Riverbend Gap, page 27
As if he could read her mind, his lips lifted at the corners. He squeezed her hand and she squeezed his right back.
After the service Cooper took her to his place to exchange gifts. A week after Thanksgiving she’d bought a small artificial Christmas tree for his apartment, and they’d decorated it together. The red and silver glass bulbs made for a somewhat generic-looking tree, but the colorful lights gave the room a beautiful glow.
They settled in front of the fireplace, and Cooper unwrapped his gift: a pair of work boots he’d been wanting. His hours as sheriff were long, and though he rarely complained, his feet sometimes ached at the end of the day.
“Kate . . .” He removed a boot from the box. “These are so expensive.”
“You’re worth every penny.” She would empty her bank account to see his eyes light up like that.
His gaze practically caressed the weatherproof leather exterior, the dense rubber sole, the lace-up front and the side zipper that would get him out the door quickly in an emergency.
“I saw you eyeing them online.”
“I decided they were too expensive.”
“And I decided they weren’t.”
His hand glided over the leather, then he turned and brushed her lips with his. “I love them. Thank you. My feet thank you.”
After taking a few minutes to appreciate the boots’ workmanship, he stood. “Your turn. You have to close your eyes.”
“Okay . . .” She did as he asked and listened to his footsteps retreat. Sounds came from down the hall. She was so tempted to peek, but she kept her eyes closed. A moment later footsteps sounded again, growing nearer.
“Don’t open them yet,” he said from someplace close by. “I hope you like it.”
“I’m sure I will. You have exquisite taste.”
“I do, don’t I? Okay, you can open your eyes.”
Cooper stood in the middle of the living room. And standing right next to him was a bike. A mint-green bike with a white seat and a white basket.
Oh. It was just like the one she’d coveted as a child. Katie’s breath caught and tears stung her eyes. She pressed a hand to her chest. “It even has a bell.”
“Do you like it?”
She couldn’t respond; there was a catch in her throat. A tear escaped and trickled down her cheek.
“Hey . . . It’s not supposed to make you cry.”
She jumped from the sofa and was in his arms in two seconds flat. “They’re happy tears. It’s so beautiful. I can’t believe you did this. I can’t believe you remembered.”
He drew back, his gaze piercing hers. “I want to give you everything you’ve always wanted.”
Her heart squeezed tight. “Oh, Cooper. You already have.”
At ten o’clock on Christmas morning the Robinsons gathered in Lisa and Jeff’s living room for a gift exchange. Delicious smells emanated from the kitchen, making Katie’s stomach growl.
Christmas decorations littered the room: a Santa doorstop, a mantel garland, a nativity, three stuffed snowmen, and candles galore. The live Fraser fir stretched toward the ceiling, topped with a glowing angel. Its limbs were adorned with homemade ornaments, most of them made once upon a time by the Robinson children.
“Mom was supposed to pass our ornaments to us when we struck out on our own,” Cooper explained as Katie perused the dozens of baubles. “But as you can see, mine are still hanging on her tree.”
“So are mine,” Avery said. “She can’t bear to give them up.”
“Oh, that’s not true.” Lisa smacked Avery’s shoulder. “I’m waiting for you to get married is all.”
“Really?” Gavin said. “Because I got married and you never gave me mine.”
“Oh, hush, you guys.”
Jeff wrapped his arms around his wife. “It’s Christmas. She’s allowed to be sentimental.”
Coming around the family—around Gavin—had been a little awkward at first. But Katie and Gavin soon settled into a comfortable friendship. When they had nice weather they sometimes teamed up to beat Avery and Cooper at cornhole.
He’d also begun dating again, though there was no one serious yet.
As the family exchanged gifts, laughter and inside jokes abounded, all of which Cooper patiently explained. By the time the wrapping paper lay in shreds on the floor, Katie was richer by one sweater, a pair of leather gloves, cordless earbuds, and a gift certificate to a spa in Asheville.
Over the past couple months, things had gotten back to normal between she and Avery. Avery had been thrilled to take Katie back at the clinic. And so far, even with the bridge out, business was enough—just barely—to keep them all employed.
The other businesses, including Jeff’s store, were surviving too. Even better, Trail Days had been such a boon for the town that the council had agreed to make it an annual event.
The doorbell rang and Katie’s mother arrived, bearing two freshly baked pies, just in time to join the Robinsons for Christmas dinner. Her relationship with her mom had found solid footing in the past weeks. They met for coffee nearly every Saturday morning, and the more Katie learned about Beth, the more she respected all the woman had overcome.
In late November she and Beth had driven up to Max Patch, where Katie had spread Spencer’s ashes. There, Katie had borne witness to the remorse of a woman who’d been too late. It broke Katie’s heart. But the time on the mountain had been healing for Beth. Sadly, some regrets could never be fixed. They just had to be endured.
