose love is my anchor and my joy.
About the Author
Photo by Phil Cantor, 2003
Although she now lives in the suburbs of New Jersey, Nancy Herkness was born and raised in the mountains of West Virginia. A graduate of Princeton University, she majored in English literature and creative writing. Her senior thesis was a volume of original poetry.
Her contemporary romances have won several awards, including the Golden Leaf, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, and the Aspen Gold.
She enjoys vacations to exotic locales (like Niagara Falls and Philadelphia, PA) and shares those with readers on “From the Garret,” her own personal blog. She loves animals, having grown up with five dogs, three cats, a pony, and various wild creatures the cats brought home. She has phobias about driving across bridges and flying.
Nancy lives in a Victorian house with her husband and two mismatched dogs and cheers loudly for the New Jersey Devils hockey team.
To read excerpts, enter her contest, or find out about upcoming releases, please visit Nancy’s website: www.NancyHerkness.com.
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