The rescued heart, p.1
The Rescued Heart, page 1
THE RESCUED HEART – LIPSTICK & DANGER BOOK 2
Copyright © 2023 - Tierney James
Cover Design by Sweet ’N Spicy Designs
All cover art copyright © 2023 – Tierney James
All Rights Reserved
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, businesses, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental. All trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, and registered service marks are the property of their respective owners and are used herein for identification purposes only. The publisher does not have any control over or assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their contents.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Epilogue
About the Author
Dedication
To my husband who taught me everything about mining. And to the hard rock miners everywhere that put their lives on the line to get the lead out.
He’d just found out the truth, and now it might be too late to make things right…
Garrett nodded as he pushed open the door at the top of the stairs into daylight. The rest of the building was gone. Nothing but the head frame and smelter remained. He could see the administration building had sustained some damage but remained standing. People started coming out of their hiding places, some looking shell shocked, others with a few scratches.
“You!” Garrett waved to several able-bodied miners as he stumbled over debris. He pointed to different locations. “Start searching for people trapped. Charleston,” he yelled, spotting the man walking around in a daze. “Wake up! Make sure all your people are either underground or hunkered down. Make sure the generators kicked in.” Stunned, Charleston stared at him. Garrett shook him. “Do your job!”
Charleston swallowed hard and nodded before walking off. Garrett’s truck had been pelted with hail but remained drivable. Garrett continued to give orders as he slid into the front seat of his truck. In seconds, he was racing through the twisted gates and toward the main street in the town of Westfork. Overturned cars, smashed store fronts, and downed trees were the first thing that he spotted. But it was when he turned down the street where the school was located that he slammed on the brakes.
It was gone.
KUDOS for The Rescued Heart
In Tierney James’ The Rescued Heart, Fawn Turnbough comes back to her hometown of Westfork, Missouri, after ten years and a failed marriage, only to find that the reason she left in the first place is still there—Garrett Horton—and still wants to marry her. But she is convinced that he only wants her so that he can have her father’s lead mines. But as she and Garrett take up where they left off, secrets are revealed that shake the very foundations of Fawn’s world. James clearly has a vast knowledge of the lives of lead miners and their families and the trials and tribulations of the life they have chosen. From tornados to mine cave-ins, it is not an easy life. But James tells it all in a way that will leave you wanting more. ~ Taylor Jones, Reviewer
The Rescued Heart by Tierney James is the heart-warming story of love, courage, hardship, and the grass-roots, down and dirty, nitty-gritty way of life of some of the country’s hard rock miners. Our heroine Fawn ran away ten years ago after she was betrayed by her fiancé, Garrett. Now she is back and Garrett wants to take up where they left off. Fawn is determined to not to give into him, but her good intentions fall short when Garrett sweeps back into her life and starts courting her in earnest. The story has a ring of truth that is rare for debut authors. Not only are the characters realistic, well-developed, and charming, but the everyday struggles they face are entirely plausible. Either James has “been there and done that” or she did an enormous amount of research. Either way it makes for a touching and poignant story that will tug at your heartstrings. ~ Regan Murphy, Reviewer
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank the Viburnum, Missouri community for years of friendship and support through the history we've shared together as miners and miners' wives.
He’d just found out the truth, and now it might be too late to make things right…
Garrett nodded as he pushed open the door at the top of the stairs into daylight. The rest of the building was gone. Nothing but the head frame and smelter remained. He could see the administration building had sustained some damage but remained standing. People started coming out of their hiding places, some looking shell shocked, others with a few scratches.
“You!” Garrett waved to several able-bodied miners as he stumbled over debris. He pointed to different locations. “Start searching for people trapped. Charleston,” he yelled, spotting the man walking around in a daze. “Wake up! Make sure all your people are either underground or hunkered down. Make sure the generators kicked in.” Stunned, Charleston stared at him. Garrett shook him. “Do your job!”
Charleston swallowed hard and nodded before walking off. Garrett’s truck had been pelted with hail but remained drivable. Garrett continued to give orders as he slid into the front seat of his truck. In seconds, he was racing through the twisted gates and toward the main street in the town of Arcadia Valley. Overturned cars, smashed store fronts, and downed trees were the first thing that he spotted. But it was when he turned down the street where the school was located that he slammed on the brakes.
It was gone.
