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“Oh well,” Cora was saying irritably. “I expect I’ll hear from Adam when he gets to the bottom of his bank account, and that shouldn’t take long. That boy’s never earned an honest dollar in his life, in spite of that pricey college degree I paid for.” Cora’s eyes skimmed Natalie’s rounded figure. “Thankfully, the baby’s not due for another three weeks, so a few more days shouldn’t matter. You’ll just have to stay put while we wait Adam out.” The older woman pushed up from her seat and started for the door. Alarmed, Natalie struggled to her feet, as well.
Cora wanted her to wait here? In Pine Valley? How was she supposed to do that?
Cora already had her hand on the doorknob.
“I don’t have any place to stay.” Natalie’s cheeks burned as she blurted out her admission. She’d given up her apartment, and she couldn’t check back in to the ratty motel where she’d spent the last two nights. It might be the cheapest place in town, but it was still out of her price range.
Cora halted, frowning. “Well, you certainly can’t come home with me. My retirement complex has very strict rules.” She hesitated, then shrugged. “Fine. Here.” She rummaged in the green purse swinging at her elbow and brought out an old-fashioned key. “I suppose you can go on out to Lark Hill. Adam’s been staying there for the past week, supposedly making some repairs. You know how men are when they’re living alone. I expect by now the house needs a good cleaning. You might as well spend your time doing that until he turns back up.”
Lark Hill.
Even the name was beautiful. Natalie had been daydreaming about that farm for weeks. She felt a rush of sweet relief.
Thank You, God.
Maybe, just maybe, He hadn’t completely abandoned her, after all.
“But mind you, this is a temporary arrangement. I won’t sign over the deed until the two of you are married. And if I were you,” Cora continued, “I’d stay out at Lark Hill and keep to myself as much as possible until all this is settled. People are a lot more old-fashioned in these small towns than they are in Atlanta. There’s no sense stirring up any more gossip. Folks will have plenty to say about your...situation as it is. Oh, they’ll be nice, at least to your face. Some of the churches may even offer to help you, but—”
“Don’t worry. I won’t need any help,” Natalie interrupted. Especially not from a church, she finished silently. Cora’s warning wasn’t necessary. Atlanta wasn’t as different from Pine Valley as Adam’s grandmother seemed to think. “I’m used to taking care of myself.”
“Good. Now—” Cora drew in a deep breath “—I’m going to go home. This whole thing has been most unpleasant. When Adam calls about the money, I’ll let you know.” With that, the older woman bustled out of the room, leaving the door ajar.
Money. Natalie’s eyes widened as an awful realization hit her like a slap. She’d only brought her purse and a little overnight bag into the church. Nothing else. She’d left all the rest of her belongings in the back of Adam’s Jeep. That meant Adam had driven off with everything she owned, including the small amount of money she’d hidden in her suitcase after cashing her last paycheck. It wasn’t much, but apart from a couple of twenties tucked in her billfold, it was every penny she had in the world.
What was she going to do?
If Adam found that money, he’d spend it. Even if he didn’t find it, Adam was awfully good at mooching. In spite of Cora’s predictions, there was really no telling when he might show up. The baby wasn’t due for nearly another month, but on her last clinic visit, she’d been told that he might come early. Any day now, the doctor had said.
Natalie suddenly found it hard to breathe, and the cramped dressing room began to spin.
“Miss Davis? Natalie! You need to sit down.” A deep voice spoke urgently in front of her. She was dimly aware of a pressure on her arms, pushing her back into the chair. “Breathe. In and out. Good, slow breaths.”
She followed his instructions. In and out. The swirling mist in her mind cleared, and she was able to focus her eyes on Pastor Jacob Stone’s face.
He’d gone pale. “I’m calling 911.”
“No! No, I’m all right,” she managed. She didn’t have the money to pay for an emergency room visit, or anything else.
He looked unconvinced. “In your condition, it might be a good idea to get checked out. You have to think about your baby.”
Natalie’s hand strayed to her rounded stomach. Ever since the ultrasound technician had told her she was having a boy, she’d been thinking about nothing but her baby. Right then and there, she’d made her child a silent promise.
You’re not going to be like me. You’re going to have a good life.
Remembering that moment now, she felt a fresh rush of resolve. She meant to keep that promise. Her son was going to grow up healthy and strong in a safe place, and he was going to finish high school and maybe even go to college.
“Natalie?”
Jacob Stone was still waiting for her answer. She took a steadying breath. “I’m fine, really. I’m just tired. It’s been a hard day.”
“I’d say that’s an understatement.” The sympathetic lines around his eyes deepened, and he gave her arm a gentle squeeze. “This is all going to work out, Natalie. I know it doesn’t seem like it right now, but it will.” He sounded so sure; she almost believed him. “In the meantime, is there anything I can do for you? Anything at all?”
