Bachelor to the Rescue

“Whoa. Don’t bite my head off. I’d just as soon have a new librarian. Millie was a scary old—” Jeb cleared his throat. “Me, I’m all in favor of the new gal. I hear she’s quite a looker, too.”

Shaw let his anger fade. He was being overly sensitive. He needed to remember that not everyone was opposed to Lainie. Just a few old-timers who thought they were protecting their friend. One of those rumors, however, was absolutely true. “I think there will be a lot of folks who’ll come to the library just to catch a glimpse of her.”

Jeb stepped back to his truck and returned quickly with a blue-and-white striped box. Shaw chuckled. “The Donut Palace. Sugar covered?”

“I figured if you were here this early you might be in a bad mood. I was being prepared.”

Shaw placed a friendly slap on his shoulder. “Let’s get to work. After a doughnut break.”

* * *

Lainie poured a second cup of coffee and carried it into the living room, stopping at one of the large windows facing the front porch. It was a beautiful morning. She would like to sit outside, but the swing was on Shaw’s side of the porch and she didn’t want to cross that barrier. Besides, if she sat outside, she might not hear the girls, and she didn’t want them alone when they woke up in a strange house.

She hadn’t slept well. Her dreams had been dark and threatening, each one jolting her awake and making it hard to fall back to sleep. In one, she’d been standing in a lovely garden that had suddenly changed into a dark cemetery. Another time, she’d dreamed she was running down wet streets searching for something, but no idea what. However, one dream had been more disturbing than the others. She’d dreamed she was being carried in strong arms against a solid chest and cradled in safety and warmth. When she’d looked up, she had seen Shaw’s face. That nightmare had pulled her from sleep with a yelp.

Clearly, her subconscious was struggling to sort out the events from yesterday. Back in the kitchen, she sat at the table and opened her Bible, flipping through the psalms. Like David, she was wandering in an unknown wilderness, unsure of her direction and wondering what the Lord was working in her life by putting Shaw in her path again. She hoped his statement that she couldn’t start work on time was wrong. She planned on being in the mayor’s office the moment Mr. Ogden returned to get things straightened out.

God willing, her replacement cards would arrive quickly, and she could regain control of her life. She glanced at the small makeup bag lying in the middle of the table. She’d emptied it out to use as her temporary purse. In addition to the cell phone, Shaw had given her a prepaid credit card for emergencies. She now possessed the things she needed to function on a daily basis—a temporary driver’s license, a phone, a credit card and her change from the diner. It wasn’t much, but it restored the sense of normalcy and control she’d been missing since being robbed yesterday.

“Mommy, I’m hungry.”

Natalie shuffled to her side rubbing sleepy eyes. Lainie lifted her onto her lap. She was getting so big. “Did you sleep well?”

“It’s a happy room.”

“It is? Why do you say that?”

“’Cause the sunshine woke me up.”

Little footsteps on the stairs announced Chrissy’s arrival. She hurried toward her mother for a morning hug. Lainie’s heart swelled with love and gratitude again for being delivered safely from a dangerous situation. She had her girls. Everything else could be handled in time.

Lainie prepared breakfast, enjoying the meal with new appreciation. Despite her feelings about Shaw, she had to admit she felt safe in this old house, and having a man nearby was comforting, too.

Chrissy swallowed the last of her juice then scooted off her chair. “I want to see Misser Shaw and play with Beaux.”

Lainie had heard Shaw’s truck pull out of the drive early this morning and assumed he was going to the library to work. “He’s not here, sweetie.”

Chrissy pulled back the curtain covering the French door. “Mommy, there’s a note.”

She joined her daughter, bending down to read the note taped to one of the glass panes from Shaw’s side.

Working today. Call if you need me. Doggie door unlatched if Beaux wants to play.

“What’s it say, Mommy?”

Beaux came to the door and sat down. Chrissy pressed her face to the glass and giggled. “Hi, Beaux. Do you want to play with us?”