KUDOS for The Rescued Heart
In Tierney James’ The Rescued Heart, Fawn Turnbough comes back to her hometown of Arcadia Valley, Missouri, after ten years and a failed marriage, only to find that the reason she left in the first place is still there—Garrett Horton—and still wants to marry her. But she is convinced that he only wants her so that he can have her father’s lead mines. But as she and Garrett take up where they left off, secrets are revealed that shake the very foundations of Fawn’s world. James clearly has a vast knowledge of the lives of lead miners and their families and the trials and tribulations of the life they have chosen. From tornados to mine cave-ins, it is not an easy life. But James tells it all in a way that will leave you wanting more. ~ Taylor Jones,
Reviewer
The Rescued Heart by Tierney James is the heart-warming story of love, courage, hardship, and the grass-roots, down and dirty, nitty-gritty way of life of some of the country’s hard rock miners. Our heroine Fawn ran away ten years ago after she was betrayed by her fiancé, Garrett. Now she is back and Garrett wants to take up where they left off. Fawn is determined to not to give into him, but her good intentions fall short when Garrett sweeps back into her life and starts courting her in earnest. The story has a ring of truth that is rare for debut authors. Not only are the characters realistic, well-developed, and charming, but the everyday struggles they face are entirely plausible. Either James has “been there and done that” or she did an enormous amount of research. Either way it makes for a touching and poignant story that will tug at your heartstrings. ~ Regan Murphy, Reviewer
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank the Viburnum, Missouri community for years of friendship and support through the history we've shared together as miners and miners' wives.
DEDICATION
To my husband who taught me everything about mining. And to the hard rock miners everywhere that put their lives on the line to get the lead out.
Chapter 1
A dusty breeze moved across the open yard of gravel and asphalt, causing a ghost-like cloud to rise up from the ground. Fawn shaded her eyes from the late August sun and tightened her lips against the gritty taste forcing its way onto her tongue. With apprehension, she watched the cage rise once more out of the shaft with men leaving the lead mines.
Through the haze Fawn saw him step off the cage and move toward her like a proud lion. His face was black with grime. Not even that could hide the chiseled good looks that had been the cause of many a young girl’s surrender. His long legs were firm and sure as they brought him closer. Although his body had thickened with a muscular maturity, he remained agile. The sight of his lar
Their eyes locked; not flinching or showing fear as each measured the other’s ability to survive. Fawn blinked only when one side of his mouth turned up in a slight smirk. It was then that she noticed her father walking by Garrett’s side along with another man.
Upon seeing him, Fawn realized her father, Big Jim Turnbough, began to smile. He stepped a little ahead of the two men. With a wave of his hand, he dismissed them like servants. One split off and headed for the changing room. Garrett Horton, eyes still glued to her face, ignored her aging father just as he always had.
Fawn wondered, again, why her father had never fired such a self-righteous braggart, especially after what he’d done to his only child.
Watching Jim look with intolerance at Garrett was an amusing moment for Fawn. She knew her father wanted the young engineer to mold to his wishes. But hadn’t that been why he kept him around all these years? Garrett Horton was a lot of things but he wasn’t a “yes” man. He damned near loved the company as much as her father did.
Her father created a great many obstacles those early years between his innocent daughter and the country boy he claimed to despise. She’d forgiven her father. It had seemed like the right thing to do at the time. Her father said he couldn’t be sure Garrett wanted his Fawn or the company. Either way, both lives had never been the same without the other. Fawn had gone through a loveless marriage and then an affair with some notorious character from Chicago.
Even while she’d been living in Chicago, rumors had reached her that Garrett was married to his work and loved it passionately. Only recently did he move in with a local beautician and her small son. The whole town knew, much to Fawn’s disgust, that Garrett Horton loved only two things: Turnbough Lead Company and the one person who could hand him the keys to his dream. Some things never changed.
For a moment, Fawn wondered if the deception from long ago could survive a chance for them to reconcile. She wanted children to carry on the legacy of Turnbough Lead Company and she knew her mother wanted the same.
“Fawn, what brings you out on such a hot day?” Jim wiped the sweat from his face with one hand. It would never occur to him she might be feeling uncomfortable under Garrett’s riveting stare. “Come inside, honey, where it’s cooler.”
“No, Dad, I—” Her gaze slid to Garrett with contempt. She needed to acknowledge him. “Hello, Garrett. You’re looking fit.” She tried not to sound smug.
Garrett’s smirk widened into a smile, revealing straight white teeth. His gray eyes twinkled like a mischievous little boy. “And you, Fawn, are as beautiful as you are sorry to see me.”