Natalie tightened her fingers, pressing the hard metal key into her palm. Cora’s blunt warning echoed in her memory. They may offer to help you.
But what choice did she have?
She cleared her throat. “As a matter of fact, there is...”
Chapter Two (#u8dfe819c-cc38-5fb5-8381-d2f5a16ea15e)
“Could you give me a ride?” Natalie asked. “My car wouldn’t start this morning. Adam had to drive to the motel to pick me up.” Her poor old car had rattled all the way here from Atlanta, and she’d prayed every mile that it wouldn’t strand her on the side of the road.
It hadn’t, but it had sure been as dead as a rock this morning.
“Absolutely.” The pastor spoke firmly. “I’ll take you anyplace you want to go.”
“Thank you.” She offered him the brightest smile she could manage. It must not have been very convincing because that sympathy crinkled around his eyes again.
He gathered up her overnight case and tucked her Bible under his arm. “My truck is just outside.”
Pastor Stone asked her to wait in the hallway while he had a quick word with the group of people lingering in the sanctuary. Natalie kept her gaze on the floor, but she could feel their curious looks. She was glad when the minister came back and led the way out the big front doors of the church into the drizzly afternoon. To her surprise, he veered toward a battered blue pickup and opened the passenger side door.
This old beater didn’t look much better than her car. It sure wasn’t the kind of vehicle she’d expect a minister to drive, but it obediently rumbled to life when he twisted the key.
He shrugged off his suit jacket and held it out to her. “That dress looks thin. You’ve got to be cold, and it’ll take the truck a few minutes to warm up. This weather is weird for April, isn’t it? Usually we’re all running our air conditioners by now, but this year winter just keeps hanging on.”
She hesitated, but he was right. She was freezing. She took his jacket, tucking it over herself like a blanket. The warm satiny lining felt comforting against her chill-bumped arms, and it smelled like the soap she’d noticed earlier.
He raised his eyebrows. “So, where can I take you?”
“405 Chinaberry Road.” She’d been reciting that address over and over to herself ever since Cora had first told her about the farm. “Do you know where that is?”
“Sure.” The minister leaned back in the seat of the rumbling truck, looking confused. “That’s the old Lark Hill farm. Why do you want to go out there?”
“Adam’s grandmother is letting me stay there until...for the time being.” He was frowning, and she felt a warning tickle along her arms that had nothing to do with the cold. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, just...has Mrs. Larkey seen the place lately?”
“I’m not sure, but she said Adam’s been staying there for the past week. Why?”
“Nobody’s lived at Lark Hill in the five years I’ve been in Pine Valley. Last time I drove by, it was looking pretty run-down. In your condition...” He hesitated.
Was that all? That was nothing. She’d stayed in plenty of places that made run-down look good. “Don’t worry about me. I’m not a very fancy person, Pastor Stone.”
He hesitated a second, then shrugged. “I guess we can at least go take a look.” He shifted the truck into gear and headed out of the parking lot. “And you can call me Jacob. Everybody does.” He offered her a sideways glance and a smile. “I’m not a very fancy person, either.”
Natalie nodded and adjusted the seat belt across her baby bump. Riding in a car was so uncomfortable these days. Then again, everything was.
The preacher shot her an apologetic look. “It’s going to be about a ten-minute drive. Lark Hill’s kind of out in the middle of nowhere.”
The middle of nowhere. In spite of everything, Natalie’s lips curved into a smile. She’d lived in overcrowded housing projects all her life.
The middle of nowhere sounded wonderful.
Adam just had to show up and go through with their wedding. Cora had made herself very clear. No marriage, no farm.
No future.
Natalie turned her face toward the window and squeezed her eyes shut. Please, Lord. You know I can’t provide a good life for this baby all by myself. Please, let Adam come back.
A few minutes later, Jacob slowed and put on his turn signal, although as far as Natalie could see, there wasn’t another car for miles.
“Here we are,” he said. A tilted sign announced Lark Hill Farm in weather-beaten blue paint. The faded silhouette of a bird perched on the bar of the H, its beak lifted in a silent song.
Natalie winced as the pickup bumped over the ruts of the overgrown driveway, but she forgot her physical misery when she caught her first glimpse of the farmhouse. Her heart sped up as she gazed at the view through the smudged windshield.
This place was just perfect.
* * *
This place was just awful.
Jacob slowed the truck to a gentle stop, but he didn’t bother to turn off the engine. There was no way they’d be staying here for very long. He’d been polite when he’d described the old farm as run-down.
It was a dump.
The tiny one-story farmhouse was covered in peeling white paint. A couple of scraggly chickens were scratching in the dead leaves littering its sagging porch. Beyond the house was a gray rough-lumber barn that had half collapsed. A makeshift fence had been attached to the part that was still standing, and an animal with a multicolored coat and large curved horns peered curiously through the rusty wires.
