Molly Bull - Brides And Blessings

The fact that he’d duped her the second time proved two things: his acting talent was greater than his critics indicated, and Suzann Condry could be deceived.

Loving and caring were just words to Suzann. The citizens of Oak Valley might believe in such things, and once, she did, too. But she was no longer convinced those romantic notions had any basis in reality.

A tickle in her throat became a deep cough. A knock at her door said that Josh waited on the porch outside. She took a sip of water to muffle her cough. It didn’t work.

“You all right in there?” he asked. “That cough of yours sounds bad.”

“Give me a minute. I’ll be fine.”

She fumbled in her purse for the cough drops he’d given her, then remembered that she’d left them in his truck. Her eyes watered and burned. Suzann wiped her eyes, took a big swallow of water, and coughed some more.

“Let me in this minute,” he said. “Or I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll—”

“Okay, okay.”

She stumbled to the door and nearly fell. Grabbing hold of the back of the high-backed rocker, she paused to steady herself.

She knew that she had been dizzy earlier, but hadn’t counted on being weak as well. Suzann flipped the latch and stepped back from the door.

Josh’s encouraging smile faded. “You need to see a doctor.”

“It’s just a cold. Besides, doctors’ offices aren’t open on Saturday night. Won’t you come in?”

“The emergency room at the hospital over in Kerrville is open.” He came inside, removed his raincoat, and looked around.

“Just drop your raincoat there, by the door.”

Wrapping his wet coat in a tight tan bundle, he did as she said. His dark brown hair looked damp and curlier than she remembered. He handed her the sheet music wrapped in clear plastic. “Here.” Then he shook out the surplus moisture from his hair. Droplets of rainwater trickled down both cheeks.

“I’ll get you a towel.”

“No, no, no. You sit. I’ll get it.”

“But you don’t even know where the bathroom is.”

“I’ll find it.”

“Through the bedroom. First door to the right.”

Suzann felt self-conscious and blushy, but managed to hide it. She’d entertained men alone in her house many times. So why was she embarrassed now? Was she suddenly becoming another Pollyanna like her sister?

In six months she would leave God, the church, and the state of Texas forever. Her goal was to learn from these people, not join them. She was in Oak Valley to rest and sample a normal life. And for no other reason.

She’d done background studies for various movie roles in the past. Why was this any different? She would simply have to become more objective.

Josh trekked back to the living room, rubbing his head with a blue towel. Suzann had settled onto the couch again. He sat down beside her.

“I hope you don’t catch my cold,” she said.

“Not a chance. I just had one.” He wrinkled his nose boyishly. “And that’s my quota for the year.” He grinned. “Besides, I’ve been praying.”

“I hope it helps.” Why did I say that? she wondered. “I mean—” she shrugged “—of course it helps.”

“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?”