The Prodigal Comes Home

The Prodigal Comes Home
Kathryn Springer

After ten years away, former wild child Zoey Decker returns to Mirror Lake to care for her ill grandmother. It seems no one will let her forget her teenage rebellion - and the tragic consequences.Except Matthew Wilde, the church's handsome new pastor. Matthew sees the kind, caring Christian Zoey has become. But spending time with her could hurt Matthew's reputation in the close-knit community.And her name will never appear on the town matchmakers' list of possible wives for him. But Matthew has his own list, with only one name - Zoey.

“How long has it been since you two have seen each other?” Matthew asked Zoey.

Zoey stiffened, searching for undercurrents of suspicion in the husky voice. Zoey tried to tell herself it only made sense that his concern would be centered on her grandmother now.

But he probably thought that she had shown up, circling like a vulture, to determine just how sick her grandmother was. He’d seen the condition of her Jeep. The clothing piled in the backseat. More than likely she was down on her luck. Looking for someone to take care of her.

The thought turned Zoey’s stomach.

She wouldn’t try to explain that the reason she’d come back was to give, not take.

It wouldn’t make any difference. As soon as he left, the good pastor would no doubt ask around town—find at least a dozen people who would cheerfully supply all the gruesome details of her past—and he wouldn’t believe her anyway.

KATHRYN SPRINGER

is a lifelong Wisconsin resident. Growing up in a “newspaper” family, she spent long hours as a child plunking out stories on her mother’s typewriter and hasn’t stopped writing since! She loves to write inspirational romance because it allows her to combine her faith in God with her love of a happy ending.

The Prodigal Comes Home

Kathryn Springer

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

“He put a new song in my mouth,

a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear

and put their trust in the Lord.”

—Psalms 40:3

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Epilogue

Letter to Reader

Questions for Discussion

Chapter One

She shouldn’t have come back.

The thought raced through Zoey Decker’s mind the moment she spotted a square, unassuming green road sign sprouting from the snow-covered ditch.

Mirror Lake—3 miles.

Spots began to dance in front of her eyes and she stomped on the brake, wrestling the Jeep onto the side of the road. Maybe she should get out of the vehicle for a few minutes. Stretch her legs.