“It’s so refreshing to know someone who can get the message so easily. Then again, you always grasped the obvious.”
“When it came to you, Fawn, I’m afraid I had only one thing on my mind.” He grinned flippantly, as her father frowned at the insinuation. “See you later, Jim. I need to clean up.” His eyes, narrowed against the sun, had not left Fawn’s face. He gave her a little salute to his hard hat with one finger then strode off at an easy gait.
Fawn blew her hair from her face. “Oh! He is so full of himself. How could I ever…” Her eyes turned back to her father. She was surprised to see him laughing. “What?”
“You. I haven’t seen so much color in your face since you were twelve years old and Garrett came carrying you home with a broken leg. He took full responsibility for your misbehaving so you wouldn’t feel my belt.”
Fawn didn’t want to remember. Those days were gone forever.
The old Garrett Horton no longer existed. He was a tyrant now, just like her father. Garrett would stop at nothing until he had a piece of Turnbough Lead.
She stiffened her resolve. He wouldn’t be getting it through her.
“Never mind that.” Fawn lifted her hand in dismissal. She, too, had that air of superiority that came with money. “You are to stop by Dr. Tony’s office on the way home from work. Mother tried to call you twice but the lines were out again. This god-forsaken place needs to get a cell phone tower. Wasn’t that supposed to be in two weeks ago? I swear this town is stuck in the twentieth century. I wouldn’t have to come here if you’d get better communications.” Fawn sighed. “She’ll meet you there at five. Daddy. Please don’t be late this time. You have plenty of people to pick up the slack.” Fawn started to rub his arm then thought better of it. Her father frowned on public displays of affection.
Jim straightened his shoulders and looked at something in the distance. “If I can, Fawn. Your mother is a worry wart. Maybe you should move into the house so she’ll leave me alone. I don’t like you staying out there in that cabin.”
“Not a chance.”
“You’re teaching in town. That road is slippery in the winter and floods in the spring.”
“I’ll be fine.” Fawn moved away toward the parking lot with one more warning. “Remember, Dad. Five o’clock. Mother will blow a gasket if you forget.”
Fawn watched her father turn his back on her and stride away in the direction of the changing rooms. In moments, she would begin to fade from his thoughts as mining lead returned. He’d sunk his whole life into these lead mines dotting the surrounding hillsides. The town had literally sprung up around the jobs his mines provided. His mines and his town.
~ ~ ~ ~
Garrett still couldn’t believe she was standing there after all these years. His labored breathing continued until he entered the building, knowing his carefree walk could end. Fawn had been a pretty girl. Maturity turned her into a beautiful woman. Once inside, he turned to look back at Fawn who clearly appeared agitated. Under his breath he whispered, “Old man, you better stay out of my way this time.”
~ ~ ~ ~
Big Jim walked into where Garrett showered. His little girl was all grown up. The only thing he really knew about her was the trouble she got herself into from time to time. Maybe if he hadn’t gone behind her back to discredit Garrett, things would have been different. Would he be a grandfather? He certainly would have a smart, ambitious son-in-law with the guts and courage to match his own. It was hard to admit you’d been a fool.
No. He’d done the only thing a father could do. Saving his only child from a money-chasing Horton with designs on the business was honorable. Maybe he’d been wrong about Garrett loving his only child but not about him wanting the mines. Garrett Horton ate, drank, and slept with the mines. It was in his blood. Big Jim Turnbough understood this. Hadn’t he neglected his own family to get the lead out? Garrett never stopped loving the mines when Fawn married someone else. It only intensified.
~ ~ ~ ~
Garrett recognized the heavy footsteps of Big Jim. He knew Jim worried that he could no longer keep up with him. The miners respected him, the younger man, now. They even thought of Garrett as some kind of hero in the mines. Even though he’d graduated from the Rolla School of Mines there wasn’t a job too small or too dirty Garrett wouldn’t attempt.
Now it would begin all over again. Garrett knew he would go after Fawn to finish what he’d started years earlier. He’d seen the dread in the old man’s frown. It didn’t matter that Garrett was engaged to be married or that Fawn hated him with a passion. Fawn was trusting and fragile. Those were two of the things that he loved about her. This time, he’d have his way.
Fawn used to tell him, “What chance do I have against the charms of a country boy who possesses the looks of a god and the brains of a cunning businessman?”
