A Hearing Heart

The heart conveys messages beyond what ears can hear.

After the death of her fiancé, Catherine Johnson, a New York schoolteacher in 1902, travels to Nebraska to teach in a one-room school and escape her sad memories. One afternoon, violence erupts in the sleepy town. Catherine saves deaf stable hand, Jim Kinney from torture by drunken thugs.

As she takes charge of his education, teaching him to read and sign, attraction grows between them. The warmth and humor in this silent man transcends the need for speech and his eyes tell her all she needs to know about his feelings for her. But the obstacles of class difference and the stigma of his handicap are almost insurmountable barriers to their growing attachment.

Will Catherine flaunt society’s rules and allow herself to love again? Can Jim make his way out of poverty as a deaf man in a hearing world? And together will they beat the corrupt robber baron who has a stranglehold on the town? Romance, love and sensuality abound in this jam-packed, old-fashioned tale with plenty of heart and some deeply sensual sex.

Reviews

Fallen Angel Reviews, Linda L., 5 angels
I found Catherine and Jim robust characters, each with an inner troubled soul. ... The remarkable secondary characters enabled the storyline to flow at a good pace. ... This is a lovely story wonderfully told.

Book Utopia, 9/10
"Favorite Novel of 2009" runner up , "Favorite Hero of 2009" runner up
"...an excellent example of a beta hero’s charms, as well as a heartbreaking romance."

Mrs. Giggles, 92
This one is a slow burn of a romance that manages to be a most satisfying and tender romantic read. While Jim is a larger-than-life hero who is hurt enough inside to make me go "Awww!", Catherine comes off as a smart and nice heroine who is nonetheless restricted by her own prejudices now and then - a heroine with enough flaws to prevent her from being too much of a saint, in other words. Their romance is very sweet, so much so that I feel as if my heart is both hurting and melting as a result.

Just Erotic Romance Reviews, LT Blue, 5 stars
I absolutely loved A Hearing Heart. Catherine and Jim had a way of communicating that showed they were truly meant to be together. I recommend A Hearing Heart as a perfect read for any season.

Love Western Romances, Carol, 5 spurs
What makes this erotic romance a cut above the rest is the multi dimensional characters and Ms. Dee's ability to make romantic heroes out of imperfect men. And it is these imperfections that give her stories the weight and wonder that keep you turning pages. Catherine and Jim will stay with the reader long after the book has been put aside. Erotic and heartwarming, an interesting and tantalizing romantic combination.

Karen Scott's Blog, AztecLady, 8.5 of 10
A Hearing Heart is a very moving story. From the setting to the issues it touches on, A Hearing Heart is definitely worth reading. I particularly enjoyed the fact that both Jim and Catherine face a bumpy ride. They are both good people, but as people do, they second guess themselves, make some unfortunate decisions with the best of intentions, and generally speaking, are human.

Night Owl Romance, Melinda, 5 stars
Oh my Bonnie Dee has a hit with this one. I loved that she produced a storyline that in not traditional and made it very memorable. Jim Kinney is unlike any man Catherine has known but something about him makes him very heroic. Cat is definitely a woman who completed him in every way. I loved that it takes one near experience for them to see that love comes in many forms.

Romance Junkies, Katie, 4.5 blue ribbons
The respect and care these two have for one another is a beautiful thing to read. It was great to see Catherine and Jim’s relationship grow and the way they act with one another is sweet. When Jim and Catherine share that first kiss with one another, you will be smiling and when these two move on to more adult intimacies, those scenes are sexy and very passionate. A HEARING HEART is one book that sticks with you long after you finish reading.

BookWenches, BD Whitney, 4
This is a sweet and sensual story of clandestine love that features a hero and heroine from two different end of society who would never normally come together and who must overcome obstacles both natural and man-made in order to find love and happiness together.

Coffee Time Romance, Cherokee, 5 cups
I adored A Hearing Heart. Catherine and Jim are sweet enduring characters showing a great deal of compassion and love. Bonnie Dee fashions a poignant story that moved this reader beyond words.

Dear Author, Jayne, B-
The scenes of Catherine teaching Jim to read then of them both learning sign language are fascinating. I think you did a great job showing how Jim’s new learning is opening up the world for him. ... The book avoids sugary sweetness. It is matter of fact and down to earth. Brava. Jim isn’t made to be a poster child for pc-ness nor does Catherine treat him like some pet project – she sees him as a man and realizes early on she is attracted to him as more than a friend.

All About Romance, Abi Bishop, B+
A Hearing Heart is all about the personal journeys of these two characters, both separate and as a couple and every aspect of it was a pleasure to read.

Manic Readers, 4. 5 stars
this is a story guaranteed to warm your heart, keep you intrigued from page to page and leave you breathless as the sexual tension between Catherine and Jim take on a life of its own. Two thumbs up to Ms. Dee for giving us a romance that touches the heart and soothes the soul.

