The Troublesome Angel

Graydon still carried Melissa. Stacy fell back and let him precede her into the camp.

Lanterns glowed everywhere. News cameras with blinding lights illuminated the area as brightly as a summer day. Mark Payne stood in the center of the circle of well-wishers. His arm was around the shoulders of a woman who looked as if she’d just stepped out of a fashion magazine. Every dark hair was in place, her nails were long and polished, her makeup was flawless and she was smiling demurely. A perfect couple in a perfect world.

That was what bothered Stacy the most. While Graydon had shouted and run to Melissa the moment he saw her, the child’s prospective parents were just standing there, waiting for her to be delivered. Like a package.

Purposely avoiding Mark, Stacy veered away from the crowd. She wasn’t angry with him or sorry he’d married someone else. Not anymore. She simply had nothing relevant to say to him. Besides, her job was over. She and the dogs had done what they’d come for. Now, all she had to do was find Judy and Angela and arrange for one of them to drive her home to Cave City in the morning.

Judy met her halfway to the camp office that also doubled as living quarters. Hugging Stacy, she grinned foolishly. “Congratulations!”

“Thanks. Where’s Angie?”

“She went to bed with a migraine and missed all the excitement.” A wistful smile replaced the wide grin. “I thought I was going to cry like a baby when I saw that kid again. You did a great job. You’re a genius.”

“I don’t do the sniffing, the dogs do. But thanks, anyway.”

“Well, okay. So you hang out with geniuses. Hairy ones.” She bent to ruffle Clark’s ears, then gave Lewis a more gentle pat on the head. “This one looks kind of droopy.”

“I know. He’s tired. I’m going to retire him soon. He’s not as young as he used to be. You’d never know it, though, when he’s hot on the trail.”

“Speaking of being hot on somebody’s trail…” She cocked her head back toward the gathering of rescuers, reporters, cameramen and celebrants. “Look. Here comes you-know-who.”

“I don’t have to look,” Stacy said, making a face. “It’s getting so I can sense when he’s around. The hair on the back of my neck prickles.”

“Uh-oh. Sounds serious. Let me know if he starts to give you indigestion. That’s a sure sign you’re interested.”

Stacy’s silly expression became a grimace and she rolled her eyes to exaggerate her sentiment. “Don’t be ridiculous. You know I had my fill of Payne men a long time ago.”

“True. But you never know what intriguing surprises God might have in store for you.” Judy leaned closer, cupped her hand around her mouth, and added, “You haven’t been praying for a husband, have you?”

“Certainly not! And if I had been, Graydon Payne would be the last man—” The direction of Judy’s glance and her widening grin told Stacy it was time to stop talking. Maybe past time.

She turned slowly. Graydon was smiling down at her benevolently. “Did I hear my name mentioned?”

“Not on purpose, you didn’t,” Stacy said, quickly changing the subject. “How’s Missy doing?”

“She’s too tired to cause much of a ruckus.” He held out his business card. “Give me a call and I’ll be glad to fill you in on her progress. In the meantime, I want to thank you for all you’ve done.”

“It’s my job.” Stacy took his card reluctantly.

“Nevertheless, I’d like to shake your hand.”

She had no good reason to refuse such a request. Nor was she sure why she felt so hesitant. The man had been a perfect gentleman while they’d been in the woods. Not that she’d expected any less from him. After all, he’d once told her that her social station was so far beneath his and his family’s, he wouldn’t be able to stoop that far down if he’d tried.

Remembering their past unhappy association brought back Stacy’s professional air. She handed control of the dogs to Judy, took his hand, shook it formally, and said, “It was my pleasure to be able to help, Mr. Payne.”

If he’d released her at that moment, she’d have been fine. Instead, however, he clasped her hand as if they were the best of friends and covered it with his other, looking at her warmly.

Stacy’s pulse quickened. Short of breath, she tried to pull away. “What are you doing?”

“Trying to show my appreciation.” His thumb grazed her wrist, setting up a tingle that shot up her arm and did a tap dance along her spine.

“A simple ‘Thank you’ would suffice.”

“I don’t think that’s enough. You showed up here as soon as you were called and performed with great professionalism and skill. I’m indebted to you. Aren’t all the people you help grateful?”

“Not so you’d notice,” Stacy said truthfully.

“Most of the time they’re too caught up in what’s happened to even realize I’m there.”

Graydon continued to hold her hand. “That’s too bad. You deserve more praise.”

“I’m not in this business for the glory, which is why I’m trying to dodge all those reporters,” she said, glancing back at the crowd. “And stop that.”

“Stop what?”

“That.” Stacy clasped her free hand over his and stilled his casual caress. To her surprise, he released her as if he were dropping a red-hot coal. Not only that, he looked like he might actually be blushing under his perfect tan.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize—”

“That I’m not the impressionable girl I used to be?” She smiled coolly. “You don’t owe me a thing, Mr. Payne. Neither does anyone else in your family. No one could pay me enough to cover the long hours, sweat and tears I put into my job.”

“Then why do you do it?”

It would have been simple to give him a pat answer. It would also have been a sin. Stacy knew better than to pass up the chance to offer an honest statement of her faith. Such opportunities didn’t come every day. They were far too precious to be wasted.

“Because I’m trying to follow God’s leading for my life,” she said, “to stay in His will, to be the person He expects me to be.”

“That’s very noble.”

“No, it isn’t. It’s hard. And scary. And sometimes it breaks my heart.” Stacy’s voice softened.

“If I were in charge of the universe, no one would ever fail. Or be lost. Or lonely. Or die. I don’t understand why things happen the way they do. I never did. All I can do is give it my best and put my faith in Jesus.”

“Even when you fail?” he asked quietly.

“Oh, yes.” She looked up at him, willing him to understand. “Especially when I fail.”

Chapter Three

By nine that night the campground had quieted down. Too tired to go home, Stacy had showered, eaten, borrowed a pink sweat suit from Judy and was sprawled in a comfy chair by the fireplace in the main cabin. Lewis and Clark both lay napping by her bare feet.

She pushed up the oversize sleeves of the sweatshirt and hugged herself. “Umm, this feels so good. Thanks again. I was in such a big hurry to get here and begin the search I came straight from the seminar in Atlanta. I wish now I’d gone home to get different clothes.”

“No problem. Too bad I don’t have something more your size. You should let me wake Angela and ask her.”

“No way. I know what her migraines are like. She needs to sleep it off.”

“You’re right. So what’s Plan B? Do you need to go back to Atlanta and finish up there or what?”