Lainie ruffled Chrissy’s hair. “Mr. Shaw is at work, but he said Beaux can play with you if you want.”

Both girls squealed, threatening to burst her eardrums. They dashed out the back door and Beaux slid through the pet door to join them. Pouring another cup of coffee, she went onto the back porch to watch the girls play.

For a few moments, she allowed herself to daydream. If this were her yard, she’d clear out the bushes along the garage and put in a vegetable garden. And she’d put a small playhouse under that large live oak tree in the back corner. A sturdy one that would last until her grandchildren could play in it, too.

“Hello. Yoo-hoo. Over here.”

Lainie looked in the direction of the shout and saw a woman about her age standing at the picket fence waving. Lainie waved back. “Hi.”

“I’m Gwen Rogers. I heard the kids playing and thought I’d introduce myself.”

Lainie joined the woman at the fence. Her smile was warm and friendly, making her blue eyes sparkle. “I’m Lainie Hollings.”

“How old are your girls?”

“Natalie is six and Chrissy is four.”

“Great. My Mark is seven and Jacob is five. They’re at their grandmother’s now, but they’ll be home later. It’ll be nice for them to have playmates next door. Do you work?”

“I’m the new librarian.”

Gwen’s smile grew bigger. “Really? That’s wonderful. We’ve all been wondering who it would be. I can’t tell you how excited the town is to finally have our own library again. The closest one is in Sawyer’s Bend about twenty minutes from here. It’s nice, but it’s not ours. I think a library should be part of the town.”

“I agree, and I have lots of ideas for programs and events to benefit the community. I want the library to be a place the residents of Dover look forward to coming.”

“I’m so glad to hear that. Are you and your husband staying here with Shaw?”

“No. I mean, yes. I’m a widow. I’m only staying here temporarily.” She filled her in about the purse snatching.

“That’s awful. You must have been terrified. I’m glad you’re all right. And I’m glad Shaw was there to help. You know he’s Dover’s most eligible bachelor?”

“I didn’t know that.” Though she wasn’t surprised. It fit with what she’d heard about him.

“Every woman from here to Jackson has tried to catch him. But he’s not about to be caught. He’s too content being single. If we could auction him off, we’d raise enough money to fund our local charities for the next decade.”

Lainie couldn’t argue. Shaw was very attractive. Physically well built and handsome, but it was his character she questioned. His irresponsibility where others were concerned was a flaw she couldn’t ignore.

“He only dates a woman twice, then it’s over.” Gwen snapped her fingers in the air to emphasize her point. “I think something or someone in his past hurt him deeply. But he’s a good guy. He teaches some of the teen boys woodworking in his spare time.”

Lainie wasn’t sure what to make of that piece of information. Her neighbor was painting a picture of her landlord that was difficult to process. She found the contradictions unsettling.

“If you need a babysitter, just let me know. I don’t work so I’m here most of the time, and I love kids. The more the merrier.”

Gwen was going to be a joy to live next to and Lainie had a feeling they would quickly become close friends, even after she left Shaw’s house. “I might take you up on that, if you’re serious. I need to meet with the mayor on Monday to see when I can start work.”

“I’d be happy to keep the girls. I’ll bring the boys over later so they can get acquainted. It was so nice to meet you. Why don’t you visit our church tomorrow? Peace Community on the square. We’ll save you a seat.”

The invitation warmed her heart. “I’d like that. I want to get the girls back into Sunday chool.” Gwen gave her the time of the service then said goodbye, leaving a smile on Lainie’s face. Her visions of small-town life were starting to materialize. She’d had her first cozy conversation over a picket fence with a neighbor and been invited to church. She prayed the looming issues with her new job would be resolved as easily.

Returning to the porch, she watched her daughters darting in and out of the bushes and playing with the dog. Accepting Shaw’s offer was turning out to be a blessing, after all. She was staying in a charming old Victorian house, her girls had a yard and a dog to play with, and now neighbors. But this home was only temporary. She prayed she could find a place as nice once the issues with her job were sorted out.