Brides And Blessings

“Nobody would know that better than a prayer warrior like you.”

Prayer warrior? What’s that?

Nothing came to mind. If Holly mentioned that subject at all, it had been deleted from her brain before Suzann arrived in Oak Valley. She would need to phone Holly and asked her for a definition of these new terms.

“You know,” he said, “we’re expecting more rain tomorrow. I don’t think you should even consider trying to go to church in the morning unless you feel a lot better.”

He slanted his head to one side, pressing his palm against her forehead. A thrill shot through her.

“You have fever. Have you eaten anything?”

“Not yet, but I will.”

“I haven’t eaten anything since lunch,” he said. “How about if we pull out that soup from the oven, open the crackers, and have us a feast? Otherwise, I’ll be stuck eating a bucket of popcorn at the movie.”

“Soup and crackers sounds good to me.”

Since it was her home, Suzann expected to serve the meal. But Josh insisted on doing all the work. As he set about laying the table and fixing the food, he urged her to take something for her fever and even went to the medicine cabinet in the bathroom in search of aspirin.

Suzann had never known a man that could be so nurturing and at the same time so manly. She found the combination delightful. Suzann grew reflective. Holly had expressed those same sentiments about Josh.

When Josh returned to the kitchen, he brought a yellow rose from the bouquet Mrs. Winslow had sent. He placed the flower in a china bud vase on the small table. Sitting across from her, Josh folded his big, rough hands, and said the blessing.

Later, as they spooned their soup, Suzann took in the white linen table cloth and her sister’s spotless kitchen. The table looked lovely. Josh had thought of everything. They were even using linen napkins and Holly’s best china.

“Everything looks perfect,” she said. “I feel like a queen. But you’ve done too much. If this keeps up, you’ll have me spoiled.”

“Sick people deserve to be spoiled.”

“You’re very kind. In fact, the whole congregation is kind. Maybe too kind. I’ve never seen so much food in all my life.”

“I’ve talked to several of the ladies since they stopped by to see you, and you’re well-liked here in Oak Valley. But I suppose you know that.”

She glanced down at her soup bowl. “Thanks again.”

He put down his spoon and wiped his mouth. “Mrs. Winslow mentioned that you insisted on seeing pictures of all her grandchildren. Do you like children?”

“Yes. I mean—Of course I do.”

Suzann liked children, all right, but that was not the reason she’d asked to see the pictures. She was still trying to match names with faces.

“Have you ever worked with children, Miss Harmon?” he asked.

“Yes. And please, call me—call me Holly.” Suzann blinked, trying to think how her sister would have responded. Nothing surfaced. Was she about to blow her cover?

“Maybe you shouldn’t call me Holly after all,” she said.

“Why not?”

“It sounds too informal.”

“As you must know, many in the church even call the pastor by his first name.”

“That’s true but…”

“You think I should call you Miss Harmon.”

“Exactly.”

“All right,” he said, and a faint smile shone through. “But it seems out of character for you.”

“Out of character? Why?”

“Now that I’ve gotten to know you, you seem more down to earth than the shy librarian I first thought you were.”

“The change is only temporary. As I said earlier, I’ll be my old self again as soon as I get over this cold.”

He chuckled softly under his breath. “Frankly, I like you better the way you are now.”

“Coughing and sneezing my head off?”

He threw back his head and laughed. “No, that’s not what I meant at all.” His mirthful laugh evolved into something much more intense. “I think you know it too.”

Was she imagining things? Or did that look in his eyes say that he found her extremely attractive?

This would never do. She shouldn’t have allowed Josh to drop by again, much less fix her supper. It was probably something Holly would never have considered doing.

She glanced at the clock over the refrigerator. “It’s ten after seven. If you don’t leave right now, you’ll be late for that movie.”

“I’m already late,” he said. “The movie starts in five minutes. I could never get there in time. But that’s okay. The picture is there for three more nights and—” he studied her painstakingly “—you’re tired, aren’t you?”

