title: Return To Falcon Ridge
author:  Rita Herron 
description: Award-winning author Rita Herron wrote her first book when she was twelve, but didnt think real people grew up to be writers. Now she writes so she doesnt have to get a real job. A former kindergarten teacher and workshop leader, she traded storytelling to kids for writing romance. She lives in Georgia with her own romance hero. She loves to hear from readers, so pleasevisit her website, www.ritaherron.com.
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  ## “Are you only being nice to me because you think you owe it to my family?”
  
  
  Elsie’s blunt comment took him off guard. “I… At first that was the reason.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “And now?”
  
  
  
  
  
  Wariness darkened her eyes, but desire also flickered in the depths. Deke
  didn’t quite know how to answer.
  
  
  
  
  
  “Now…” He hesitated, hating the churning in his stomach. “Now I want to
  protect you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Disappointment tightened her mouth. “Because you think I’m helpless? Well, I’m
  not, Deke. I know how to fight, how to take care of myself, how to shoot that
  gun. And I won’t hesitate to do it.”
  
  
  
  
  
  “That doesn’t mean you have to face everything alone all the time, Elsie.”
  
  
  
  
  
  Emotions clouded her eyes. “I don’t know any other way.”
  
  
  
  
  
  He twined her fingers in his own, stroking her palm with his other hand as he
  pulled her into his lap. “Let me show you.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ## RITA HERRON
  
  
  ## RETURN TO FALCON RIDGE
  
  
  ![image](Images/logo.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  To all those fans who