Excerpt

Broughton, Nebraska, 1901

Catherine Johnson stepped out of the general mercantile onto the wooden walkway, adjusting her mesh shopping bag on one wrist and the brown paper-wrapped parcels in her other arm. A stiff breeze cut through her white blouse and twisted her long, navy skirt around her legs. Grit scoured her cheeks and stung her eyes. At least the road wasn’t muddy, but she faced a long walk back to the McPhersons’ farm carrying all her purchases. She’d be glad when her stay there was finished and she moved in with the Albrights in town. Shuttling from home to home was one of the most unpleasant aspects of teaching in a one-room schoolhouse.

Sometimes she wished she’d never left New York to come to Nebraska. On a Saturday afternoon in White Plains she would be strolling along a brick path in the park, fountains and flowerbeds gracing the way. Here in Broughton she fought the ever-present wind and choking dust while her shoes tapped an uneven rhythm on the warped boards of the sidewalk.

The town was quiet for a Saturday, the streets nearly empty. She was nearly to the last building on Main Street where the dusty road became prairie, when several men erupted from the saloon right in front of her. The swinging doors slammed open, crashing against the wall.

Catherine cried out and stumbled backward, dropping one of her packages. Her heart pounded.

A raw-boned man with no chin and his stocky, black-bearded partner dragged a man between them. Behind them staggered a burly fellow with heavy-lidded, sleepy eyes. He was shouting curses, using words Catherine had never heard. The only man she recognized was the one the others gripped by the arms--Jim Kinney, the deaf-mute man who worked at the livery stable.

He glared at his captors through a fringe of dark hair. The burly man moved in front of Jim and plowed a fist into his stomach. The stable hand doubled over with a whoosh of expelled air, then gasped for breath.

The black-bearded man hauled him upright and the skinny one punched his jaw, snapping his head to the side. Jim cried out, a hoarse, wordless sound. He twisted and kicked out with his feet at the man who’d hit him, landing a solid blow to his chest which knocked him backward.

“Tie him up,” the droopy-eyed man slurred. “Teach him some respect.”

Catherine stood rooted to the spot, horrified but too shocked to react as one of the men grabbed a rope from his horse’s saddle at the hitching post. When he began tying Jim’s hands, she finally found her voice. “Stop it! Stop!” She dropped her parcels and bag on the sidewalk, lifted her skirts and ran toward them. “Leave him alone!”

For a second, Jim’s dark eyes met hers, registering her presence before the men dragged him out to the street, whooping in drunken glee and ignoring Catherine as if she was voiceless.

“Stop!” she yelled in helpless frustration, her hands clenching at her sides. The black-bearded man’s broad shoulders blocked her view of the street. She pushed past him, the sour stench of sweat and alcohol wrinkling her nose.

The leader had mounted his horse and wrapped the end of the rope around the pommel of his saddle. Jim struggled to free his hands until the rope stretched taut and jerked him forward, forcing him to keep pace with the horse. The rider kneed his mount sharply and it accelerated from a walk to a trot. Jim ran behind, stumbling as he tried to keep on his feet.

Catherine screamed for help as loud as she could. A few men came from the saloon while others stepped out of storefronts along the street.

“Help!” she shrieked again, panic swelling in her chest and threatening to overwhelm her. “Somebody help him.”

Jim couldn’t keep up with the speed of the horse. He tripped, fell and was dragged along the ground. Spooked by the creature on its heels, the horse whinnied and plunged ahead. A cloud of dust from its hooves concealed the body bumping over ruts behind it. The rider pulled the horse’s head up, turned and rode back toward where his companions stood laughing and shouting encouragement.

People emerging from the barbershop, the mercantile and feed store all stood watching. No one was going to interfere, risking the men’s drunken anger.

The horse raced toward Catherine. Without a thought beyond stopping it, she ran into the road, waving her arms and shouting. The animal reared on its hind legs directly in front of her, dumping its rider to the ground. For a moment all she could see was hooves flailing and the chestnut body rising above her. How very tall a horse was when standing on two legs. The inane thought flashed in her mind before the animal came down on all fours. She seized the bridle and her fingers grazed its warm jaw. The horse blew hay-scented breath into her face with a soft chuffing sound.

“Shh. Easy. Easy,” she crooned, stroking its neck. She moved alongside and reached for the rope tied to the pommel. Even standing on her toes with her chest pressed against the horse’s heaving flank she could barely reach it, and the knot so tight she couldn’t loosen it. Catherine glanced at Jim’s dusty body sprawled in the road, and at the other man slowly rising to his feet, cursing as he brushed off his clothes.

Now that the crisis was past, a couple of men from the feed store came out to the street and grabbed the leader of the thugs, while someone ran to get the deputy. A few patrons of the tavern collared the other two roughnecks. Mr. Murdoch, the saloonkeeper knelt in the road beside Jim and untied his wrists, cursing under his breath.

Catherine walked over to the prone body of the stable hand and watched Murdoch feel his limbs for broken bones.

“Is he alive?” She squatted beside them, her skirt pooling around her, and stared at the dust-covered form. The man’s eyes were closed and blood seeped from abrasions on his face.

“He’s unconscious, but I think he’ll be all right. Damn! If only he’d kept out of their way.”

“He needs the doctor.”

“Already sent someone to get him.”

Catherine pulled her handkerchief from her sleeve and dabbed at the blood on Jim’s face. “What happened?”