After clearing the living room the family gathered around the table, ready to dig into the feast spread before them: baked ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, sweet potato casserole, and yeast rolls. As good as the food smelled and would no doubt taste, the people surrounding Katie outshone it by a thousand kilowatts.
Katie’s gaze drifted around the table at the people who’d become her family, and Cooper’s words from Trail Days played back in her mind. “Sometimes family isn’t the situation you’re born into but the people who’ve chosen to love you along the way.” The truth of those words settled over her like a warm blanket. And when they bowed their heads to say grace, Katie said an extra prayer of thanks for the unexpected blessing of family.
Discussion Questions
Who was your favorite character in Riverbend Gap? Why?
What was your favorite scene, and why did it speak to you?
Come up with a trail name for yourself and explain why you chose it.
Katie was taken from her home as a child, losing all sense of stability and belonging. How did her need for a place to belong cause her to make poor decisions?
Through shared crises, Katie and Cooper bonded quickly, despite their wishes not to hurt Gavin. How did this make you feel? Were you rooting for them, or did you feel more for Gavin, who’d already lost so much?
Because of her childhood Katie’s worst fear was rejection. Describe how the events following her kiss with Cooper triggered that fear.
Discuss how Cooper’s alcoholic father might have played a part in his decision to become a deputy and then a sheriff.
As Jeff pointed out in the story, Cooper avoided relationships because he was afraid of acting like his father. Have you ever avoided something out of fear of becoming like a parent?
When the rumors about Katie swirled through town, she was afraid her mother had rejected her again. Has deep-rooted insecurity ever dredged up fear in you? How did you handle it?
Avery revealed a significant secret to Katie regarding her health. What do you think might be in store for Avery?
Acknowledgments
Bringing a book to market takes a lot of effort from many different people. I’m so incredibly blessed to partner with the fabulous team at HarperCollins Christian Fiction, led by publisher Amanda Bostic: Kimberly Carlton, Jodi Hughes, Margaret Kercher, Becky Monds, Kerri Potts, Savannah Summers, Laura Wheeler, Nekasha Pratt, and LaChelle Washington.
Not to mention all the wonderful sales reps and amazing people in the rights department—special shout-out to Robert Downs!
Thanks especially to my editor Kimberly Carlton. Your incredible insight and inspiration help me take the story deeper, and for that I am so grateful! Thanks also to my line editor, Julee Schwarzburg, whose attention to detail makes me look like a better writer than I really am.
Author Colleen Coble is my first reader and sister of my heart. Thank you, friend! This writing journey has been ever so much more fun because of you.
I’m grateful to my agent, Karen Solem, who’s able to somehow make sense of the legal garble of contracts and, even more amazing, help me understand it.
To my husband, Kevin, who has supported my dreams in every way possible—I’m so grateful! To all our kiddos: Chad, Trevor and Babette, and Justin and Hannah, who have favored us with two beautiful granddaughters. Every stage of parenthood has been a grand adventure, and I look forward to all the wonderful memories we have yet to make!
A hearty thank you to all the booksellers who make room on their shelves for my books—I’m deeply indebted! And to all the book bloggers and reviewers, whose passion for fiction is contagious—thank you!
Lastly, thank you, friends, for letting me share this story with you! I wouldn’t be doing this without you. Your notes, posts, and reviews keep me going on the days when writing doesn’t flow so easily. I appreciate your support more than you know.
I enjoy connecting with friends on my Facebook page, www.facebook.com/authordenisehunter. Please pop over and say hello. Visit my website at www.DeniseHunterBooks.com, or just drop me a note at Deniseahunter@comcast.net. I’d love to hear from you!
About the Author
Photo by Neal Bruns
Denise Hunter is the internationally published bestselling author of more than thirty books, three of which have been adapted into original Hallmark Channel movies. She has won the Holt Medallion Award, the Reader’s Choice Award, the Carol Award, and the Foreword Book of the Year Award and is a RITA finalist. When Denise isn’t orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking good coffee, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana, where she and her husband are currently enjoying an empty nest.
* * *
DeniseHunterBooks.com
Instagram: @deniseahunter
Facebook: @authordenisehunter
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Praise for Denise Hunter
“Denise Hunter has never failed to pen a novel that whispers messages of hope and brings a smile to my face. Bookshop by the Sea is no different! With a warmhearted community, a small beachside town, a second-chance romance worth rooting for, and cozy bookshop vibes, this is a story you’ll want to snuggle into like a warm blanket.”
—Melissa Ferguson, author of The Cul-de-Sac War
“Sophie and Aiden had me hooked from page one, and I was holding my breath until the very end. Denise nails second-chance romance in Bookshop by the Sea. I adored this story! Five giant stars!”
—Jenny Hale, USA TODAY bestselling author
“Autumn Skies is the perfect roundup to the Bluebell Inn series. The tension and attraction between Grace and Wyatt is done so well, and the mystery kept me wondering what was going to happen next. Prepare to be swept away to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in a flurry of turning pages.”
