THE CHIVALROUS STRANGER

When Lacey Vedae discovered a big, brooding stranger hiding out in her isolated cabin, the enchanted Kane’s Crossing town outcast soon found the soul mate she’d been searching for her whole life. But harboring a dark, shameful secret, dare Lacey believe in happily-ever-after?

With her haunted eyes and air of fragility, Lacey possessed the intoxicating allure of a princess locked in a tower. But Connor Langley was here to dig up information on the nefarious Spencer clan – not play Prince Charming. Still, powerless to resist sweeping Lacey into his arms for one magical kiss, he knew there was no turning back. Now staking a claim on his rightful inheritance could shatter his beloved’s heart into a million pieces....

Lacey Vedae stepped over the threshold of her deserted cabin--the one located on her property in the thick of the snow-frosted woods, for Pete’s sake--and shut the door. The sudden lack of chilled air caused her to shiver, more from a sense of foreboding than anything else.

A fire danced and snapped in the grate, sending waves of shifting light over the simple oak furnishings: two bony chairs, a square table, the rumpled bed…

What in the world was going on?

She removed her fuzzy pink earmuffs, hardly believing that someone had broken in to this dilapidated structure in the middle of nowhere.

None of her possessions had been filched or vandalized, not that there had been much to tamper with in the first place.

Shoot. If those darn teenagers from town had come back to use her property as a loveshack again she’d--

Lacey grabbed one of those iron thing-a-ma-jigs from the fireplace, just to bolster her confidence.

The door burst open behind her, swirling a blast of whistling, flake-laced wind into the room. A voice, the tone chipped with a low, flat-plains drawl, iced her more than the weather ever could.

“Who the hell are you?” it asked.

A mix of shock and anger spiraled through Lacey. She gathered her courage and brandished her fireplace tool while turning to meet the intruder. “I’m the woman who’s going to call the sheriff if you don’t keep your distance.”

The figure slammed the door shut, the altered light changing his mysterious silhouette into that of an actual human being. Half abominable snowman with drifts of light snow powdering his heavy jacket, pants and boots. Half cowboy dream with the smooth motion of a wide-brimmed hat being swept off his head in apparent respect. The gesture revealed shoulder-length blond hair and a grim, if not downright sheepish, almost-smile.

“Damn,” he said, beating the felt head wear against a thigh. Melting bits of ice flew to the planked floor with every thump.

“Damn what?” Lacey asked, jabbing her weapon in his general direction to make sure he didn’t come any closer. “Damn, you’ve been caught in my cabin?”

He stepped nearer, sending her a few stumbles backward. Dang. It wouldn’t do to run away like a fluttery chicken. She’d faced her share of bullies during her life in Kane’s Crossing, and she wasn’t about to lose her courage now--especially since she’d worked so hard to win it back over the years.

She’d learned to overcompensate in the control department. Learned that, every time she asserted herself, the past grew more distant and less threatening.

Lacey sauntered forward, wearing her most ornery glare. The ready-to-rumble demeanor, as her step-brother Rick liked to call it.

Yeah, definitely in control.

“Well?” she asked, making it clear that she expected a straight answer.

Something quick and explosive shot across his gaze. Something bluer than the shade of his eyes, warmer than the sputtering fire. She almost wished she could interpret the visual pause as interest, as a “Damn, I’m not sorry I got caught in this cabin. I’m saying, ‘Damn, you are a mighty hot little number.’”

Excellent, Lacey, she thought. No wonder most of the town thinks you still need to be institutionalized.

She blinked, basically to erase those negative thoughts. Think positive, think sunshine, think…

Control.

The stranger cleared his throat, startling her. “I didn’t mean any trouble, Ma’am.”

Ma’am? Didn’t he know she was too young for a “Ma’am”? Jeez. Twenty-seven years old and she was already eliciting matronly respect.

“Don’t Ma’am me,” she said, narrowing her eyes and clutching her makeshift weapon.

He lifted a brow, barely sparing a glance at her war-like stance, his mouth slanting to an angle that belied his exasperation. “How about addressing you as ‘Missy,’ then?”

