Keeper of the Stars Read online

  Acclaim for Robin Lee Hatcher

  “Robin Lee Hatcher weaves a romance with heart that grabs readers and won’t let go. Whenever You Come Around pulled me in from the get-go. Charity Anderson, a beautiful, successful author with a deadline and a painful secret, runs into Buck Malone, a handsome, confirmed-bachelor cowboy from her past, and he needs her help. I was captivated, and I guarantee you’ll be rooting for them too.”

  —Sunni Jeffers, award-winning author of Heaven’s Strain

  “A heartwarming and engaging romance, Whenever You Come Around is a splendid read from start to finish!”

  —Tamera Alexander, USA Today bestselling author of To Whisper Her Name and From a Distance

  “A handsome cowboy, horses, and a hurting heroine make for a winning combination in this newest poignant story by Robin Lee Hatcher. A gently paced but delightful ride, Whenever You Come Around will take readers on a journey of healing right along with the characters. Readers will feel at home in Kings Meadow and won’t want to leave.”

  —Jody Hedlund, bestselling author of Love Unexpected

  “First loves find sweet second chances in Kings Meadow. Heartwarming, romantic, and filled with hope and faith, this is Hatcher at her best!”

  —Lisa Wingate, national bestselling author of The Story Keeper and The Prayer Box

  “In Whenever You Come Around Hatcher takes a look at the pain of secrets that kill the heart. But love indeed conquers all. Robin Lee Hatcher is the go-to classic romance author.”

  —Rachel Hauck, award-winning, bestselling author of The Wedding Dress

  “Robin Lee Hatcher has created an emotionally engaging romance, a story of healing and self-forgiveness wrapped up in a package about small-town life and a cowboy who lives a life honoring God. I want to live in Kings Meadow.”

  —Sharon Dunn, author of Cold Case Justice and Wilderness Target

  “Whenever You Come Around draws you into the beauty and history of the horse country of Kings Meadow, Idaho. With every turn of the page, Robin Lee Hatcher woos readers with a love story of a modern-day cowboy and a city girl. Buck and Charity rescue each other from the lives they had planned—lives limited by fear. Instead, they discover their unexpected God-ordained happily ever after. A discerning writer, Hatcher handles Charity’s past heartbreak with sensitivity and grace.”

  —Beth K. Vogt, author of Somebody Like You, one of Publisher’s Weekly’s Best Books of 2014

  “Whenever You Come Around is one of Robin Lee Hatcher’s pure-romance best, with a heroine waiting for total redemption and a strong hero of great worth. I find myself still smiling long after the final page has been read.”

  —Hannah Alexander, author of the Hallowed Halls series

  “Whenever You Come Around is a slow dance of letting go of the past and its very real pain to step into the light of love. It’s a story that will wrap around your soul with the hope that no past is so dark and haunted that it can’t be forgiven and overcome. It’s a love story filled with sweetness, tension, and slow fireworks. Bottom line, it was a romance I couldn’t—and didn’t want to—put down.”

  —Cara Putman, award-winning author of Shadowed by Grace and Where Treetops Glisten

  “In Love Without End, Robin Lee Hatcher once again takes us to Kings Meadow, Idaho, in a sweeping love story that captures the heart and soul of romance between two people who have every reason not to fall in love. With an interesting backstory interspersed among the contemporary chapters, and well-drawn, relatable secondary characters, Hatcher hits the mark with her warm and inviting love story.”

  —Martha Rogers, author of the series Winds Across the Prairie and The Homeward Journey

  “Love Without End, the first book in the new Kings Meadow Romance series, again intertwines two beautiful and heartfelt romances. One in the past and one in the future together make this a special read. I’m so glad Robin wrote a love story for Chet who suffered so much in A Promise Kept (January 2014). Kimberly, so wrong for him, becomes so right. Not your run-of-the-mill cowboy romance—enriched with deft writing and deep emotion.”

  —Lyn Cote, author of Honor, Quaker Brides, Book One

  “No one writes about the joys and challenges of family life better than Robin Lee Hatcher, and she’s at the top of her game with Love Without End. This beautiful and deeply moving story will capture your heart as it captured mine.”

  —Margaret Brownley, New York Times bestselling author

  “Love Without End, Book One in Robin Lee Hatcher’s new Kings Meadow series, is a delight from start to finish. The author’s skill at depicting the love and challenges of family has never been more evident as she deftly combines two love stories—past and present—to capture readers’ hearts and lift their spirits.”

  —Marta Perry, author of The Forgiven, Keepers of the Promise, Book One

  “I always expect excellence when I open a Robin Lee Hatcher novel. She never disappoints. The story here reminds me of a circle without end as Robin takes us through a modern-day romance while looping one character through a WWII tale of love and loss and the resurrection of hope and purpose. Love Without End touched my heart and guided me to some wonderful truths of how God’s love is a gift and a treasure.”

