Heartsong

  Heartsong is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  2013 Ballantine eBook Edition

  Copyright © 1984 by Debbie Macomber

  All rights reserved.

  Published in the United States by Ballantine Books, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York.

  BALLANTINE and colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc.

  Originally published in paperback in the United States by Silhouette Books, New York, in 1984.

  eISBN: 978-0-345-54522-0

  www.ballantinebooks.com

  v3.1_r1

  Dear Friends,

  Although it’s been thirty years ago now, I remember with vivid detail the day I got the call. It was September 29, 1982, at 3:49 in the afternoon. Mary Clare Susan, an editor with Silhouette Books, phoned to make an offer on my book, Heartsong. I believe I said five words in total: Hello. Yes. Thank you. Good-bye. I scribbled down her phone number and then called her back the following day to be sure it hadn’t all been a dream.

  The sale of my first book couldn’t have come at a better time. My husband, Wayne, a construction electrician, had been out of work for several months. He was staying in Alaska, hoping to get work on the pipeline, while the four children and I lived on his $150-a-week unemployment check. Those were bleak days in our household. The sale of my first book is what carried us financially through that difficult winter. When published, Heartsong was dedicated to my parents, Ted and Connie Adler. They were so proud of and excited about the sale of my first book. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Wayne. My husband has been my hero from the very first. It was because of his encouragement and support that I am a published author.

  Now on to the book. In order to get Heartsong ready for digital publication, I read through the manuscript, updating it where I could. If anything, this first novel will show how much I’ve improved as a writer in the last thirty years. It’s a book sold into the Christian market with lots of references to faith and God.

  My hope is that you enjoy this vintage story. It is the book that launched my career and started me down the path to where I am today. I’m grateful for Silhouette’s faith in me and to my first editor, Mary Clare Susan, who saw my potential and nurtured me along.

  Please check out my website at DebbieMacomber.com or look for me on Facebook.

  With warmest regards,

  Debbie

  For my parents,

  TED AND CONNIE ADLER,

  who were afraid that if I used my married name, no one would know I was their daughter.

  Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright

  A Note from the Author

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Excerpt from Starting Now

  Chapter One

  Slowly, silently, the heavy fog began to rise. The brisk offshore breeze set the thick moisture stirring around the Golden Gate Bridge. Gradually the sun broke through the low-lying vapor to display the wonders of the beautiful city of St. Francis.

  Releasing a sigh of appreciation for the natural beauty around her, Skye Garvin leisurely strolled toward the hospital. A freshness seemed to flow through her. Usually by the end of the day the demands of teaching a classroom full of enthusiastic kindergartners left her physically and mentally drained. But even knowing she would be volunteering several hours at the hospital this afternoon couldn’t dampen this new exuberance. The fresh air and brilliant sunlight brought a bounce to her step, and she hummed a catchy tune.

  Once on the children’s ward she paused to resecure the thick, honey-colored chignon the brisk wind had ruffled about her oval face. Her bright blue eyes sparkled, and her cheeks were whipped a rosy hue.

  “You’re here at last.” Sally Avery, the head pediatric nurse, smiled in greeting. “Billy’s been waiting impatiently all afternoon. I think he’s ready to collect on his bet.”

  Skye pulled a wry face. “Oh, dear, I was afraid of that.”

  The corners of Sally’s mouth curved upward. “You realize you’re hopeless, don’t you? Anyone crazy enough to race that child down the corridor in a wheelchair deserves what she gets.”

  Skye disguised her own amusement. “Kindly remove that snicker, Sally Avery. How was I to know Billy would practice day and night? You’re the one who told me he wouldn’t even sit in the wheelchair, and then on the day of the race he takes off like Parnelli Jones.”

  Sally laughed, but her eyes grew serious. “All kidding aside, thank you. I don’t know if Billy would ever have voluntarily accepted the wheelchair if it hadn’t been for you.”

