Margaret Daley - Tidings of Joy

The second the question was out of her mouth, she bit down on the inside of her cheek. She’d never confronted someone about not attending church. She didn’t confront anyone about anything, if possible.

Chance’s gaze narrowed on her face, every line in his body rigid. “I need to get settled in.”

Tanya knew from the expression on her new tenant’s handsome face that any further discussion was unwelcome. “I’m sorry I brought up the subject. I just assumed you believed.”

“Because I’m friends with Samuel?”

She nodded.

“I guess Samuel would say I’m the lost sheep he’s trying to bring back to the fold.”

THE LADIES OF SWEETWATER LAKE:

Like a wedding ring, this circle

of friends is never ending

feels she has been blessed. She has been married more than thirty years to her husband, Mike, whom she met in college. He is a terrific support and her best friend. They have one son, Shaun. Margaret has been writing for many years and loves to tell a story. When she was a little girl, she would play with her dolls and make up stories about their lives. Now she writes these stories down. She especially enjoys weaving stories about families and how faith in God can sustain a person when things get tough. When she isn’t writing, she is fortunate to be a teacher for students with special needs. Margaret has taught for over twenty years and loves working with her students. She has also been a Special Olympics coach and participated in many sports with her students.

Margaret Daley

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And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see

you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy

no man taketh from you.

—John 16:22

To my family—I love you

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Epilogue

Letter to Reader

Questions for Discussion

Chance Taylor stepped off the bus and surveyed the town, which was nothing like where he’d spent the past two years. Yet, for a few seconds he fought the overwhelming urge to get back on the bus. Because no matter how much he wanted to, he couldn’t. Not until he’d paid his debt.

The bus pulled away from the curb, leaving him behind. No escape now. The beating of his heart kicked up a notch. Chance glanced up and down the street. Sweetwater. It was exactly as Tom Bolton had described it. Quaint stores lined its Main Street. A row of Bradford pear trees down both sides of the road offered shade in the heat of summer. Even though it was the end of September, the hot air caused sweat to pop out on his forehead.

He closed his eyes to the vivid colors spread out before him—a red sign above a door, yellow pansies about the base of the trees along the street. He’d lived in a world he’d thought of as black-and-white. Now every hue of the rainbow bombarded him from all sides. Opening his eyes to the new world around him, he wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand, then grabbed the one duffel bag with all his earthly possessions and strode toward Alice’s Café.

Inside he scanned the diners, all engrossed in their food and conversation. People doing normal, everyday things with no idea how their life could change in a split second. But he knew.

Drawing in a deep breath, Chance took a moment to compose himself. Again the question flashed across his mind: why had he come to Sweetwater? Surely there was a better place, one he could get lost in. New York City. Chicago. Even Louisville would have been better than this small town, where according to Tom, everyone watched out for each other. He didn’t want that. Nosy neighbors had led to his destruction in the past. But Sweetwater was the only place where he could fulfill his promise to himself. He was stuck here for the time being, but once he had paid his debt, he would leave as fast as a bus could take him out of town.

Chance saw Samuel Morgan in the back booth and headed toward him. Aware of a few glances thrown his way, Chance hurried over, placed his duffel bag on the floor, then slid in across from Samuel, his back to the other diners.

Samuel grinned. “I didn’t think you’d come.”

“I said I would. About the only thing I have left is my word.”

“Tom’s death wasn’t your fault. He made his choice.”

“I have a chance to return a favor. I intend to. That’s the least I can do.”

A waitress with a pencil behind her left ear paused near Samuel and dug into her apron pocket for a pad.

“Want something to eat?” Samuel asked.

Chance shook his head, aware of the open curiosity in the older woman’s gaze. His stomach tightened. He should be used to people watching him, having spent the past few years with no right to any privacy. But he wasn’t. All he wanted when he was through with Sweetwater was to find a quiet corner of the world where he could put his life back together.

“Alice, I’ll take another cup of coffee.” Samuel pushed his mug toward the edge of the table.

“Sure, Reverend. Be right back.”

After Alice refilled Samuel’s coffee and left, he said, “Your timing couldn’t be better. Tanya Bolton has just converted the space over her garage into an apartment. She’s looking for a tenant and you need a place to stay. It’s perfect.”

Something in the reverend’s expression alerted Chance that there was more to it. “You wouldn’t have anything to do with Tom’s wife having an apartment, now would you?”

Samuel’s grin reached deep into his eyes. “I did mention it would be a great way for her to make some extra money. She took the suggestion and ran with it.”

“I can’t see the lady renting to an ex-con.”

“You aren’t an ex-con. Your conviction was overturned because you were innocent. The police have the right guy in jail now.”

The horror of the past few years threatened to deluge Chance with all the memories he desperately needed to forget. He refused to let them intrude, shoving them back into the dark corner of his mind. He didn’t have the emotional strength to return to the past. His wounds ran deep, to his very soul. “It doesn’t change the fact that I spent two years in prison. When she finds that out…” He couldn’t finish his sentence, the words clogging his throat. The knot in his stomach grew.

Suddenly he pictured a man he’d thought was a good friend, and his expression when Chance had seen him last week in Louisville. Fear had flitted across his so-called friend’s features before he could mask his reaction to seeing Chance. Although in the eyes of the law he had been exonerated, he had seen the doubt in the man’s gaze. Did they have the right guy this time?

Samuel leaned toward Chance and said in a low tone, “I’m not telling Tanya anything about your recent past. I’ll leave that for you to tell when you feel ready. But I am going to vouch for you. I know you’re a good, honest man, and what you’ve come to Sweetwater to do is important to you.”