The Water Bearer
Cassidy unintentionally set the fire that destroyed her family. Now, in
an attempt to escape the constant reminders, she prepares to leave the tiny
farming community she grew up in. She covers her guilt with a devil-may-care
attitude, but she can't fool Jared, her best friend and loyal partner in
crime. Cassidy and Jared's lifelong friendship blossoms into romance during
the last Summer on the farm.
Jared knows if he can't help Cassidy overcome the pain of her past, he'll
lose her forever. Desperate to keep her by his side, Jared devises an
outrageous plan. When his scheme goes awry, his good intentions turn into
betrayal. Jared needs Cassidy's forgiveness but first, she must learn to
forgive herself.
Will their relationship end, or can Jared show her that sometimes a
lifetime isn't long enough to love someone, and a million miles won't
separate you from your past?
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 50,000 words
"The Water Bearer was inspired by my grandparents' love for one
another. A love that endured youth, war, poor crops, old age, and even
death. At my grandma's knee, I learned sometimes a lifetime isn't long
enough to love someone, and a million miles won't separate you from your
past. She was the wisest woman I've ever known."
~ Wendi ~ |
Larger Cover
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Cover Art by Jinger
Heaston
THE WATER BEARER
ISBN: 1-60601-177-4
E-book $4.99
15% off at checkout
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REVIEWS
for The Water Bearer
5 Stars: "It is harder to
forgive yourself than to forgive others…
The Water Bearer is a beautiful love story.
Cassidy and Jared share a great love.
Readers will come to love both of them and
to know that they belong together. The
plot flows smoothly. The secondary
characters were not intrusive, but instead
added much to this story. Lilith was the
perfect antagonist. She will certainly
bring a smile to your face. The Water
Bearer will bring smiles, laughter, a
few tears, and a lot of pleasure to each
reader. Don’t miss this one, The Water
Bearer is sure to be a favorite."
—Debra Gaynor, Review Your Book
4 Cups: "Ms. Christner has
a fantastic story. The idea that love
lasts forever is so beautifully
represented in this story. I also liked a
lot of the minor characters because they
were as central to this story as Cassidy
and Jared. The difficulties both Cassidy
and Jared have to overcome make the ending
so poignant. Love stories can be so varied
in how they deal with death. I have to say
that this one is the most emotional I have
read so far."
—Krista, Coffee Time Romance
EXCERPT
“You’re not ever coming back, are you Cass?” He wasn’t looking at her,
focused instead on the pasture. It was more of a statement than
a question, and they both knew the answer.
What Jared didn’t know, what he couldn’t understand, was why. And
she didn’t have the words that would make him understand.
This place would always be about fire to her. She would always smell the
smoke, feel the heat. The sun would blaze one minute burning her
skin, and when that season passed, the maples beyond the
pastures would set the horizon ablaze with their red and yellow
leaves, or a thundercloud would roll in and turn the sky as gray
as smoke. As close as she and Jared were, he could never feel
what she felt. He could never understand how long a fire could
burn.
“Hurry up and get decent,” he said. “I’ve got a graduation present for
you.”
Cassidy went inside and changed. When she came out again, his back was
pressed against a porch post, his fingers wrestled in his
pockets, and his cowboy boot tapped out a rhythm on the wood.
Samson was standing nearby, too proud to be tethered to the
house.
“What?” she said as she mounted her horse.
“I didn’t say anything.”
A thin line creased his forehead and a frown dipped the corners of his
mouth. “You’ve got that look.”
“The look I was born with.” He straightened himself and grabbed
Delilah’s reins.
“You look like your Daddy.”
A cloud settled in Jared’s eyes, but he didn’t respond. Cassidy nudged
Samson with her heel, and the palomino took off at a trot.
Jared and Delilah were soon alongside.
At the top of the hill, Samson stopped next to the trunk of the oak, but
before Cassidy could step down, Jared grabbed the reins and
pulled them from her hands.
She grabbed at them and jerked back, but he didn’t let go.
“Trust me,” he said.
She held tight, stretching the leather taut between them.
“Cass, please just come with me. I promise I have a reason.”
If there was one person in the world she could trust, it was Jared. She
released her grip, and the knotted strips of leather fell
against his wrist.
He led Samson down the hill. Over her right shoulder she could see the
small iron gate to the family cemetery. At least they weren’t
going there.
They crossed the pasture and climbed another hill. Under the shade of a
cluster of small oaks, he dismounted and waited for her to do
the same. She hesitated, and Samson flapped his lips in protest.
Jared said nothing, just stood there with his hand out for her
to join him.
She planted her feet on the ground and took his hand. “This better be
good.”
They left the horses in the shade, and she followed him to the cement
steps that led to the emptiest place in the world. Moss had
begun creeping up their risers and onto the treads. In some
places on the hilltop the weeds and grasses were nearly waist
high, but beyond the steps, the ground was flat, carpeted with
green moss—the concrete foundation of what had once been the
home she shared with her parents.
Her heart raced in her chest. She tasted acid at the back of her throat,
and her ears roared with the thunder of ravenous flames, the
sound that ripped through her nightmares.
“It’s ok.” He steadied her with his arm. “I’m right here.”
She let him lead her up the steps and over to what resembled a
bench-shaped topiary. Undoubtedly, it was one of the trusses not
completely destroyed by the fire, and now upholstered by
creeping jade moss. He tested the timber’s stability with the
toe then heel of his boot, then motioned for her to sit. They
sat together, neither speaking, until Cassidy steadied her
breathing.
The place was nothing like the inferno of her dreams. The damp moss was
cool to the touch. Life was all around. Birds chirped, a lizard
scampered over a stack of bricks, and water pooled in the uneven
concrete foundation.
“Why did you bring me here?”
In her palm, he placed a chain with a small silver medallion. On the
surface, a bare-chested man balanced on the flayed tail of a
mermaid, and an urn tipped over his shoulder. The silver had
tarnished and the edges were rubbed with wear. Cassidy had seen
the zodiac emblem a million times. The charm had belonged to
Jared’s mother and he’d worn it since they were kids, never once
taking it off.
“I’m a Leo.” Her voice was as soft as the breeze that brushed the
grasses on the hill.
“I know.” He lifted the medallion from her hand. “This is my
sign. I thought maybe you could use it more than me.”
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Copyright © 2008
All rights reserved, Siren-BookStrand, Inc. Cannot be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without expressly permitted to do so in writing from the
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