Sharon Read online

  Table of Contents

  Table of Contents

  Cover

  Acknowledgements

  Prologue

  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

  Chapter 22

  Epilogue

  Other books by Sioux Dallas

  Back Cover

  Sharon

  A novel by

  Sioux Dallas

  CCB Publishing

  British Columbia, Canada

  Sharon

  Copyright ©2012 by Sioux Dallas

  ISBN-13 978-1-927360-27-9

  Second Edition

  Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

  Dallas, Sioux, 1930-

  Sharon / written by Sioux Dallas – 2nd ed.

  ISBN 978-1-927360-27-9

  Also available in print format.

  I. Title.

  PS3604.A439S53 2009 813'.6 C2009-900255-8

  Additional cataloguing data available from Library and Archives Canada

  Cover design: Sioux Dallas is featured with her favorite hunter, Cherokee Challenge, who was the great-grandson of Man O’ War.

  Extreme care has been taken to ensure that all information presented in this book is accurate and up to date at the time of publishing. Neither the author nor the publisher can be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Additionally, neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express written permission of the publisher.

  Publisher:

  CCB Publishing

  British Columbia, Canada

  www.ccbpublishing.com

  Acknowledgments

  There are far too many friends who encouraged and supported me to list.

  There are a few who deserve recognition.

  Donna Backes has been a true friend in proofreading my work brutally. I do appreciate her efforts and encouragement.

  Dede Hammond organized our writing group and has been a faithful encourager. I appreciate her more than I can express and apologize to her for playing such lousy golf with her.

  My sisters, Ellen Cooley and Bonnie Rutherford have always been true friends as well as sisters. They have cared for me and encouraged me all my life.

  My daughter, Verta Lynn, is the best daughter in the world. She thinks whatever I do is great and loves me unconditionally.

  I love all the people who have worked with me in the school teaching and my horse work. I have some great memories of the heart of the horses and other animals with which I’ve worked. My Cherokee Challenge (on the cover) is the great grandson of Man O’ War and was as near human as a horse can get. He proved his love for me in many ways and many times.

  Last, but far from least, all the people in my church who cared and laughed with me. Peggy and Dennis Kissinger were two who sincerely took an interest and encouraged me.

  Thank all of you from the bottom of my heart. I am so blessed.

  Prologue

  Squirming to relieve her aching back, Sharon continued her drive from San Antonio, Texas to Zephyrhills, Florida. What a way to spend her twenty-first birthday. A new widow, hurt, confused and a tiny bit afraid of her life ahead, she drove bravely on.

  I can remember Grandmother McGregor saying, ‘When you find yourself knocked to your knees, you’re in a good position to pray.’ She smiled to herself as she remembered her lovable, feisty Scots Grandmother. Her beloved maternal grandmother had died four years before and was still missed. I’ve sure been knocked to my knees a lot the past few months, and I’ve prayed a lot, but I still am not sure that I’m making the right decision. Guess I’ll just have to keep on keeping on and have a lot of faith and trust. I do trust you, Lord.

  Pewter-bottomed clouds didn’t allow much of the blazing sun through while heat covered everything as if it were a thick comforter on a feather bed. Aw gee! More road construction. Someone must have told them I’d be coming through. Trials and tribulations seem to follow me. Stop it, Sharon! You’re getting paranoid.

  Sharon breathed a deep sigh and dropped her head against the backrest of the seat. Her aching heart, matching her aching back, brought the past two years to her mind.

  She whispered, “Heavenly Father, help me to put the past behind me and make the future strong for me. I still don’t understand how so much evil happened as it did, but I’m so thankful you were there to cushion me. I know that you will take charge and lead me from now on.” She closed her eyes thinking of the past two years.

  Chapter One

  “Hey! Hey! Ole!” Sharon Donnelly sang as she snapped her fingers and moved her feet in rhythm with the Latin beat that the band played. Waist-length strawberry-blond hair swirled out in waves and curls as bright, jade eyes sparkled with excitement and happiness.

  Her parents, Sean and Megan Donnelly, had arranged to give her this surprise nineteenth birthday party. Vivid blue and gold streamers and multi-colored balloons decorated the Silver Pines Country Club in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. College friends and neighbors were celebrating with her. Lightning bursts of happiness raced through her heart as she walked smiling through the crowd and feeling blessed.

  “Wow! What a grrreat party!” Lynn Yates burbled as she gyrated by Sharon in rhythm to the beat of the rollicking music.

  Lynn’s mother was Sean Donnelly’s sister. When Lynn was five years old, her parents died in an automobile accident, and the Donnellys had taken Lynn to raise as another daughter. Three year old Sharon had idolized Lynn and they were much closer than most biological sisters.

  Although Sharon smiled at guests, and sometimes made a comment, her thoughts took her away. She smiled lovingly after Lynn. Oh, Lynn and I were such brats. We were, and still are, horse crazy and practically lived in the stable. Poor mom. She’s such a lady, and she despaired of us ever growing to be more than tomboys. Now look at us. I’ve finished my second year of college to become a teacher and Lynn’s finished veterinarian school and Master Instructor so she can open a riding school for the handicapped. We’ll both be teaching and we both adore children.

