Читать книгу: «Their Christmas Prayer», страница 2

Chapter Two

Leaving the sanctuary with Kent, Erin and Avery after worship on Sunday morning, Shaun glimpsed a familiar cascade of honey-brown curls. So much for discounting his chances of running into Brooke Willoughby. This was small-town Juniper Bluff, after all. Engaged in a spirited conversation with Diana from the doughnut shop and another woman, she didn’t notice him as he walked past.

“That’s the new communications manager for the chamber,” Erin said. “I met her in the women’s Bible study this morning. She’s really on the ball.”

“Yeah, I know.” As they continued toward the exit, Shaun couldn’t keep his head from swiveling in Brooke’s direction.

Erin looked at him askance. “You know?”

Shaun should have kept his mouth shut. He faced forward and walked faster. “Diana’s Donuts was packed yesterday, so we shared a table.”

A mischievous chuckle erupted from Erin’s throat. “Kent needs to send you to town more often.”

“Speaking of which,” Kent said, tapping his church bulletin against his palm, “I’ve been working on getting more connected here at church, and the service committee looks interesting. They’re meeting tomorrow night to discuss plans for this year’s Christmas charity project. Why don’t you tag along with me?”

Shaun gave his head a brisk shake. “I don’t think so.”

“Come on, it’ll do you good to get out and meet more people.” They’d reached Erin’s car, and Kent helped Avery buckle into the back seat. Blocking Shaun from proceeding on toward the pickup, he glowered. “How long have you been staying with me at the ranch now—a month? Six weeks? About all you come to town for is to pick up something for me at the ranch supply store or to visit Erin at her place.”

“I’ve been attending church with you nearly every Sunday,” Shaun shot back. “And didn’t I just say I met Brooke at the doughnut shop? So I get out plenty. I’ve got all the acquaintances I need.”

Kent shared a meaningful look with Erin, and then both of them pinned him with concerned frowns. “I spent years holding things in,” Kent said quietly, “isolating myself when I could have been sharing my problems with people who cared. So I know avoidance when I see it.”

Hands on hips, Shaun exhaled sharply through his nose. Erin and Kent had been more than patient with him as he worked through his issues with God. He knew they were only trying to help. “Okay, you could have a point. But these past few years trying to make a difference in Ethiopia... I can’t begin to describe the frustration and disappointment.”

“We know, Shaun.” Erin touched his arm. “And we understand why you needed to get away and decompress. But getting involved in something on a smaller scale—a project where you can readily see the results of your efforts—might turn out to be just what you need.”

Shaun didn’t want to admit it, but his sister could be right. “All right,” he said, hands raised. “No promises, but I’ll attend the meeting with you and see what it’s all about.”

Kent clapped him on the shoulder. “Good man. Now, let’s go see what Erin’s got cookin’ for dinner.”

One thing Shaun had learned upon his arrival in Juniper Bluff was that his little sister had become not only a talented interior designer but a pretty amazing cook. He’d come to look forward to meals at her house or when she brought something special out to Kent’s.

He was proud of his baby sister in other ways, too, and felt rotten that while serving overseas he’d been unaware of everything she’d gone through with her abusive first husband. It helped only slightly to know their older brother, Greg, hadn’t been any more clued in than Shaun. Until the bitter end, Erin had managed to hide the truth from almost everyone close to her. Guess it ran in the family.

Interesting how Greg had contrived to send both his troubled siblings to Juniper Bluff to heal and start over. Erin had found not only a profitable outlet for her design talents but true love with someone who’d treat her right. Shaun had no expectations of romance, but if his sojourn in this friendly small town made room for God to shed a little light on his path, he’d be grateful.

He chuckled to himself as he wondered when his philanthropic elder brother would leave big-city San Antonio behind and settle in Juniper Bluff permanently. Greg spent a good part of his time here anyway to oversee the Camp Serenity program for disadvantaged kids at Serenity Hills Guest Ranch. It was probably only a matter of time before Greg started pestering Shaun to join him as a volunteer counselor, but that sounded too long-term.

On the other hand, the Christmas outreach project had a clear beginning and end, which seemed much more doable, something Shaun could complete even if he did feel led to accept the Jordan position.

On Monday evening he rode into town with Kent for the meeting. Erin wouldn’t be participating—too many wedding details to iron out, Kent explained, plus she stayed busy with her interior design clients and keeping up with Avery.

