Quotes from Linda Lael Miller

I think we all like to get away from our troubles and worries with a good book.

Lily stepped back to admit him, her gaze catching on the chocolates again. It was Caleb's aim to make her look at him just the way she was looking at that red satin box. He extended the candy and knew by the pleasure in her eyes that she'd received few gifts in her life. And for one insensible, fevered moment Caleb wanted to give her everything. He wanted to drag the world to her feet and make it bow.

I'm ruined," she confided miserably. "Everyone hates me." "I don't," Caleb pointed out. Lily was not consoled. "You're a man," she retorted, "and that doesn't count." Caleb arched his eyebrows at that but said nothing.

Touch her," he vowed in a low voice, "and I'll feed you to the gators, piece by piece." Macon

know so much more. Mark was certain that learning everything about her would only reinforce what he was already sure of, that she was the most amazing woman he'd ever

You were wonderful," Caleb said, giving Lily's bottom a little pat. "Like I said, if it weren't for me, you'd probably be dead." Caleb laughed and pulled her down onto his lap. "Probably so. You win, Lily. You were right to believe you knew how to take care of yourself, no matter what the circumstances." "Of course I was right," Lily said, unbuttoning her fancy shirtwaist, which was now dirty and speckled with blood. An

He was a man. He should have acted more like one - thought about how all that self-indulgence might affect his daughter, if not his wife.

Daisy was still lingering in the kitchen when they arrived, and when she saw Steven she shook a wooden spoon at him. "I raised this chile to be a good girl," she warned. "Don't you go messin' with her, hear?" The beginnings of a grin quirked Steven's lips, but he didn't quite give in to it. "Yes, ma'am," he said. Emma

She knew sorrow would always be her companion, no matter what happiness life might hold in store. And while her innocent illusions were forever lost to her, she had been forced to seek and find inner resources she had never imagined she might possess.

Emma must have looked ferocious at that point, for Callie shrank back in surprise, then scurried toward the front stairway like a field mouse with a cat on its tail. After

bathroom, moving like a woman in a trance.

She stormed into the room and stood at his bedside, her hands on her hips, her blue eyes shooting sparks. There was a silly grin on his face and he had the audacity to add insult to injury by following that with a yawn. "Deviant!" Emma hissed. "Jealous, Miss Emma?" "Hardly, Mr. Fairfax." "I think you are," he countered matter-of-factly. "You're breathing fire, and Callie's got to be the reason." Emma

Luke stood up, assessed the water tank next to the tub, and shook his head in good-natured amazement. "What a contraption. Makes a man wonder what they'll invent next, doesn't it?" "I wouldn't know," Charity answered, exasperated and bone weary. "I'm not a man." He laughed. "No, indeed, Mrs. Shardlow, you are pure woman and that is a fact.

will your daughter be here?

Caleb resisted an urge to go back to Fort Deveraux, snatch Lily up, and take her with him to Spokane. If she was at his side, no one would hurt her—he'd see to that.

Cause I'm not a stray cat or something you found by the side of the road." Tully grinned. "You mean like Kyle?" Tully leaned over and said, "His daddy don't like to talk about it, but he picked Kyle up over on Jessup Road hidin' under a car." Kyle wanted to be mad, but he couldn't. Not with Emma around. "Yeah. And your momma told me she got you from the pound. Had you fixed there, too.

kibble, coffee and a few other staples, and headed

I want to practice my marksmanship," she said. "Touch those rifles and I'll tan your hide," Caleb warned. Lily squared her shoulders. "I'll just have to do it on my own, I guess. Though I daresay there are plenty of soldiers on this post who would be glad to help me." Caleb had poured himself a drink, and the look in his eyes was deadly. "I'll personally horsewhip the man who tries," he said in a dangerous undertone. Lily

Thanks for everything, Daisy," he said, and as he passed the big woman, he kissed her lightly on the cheek. "You're the best cook north of New Orleans." She beamed at the compliment, then made herself glower. "You just get on out of here and stop takin' up my time, you fancy-talkin' man!" Steven

on their wedding day?

Muggles was back.

Your Lily is a pretty little thing, but she's as fractious as my Susannah." Caleb grinned. "It's going to take two hands and all my wits to keep her in line," he confessed. Unwillingly

Love is like a fire, he decided. You could try to control it, but it wasn't always possible. Sometimes the flames burned you and sometimes they just warmed you from the inside out.

Caleb swore under his breath and got to his feet. He had so much to say to Lily, and presents to give her, and here she'd taken off on some wild goose chase. She really meant to move to that damned farm, the stubborn little chit.