“Well, it has been a long day.” She faked a coughing spell to make her point.

“You go in and rest while I do these dishes.”

“Please. Don’t.” Suzann hadn’t intended to sound so abrupt She tried to soften it by forcing a weak smile. “Put the dishes in the sink to soak. I’ll do them later.”

“Sure, and then I’m out of here.” He paused contemplatively. “Do you mind if I phone you in the morning to see how you’re doing?”

“Go ahead if you like, but I can’t promise I’ll answer. I’m taking your advice and sleeping in.”

“I won’t call until after church then,” he said.

“That’s very thoughtful of you, but don’t feel that you must. I do a pretty good job of taking care of myself.”

His face flashed disappointment. “I see.” Josh continued to study her with those electrifying blue eyes of his.

She felt terrible for speaking so curtly to him. Suzann wished she could take back her sharp remark. Yet if she did, he might miss her meaning.

Josh slipped his right hand in the pocket of his jeans as if he was searching for his truck keys. “I better go,” he said rigidly, “and I hope that cold of yours disappears real soon.”

“Thanks.”

Then he left.

She hadn’t liked treating him so callously. Suzann bit her lower lip.

Like many child actors, Suzann had always felt that in order to get love and acceptance, one must perform perfectly—before the camera and everywhere else. She had no faith in people who offered affection without expecting something in return.

Suzann knew she was still slightly depressed over her breakup with Greer Fraser. Until the onset of her cold, she hadn’t realized that she was physically exhausted as well. When Josh offered to nurse her back to health, Suzann was warmed by his concern and amazed at how different he was from Greer and the other men she’d dated in the past.

Somehow, Josh’s interest and nurturing nature struck an unsung chord deep within her—as if he was gently teaching her to trust. At the same time, Suzann saw Josh’s kindness as a warning. Take it slow and easy. Men like Josh were rare in California…and that was where she would be living in six months.

She knew she needed the kind of tenderness and understanding that Josh could give her. But she was afraid to reach out and take it. Besides, she wasn’t in Oak Valley to start a romance. Or to steal her sister’s beau.

Chapter Three

Suzann crawled into Holly’s single bed under the double windows and went right to sleep. Four hours later, she woke up, feeling uneasy and slightly disoriented, but fully awake.

Yawning, she glanced at the luminous clock, blinking in the darkness. Eleven o’clock.

It would be nine in California. Maybe she should give her sister a call.

Suzann fumbled for the phone on the nightstand, then dialed. Bates answered. Rats. She’d hoped Holly would pick up. She faked her best Spanish accent ever and asked to speak with Miss Condry.

“She’s talking to a gentleman in the drawing room.”

Suzann’s right brow lifted. “Really? Tell her this is Maria Garcia from Texas. Her friend from Oak Valley.”

“She hasn’t been taking her calls today. But if you’ll hold, I’ll go in and give her your message.”

Suzann coughed. “Thanks.”

A few minutes later Holly came on the line.

“Your Spanish accent must have been pretty convincing,” Holly said. “You sure had your butler fooled.”

“It’s not the first time. How’s—” Suzann coughed again “—how’s California?”

“Super, but you don’t sound so good. Are you all right?”

“Just a slight cold. So, how do you like my humble abode?”

“Your house is fabulous. But if you hadn’t drawn me that map, I would never have found your bedroom.”

Suzann smiled. “Who’s your guest? Mike?”

Holly grew silent. “No, his brother.”

“The pediatrician?”

“Yeah.”

“Mike said his brother had moved to Burbank. So what’s Shawn doing there? And where’s Mike?”

“It’s a little hard to explain right now. And Shawn—I mean, Dr. McDowell—is waiting. Could I call you back tomorrow?”

“Sure.”

Suzann held the receiver away from her ear for a moment before hanging up. Something strange was going on in California. She intended to find out what it was.

