Molly Bull - Brides And Blessings

“Miss Harmon.” He propped his arm against the door frame. A one-sided grin emerged. “How was your vacation?”

“Great.”

His eyes sparkled. “Then are you rested and ready to get back to work?”

“Do I have to answer that?”

“Absolutely.”

The corners of his mouth still turned up, revealing even white teeth. His brown, wavy hair looked thick and coarse. Yet she knew intuitively that it would be soft to the touch.

The bronzed tan on his weather-worn face and strong-looking hands suggested an outdoorsman. Jeans and cowboy boots painted an even clearer picture. Everything about him told of a working man who spent hours in the Texas sun.

But what kept her looking at him were those blue eyes that appeared to glow with energy and excitement. Their sky-blue color contained specks of a deeper blue and were edged in navy, giving his entire gaze an intensity that she found compelling.

“Having trouble opening the library door?” he asked.

“Yes, as a matter of fact. I’ve lost my key.”

Not lost it, exactly. She just couldn’t figure out which key fit without trying all of the keys on the ring. A task she’d rather perform without curious witnesses. But the excuse gave her the chance to talk to him for a minute. She suspected that he wasn’t a janitor. She wanted to learn his identity before she ran into him again.

“Here,” he said. “Try mine.”

“Thanks.”

So, he had a master key. Maybe he was the janitor after all. Or maybe he was…

Of course.

He didn’t fit her idea of a man of the cloth. Yet this too-handsome cowboy had to be none other than Josh Gallagher, the youth director and assistant pastor.

After seeing him, she knew why he’d captured the notice of all the single women in the congregation. That lean muscular body and long legs left no doubt.

“Don’t forget,” he said, “Pastor Jones wants us to work on that duet for next Sunday.”

“You don’t mean tomorrow, do you?”

“Tomorrow’s this Sunday.” His engaging grin held a pinch of laughter. “Don’t worry. We still have two weeks to practice. Do you have a copy of the music yet?”

“Yes. I mean—You know, I can’t remember.”

“Don’t let it bother you. I’ll run off a copy of mine.”

Suzann nodded her thanks and put the key in the lock. As she reached back to return his key, another coughing spell erupted. She felt slightly light-headed and feverish now along with her other symptoms.

Without a word the cowboy reached for a paper cup above the fountain. He filled it and handed her the water.

“Here,” he said, “drink this.”

She put the cup to her lips and drank. The urge to cough slowly vanished. The cool water also relieved her aching throat a bit. But she still felt woozy.

“Thanks,” she said. “I needed that.”

“You sure did.” His deep chuckle filled the air. “Are you all right?”

“I’ll—” she swallowed “—I’ll be fine.”

“Did you know it’s getting dark outside? Looks like rain.”

“In that case, I’ll cut my visit to the library short.”

“Can I get you anything?” He hesitated thoughtfully. “We have cough drops in the church office. I’ll go get you some.”

“You’re kind to think of that.”

When he’d gone, Suzann sat down at the desk, put her head down and closed her eyes. When she finally lifted her head again, she studied the room, searching for some sort of work that she could be involved in when the cowboy returned. Turning in her chair, she pulled out a book from the bookcase behind her.

The Church Directory.

She’d been wanting something that would acquaint her with the congregation at Oak Valley Bible Church. A church directory was just the text she’d been hoping to find. She would check it out of the church library and take it back to Holly’s apartment for further study.

She filled out the library card and opened the book to the first page. She’d just turned to the Gs for Gallagher when Josh reappeared with the cough medication. Casually, she flipped to the Rs.

“How’s the cough?” He handed her the box of candied drops.

“Better.” She popped a drop in her mouth. “Yum, cherry-flavored. My favorite.”

“Keep the whole box then. We have several cartons of the stuff in the church office.”

“Thanks again.”

He shifted his weight from one long leg to the other as if there was something more he wanted to say. “As you know,” he began, “I’m new to Oak Valley, and I thought the pastor said you were a native Texan. But you sure didn’t sound like it just then.”

She needed to forget her cough and get in character.

“I have several friends from other states.” Suzann’s sculptured lips formed her best ingenuous smile yet. “I guess it’s beginning to rub off.”

“Yeah, that’s probably it.”

He still looked puzzled, but maybe not as much as before.

“I couldn’t help noticing that you’re wearing cowboy boots and jeans,” she said with a Texas accent. “Were you raised on a farm? Or do you just like Western clothes?”

“A little of both, I guess. But it was a ranch. Not a farm,” he corrected with a spark of amusement in his eyes. He glanced out the window. “Why, it’s starting to sprinkle.”

The light shower had turned to rain by the time she looked out too. The trees and the entire parking lot had grayed eerily. She could barely see the street beyond.

“You sure don’t need to be out in wet weather with that cough of yours.” He glanced toward the side door. “If you’ll give me your car keys, I’ll re-park your car under the carport.”

“I—I walked.”

“Walked? Didn’t you notice those dark clouds coming up from the north?”

“I guess I was distracted. Coming from far west Texas, I’m still amazed when I find autumn colors this far south. Besides, fall is my favorite time of the year.”

“Fall’s my favorite time of the year too,” he said. “But you need to look up once in a while, young lady. Know what I mean?”

Suzann forced herself to hold in a smile. Josh looked to be in his mid- to late-twenties. She was probably only a few years younger than he, if that.

“I’ll try to remember to do that,” she said after the long pause. “But I do hope you’ll keep reminding me.”

He cocked his head to one side and grinned his heart-stopping smile again. “I can’t seem to stop preaching, can I?”

“Occupational hazard, I guess.”

He laughed. “You know, you have a great sense of humor. I guess I never saw that side of you before.”

“My funny side only comes out when I’m feeling a little bit under the weather.”

His animated expression fell away. “That’s right. You’re sick, aren’t you?”

“I think I just need to rest up from my vacation.”

“Well, if you think I’m going to let you walk home in the rain, you have another think coming.” He reached in his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. “Let me pull my truck around. And meet me at the side entrance in five minutes.” He started to walk off, then stopped and turned back. “Unless you would rather stay a little longer.”

“No,” she said. “I’m ready to go right now.”

She knew she shouldn’t be catching a ride with her sister’s secret love. But it was raining outside. And she was feeling sicker by the minute.

Holly, on her flight to California, tried to ignore Mike in the first-class seat beside her. Yet he kept staring at her as if he couldn’t believe his eyes. He appeared amazed that she looked so much like Suzann. Holly had the sudden urge to stare right back.