“Drunken fools called for another round. Shirley was tending another table so they shouted at Jim to get their drinks. Of course, he couldn’t hear ’em. He’s there to push broom not wait tables. They started yelling, grabbed him and dragged him outside.”

Catherine bit back her question of why it had taken him so long to do something. Pushing back a lock of Jim’s dark hair, she examined the wound at his temple. “I thought Mr. Kinney worked at the livery stable.”

“Works there too. Has a room back of the stables. Christ! Where’s the damn doc? Pardon the language.”

A young woman ran up to them, her skirts held high enough to show striped stockings all the way to her knees. Her red hair straggled from the bun in back to frame her round, red-cheeked face. The neckline of her dress revealed most of her bosom, which rose and fell as she panted. “Doc’s out on a call, Mr. Murdoch. Is he okay?”

“Damn! Hope to hell there ain’t anything broken. Guess all we can do is carry him back to his room.”

Several men had gathered around, and together three of them lifted Jim’s body. He groaned, and his eyes opened, his gaze focusing on Catherine.

She smiled. “It’s all right. You’ll be all right.”

He blinked, but she didn’t know if he’d understood. She’d only seen the man once or twice since she’d moved here, and people said he was slow as well as deaf and mute.

Walking beside the men carrying him, she kept her gaze locked with his in an attempt to offer encouragement. The eyes that stared back at her were focused and intelligent. She could almost see his thoughts busily flickering in them, but with no voice to give substance those thoughts remained locked inside him. Catherine realized he wasn’t mentally impaired at all.

The men carried him through the doors of the livery stable, and Catherine lost eye contact with Jim. Her stomach churned, which wasn’t surprising since a rearing horse had nearly trampled her. The deputy would probably have questions for her as the main witness of the altercation, but for now she was intent on seeing what she could do to help Jim Kinney. She followed the men into the livery.

* * * *
His body ached in a thousand places. Every bone hurt. Every inch of exposed skin was shredded. He felt like he’d been dragged down the street behind a horse. Jim smiled at the irony, then groaned as one of the men carrying him jarred his right side.

He looked at the three faces above him. Murdoch frowned. His mouth moved beneath his handlebar moustache as he said something to John Walker from the hardware. Jim recognized the third man from the feed store. Their faces were strained with the effort of carrying him and their fiercely gripping hands hurt like hell. He wished they’d set him down and let him get himself back to his room. Even if he had to crawl it would be less painful.

Jim glanced past Walker, who was holding his legs, and tried to catch another glimpse of the schoolteacher. She must’ve left.

He wondered if any of his bones were broken, wondered if someone was getting the doctor, and how he’d pay him. How soon would he be able to work again? If his body failed him, he was in trouble. That’s why he always took good care of himself, careful to keep healthy and steer clear of dangerous situations. From a lifetime of practice, he’d become adept at avoiding drunks or bullies who wanted to show their manliness with their fists and found him an easy target.

But today he hadn’t been alert. He’d been thinking about Shirley Mae and what she’d done for him the previous night. He’d only paid for a hand job. It was all he could afford, but he was desperate for something more than his own touch. Shirley had given him a blowjob for free. She’d pointed to the rhinestone comb in her hair, the one he’d found one day while sweeping the bar and returned to her, then she’d bent her head and taken his erection in her mouth. With that memory in mind, he hadn’t been aware of the three drunken men until they grabbed him.

Now Walker and the other men were maneuvering Jim through the narrow doorway of his room. He gritted his teeth to keep from crying out as they jostled his body. When they laid him on his cot, he exhaled in relief.

His small room was crowded with bodies, but soon all of the men left except his two bosses, Murdoch and Rasmussen. They spoke together a moment. He couldn’t see their lips to read them and was too tired to care. His eyes drifted closed. They opened again at the pressure of Murdoch’s hand on his shoulder. He explained slowly that the doctor was out on a call, patted Jim’s shoulder and left the room.

Mr. Rasmussen sat on the edge of the bed, pushed his glasses up his nose and frowned, a sure sign he didn’t know what he was doing. He might be able to wrap a horse’s strained leg, but what did he know about people? Jim inhaled a deep breath and pain pierced his side. Something was wrong with his ribs. He gestured to his side, letting Rasmussen know. The man nodded and began unbuttoning what was left of his shirt.

A movement in the doorway caught Jim’s attention. The schoolteacher stood framed there in her blue and white-flowered dress with her daffodil-colored hair. A faint scent of lily-of-the-valley perfume wafted to him. She was like a flower garden filling the dark space.

She hesitated, glancing at Rasmussen before entering the room. Only a few paces brought her to the edge of Jim’s bed.

He couldn’t stop staring at her like the idiot everyone thought he was. The sight of her fresh, feminine form in his dingy room was unbelievable, besides which he was dizzy and near passing out from the pain in his head. His gaze fastened on her lips.

“Is there anything I can do?” she asked Rasmussen.

The stableman turned toward her so Jim couldn’t see his reply. Miss Johnson nodded and left the room. He felt pain that had nothing to do with his injured body as she disappeared from view.