Suzann slept late the next morning. She might have slept longer, but a coughing episode woke her. When she recovered, she got out of bed and fixed herself a cup of coffee.

The church members she’d met would be in Sunday School and then church. So would Josh. She was free to study Holly’s family photo album and the pictorial Church Directory.

At a little before twelve, she fell asleep again. She didn’t open her eyes until she heard another knock.

Suzann combed her fingers through her hair and made her way to the door, pulling her white, terry-cloth robe closed in front as she went. The small window above the door revealed a young woman about Suzann’s age. She’d noticed her picture in the Church Directory. Still in her groggy state, she couldn’t remember her name.

Suzann opened the door. “Excuse my appearance—and for looking so vacant. But I’ve been sleeping a lot with this cold of mine.” She slanted her head to one side. “Please, come in.”

The young woman frowned briefly as if she might be confused. She was short and petite. Her hair was darker than Suzann’s. Some might call it black. Her eyes were a warm gray and circled by a thick layer of black lashes.

“We missed you at church this morning.”

“I missed being there.”

Suzann motioned toward the couch, taking the chair to the right of the couch for a better view of her guest. Could this be her neighbor? Suzann had caught a glimpse of a neighbor when Josh drove her home, but that woman had looked slightly older. So who?

In hopes of appearing relaxed and casual, Suzann pulled up her legs, covered them with her white robe, and hugged her knees.

“What’s been going on in Oak Valley since I’ve been gone?” Suzann asked.

The young woman sent her another puzzled expression, as if she’d expected Suzann to say something entirely different.

“Are you sure you’re all right, Holly?” the young woman asked. “You seem a little—” she shook her head “—I don’t know…different.”

Suzann stretched out her legs and sat up. Her body language earlier wasn’t doing the job. It was time for Plan B. Too bad she hadn’t come up with one yet.

“Maybe you should see a doctor or something,” the woman said. “About that cold, I mean.”

“That’s what half the church members who came by here yesterday said.”

“I would have come by yesterday too but—I just got back late last night.”

“How was your trip?”

“Trip?”

Suzann tensed. Trip was obviously not the word she should have used with this particular person. Wake up, Suzann, she thought. She could always blame her present addled state on her fever.

“That wasn’t a very good choice of words, was it?” Suzann said. “Sorry. How did it go?”

“At first Mother was devastated, of course. But she’s better, now that we think Dad’s going to be all right.”

“We can thank God for that.” Suzann suddenly realized to whom she was speaking, and her heart went out to Kate Devlon.

“I’m sorry about your dad,” Suzann said softly. “Wish I could have been there for you.”

“There was no reason for you to disrupt your vacation, and there was nothing you could do. Besides, you phoned, didn’t you?”

Suzann nodded. She should have guessed that the stranger was Holly’s best friend the minute Kate walked in.

Holly had described Kate as warm and fun-loving. Had Suzann known to whom she was speaking, common sense would have told her that Kate wasn’t likely to be upbeat when her father had just suffered a heart attack.

“You probably need to get back in bed.” Kate stood. “I better leave.”

Suzann wanted her to stay. However, it might be best to wait until she felt a little better and could keep up her Holly act before they had a prolonged visit.

Suzann got up then. “I’m really glad you stopped by.”

“Me too.” Kate grinned before starting for the door. “I would have brought you a covered dish, but—” she laughed and turned back to Suzann “—Brother Josh said that maybe you would like a visit only.”

Suzann followed Kate to the door. “He’s very perceptive.”

“Isn’t he, though?” Kate winked. “Do I smell romance in the air?”

“Romance?” Suzann was caught off guard by Kate’s remark. “No.” She shrugged nonchalantly. “We just happen to work at the same church, that’s all.”

“Are you sure that’s all it is?”

Suzann opened her mouth to answer. Then closed it. It would be too easy to say the wrong thing.