  “Oh, nonsense, he just needed a little subtle encouragement,” she said, refusing the credit. “I’d better go see the little rascal and discover my forfeit.”

  “While you’re there, see if you can do anything to cheer up his new roommate.”

  “I’ll do what I can.” Skye paused, thinking she’d detected a gleam of mischief in Sally’s expression. “I’ll be back with Billy in a few minutes.” She flashed a quick smile to the short brunette, who had been her good friend for several years. Skye and Sally were strikingly different in looks, but not temperament. Sally, with her short, stylish curls and slightly plump build, was perpetually dieting, while Skye, tall and slender, never needed to worry about her weight. But both were the impulsive, fun-loving type.

  “Good afternoon, Sprout,” Skye greeted her favorite ten-year-old.

  “Hello, Skye!” Billy’s young face lit up with pathetic eagerness. “You haven’t forgotten our bet, have you?”

  “I doubt that you would let me,” Skye said a little drily.

  “You said I could choose anything I wanted.”

  “Within reason,” she added quickly, wondering how she could have been so rash.

  “We’d better whisper,” Billy warned, and gestured to the hospital bed beside his. The heavy white curtain surrounding the area prevented her from looking at his new roommate. “He’s asleep, I think.”

  “Then let’s go before we wake him,” Skye whispered.

  “I know what I want for my prize,” Billy said loudly, forgetting his own advice in his enthusiasm.

  An impatient oath came from the unknown occupant of the room.

  “Oops, sorry, Mr. Kiley,” Billy apologized.

  “Either be quiet or get out of here.” The hard voice breathed heavily in irritation.

  Involuntarily Skye moved closer to Billy. There was no need for the man to be so impatient and brusque. Billy was having a rough enough time. A tragic victim of a hit-and-run driver, he was facing the possibility of spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair. Billy was special, always offering others a ready smile, even when in considerable discomfort. Other children came and left the hospital with amazing briskness, but Billy had remained for two months, and Skye had become devoted to the courageous youth.

  Gently she lifted him into the wheelchair and wheeled him from the room.

  “Your new roommate is a man,” she said a bit incredulously. No wonder Sally had been so eager for her to meet him. From the beginning of their relationship Sally had assumed the role of matchmaker, intent on finding Skye a husband. Skye had resigned herself to Sally’s schemes but had never allowed any male relationship to develop beyond a light flirtation. Her life would ha
ve been so different if Glen had lived. She immediately cast the unpleasant memories from her mind. It did no good to brood over the might-have-beens in her life.

  “Of course Mr. Kiley is a man,” Billy said, laughing. “Nurse Sally says he swears like a trooper, and she’s right.”

  “What on earth is he doing on the children’s ward?”

  “The hospital must be full. I heard someone say my room had the only available bed, but I think Nurse Sally is going to get rid of him fast.” His young mouth twisted into a lopsided grin. “Mr. Kiley knocked his lunch tray on the floor this afternoon.”

  Skye shook her head disapprovingly. Sally and the other nurses on the children’s ward were gentle and patient. They certainly had enough to do without having to deal with an ill-tempered, oversized juvenile.

  “It seems your new roommate needs to be reminded of his manners,” Skye retorted crisply.

  “I don’t think you should blame Mr. Kiley for being in a bad mood. He’s just in pain and hungry,” Billy said with a maturity beyond his years. “You said for my prize I could have anything I wanted.”

  “Yes, but—”

  “Well, I’ve decided what I want.” He turned in his chair to look at her, his eyes full of boyish enthusiasm. “I want you to get Mr. Kiley to eat. He’s only a grouch because he won’t let anyone feed him, and his hands are bandaged so he can’t feed himself.”

  “Oh, no, you don’t, Billy!” Skye protested, waving her finger back and forth urgently.

  “Please, Skye,” Billy pleaded. “Remember how you coaxed me? I bet it would work with Mr. Kiley. If anyone can do it, you can.”

