Myra Johnson - Their Christmas Prayer

The ponytailed brunette peeked into the display case. “How does cranberry-walnut sound?”

“I’ll take it.” Shaun smiled his thanks as Diana handed him his order. Detouring to the condiment bar, he added a dollop of cream and grabbed some napkins as he scanned the shop for an empty table.

In the far corner, a couple of rancher types were getting up to leave. Shaun hurried to claim the table, but before he could set down his coffee and scone, a distracted-looking woman in business attire beat him to it.

“Oh!” Long honey-brown curls flipped across her shoulder as she looked up with a start. “Were you about to sit here?”

“No problem. I can...” Shaun took another look around. No more empty seats anywhere. Guess he could grab a to-go cup and take his coffee out to the pickup.

“You were in line ahead of me. You should take the table.” The woman gathered up her coffee and Danish, only to be jostled by the customer in the chair behind her. She gasped as hot coffee splashed over the rim of her mug.

“Careful, there.” Shaun set down his own mug and plate, then relieved the woman of hers. He thrust his fistful of napkins toward her. “Did you burn your hand?”

“I think it’s okay. Startled me more than anything.” She dabbed at a coffee spill on her slim plaid skirt. “So much for looking presentable for my meeting.”

“Hardly shows,” Shaun said with an encouraging smile. They’ll all be looking at your pretty face anyway.

Whoa, did he actually just think that? True, she was incredibly attractive, not to mention the whole dressed-for-success vibe. Most of Diana’s customers looked more like Shaun—faded jeans, dusty boots, weekend whiskers. Well, the guys, anyway.

He scraped a palm across his stubbly chin. “Hey, our coffee’s getting cold and the crowd doesn’t look like it’ll be thinning out anytime soon. Would you be okay with sharing the table?”

Relief and gratitude replaced the disgruntled twist to her lips. “If you’re sure you don’t mind.” She wadded up the napkins and offered her hand. “I’m Brooke Willoughby, your new chamber of commerce communications manager.”

“Wow, that’s a mouthful. Congratulations. I’m Shaun O’Grady, average guy in need of caffeine.” No need to explain further. Besides, he didn’t expect he’d ever have a reason to visit the Juniper Bluff Chamber of Commerce. After a quick handshake, they sat across from each other. “So, you’re off to a business meeting?”

“I’m being officially introduced to the chamber’s board of directors. And I’m a teensy bit edgy, as you can probably tell from my klutziness.” She took a sip from her mug, then uttered a nervous laugh. “You might want to grab a few extra napkins in case I accidentally tip my coffee into your lap.”

“I’ll take my chances.” Offering a grin, Shaun bit into his scone. “I’m wearing half the barnyard on these old jeans anyway, so who’d notice?”

Brooke’s warm brown eyes sparkled with a knowing glint. “You must be a rancher, like just about everybody else in Juniper Bluff.”

“Uh, that would be a no. I’m just staying with my sister’s fiancé on his ranch until I figure out...” He tapped his heel. This wasn’t a subject he particularly wanted to get into with a complete stranger. “I mean, I’m only in town temporarily.”

“Oh, so you’re not from Juniper Bluff. Neither am I. Until very recently, anyway. My mom died last year—”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Thank you.” The slightest tremor crept into Brooke’s tone. “Anyway, my dad and I just moved here from Los Angeles. I had a great job at an advertising firm, but Dad really wanted to have the family close together again, so...” She gave a half-hearted shrug.

“I understand. Family’s important.” Family could also be meddlesome, as in insisting Juniper Bluff was the perfect place for Shaun to recover and regroup after burning out on the mission field. “You have relatives in town?”

“My brother. When he heard about the chamber of commerce position, he said it sounded perfect for me and insisted I apply. Next thing I knew, Dad and I were packed and hitting the road.” Lifting a bite of pastry on her fork, she glanced toward the door. “Tripp was supposed to meet me here this morning, but he texted saying he got tied up at the clinic.”

“He’s a doctor?”

“A veterinarian.”

Shaun nodded as pieces started falling together. “Tripp Willoughby—right. We met when he assisted Dr. Ingram with one of Kent’s cows.”

“Kent’s your brother-in-law?”

“To-be. The wedding’s Thanksgiving weekend.” Shaun figured he could stick around at least that long. And maybe by then he’d have his head on straighter. He’d been praying desperately for direction about where his life was headed, but it seemed like God had gone silent.

“Last time I came to Juniper Bluff was for my brother’s wedding,” Brooke was saying. She looked up as Diana stopped at their table with a coffee carafe. “And here’s my amazing sister-in-law now.”

Arching a brow, Diana topped off their mugs. “Don’t tell me I’m the subject of more town gossip?”

Shaun did a double take. “So you two are related?”

“We were best friends in college and I introduced her to my big brother. Long story.” Brooke gave a meaningful eye roll. “But finally, all these years later, they’re back together and happily married.”

Guess Shaun still had a few local connections to work out. Except for running the occasional errand for Kent or grabbing a quick cup of coffee at Diana’s Donuts, he spent most of his time at the ranch. Keeping a low profile meant less explaining to do, and more time to think and pray.

He took another gulp of coffee before pushing his chair back. “I should get going. Got a pickup-load of supplies Kent’s waiting on. Nice meeting you, Brooke. And thanks for letting me share your table.”

“Actually, I think it was the other way around, but thank you, too.” Her perky smile practically lit up the room, and Shaun almost felt sorry he wouldn’t have a chance to get to know her better.

Which was crazy because clearly they traveled in different circles. More accurately, Shaun was currently caught in a going-nowhere loop, whereas Brooke Willoughby zipped along on the straight and narrow road to success.

Frowning, Brooke watched Shaun amble out of the doughnut shop. In her advertising work she’d had a lot of practice reading people, but he defied her powers of perception.

After offering refills to the customers at the next table, Diana plopped down in the chair Shaun had vacated. “He’s a puzzle, isn’t he?”

Brooke jerked her head around. “Who—the guy who was just here?”

“Don’t pretend you aren’t curious. We all are.” Gripping the edge of the table, Diana leaned forward. “So, what did y’all talk about? Did he reveal any interesting details about himself?”

“I think I did most of the talking—as usual.” Brooke lifted her coffee mug only to decide she’d had enough caffeine already. She set it down with a thunk. “All he basically said was that he hadn’t been in town very long—”

“And he’s staying with his almost-brother-in-law until after the wedding. Yada yada.” Diana crossed her arms and leaned back. “I was hoping for something a little juicier.”

“Digging for new gossip? Girl, you’ve been in the coffee-and-doughnuts business way too long.” Mimicking her sister-in-law’s pose, Brooke smirked and shook her head. “Anyway, I just met the guy. I should be asking you the questions. Who’s his sister? Anyone I’ve met?”