  —Donita K. Paul, bestselling author

  “A beautiful, heart-touching story of God’s amazing grace, and how He can restore and make new that which was lost.”

  —Francine Rivers, New York Times bestselling author, regarding A Promise Kept

  Other Novels by Robin Lee Hatcher

  The Heart’s Pursuit

  A Promise Kept

  Heart of Gold

  Autumn’s Angel, a novella found in A Bride for All Seasons

  KINGS MEADOW ROMANCE SERIES

  Love Without End

  Whenever You Come Around

  Keeper of the Stars

  WHERE THE HEART LIVES SERIES

  Belonging

  Betrayal

  Beloved

  THE SISTERS OF BETHLEHEM SPRINGS SERIES

  A Vote of Confidence

  Fit to Be Tied

  A Matter of Character

  © 2016 by Robin Lee Hatcher

  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, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail [email protected].

  Scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org); and from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV”and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

  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.

  ISBN 978-1-4016-8772-4 (eBook)

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Hatcher, Robin Lee.

  Keeper of the stars : a Kings Meadow roma
nce / Robin Lee Hatcher.

  pages ; cm. -- (A Kings Meadow romance ; 3)

  ISBN 978-1-4016-8771-7 (paperback)

  I. Title.

  PS3558.A73574K44 2016

  813'.54--dc23

  2015029204

  15 16 17 18 19 20 RRD 6 5 4 3 2 1

  To the Keeper of the stars

  Contents

  Prologue: September 30

  Brad: 2003

  Chapter 1: November 30

  Chapter 2

  Brad: 2005

  Chapter 3

  Brad: 2007

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Brad: 2008

  Chapter 6

  Brad: 2008

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Brad: 2009

  Chapter 10

  Brad: 2010

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Brad: 2010

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Brad: 2011

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Brad: 2012

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Brad: 2014

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Brad: 2015

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Epilogue: August 20

  Note to Readers

  Discussion Questions

  About the Author

  Prologue

  September 30

  AN UNUSUALLY COLD WIND CUT THROUGH THE KINGS Meadow Cemetery on the day they laid Penny’s brother, Bradley Evan Cartwright, to rest. It felt as if it cut through her heart as well, slicing her in two. She would never again see her little brother’s sweet smile. She would never again hear him laugh. She would never again have to be on the alert for one of his practical jokes.

  And I’ll never get to tell him I’m sorry for the things I said in anger.

  Seated beside her in the front row of mourners, her dad put his arm around her shoulders and drew her close to his side. It was meant to be a comforting gesture, but it was pointless for him to try. She couldn’t be comforted. Not in this.

  Reverend Tom Butler ended his graveside prayer with a soft “Amen.” Then he walked over to Penny and her dad, his face schooled into a sympathetic expression, his eyes filled with kindness. “I am so very sorry, Rodney,” he said as he took hold of her dad’s right hand between both of his own.

  Her dad nodded in silence.

  Tom repeated his words of condolence to Penny. Like her father, she nodded, her throat too tight to squeeze out a reply.

  Chet Leonard, his wife, and his sons were next. Leaning down, Chet said, “If I can do anything . . . If you ever need to talk or just be with someone who understands what it means to lose a son . . .” He let his voice trail into silence.

  Charlie Regal, Brad’s best friend since first grade, came close, looked about to speak, and then shook his head as he turned to walk away.

  More people came forward. A few shed tears as they whispered words that Penny no longer heard.

  Twelve years ago, pneumonia had taken Penny’s mom at the age of forty-five. Despite how ill her mom had been, sixteen-year-old Penny hadn’t believed she would die. Perhaps pneumonia still took the lives of those who were frail, like the elderly or little children. But someone in the best of health like her mom had been? How could that happen with all the advances in modern medicine? Charlotte Cartwright’s death had rocked the family.

  And now Brad . . . Brad, who hadn’t even reached his twenty-third birthday. He’d finished college at the end of last year, a full semester ahead of schedule. He could have had a brilliant future before him for the taking. But he hadn’t even bothered to attend his own graduation ceremony. He’d come home for Christmas and, soon after, packed up and headed for Nashville, exchanging an engineering career for a stupid set of drums and a life on the road as part of a band.

  And now he’s dead.

  She shivered. Not from the cold but from the emotions that roiled inside of her. Anger. Exasperation. Frustration.

  Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

  The last of the mourners finally walked toward their cars. The reverend stood at a respectful distance, as if waiting to see if he would be needed.

  “Let’s go home, Pen,” her dad said, his voice breaking at the end.

  “Okay.”

  They rose in unison and turned from the flower-covered coffin. It wasn’t a long ways to her dad’s truck. They moved slowly, arms entwined, watching the uneven ground before them. They were almost to the truck when someone stepped into their path.

