A Seeking Heart

A Seeking Heart
Georgia Peaches
Danni Roan


Copyright © 2020 Danni Roan
All rights reserved
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
ISBN-13: 9798664189520
Cover design by: Virginia McKevitt
Library of Congress Control Number: 2018675309
Printed in the United States of America


Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Introduction
Author’s Note:
Series Page
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Epilogue


Introduction
Susan Holmes is on a mission to solve the mystery of the painted ponies, and she isn’t going to let anything stand in her way. She has heard the story too many times from her grandmother to let a nosy Watkins steal her glory. But will desire to put this conundrum to rest, lead to danger she didn’t count on? Born to a family of means, Susan doesn’t know how to give up and that could spell disaster. David Watkins has known about his families sketchy past for as long as he can remember, but when his grandmother’s dying wish prompts him to investigate his grandfather’s disappearance, things really start to heat up. Determined to find the real culprit to the decades old case, he soon finds himself knocking heads with the most delightful Miss Holmes. Will he out whit the pretty pretender before she discovers the truth or will they both be thrown into jeopardy that threatens not only their lives, but also their hearts?


Author’s Note:
I had such a wonderful time writing this book. I have a deep history with the college and town in this story. Not only did I attend this college and meet my ‘every-day-hero’ there my family and his also attended Toccoa Falls College.
My oldest sister, Cleo, actually found the horses that are featured in this book while she was attending the college and my mother-in-law told tales of straggly men venturing through campus on occasion.
Cleo was also an author and published one book before we lost her to cancer in 2015.  It did my heart good to write this crazy story. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Buy a Cowboy is a lasting legacy she left her children and grandchildren.
For more books by Danni Roan check out her author page Authordanniroan.com


Series Page
A Persevering Heart
A Pursued Heart
Search for Contentment
The Heart of Mercy


Chapter 1
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh, receiveth, and he that seeketh, findeth, and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.
Matthew 7:7-8
“Tell me again, Gram?” Susan Lavinia Holmes pleaded, plopping into a chair. “I want to hear the story again?”
“Susan, you have heard this story at least a dozen times,” Alana Holmes, groaned, smoothing her skirt as she sat in the parlor of her ancestral home.
“Yes, but maybe this time I’ll find a clue from the story that will set me in the right direction. I have to know what really happened. ”
Susan’s grandmother shook her head of white curls, but her pale blue eyes were bright. “Alright, I’ll tell you again but take notes. It’s just a silly happening here in the mountains of Georgia, and it worked out well enough.”
Susan crossed her legs where she sat on the wide ottoman in her grandmother’s stately home and leaned forward for the retelling of an age old family tale. Her soft blue eyes sparkled with excitement, and she leaned in, wanting to catch every word. At twenty-four, Susan had finished her education and was currently between jobs as she tried to figure out what she wanted to do next.  Her duel degree in sociology and education gave her a wide range of opportunities, but right now, on this warm Georgia, summer’s day, she wanted to figure out where the stray horses her grandmother had found so many years ago, had come from, and what they could possibly have to do with a missing farmer from a by-gone age.
“As you know,” Alana began, “I was a student at the college by the falls. It was spring and though I had paid my tuition in full all students were required to work for the college during their tenure there. I chose to work on the farm with the horses, as I’d grown up with them.” The old woman smiled, recalling fond memories and old friends.
Susan nodded, resting her pert chin on her hand as she listened intently. “All students had to work back then, when the college was fully self sufficient?”
“Yes, I always thought it was a shame when that ended. I may not have been raised to hard work, but I learned a great deal about myself and my abilities as a young woman working for the school. Young people today need a bit more purpose in their life, if you ask me.” The older woman in the floral print dress gave her granddaughter a significant look.
“I know, I know,” Susan rolled her eyes. “You think I’m wasting my time trying to solve this mystery, especially since it has been a cold case for over fifty years.”
“If professionals haven’t been able to solve the case in this amount of time, I don’t see how you think you will do it over the summer. After all reading Nancy Drew books does not make you a detective.”
Susan giggled, brushing a strand of soft brown hair from her eyes and tapping a finger to her lips. She had loved the Nancy Drew books growing up, and with her last name, she had devoured all of