Natalie pointed. “What’s that?”
Jacob’s heart sank to his toes, along with his general opinion of humanity. “That’s Rufus. What’s he doing here?”
“What’s a Rufus?”
“The most troublesome billy goat in four counties.” Jacob shook his head. “No telling who stuck Adam with him. That animal’s been passed around more than the common cold. Nobody keeps him for long.”
Natalie leaned forward in her seat, peering through the window. “The poor thing. He doesn’t look mean.”
“He’s not. He’s just...irritating. And there’s not a fence made that can hold him.”
He heard a click and turned to see that Natalie had shrugged off his coat and was unsnapping her seat belt.
“Whoa.” Without thinking, he leaned over and caught her hand as she reached for the door lever. It felt small and chilly in his. “What are you doing?”
She stared at him. “I’m going to look around.”
Jacob hesitated, but she seemed pretty determined. “All right. But wait there. I’ll come around and walk with you. There’s junk all over this yard, and you don’t want to fall.”
She already had her door open, but she stopped, looking surprised. “Oh! Okay. Thank you.”
He came around and helped her out of the truck. “Take my arm.” Without waiting for her answer, he took her right hand in his and placed his other arm around her waist. In spite of her pregnancy, she felt as fragile as a bird. They walked slowly toward the house, the hem of her light dress fluttering in the fitful breeze.
When they reached the porch, he halted. “These steps look pretty rickety.” He tested the bottom one. It groaned but didn’t break.
“They seem fine.” She started to move forward, but he stopped her gently.
“Let me go first.” He definitely didn’t need a pregnant lady crashing through some rotten board. He edged in front of her, bouncing on the remaining steps before allowing Natalie to put her weight on them. The old boards protested, but they held together.
As he led her through the leaves toward the front door, he heard a quiet sniffle. He glanced back to catch Natalie swiping a tear off her cheek.
He’d been expecting this ever since he’d told her about Adam.
“Are you okay?” He regretted his choice of words the minute they were out of his mouth. Stupid question. Of course she wasn’t okay.
She shook her head and managed a wobbly smile. “Don’t pay any attention to me. I’m fine. Really. It’s just...”
As he watched her struggle for words, his heart swelled with sympathy. First the wedding disappointment and now this disaster of a house. He waited, praying for the ability to help her cope with whatever feelings she managed to get out. “It’s okay, Natalie. Go ahead and say whatever you need to say. Yell if you want to. After the day you’ve had, I wouldn’t blame you a bit.”
“No, it’s not that.” She sputtered a teary little laugh and dabbed at her eyes again. “It’s just...you’re being so nice to me, holding my arm and walking me up on the porch and all. Don’t mind me. I cry about all sorts of stupid stuff these days. Hormones, I guess.” She gave him a trembling smile. “Wait just a minute. I put the house key in my purse.”
Jacob didn’t smile back. He stood silently on the sagging porch, watching the wind tease strands of Natalie’s hair loose as she searched for the key.
He was usually pretty quick with words, but right now, he couldn’t think of a single thing to say. After all Natalie had been through today, that was what finally made her cry? The fact that he wouldn’t let a pregnant woman walk on a half-rotten porch without checking it first?
What kind of life had this woman led?
I don’t have much family. When Natalie had made that quiet admission back at the church, he’d felt a surge of compassion so strong that it had surprised him. He’d always been a sucker for people in trouble, but he hadn’t wanted to help somebody this badly in a long, long time.
He didn’t have much family either, and he knew firsthand how tough that could be. But, of course, loneliness wasn’t the only thing he and Natalie Davis had in common.
Not by a long shot.
The instant he’d caught sight of Natalie’s pregnant profile, he’d known. None of this was accidental. It couldn’t be. Of all the ministers in the surrounding area, as far as he knew, he was the only one who knew firsthand what it was like to struggle with an out-of-wedlock pregnancy.
This situation had God’s fingerprints all over it.
The mistakes Jacob had made before he’d become a Christian still broke his heart, and there wasn’t a thing he could do about them. But he could certainly do something about this.
“I’m going to help you.” He didn’t realize he’d spoken aloud until she answered him.
“Well, okay. Thanks.” She handed him a long metal key. “It looks really old. I hope it works.”
She thought he meant help with the antique lock. He accepted the key automatically and turned to the door, glad to have something to do until he could think straight again.
The lock was tarnished and flecked with decades of old paint, but the key turned easily enough. He pushed the door open, and a puff of musty air brushed their faces.
The door opened into a small rectangular living room. Dust flurried in the weak sunlight coming through the generous windows, and furry gray cobwebs dangled from the bead board ceiling.