  The first thing Penny saw were the toes of a fancy pair of cowboy boots poking out from beneath trousers with a fine crease. She looked up, expecting to see a familiar face, expecting to hear more words of solace. But it wasn’t a lifelong friend or neighbor, and when she saw who it was, her breath caught. It couldn’t be him. It couldn’t be that man. Not here. Not here in Kings Meadow.

  “Mr. Cartwright,” he said to her dad as he removed a black Stetson from his head. “I’m Trevor Reynolds. I . . . I’m sorry about Brad. He was a good kid.”

  If her dad was surprised by Trevor’s appearance at his son’s funeral, it didn’t show in his voice. “Thank you.”

  Trevor’s gaze slid to her. “You must be Penny. I—”

  She slapped him. Hard.

  His eyes widened. His mouth thinned. But he didn’t move, didn’t make a sound.

  “You don’t belong here,” she said with icy resolve.

  For a second Trevor looked as if he might protest, but instead he took a wide step off to the side and allowed father and daughter to pass.

  Her dad waited until they arrived at the passenger door of his truck before he said, “You shouldn’t have done that, Pen.”

  She disagreed. She should have done it. She’d wanted to do even more. She’d wanted to haul back and slam Trevor Reynolds as hard as she could with a tight fist. He was the reason her brother was dead, and he deserved to bleed, to feel pain, to—

  “Hate and blame won’t bring Brad back,” her dad added.

  Somehow she held back the tears that burned her throat and eyes. If she started to cry, she feared she would never stop. Tears would mean she was weak, and she had to stay strong. For her dad. For herself.

  For Brad.

  Brad

  2003

  ON THE DAY HIS MOM DIED, BRAD CLIMBED HIS favorite tree and didn’t plan on ever coming down. Maybe he would have stayed forever if Penny hadn’t come looking for him. She climbed good . . . for a girl.

  “You need to come inside, Brad,” she said as she settled on a sturdy branch. “Dad’s ready to put dinner on the table.”

  He sniffed, then wiped his tears with his forearm. “I’m not hungry.”

  “You’ve gotta come in anyhow.”

  He stared down at his hands, now resting on his thighs, folded into tight fists. He didn’t want to go inside. Every room in the house was filled with memories of his mom, and it hurt too much to think about her.

  “Please, buddy.”

  He heard his tears mirrored in her voice.

  “We’ve gotta stick together now, Brad. We need each other.”

  “Okay,” he whispered at last. “I’ll come down.”

  She looked at him in silence before standing on the branch. Only when her feet touched the ground a short while later did Brad begin his promised descent. Once he was down, Penny put an arm around his shoulders and gave him a quick squeeze.

  “It’s gonna be all right,” she whispered.

  He might be just a kid, but he knew his big sister didn’t believe that any more than he did. It wasn’t going to be all right. Their mom wasn’t ever coming home again. She wasn’t ever going to go camping with them in the mountains or go riding horseback with them along the river or bake him another birthday cake. She wouldn’t ever again cheer for him at a soccer game on the school field or shout with joy when he m
ade it up on water skis during one of their trips up to McCall. He wouldn’t ever again see her get all mushy with Dad, the way she’d liked to do in the evening when they were all watching a movie.

  Brad and Penny walked toward the front of the house, and when they rounded the corner, he saw that only his dad’s truck was parked in the barnyard now. Friends of his parents had been coming by all afternoon, almost the instant word about his mom had gotten out. Some had brought flowers. Some had brought food. Some had just come to say they were sorry. Now, as twilight settled over the valley, the friends were all gone. Gone back to their families and their homes.

  Brad had to make himself go inside the house. It felt empty. Haunted almost.

  “Dad,” Penny called out. “We’re back.” She kept her arm around Brad’s shoulders, urging him toward the kitchen with a gentle pressure.

  It was a sad dinner, the only sounds the clicking of knives and forks against plates. Brad didn’t taste a bite. Whatever he swallowed might as well have been sawdust.

  Maybe nothing would ever taste good again.

  Chapter 1

  November 30

  TREVOR REYNOLDS GLANCED AROUND THE STUDIO apartment, located three blocks from the main drag in Kings Meadow. At one time it had been a detached garage, and the owner hadn’t tried to disguise its original purpose from the outside. Inside, the furnishings were simple and spare, but good enough to suit Trevor’s purposes for however long he was here. He’d stayed in far worse places in his early years on the road.

  “I’ll take it,” he told the landlord, Harry Adams, a thin, white-haired man with stooped shoulders, a shuffling step, and a ready smile.

  “Well, that’s great. Great. Are you in town for long, Mr. Reynolds?”

  Trevor slipped his wallet from his back pocket. “I’m not sure.” He pulled out several bills. “First and last month’s rent. Right?”

  “Indeed it is.” In exchange for the money, the landlord handed him the key to the door.

  Trevor walked to the small refrigerator and opened it. The light went on at the back, showing a pristine interior.

  “Grocery store’s just a few blocks away,” Mr. Adams said. “Open until nine.”