“You’re pretty cocky for a guy who’s about to get thrown in jail for trespassing. Sheriff Reno doesn’t take kindly to that sort of crime.”

He shrugged, tossing his hat onto the table as if he owned the place. “Cocky never did me any harm.”

Oh, what a voice. If she wasn’t so suspicious of him right now, that calloused tone might’ve already talked her into a million things--all of them bad, too.

“Whether or not you meant trouble by commandeering my property, you need to scoot out of here.” She peered around, again noting the canned goods piled on a counter near the stove, a spurt of woolen shirts peeking out of an extra-large leather duffel bag on the floor next to the bed. “Seems as if you’ve already gotten cozy.”

As he ambled closer to the fire, he spread his hands toward the heat. His hesitation in answering gave Lacey the welcome opportunity for a second lingering once over.

Simply put, he was gorgeous. As still and breath-stealing as a cold night settling over dusk-burnished badlands, with blue eyes, chisled cheekbones and a full mouth. Sharp-edged, rough-and-tumbled. Lacey’s heart hopped away from her.

Hold onto it.

“So…” she said. “You’re not going to tell me how many moons you’ve camped out here?” She paused for him to answer.

Silence, of course.

He slipped off his jacket, revealing a homespun beige shirt that emphasized broad shoulders and a wide, muscled back, crisscrossed by a pair of sturdy suspenders. As he draped the clothing over a chair, Lacey drew in a breath, her pulse beating faster at the sight of his long legs encased by rugged tan pants that covered most of his boots.

How had a man like this ended up in her own back yard?

With laconic disregard, he merely glanced over his shoulder to acknowledge her words, then, after a moment or two, returned his attention to the fire.

2. Connor has a love/hate relationship with the Spencers. Why? If you were in his place, would you choose family over Lacey? What reasons does he have to remain loyal to each? Why can’t he choose both?

3. Connor notes that Lacey seems “sweet as power puffs and sugar cookies,” even though she’s tough on the inside. Do you think her appearance helps or hinders her when it comes to running a business or standing up to the Spencers? Generally, does the way a woman looks dictate how she’s treated by others? Have you or your friends ever been handled badly, or even better than you anticipated, due to your appearance? Is it right for a woman to take advantage of this?

4. How is Connor portrayed physically (clothing, imagery, etc.)? How do his descriptions symbolize his code of ethics and motivations?

5. Why do some citizens in Kane’s Crossing treat Lacey badly? Why does she stay and suffer their treatment? If you were Lacey, would you remain in this town? Why/why not?

6. One theme of this book is the search for identity or the quest to define oneself. How is the theme reflected in Lacey? Connor? The Wanderer? Can you use examples to support your opinions?

7. Most of us have been touched by cancer, whether the disease has attacked a family member, a friend, or our own bodies. How does Mrs. Langley’s cancer affect Connor’s sense of control and self? Is he justified in demanding that the Spencers shoulder some of the disease’s burden? Why/why not?

8. Describe Lacey’s relationship with her mother. How did it shape her life? Now contrast this relationship with that of Conn and his mother. How would each of their lives have been affected if their mothers were switched? What does Connor’s real dad have in common with Lacey’s mom? What kind of bond does this form between the hero and heroine?

9. What do you know about severe depression? Are you acquainted with anyone who has suffered from it? Do you believe it’s a valid malady or do you think it’s an excuse for someone to wallow in self-pity? How does your opinion form your perception of Lacey and why?

10. What is the symbolism of the glass castle? How does it apply to Lacey? To her relationship with Connor?

11. Besides the glass castle, there are other references to fairy tales. What stories correspond to “Someone had been sleeping in her bed” and “Who’s the fairest of them all”? How do these two tales fit in with Connor’s and Lacey’s lives?

12. Lacey was sent to a mental health clinic when she was found cutting her skin with a sharp object. What do you know about the phenomenon called “cutting”? Why do people—usually young women and teenage girls—do it? Why do you think Lacey tried it?

13. “Great ventures take great risks,” say the characters. How does the phrase apply to Connor? To Lacey? How can it be applied to your own life?

14. In five years, will Lacey and Connor still be together? Why/why not? What do you predict their lives will be like?