They arrived at the church a few minutes early, and Kent introduced Shaun to the chairperson, Emily Ingram. “Emily’s married to Dr. Robert Ingram, the vet who takes care of my livestock.”

Shaun smiled and offered his hand. He recognized Emily as the woman Brooke Willoughby had been in conversation with yesterday after church.

“A missionary and a minister,” Emily gushed. “I know you’ll be a huge asset to the group.”

He suffered a moment of regret for not asking Kent to omit that part of his background. “Just consider me another willing worker.”

As other committee members trickled in, Shaun took a seat next to Kent near the end of a long, oval conference table. Clearing her throat, Emily Ingram prepared to open the meeting, only to pause at the click of heels in the corridor.

Seconds later, Brooke Willoughby slipped into the room. She offered a shy smile. “Hope I’m not late.”

“Just getting started, Brooke. Have a seat.” Emily motioned toward the only empty chair, directly across from Shaun. While Brooke got situated, Emily introduced her. “Many of you know Brooke’s brother, Tripp, Robert’s partner at the vet clinic. Brooke just accepted a position at the chamber of commerce, and we’re delighted to welcome her to Juniper Bluff.”

Brooke’s cheeks colored at the polite smattering of applause. “Thanks. I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone.” Then her gaze met Shaun’s, and a surprised glint flickered in her brown eyes. “Oh. Hi.”

He couldn’t explain the flutter beneath his sternum. For one thing, he wasn’t the type to experience flutters in the presence of an attractive woman. For another, he’d already surmised their strongest common link was an affinity for good coffee.

Calling the meeting to order, Emily saved him from having to form a coherent response. After opening with a brief prayer, she consulted her printed agenda. “In the interest of time, I’d like to table the usual reports until the end and get right to our Christmas service project.” When no one objected, she went on, “Since this is my first year to chair the committee, I did a little research to see what’s been done in the past—helping a needy family buy gifts for their children, serving Christmas dinner at a shelter, and I think last year you put together care packages for the Camp Serenity kids.”

Shaun sat back and listened while the committee batted around those ideas and a few others. After several minutes, he glanced across the table to see Brooke silently chewing her lip and added one more thing to their list of commonalities. As the two newbies on the committee, both were reluctant to wade into the middle of a discussion that grew more vocal as each new idea emerged.

Emily tapped the table with her pen. “With so many possibilities to consider, I suggest we give oversight of the project to one or two individuals. They can sort through the options, make the final decision and then get back to the committee with their directives for implementation.”

At last, a voice of reason. Shaun liked Emily Ingram already. He scanned the room and tried to guess which among the regulars would get the chairperson’s nod. Probably not Kent, since he was in the middle of planning a wedding. Maybe the sixty-ish lady at the other end of the table who’d had plenty to say about nearly every idea presented?

Then he felt Emily’s gaze on him. She smiled like the proverbial cat who ate the canary. “Nothing compares with the freshness of new ways of looking at things. Shaun and Brooke, our newest committee members, could we prevail upon the two of you to head up our Christmas outreach efforts?”

Brooke’s gaze locked with Shaun’s. Squirming in his chair, he looked equally taken aback by Emily’s request. Brooke forced down a swallow while pawing through her oversize purse for the water bottle she’d brought. She’d tried to persuade both Diana and Emily yesterday that she wasn’t quite ready for committee involvement, but she may as well have been arguing with those fence posts Shaun had been hauling. Maybe if she stalled long enough, he’d make convincing excuses for both of them.

He coughed into his fist. “I actually just came along at Kent’s invitation. I’m not really in a position to—”

“Oh, you’ll do fine.” Emily reached across the table to pat his wrist, then did the same to Brooke. “With your unique combination of skills and experience, you two are exactly what this committee needs.”

Nearly choking on a sip of water, Brooke shook her head. “Wouldn’t you rather ask someone who knows the community much better than either of us?”

“Right,” Shaun agreed. “We’re both practically strangers to Juniper Bluff.” He set his hands on the armrests as if preparing for a quick exit.

Kent, obviously the future brother-in-law Shaun had mentioned, chuckled to himself while appearing a teensy bit remorseful about setting Shaun up for this. Family pressure? Brooke could totally relate.

Emily maintained her ethereal smile as she jotted notes. “Shaun and Brooke, why don’t you two get together over the next couple of weeks and hammer out a plan of action? You can report back to us at our next meeting.”