  “Sharon, darling, are you with us?” Megan Donnelly giggled. “You’re in another world and haven’t answered me.”

  “Earth to Sharon.” Sean Donnelly laughed as he put his arms around her waist and lifted her to twirl around.

  “Daddy! Put me down this instant.” Sharon didn’t succeed in sounding firm or angry. “Thank you, Mom and Dad,” she exclaimed as she hugged each one. “I don’t know when I’ve had more fun. This truly is a wonderful party.”

  She smiled at her parents thinking, daddy’s only forty-two and mom’s forty. They both look marvelous and they’ve been the world’s best parents for Lynn and me.

  “We’re happy if you are,” Megan said. “Why don’t we get to that delicious looking buffet while we have a few minutes to ourselves.”

  “Lead me to food anytime,” Sean chuckled. “Mom’s right. Better grab a bite while we can.”

  “Oh, no,” Sharon groaned. “I’d better not eat. If I put anything inside, it’ll be outside real quick. The grasshoppers a
nd butterflies in my stomach aren’t mixing too well.”

  “Too late,” Sean whispered. He reluctantly turned, with a smile, to shake hands with the two men who stood by him. Megan talked politely to the men’s wives while slowly moving toward the buffet table.

  “Thank you for coming to my party,” Sharon told the two couples. “Please excuse me. My roommate and other college friends are wondering why I don’t spend some time with them.” She walked over to a group of young people that included Amanda Rawlings, her college roommate.

  “Yoweee! I’m having a hard time closing my mouth. This is so amazing. See my big eyes,” Amanda laughed. “My family is socially active in Virginia, but we never belonged to a club like this. It feels as if I’m in the middle of ‘Gone With the Wind’ in this plantation setting. Your folks sure went all out for you.”

  Sharon put her arm through Amanda’s arm. “Remember, I grew up with this. It ain’t all that hot to me. Besides, you know how I feel. It’s what a person is inside that’s important, and not what they belong to or how much they have.”

  “Oh, I know how you feel, and I’m not envious,” Amanda continued. “You’re one of the most down to earth people I know. They would soon throw me out of here with my cut-off jeans and ratty sneakers.”

  “You think you have ratty clothing? You should have seen Lynn and me when we were little. My dad almost got kicked out of the country club because we would ride our horses, bareback, straight across the golf course while looking worse than street urchins. We were barefoot, wearing dirty shorts and torn T-shirts. There’s a lake by the golf course for boating and an area for swimming. Can you imagine how those proper ladies felt as they leisurely drifted around in a canoe and here came Lynn and I swimming our horses toward them and yelling like savages.” The group of young people was laughing hysterically. “But at church we were angels. Mom dressed us at least to look like ladies and we were afraid to behave differently. Lynn was always better behaved than I.

  “Did I hear my name taken in vain?” Lynn walked to stand beside Amanda. “Are we telling stories? Boy, could I tell you folks stories about this one,” she laughed gesturing toward Sharon.

  “Okay, old lady. That’s enough out of you,” Sharon chuckled.

  “Who’er you calling an old lady?” Lynn teased trying to look angry and failing. The group laughed and asked to be let in on the joke.

  “There’s no joke,” Sharon answered. “Lynn’s two years older, and I like to tease her about being the oldest.” She turned to a neighbor girl. “Remember the party mom and dad gave Lynn for her twenty-first birthday here at the club a couple of months ago?” She explained to Amanda and the group. “This place was decorated horsey. Some of our hunt club friends and riding buddies even rode their horses right up the driveway to the club house. One boy tried to ride into the social room, but the club officers were present and threatened to have him arrested if he didn’t leave. Mom and dad were mortified Lynn spoke through the laughter, “Well, as long as we’re telling stories ---”

  “Never you mind,” Sharon shook her head. “Why don’t we get this crowd into a line dance. The romantic couples have been swinging and swaying long enough.” She went to the band and talked to the leader. In a minute the music changed from pop to western.

  Sharon was in a line dance doing the ‘Boot Scooting Boogie’ when Amanda twisted and scooted near her. “Fan me quick, mamma. I’ve died and gone where good little girls go to meet sexy, handsome men,” she gushed.

  Sharon glanced up to see the Taylors entering the room. Her dad’s law partner, Malcolm Taylor, and his wife, Agnes Taylor, and their son, Jeremy, were at the door. She knew Jeremy was home on leave from the air force. He was a pilot, a lieutenant, and looked great in his uniform. She started walking toward them, happy to welcome them.

  I’m sure Jeremy won’t remember me, Sharon thought. He was four years ahead of me; a football hero and in the ROTC. There were scads of beautiful girls hanging around him, and he had a wild reputation. Why would he remember me, a plain girl who was too shy to try to be part of his group.

  Lynn caught up with Sharon just as she reached the Taylors. Malcolm Taylor hugged both girls. Agnes Taylor floated in, her head high, expecting adoration from everyone. She ignored Sharon and Lynn. Agnes loved to have people think she was Jeremy’s older sister, therefore, pretty girls were discouraged. They might take attention from her.

