Brides And Blessings

At eight o’clock—California time—Suzann phoned Holly. Bates informed her that Miss Condry went out to dinner with Dr. McDowell. Confused and slightly aggravated, Suzann phoned Mike.

“I’m sorry,” a female at his answering service said, “but Mr. McDowell is out of the country. Why not try him again early next week?”

Out of the country?

Mike was hired to escort Holly around the area. What was he doing out of the country? His answering service wasn’t willing to give her so much as his location or a phone number.

Suzann phoned Holly again, instructing Bates to tell Miss Condry to call Maria Garcia no matter how late it was when she came in.

She’d drifted off to sleep when the phone rang.

“What’s the matter?” Holly asked. “Is your cold worse?”

“No, I was worried about you. And Mike’s out of the country. Would you mind telling me what’s going on?”

“Mike went on—on a sort of vacation.”

“So I heard,” said Suzann sarcastically.

“He said he was tired from two weeks in Texas without a day off. So he sent his brother to fill in until he gets back.”

“Does Shawn know who you really are?”

“I had to tell him, under the circumstances. Sorry,” Holly replied.

“It wasn’t your fault. But wait until I get my hands on Mike.” Suzann coughed several times. “How is Shawn working out as Mike’s stand-in?”

“Fine. In fact, I like him better than Mike.”

“But your heart belongs to Josh Gallagher, right?”

“Suzann, I wish you’d stop saying that. Josh Gallagher has hardly said ten words to me since the day we met. Besides, I heard he’s got a girlfriend who lives near that ranch his parents own, somewhere in the northern part of the hill country. And Mrs. Beesley said that his parents hope he’ll marry her someday.”

Suzann tried to swallow what Holly had said. But it would take time to digest it all.

“Are you still on the line?” Holly asked.

“I’m here. So what’s Shawn like? I’ve never met him.”

“Well, he’s warm, friendly, easy to talk to. He’s not pretty-boy handsome like his older brother. But in my opinion, he’s much better looking.”

“This sounds serious,” she teased.

“I just met the man yesterday,” Holly said with a sigh. “He only asked me out because he felt sorry for me after the way Mike treated me.”

“Maybe I should hire Shawn to look after you instead of Mike.”

“Don’t you dare because a man like Shawn McDowell has scruples. He might be insulted. Besides, he’s a Christian.”

“Excellent. This is getting better by the second.”

“The man is only being kind, Suzann. Why can’t you understand that?”

Suzann’s laughter echoed back to her. “We’ll see. Won’t we?”

“I don’t like the sound of your laugh. And if it means you’re planning to hire Shawn, I’ll never speak to you again.”

“Don’t worry. I was only joking. But if I contribute to the building of the new pediatric wing he plans to help build for poor children, who would be the wiser?”

Suzann felt a lot better after talking to Holly. Now she knew for sure that her sister had no claim on or interest in Josh Gallagher. But what about the girlfriend Holly mentioned? Was Josh serious about her?

If so, what business was it of Suzann’s? It would be a bigger stretch than she could fathom to think that a country preacher and a movie star might become a twosome. She needed to forget Josh Gallagher and focus on her real reasons for coming to Oak Valley, Texas.

Suzann returned to Holly’s job at the church library on Wednesday. Three women stopped by to check out books. Suzann liked them, but with the women mentioning the name Jesus in practically every sentence, her problem was in relating to them.

The church secretary burst into the library. Suzann secretly winced, then made an earnest effort to smile. Holly had said that Mrs. Olson was demanding but had a kind heart—once you got to know her. All she needed to do was get to know the woman as soon as possible.

“Here’s a schedule of events for the rest of the week,” the elderly secretary said. “Prayer meeting’s tonight at 6:30 p.m., followed by choir practice. Tomorrow night the women’s Bible study is at seven. You’ll be attending as usual, of course?”

Was she kidding?

“Friday night,” Mrs. Olson continued, “a school is scheduled for those who’ll be teaching Fall Vacation Bible School this year. I see you’re on the list.”

“I am? I mean—I certainly am.”

“And don’t worry about the library. We’ll close the library during that whole week, just like we did last year.”

“That’s good news.” Suzann couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Was there such a thing as a night off around here?

“And don’t forget that you promised to help with the bake sale and car wash on Saturday to raise money for the church youth group,” Mrs. Olson added. “It’ll be held on the church parking lot again. And I hope you don’t mind teaching your Sunday School class this Sunday. Sally Rogers is out of town.”

“I’ll—I’ll be glad to do—to do whatever.”

“I was sure you would be. And remember to bring one of those delicious cakes of yours to the bake sale, Saturday.”

Suzann blinked. “Cake?”

“But with your talent for baking, just any cake you want to bring will be fine.”

Suzann had never baked a cake in her entire life. Nor had she taught a Sunday School class. Ditto to Vacation Bible School. She was thankful that the church secretary had left a copy of her duties. Otherwise, she would never remember them all. The thought of actually doing them made her head swim.

Okay, so she knew before she arrived in Oak Valley that Holly was a Christian and the church librarian. How could she have known that Holly’s entire life was immersed in the church?

Suzann didn’t see Josh again until the Vacation Bible School meeting on Friday night. The pastor was involved elsewhere. Josh conducted the meeting.

She sat stiffly beside Kate Devlon in the second row, speculating about whether or not Josh intended to acknowledge her. He’d made it clear that he wanted nothing more to do with her, and that seemed like a strange attitude for the youth director and assistant pastor of a church.

“Did you and Brother Josh have a spat?” Kate asked.