  “Oh, Billy.” She sighed, hating to disappoint him. “It just won’t work. A man isn’t going to get excited over a button that says I ATE THE WHOLE THING.”

  Sally joined them in the wide hospital corridor. “Did you tell her yet?” she asked Billy.

  “Yeah. I think she’ll do it.” He gave a reckless grin.

  “No way!” Skye said instantly. “I’m sorry, but your request is beyond reason.”

  “It sounds fair enough to me,” Sally interjected, a glint of laughter shining in her eyes.

  “Sally!” Skye glared at her friend, her look speaking volumes.

  Unaffected, Sally laughed. “You’d best be on your way, or Billy will be late for his physical therapy session.”

  “Come on, Skye.” Billy’s hands hurriedly rotated the large wheels of his chair as he pushed himself toward the elevator. “If we don’t hurry, I might be late for dinner.”

  “And we wouldn’t want to miss dinner, would we, Skye?” Sally taunted.

  “Come on, you guys,” Skye pleaded helplessly.

  But Billy refused to be persuaded otherwise, although Skye made repeated attempts as they rode the elevator downward. Leaving him with the physical therapist, she returned to pediatrics.

  “I’m glad you’re back,” Sally said when she saw Skye had returned. “Pastor Johnson phoned and asked if you could visit Mrs. Montressor when you get the chance. There’s nothing pressing here. Go now, if you like.”

  The hospital chaplain often requested that Skye visit certain patients. Her duties entailed reading scripture aloud, writing letters, or just visiting with a Christian brother or sister. Mrs. Montressor was a sweet, elderly woman from Skye’s church who was being transferred from the hospital to a nursing home. Skye realized the older woman was anxious about the move and just wanted a reassuring chat.

  The visit lasted nearly an hour, and Skye returned to pediatrics only a few minutes before Billy was due, so she hurried to put his bed in order. Nervously she entered the room. The curtain around his roommate’s bed was open, but the man’s face was turned away from her. She said a quick prayer that she wouldn’t wake him and worked as quietly as possible.

  “Well, if it isn’t little Miss Pollyanna.” A gruff voice thick with amusement spoke as she completed making the bed. A grin twisted the corners of his mouth as he regarded her volunteer uniform. He paused to read the button attached below her name tag, which said: I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES.

  “Mr. Simon Legree, I presume,” she said without her usual warm smile, hoping to show her disapproval of his behavior.

  Their gazes met and held. Cool arrogance returned her study. As Billy had explained, his hands were bandaged in thick white gauze resembling makeshift boxing gloves; his left arm was propped at an awkward angle in traction. He wasn’t strikingly handsome, but he was compelling, with a sense of self-assurance. His eyes were a deep gray, widely set, and lent his face a look of intensity. His jawline, proud and strong, was ruggedly carved.

  His eyes darkened under her scrutiny, as if he deeply resented her or anyone seeing him disabled. Not that it was likely she would view this unnerving male as weak. He exuded an easy strength and confidence, but Skye could sense his frustration and impatience.

  His helplessness stirred something within her, and she realized she wanted to help this man. Common sense quickly intervened, however. She was out of her element, and there was little she could do.

  Their gazes remained locked until Sally wheeled Billy into the room.

  “Okay, young man, let’s get you into bed; dinner is on the way.” Reverting her attention to Billy’s roommate, Sally added, “And, Jordan Kiley, you’ll be pleased to know you’re being transferred to another ward first thing in the morning.”

  Amusement returned to the intense gray eyes. “Couldn’t wait to be rid of me, could you?” his husky voice challenged.

  “Certainly pediatrics will miss your wit and charm,” Sally lied, and Billy giggled.

  “Just as long as we understand each other.” The voice fit the man: low-pitched and demanding. “And as for dinner, either give me something I can eat myself, or forget it. I’m not a baby, and I won’t be hand-fed.”