  “Jeremy,” Malcolm’s deep voice boomed. “This gorgeous young lady is the birthday girl. Do you remember Sharon?”

  “How could I forget?” Jeremy’s deep, sensuous voice made Sharon’s knees weak. Black, curly hair; midnight blue eyes and olive skin made a heart-fluttering impression on Sharon. Jeremy took Sharon’s hand and tucked it into the bend of his arm with a slow, seductive smile. Her five feet six looked tiny beside his six feet two muscular build.

  “I’m glad you could come,” she stammered. “Oh, you remember Lynn.”

  “I sure do.,” He turned a smile on Lynn as he took her hand and drew it slowly to his lips.

  Lynn firmly pulled her hand back before he could kiss it. “I know your parents are happy to have you home,” she said politely with no expression.

  Jeremy’s eyes narrowed. He gave a small nod to Lynn before turning to smile at Sharon. He kept looking quizzically and slightly angry at Lynn.

  Malcolm took his son’s arm. “Sorry, girls. I know you’d love to get reacquainted and play catch-up, but I’d like to introduce Jeremy to some business friends.” Jeremy looked back at Sharon with a practiced, pained look as his father took him off, his mother still floating after them with her head high. “Jeremy will catch you again later.”

  Lynn snapped her fingers in front of Sharon’s eyes. “Wake up and dust the cobwebs off your brain. Use the common sense God gave you, and don’t let that loser reel you in. Never forget that he’s momma’s little darling and she’s spoiled him rotten. Surely you remember all the foolish girls who did his assignments so that he could be a football hero and stay in the ROTC.” Lynn viewed Sharon with a worried, but loving, expression.

  “Oh, for heaven’s sake,” Sharon snapped. “Of course I remember. I was one of those foolish girls for a short time. I helped him with literature classes. But -- I’m sure the military has helped him to mature.”

  “Don’t count on it. You know what they say about leopards,” Lynn winked.

  Leopards? Sharon looked puzzled at Lynn as they walked over to join some of their friends. One of her dad’s friends asked her to dance. Sharon looked over the man’s shoulder to see Jeremy staring at her. He grinned and winked. Nervously she looked away pretending not to see him.

  Jeremy’s mother had taught him to cultivate rich girls in high social positions, and Sharon qualified. As weeks flew by, Sharon fell under Jeremy’s charm. They kept in touch through phone calls and letters. In one of Jeremy’s letters, he had invited Sharon and her parents to be his guest at dinner in a famous French restaurant in Fort Lauderdale the following Friday.

  “Mrs. Donnelly, how beautiful you look tonight. Everyone will think you’re Sharon’s sister. Let me help you.” Jeremy rushed to hold her chair and then hurried to hold Sharon’s, but Sean had already seated his daughter.

  “Mr. Donnelly, my dad is so fortunate to have you for a partner.”

  “Jeremy, I’m the fortunate one. Let’s hope you make half the man your dad is. I’m sure it’s hard to follow his example. You should count your blessings that you have such an excellent role model in your father. I’m sure you’re thankful you have the advantage of such an outstanding parent.”

  Jeremy was thankful that the waiter came to take their order. He wasn’t sure what his reply should be. He had known the Donnellys all of his life and knew how close his father and Sean Donnelly were, but he really had no feelings for his father.

  Malcolm Taylor and Sean Donnelly had been friends during college and through law school and had been partners for many years. They were as close as most brothers w
ere. However, Agnes Taylor and Megan Donnelly were only polite to each other. Agnes did no work of any kind, leaving her house to servants, and attended all social functions possible. Megan volunteered for several charity groups and loved to take care of her own house and family. She only had help with window washing and heavy cleaning.

  Ignoring Lynn’s, and other friends’ warnings, Sharon dated Jeremy and kept in touch.

  Seven months after her party, she fell completely under Jeremy’s spell, and one of the most publicized weddings of Fort Lauderdale took place in the Baptist Church. It was an event fit for royalty.

  Following their wedding, three hundred guests were served at a sit-down dinner and a well-known group of musicians entertained at a reception held at the Silver Pines Country Club. Jeremy and Sharon, on the floor for the first dance, glided through the bubbles floating through the air from a machine. Her head just reached his shoulder. An arch of white roses on a long veil was placed across her head. The white lace and satin gown made her look as if she had stepped out of a picture of the middle 1800s.

  “This must be costing Sean a fortune,” a golfing buddy remarked to Agnes Taylor, sitting beside her at the dinner.

  “Don’t worry about the cost,” Agnes Taylor replied, happy to supply gossip. “Sean’s family owned a successful shipping business and importing and exporting for several generations. When Sean’s father died, the entire fortune went to Sean and his sister. He has invested wisely. He and Malcolm, my husband, have a lucrative law practice. I think Sean must have descended from King Midas,” she laughed strangely. “Sean Donnelly makes no financial mistakes. Of course his sister’s share of the inheritance went to Lynn under Sean’s guardianship. He comes out on top regardless of what he does.”

  The man quickly excused himself and left as if he were uneasy in Agnes’ presence.

  “Look at the newly weds,” Ellen Turner sitting across the table sighed. “Aren’t they a beautiful couple.”