—Nancy Naigle, USA TODAY bestselling author of Christmas Angels
“Carolina Breeze is filled with surprises, enchantment, and a wonderful depth of romance. Denise Hunter gets better with every novel she writes, and that trend has hit a high point with this wonderful story.”
—Hannah Alexander, author of The Wedding Kiss
“A breeze of brilliance! Denise Hunter’s Carolina Breeze will blow you away with a masterful merge of mystery, chemistry, and memories restored in this lakeside love story of faith, family, and fortune.”
—Julie Lessman, award-winning author
“Summer by the Tides is a perfect blend of romance and women’s fiction.”
—Sherryl Woods, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“Denise Hunter once again proves she’s the queen of romantic drama. Summer by the Tides is both a perfect beach romance and a dramatic story of second chances. If you like Robyn Carr, you’ll love Denise Hunter.”
—Colleen Coble, USA TODAY bestselling author of One Little Lie
“I have never read a romance by Denise Hunter that didn’t sweep me away into a happily ever after. Treat yourself!”
—Robin Lee Hatcher, bestselling author of Cross My Heart for On Magnolia Lane
“Hunter’s skill at writing sizzling romance combines with two reader-favorite tropes to deliver a story that is both toe curling and heartwarming.”
—RT Book Reviews, 4 stars, for Honeysuckle Dreams
“Sweetbriar Cottage is a story to fall in love with. True-to-life characters, high stakes, and powerful chemistry blend to tell an emotional story of reconciliation.”
—Brenda Novak, New York Times bestselling author
“Sweetbriar Cottage is a wonderful story, full of emotional tension and evocative prose. You’ll feel involved in these characters’ lives and carried along by their story as tension ratchets up to a climactic and satisfying conclusion. Terrific read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.”
—Francine Rivers, New York Times bestselling author
“Falling Like Snowflakes is charming and fun with a twist of mystery and intrigue. A story that’s sure to endure as a classic reader favorite.”
—Rachel Hauck, New York Times bestselling author of The Fifth Avenue Story Society
“Barefoot Summer is a satisfying tale of hope, healing, and a love that’s meant to be.”
—Lisa Wingate, national bestselling author of Before We Were Yours
Also by Denise Hunter
The Bluebell Inn Novels
Lake Season
Carolina Breeze
Autumn Skies
The Blue Ridge Novels
Blue Ridge Sunrise
Honeysuckle Dreams
On Magnolia Lane
The Summer Harbor Novels
Falling Like Snowflakes
The Goodbye Bride
Just a Kiss
The Chapel Springs Romance Series
Barefoot Summer
A December Bride (novella)
Dancing with Fireflies
The Wishing Season
Married ’til Monday
The Big Sky Romance Series
A Cowboy’s Touch
The Accidental Bride
The Trouble with Cowboys
Nantucket Love Stories
Surrender Bay
The Convenient Groom
Seaside Letters
Driftwood Lane
Stand-Alone Novels
Bookshop by the Sea
Summer by the Tides
Sweetbriar Cottage
Sweetwater Gap
Novellas included in
This Time Around, Smitten, Secretly Smitten, and Smitten Book Club
Copyright
Riverbend Gap
Copyright © 2021 Denise Hunter
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other—except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc.
Thomas Nelson titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fundraising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail SpecialMarkets@ThomasNelson.com.
Publisher’s Note: This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. All characters are fictional, and any similarity to people living or dead is purely coincidental.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Hunter, Denise, 1968- author.
Title: Riverbend Gap / Denise Hunter.
Description: Nashville, Tennessee : Thomas Nelson, [2021] | Series: Riverbend romance ; 1 | Summary: "From the bestselling author of The Convenient Groom (now a beloved Hallmark Original movie) comes the first romance in a brand-new series! When Deputy Cooper Robinson happens upon a car balanced on the edge of a cliff, he does everything he can think of to distract the distraught driver from her perilous situation-up to and including sharing things he's never disclosed to anyone. Likewise, an agitated Katie Loveland opens up to the deputy, and by the time she's rescued, she's formed an intense bond with the man. The traumatic accident makes Katie late to her first dinner with her boyfriend's family. Only then does she discover that the charming deputy who saved her life is also her boyfriend's brother. In the aftermath, both Katie and Cooper must decide what to do with their newfound vulnerability and emotional connection . . . And the decision they make could change everything"-- Provided by publisher.
Identifiers: LCCN 2021021194 (print) | LCCN 2021021195 (ebook) | ISBN 9780785240501 (paperback) | ISBN 9780785240518 (epub) | ISBN 9780785240525
Subjects: BISAC: FICTION / Christian / Romance / General | FICTION / Romance / Clean & Wholesome | GSAFD: Christian fiction. | Love stories.
Classification: LCC PS3608.U5925 R58 2021 (print) | LCC PS3608.U5925 (ebook) | DDC 813/.6--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021021194
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021021195