When Kate had gone, Suzann went back to the couch and reached for the Church Directory. She hoped to recall everything Holly said about Kate Devlon. She remembered that Kate was a rancher’s daughter, turned secretary to a local lawyer, and that she moved to Oak Valley about the same time Josh did. If Suzann hoped to be a convincing Holly Harmon, she would need to stay as close to Kate as possible.

By nightfall Suzann was beginning to question whether or not Holly intended to return her call. Josh hadn’t phoned either, but she wasn’t surprised after what she’d said to him.

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.

“Spat? Why, he means nothing to me.”

“Maybe not, but I think you mean something to him.”

Suzann wanted to remind Kate that Josh Gallagher had a girlfriend back home. She never got the chance.

A hush permeated the room. Josh asked Brother Winslow to lead the group in prayer.

Josh couldn’t help seeing Suzann during the meeting, but he acted as if she were invisible. The way he deliberately avoided her gaze exasperated her.

“See what I mean?” Kate whispered.

Suzann rolled her eyes upward.

Josh might never have looked at her if Suzann hadn’t raised her hand in answer to one of his questions.

“Yes, Miss Harmon,” he said without expression. “What kind of refreshments would you suggest for snack time?”

“Snow cones would be nice. They’re easy to fix, and if it turns cold again, we could serve hot chocolate instead.”

“That’s an interesting idea,” he said, “but I understand we had that last year. I’d like to try something new.” He looked away. “Anyone else?”

One of ladies who came into the library on Wednesday raised her hand. “Well, I like Miss Harmon’s idea about the snow cones. Just because we had them last year doesn’t mean we can’t have them again, and the children really seemed to like them.”

“I second that,” Kate said.

Josh’s mouth tightened. “Then if nobody has any other ideas, I guess it’s snow cones again.” He glanced at Suzann indifferently. “Thanks for the suggestion.”

She nodded, looking down at her teacher’s manual.

“So if nobody has anything else to say,” Josh said, “I guess I’ll see y’all here Monday morning at eight o’clock, sharp, ready to teach our autumn version of Vacation Bible School. Oh, and don’t forget the bake sale in the morning.”

Kate groaned. “How could we forget?”

Suzann stuck close to Kate’s side as they walked out to the parking lot. She had no illusions that Josh Gallagher planned to seek her out Still, it was nice to know that she wouldn’t have to face him alone if he did.

Josh went straight to his truck, got in, and slammed the door behind him.

“Wow,” Kate said. “He’s got it bad.”

Suzann shook her head. “What Brother Josh has is a bad temper.”

“He never had it until you came back from vacation. I’ve never seen him like this, and I’ve known him all my life.”

“All your life?”

“Had you forgotten that we grew up together?” Kate asked.

Could Kate Devlon be the girlfriend back home whom she’d heard so much about? No, if she’d been Josh’s girlfriend, Holly would have mentioned it.

“Would you like to go out for hamburgers?” Kate asked. “The Dizzy Dairy should be open, and I’ve got time, if you do.”

“Hamburgers sounds great.”

“Let’s take my car.”

Suzann had already learned that the Dizzy Dairy, or the “D.D.” as it was sometimes called, was the only place in town that served hamburgers, except for Juan’s Mexican Café. Kate drove by the D.D. slowly. Sure enough, Josh’s truck was parked out front.

“I think I’d rather eat at Juan’s,” Suzann said.

“Are you chicken, or what?”

“Let’s just say I’m playing it safe.”

It was ten by the time Suzann got back to the apartment, and she still had a cake to bake. She opened the kitchen cabinet. A box of cake mix and a can of ready-made icing glared back at her. Grabbing both of them, she read the directions on the back of the cartons. Hmm, this sounds easy, she thought. Literally, a piece of cake.

Yes, baking appeared easy enough—until she smelled burning batter. Suzann raced into the kitchen, grabbed a potholder, and opened the oven. A big puff of smoke caused her eyes to water.