Hometown Sweetheart

“I love you.”

Simon let out a sigh. “I love you, too.”

He put down the phone and stared into the fire.

He did love his family. But he didn’t have anymore love to give to anyone else. He didn’t like people around and barely tolerated his brother and his mother. But then, they both knew to leave Simon to his own devices. And they were family. Family understood about things. Strangers didn’t.

But in spite of Simon’s aversion to strangers, he couldn’t help but be drawn to the woman in charge of the kids gathered at the cabin next door. And he couldn’t help the sweetly hidden thoughts that emerged in his mind like a ray of spring sunshine melting winter snow. Thoughts of a woman and children laughing as they frolicked in the blossoming woods.

Simon got up to stare out the kitchen window.

And then he heard voices lifting out in song.

Shanna had them singing.

Simon listened to the gentle music of a guitar, listened to the old familiar campfire songs he’d learned from his own days at church. The songs were soothing, the voices echoing out over the woods in a time-honored melody.

It was peaceful and pretty, but Simon didn’t know how to deal with a woman and seven annoying young people. So he’d do what he’d been doing.

He’d just ignore them. That seemed to work in his dealings with everyone else. And since he’d buried Marcy a few miles away in the old church cemetery, it seemed to be the best solution for him. He wasn’t ready to rejoin the human race.

Even on a mild spring night when he was forced to eat cold canned soup and stare at a dog that didn’t belong to him, while he secretly eavesdropped on his singing neighbors.

Chapter Three

Shanna petted the golden retriever then offered him the last bite of her hotdog. “I’m not supposed to feed you scraps, I don’t think. So let’s keep this between the two of us, okay?”

The big dog woofed a reply then looked back up at her with expectant brown eyes.

“No more,” Shanna said, her hand on his shaggy back. “I’m in enough trouble with your keeper as it is.”

At least today, the group had eaten their hotdogs and chips and they’d even managed to cook their s’mores without anymore mishaps. If she didn’t count the boys picking on the girls, Katie falling down and scraping her hand and knee and Brady turning surly at the drop of a hat.

Glancing over at the lanky teen now, Shanna wondered if this week would help the kid. He was on probation for the vandalism since Cari had dropped the charges and suggested community service instead. The judge apparently had agreed to that and according to Cari and Rick, had given the kid a stiff warning. Rick had agreed to give Brady a part-time job after school as part of his sentence, too.

Shanna had met the boy’s formidable mother Doreen and his self-centered sister Bridget, so she could certainly understand why he was a troubled child.

When Brady got up and came to sit by her, she took that as a good sign. “What’s up, Brady?”

He grabbed at the dog. “Hey, Shiloh.”

“Is that his name?” Shanna asked, hoping to strike up a conversation while the other kids played kick ball around the camp. A nice breeze kept the day from being too hot.

Day Three was right on schedule, even if the kids had requested hotdogs again for lunch. They’d had a great morning devotional and discussion, after eating Miss Janie’s amazing pancakes. Then after a long walk, the kids had begged for another campfire meal. At least this time, Shanna hadn’t set the woods on fire. Nor had she seen their elusive neighbor either. He was keeping his distance while his dog was enjoying new friends.

Brady kept his eyes on the dog. “Yep. He’s Rick’s dog but he gets in trouble in town and they don’t like to keep him cooped up in the house so he has to stay out here.”

With Mr. Personality.

Shanna grinned down at Shiloh. “I’d think a big old dog would love being out here in the country better anyway.”

“I sure like it,” Brady said, rubbing Shiloh’s throat.

“Do you?” Shanna’s heart surged with hope. “Are you enjoying things so far?”

He looked at the other kids, his gaze staying on Pamela for a while. “Yeah, I guess. I don’t get why I have to hang with all these losers, though.”

“Hey, I brought you to help out, remember? You’re the oldest one here and I need someone to keep an eye on the younger ones.”

“But they’re not old enough to be in the youth group at church.”

“No, but they’ll soon be eligible,” she explained. “I want them to be ready to handle that when the time comes.”

“Oh, I get it. You’re exposing them to a few of us—the few considered the black sheep, first?”

“No, it’s not like that,” Shanna said, wishing she could find the right words. “I just think it’s a good idea for kids of all ages to learn to get along. Unfortunately, each of you here has had issues of some sort at school and with your parents. We have a very diverse group at church so it’s important that everyone respects each other at an early age.”

“My mom says some of these kids don’t belong at our church,” he retorted. “She thinks they’re beneath us.”

Shanna couldn’t say what popped into her mind at that comment. But it sure went to show how a parent could influence a child. Did his mother see that her judgments and criticisms rubbed off on her son?

Shanna had seen this firsthand. Her own parents had never attended church and scoffed at Christianity. Thank goodness her aunt had started taking her to church when Shanna was in kindergarten. And thank goodness her Aunt Claire was still her mentor and closest ally in Savannah.

Turning back to Brady, she said, “No one is beneath God’s love, Brady. We all fall short but He loves us anyway.”

Brady looked serious then nodded. “I guess you’re right. I’ve done some bad stuff but Cari forgave me and invited me to church with her and Rick. She treats me better than my mom and sister, that’s for sure.”

“Cari is a special person,” Shanna replied. “And she loves you a lot.”

“But she and my mom still don’t get along.”

“Well, sometimes being a Christian means you have to let go and just get on with life, even if you can’t be best friends with certain people. I’m sure for your sake they’re both trying to reconcile.”

“At least they don’t get into fights anymore like they did when we were growing up.”

“That’s good and you’re the reason for that truce, I think. They both want what’s best for you.”

“Yeah, whatever.” He got up, bored again. “What’s next on our big adventure?”

“Well, speaking of Cari, she and Mrs. Adams are coming out tonight to make spaghetti and then we’re going to sing songs around the campfire again. We had fun last night doing that.”

“Wow, what a party.”

Looked like surly Brady had stepped back in. “I think you’ll have a good time. Miss Gayle loves working with the youth.”

Brady rolled his eyes. “I guess I can handle it, since I’m kinda stuck out here.”

He wandered off to sit with Pamela on a nearby bench, Shiloh following him. The other kids all loved the big dog, too. Checking to make sure everyone was content, Shanna got up to finish clearing their napkins and paper plates. The week had only just started and she was already exhausted. But she had high hopes for this week in the woods. They’d had a good lunch. The kids were comfortable with her and each other now. Some of the teens asked questions that showed they’d listened to her earlier devotional. She wanted these children to know God’s unconditional love and she hoped she could show them that she cared about them, too.