  Billy’s eye quickly caught Skye’s, and she shrugged in a gesture of defeat, but Billy’s eyes widened imploringly.

  The large cafeteria cart had arrived from the kitchen, and glancing from the hall to her patient, Sally said, “I’ll see what I can do, but it’s doubtful.”

  Skye tucked Billy’s sheet in and brought the vanity around from the side of the bed before leaving the room.

  “Where are you going, Pollyanna?” Jordan asked.

  His question surprised her. “I’ll be back,” she promised, and offered him a tentative smile.

  “Remember, I want to collect on my bet tonight!” Billy shouted after her.

  The dinner trays had all been delivered … save one. Skye stood beside the large cart deep in thought. She knew Jordan Kiley represented a far greater challenge than any child she had ever worked with. It wouldn’t be easy to spoon-feed him and salvage his pride at the same time.

  “Hello, Skye. I haven’t seen you in a while.” Joyce Kimball, one of the younger high school volunteers, addressed her warmly. “Do you like the new me?” She turned, allowing Skye to study her appearance. It was unmistakably the Carin Cain look. The sleek, high-fashion image was sweeping the country. It seemed everyone was imitating the famous model: the Carin Cain hairstyle, the Carin Cain designer jeans, the Carin Cain cosmetics.

  Skye’s eyes widened as an idea began to form. “Joyce,” she cried, “you’re a genius.” Obeying the impulse, Skye began pulling the large pins from her hair.

  Several minutes later the latest Carin Cain imitator approached Billy’s room. The top button of her uniform was unfastened. Silky, honey-blond curls cascaded over her shoulders. Normally Skye applied her makeup modestly, but now her mouth was liberally coated with a deep red gloss, and blush had been added to accentuate the natural color of her rosy cheeks.

  She found Billy enjoying his meal and cast him a secret smile. His jaw dropped at the sight, but he returned her wink in silent communication.

  Jordan watched dispassionately as she set the dinner tray on the vanity and rolled it to the side of his bed.

  His gaze traveled leisurely over her, measuring her. Skye’s face grew hot un
der his slow appraisal; her courage nearly failed her.

  “You must really believe in miracles if you think I’m going to let you feed me,” he announced caustically, sending a shiver of apprehension up her spine.

  The words seemed lodged in her throat as his look penetrated through her.

  “I learned a long time ago that when it comes to miracles, I have to pray as if everything depended on God—and work as if everything depended on me.” She was surprised at how composed she sounded.

  “Just how do you propose to work this miracle?” He sounded cynical.

  “I’m prepared to offer you a little inducement.”

  His thick brows arched in curiosity.

  She offered him a warm smile. “You must understand, the nurses are held to a certain code of ethics. But I’m not a nurse, I’m a volunteer.” Slowly the moist tip of her tongue circled the glossed lips in a suggestive movement. “I’m prepared to offer you a small reward if you let me feed you.”

  His eyes showed interest. “What kind of reward?”

  Demurely she lowered her long lashes and whispered huskily, “More of a dessert.”

  Interpreting his silence as consent, she rolled the vanity closer to the bed and dipped the fork into the potatoes. But Jordan’s mouth remained defiantly shut, his dark eyes brooding.

  Skye’s spirits sank; her ploy wasn’t going to fool this intuitive male.

  Unexpectedly a faint smile formed at the corners of his mouth. “Feed me,” he sighed with self-derision. “I always was a sucker for a pretty face.”

  Her thick lashes fluttered down to conceal the triumph in her expressive blue eyes.

  Jordan continued to watch her, his eyes sharp and intent. Skye knew it was all Billy could do to keep from applauding.

  “Do you find fulfillment in life as a hospital volunteer?” Jordan asked between bites.

  “I’m responsibly employed. As a matter of fact, I hold a highly respected position.”

  His smile brought a marked defensiveness to her voice. “As it happens, I enlighten, train, and discipline.”

  “She’s a kindergarten teacher,” Billy supplied laughingly.