For the Sake of Warwick Mountain (Harlequin Heartwarming) Read Free Page A

in the right locale with the proper amenities and pleasing company could cure. He was tired and could use a rest. Although he didn’t begrudge the people of Warwick Mountain the medical care they seriously needed, he felt like a bucket that had been drained dry with nothing left to give. His problem had to be fatigue. His life, after all, was as perfect as a life could be. He had gained international acclaim as a plastic surgeon, had more money than he could spend in his lifetime, an enviable Malibu beach house and a full social calendar. What more could a man want?
    A vacation.
    Which he wasn’t going to have, thanks to Dwight. Guilt stabbed at him when he considered his friend’s broken bone. It wasn’t as if Dwight had fractured his wrist on purpose to sabotage Matt’s cruise.
    He shook off his gloomy thoughts. If he could finish Dwight’s work in Warwick Mountain quickly, regardless of the slow mountain pace Dwight had warned him about, Matt might still find time for that vacation.
    “Who are you?” A high, shrill voice sounded beside him, jolting him from his thoughts.
    Standing by the arm of his chair was a miniature version of Rebecca Warwick. The little girl with round green eyes alight with curiosity—and more than a hint of suspicion—and a riot of honey-brown curls had to be related to the schoolteacher. A younger sister?
    “I’m Matt. Who are you?”
    “Emily.”
    He considered the tyke with interest. No more than about five years old, from the flush on her face, her tousled hair and feet clad only in socks, she apparently had just awakened from a nap.
    “Do you live here?” When Dwight had told him Rebecca Warwick was single, Matt had assumed the teacher lived alone.
    “Uh-huh.” Emily climbed into the rocker beside the fire and sat with her feet sticking just over the edge of the seat.
    When he’d first arrived at the Warwick house, Matt had noted that wings had been added to the original log building and now wondered how many other residents filled its rooms. “Who else lives here?”
    “Just Mommy and me.”
    “Mommy?”
    Emily nodded. “She’s a teacher. But not now. It’s summer.”
    “So just the two of you live in this big house?” His interest was piqued. Where was Emily’s father?
    “Granny went to heaven,” Emily announced solemnly.
    “I’m sorry.”
    The little girl shook her head. “Mommy says don’t be sad. Granny’s in a pretty place. Her heart doesn’t hurt now.”
    Emily was a charmer with a vivacious personality. Intelligence sparkled in her green eyes. Matt couldn’t resist another question. “Where’s your daddy?”
    Emily shifted her weight to make her chair rock. “Don’t have a daddy.”
    Glancing past Emily toward the kitchen door, Matt spotted Rebecca standing there, her face a blank mask, and wondered if she’d overheard his questions.
    When her gaze met his, she hurried into the room. “Here’s your coffee. I see you’ve met Emily.”
    His hostess gave no indication that his third degree of her daughter had rattled her, except for the slight hint of breathlessness in her voice.
    “Dwight didn’t mention Emily,” Matt said. “Although, come to think of it, that must be why he sent two presents with me. Must be one for each of you.” He set his cup aside. “They’re in my luggage. I’ll get them.”
    Rebecca’s face flushed, and she shifted her feet with obvious uneasiness. “Dr. Tyler—”
    “It’s Matt, remember?”
    “Before you unpack your car, we need to talk.”
    Maybe his inquiries to Emily had offended Rebecca more than he’d realized. He settled back in his chair. “I’m listening.”
    Before Rebecca could utter another word, the front door flew open, and a small, wiry woman burst into the room and headed for Rebecca.
    Remembering the manners his mother had drilled into him as a child, Matt pushed to his feet, but the woman didn’t seem to notice him.
    “Has Dr. Peyseur already arrived?” the newcomer asked. “I saw