RYAN KENDRICK: CHARMER
Phantom Waltz by Catherine Anderson (2001 by NAL)STATS: Wealthy rancher with a reputation for loving and leaving women.THE LOOK: “His lips were long and narrow, mere slashes in the granite hardness of his face, yet beautifully sculpted with the muted shimmer of satin.” “The epitome of tall, dark, and gorgeous. Chiseled features, a strong jaw, jet hair, and oodles of muscle. A dangerous mix.”LEADING LADY: Bethany Coulter was injured in a long-ago barrel-racing accident and now is confined to a wheelchair, but when Ryan meets her behind the counter at a parts-supply store, he doesn’t know that. All he knows is that he feels an immediate sense of recognition. He thinks of her as “perfection in miniature.” He asks her out to dance, and with a wistful smile she indicates she’s a little rusty. Then Ryan sees her wheelchair and, although it makes him feel like a worm, he acknowledges that his first instinct is to run. He asks Bethany out anyway, thinking “it’ll just be one date.” Famous last words.BOTTOM LINE: Catherine Anderson is known for penning love stories with “unique” characters, characters living with some disability or hardship, whether it be paralysis or blindness. She does it well, not shying from the reality of Bethany’s struggle to get “limp legs” into a pair of jeans, but also making it more than obvious why Ryan’s attraction is so compelling, and why Bethany is so much more than the limitations placed on her because of her disability. Although Ryan has the urge to run when he first sees Bethany’s wheelchair, that instinct quickly turns to determination to get past Bethany’s fears.QUESTION OF THE DAY: Do you know anyone with a disability? What’s been your experience with that person or your observations about how other people react to that person?
August 21st, 2008
Virna 
in
Charmers, Hero Files, Virna's Heroes |
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August 21st, 2008 at 12:48 pm
When I first worked in the jails, I would treat inmates that were in wheelchairs or handicapped, special. I soon found out they were just like any other criminal, and capable of giving me the same amount of grief.
What I have observed is that people don’t look them in the eye. I think its because they’re afraid of what they might see, whatever that might be. I’ve learned from my jail house expereince, to ignore the handicap and disabilities, and see only the person. It took some training, but now its the norm.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:22 pm
One of our new neighbor’s daughters have permanently injured arms so that’ll be an interesting experience for my daughter, and good for her to see how something like that doesn’t have to hold a person back, and will help her develop empathy.
August 21st, 2008 at 7:00 pm
I think we all have disabilities, just some are visible and others are not. Of course, lack of height is not the same as being paralyzed or something, but I definitely feel at a disadvantage being short. At 45 I’m getting a little old and out of shape to climb shelves at the store to reach stuff. LOL
I’ve always read that people won’t look disabled people in the eye because they worry it is contagious. Stupid people!!!!
August 23rd, 2008 at 9:10 pm
It’s interesting because lots of people I know have disabilities you can’t see. Like an injured back, etc. You never know what the person standing next to you in the grocery store is going through. Hopefully, they have a hot hero pursuing them like Bethany does.
August 24th, 2008 at 7:48 am
LOL at Jill’s answer. I’m another shorty, but maybe because I come from a family of shorties, it seems kind of normal to me and I don’t feel it’s a handicap. I imagine after awhile life feels normal to people with the handicap. You have to go with what you’ve got, even if it is harder than other roads.
I give Catherine Anderson a lot of credit for writing this story!