Brooke cast Shaun a get-us-out-of-this stare. He responded with tight lips and a helpless shrug. Before either of them had a chance for further protests, Emily moved on to the next item on the agenda. Brooke scarcely heard a word as she mentally rehearsed one statement after another about why she was a bad choice for this assignment. She’d hit Emily with them the moment the meeting ended. The glazed look in Shaun’s eyes suggested he was doing exactly the same.

After other business had been covered and Emily adjourned the meeting, Brooke and Shaun attempted to corner her. The woman barely slowed her pace as she turned off lights, locked the classroom and marched out to the parking lot. But no matter how forcefully they reiterated their objections, she insisted they were more than up for the task and they should feel free to call if they had any questions.

“Oh, boy, I’ve got plenty,” Brooke muttered as Emily drove away.

Shaun stood beside her. “Remind me to strangle my almost-brother-in-law.”

“Where is he, by the way?”

“Over there waiting for me in his truck.” Shaun nodded toward the dusty tan pickup Brooke had seen him driving on Saturday. “Kent should have warned me. His prize Brangus bull’s got nothing on the world’s most ruthless committee chairperson.”

Giving a snort, Brooke rifled through her purse for her keys. “I definitely need to have a word with my brother and sister-in-law.”

“Don’t tell me—you were steamrolled into joining the committee, too?”

“My family seems to think I need an actual life away from the office.” Brooke rolled her eyes. “Bossy big brothers and their wives are the worst.”

“Meddlesome little sisters and their fiancés are just as bad.” Shaun took a few steps toward Kent’s pickup, then turned and blew out a resigned sigh. “So, I guess we’re doing this?”

“If for no other reason than to prove Emily wrong. Should we decide on a time to talk one day soon?”

Offering a wry half smile, Shaun said, “I’m not the one keeping office hours. You name the time and place.”

“Things are a little crazy at the chamber right now while I get a handle on this new job. But maybe we could meet early one morning for coffee.”

“That works. Anyway, I’d say Diana owes you free coffee and doughnuts for life.”

Brooke snickered. “I’d have to agree.” She took out her cell phone and they traded numbers. “I’ll give you a call after I double-check my calendar at the office tomorrow.”

They said good-night, and Brooke slid behind the wheel of her metallic-red sedan. Passing the town square on her way home, she recalled her first two encounters with Shaun O’Grady. She still didn’t know what to make of the man. Although, thanks to Emily’s brief introductions of the other committee members, Brooke now knew Shaun was an ordained minister and former missionary—both of which made him much more qualified for a church outreach project. Maybe she could plead busyness and convince him to take the lead.

Besides, she’d been sorely dreading Christmas, her second since Mom died. Last year, she and Dad had been able to distract themselves with excitement over Tripp and Diana’s January wedding. This season, Brooke had planned to stay so busy at the chamber that she wouldn’t have time to think about the approaching holidays.

So much for that idea. At this rate, Christmas could be at the top of her priority list for weeks to come.

A few minutes later, she parked in the garage at home. She and her dad had rented a two-bedroom brick cottage down the block from Tripp and Diana’s house. For her dad’s sake, she couldn’t deny the advantages of living near family again, but being this close would take some getting used to. Especially if they insisted on micromanaging her personal life.

“How was the meeting?” Dad asked as she let herself in through the kitchen. He’d just poured himself a bowl of oat cereal as a bedtime snack.

Brooke tossed her purse onto a chair. “Fine, if you count getting roped into cochairing the Christmas outreach subcommittee. Tripp and Diana are so going to pay for this.”

Dad merely chuckled. “Not biting off more than you can chew, are you?”

“Probably.” After filling a cereal bowl for herself, Brooke plopped down at the table across from her father. “Hopefully my new partner in crime will carry most of the load.”

“And who might that be?”

“Guess I didn’t tell you about the guy I met at the coffee shop on Saturday. His name’s Shaun O’Grady, also new in town. He’s a minister taking a break from missionary work. That’s about the extent of what I know about him.”

“Old, young?” Dad swallowed a spoonful of cereal, then winked. “Married, single?”

Making a growling sound in her throat, Brooke glanced toward the ceiling. “Probably around my age and probably single. Happy now?”

“I’m plenty happy. The question is, are you?”

She let her father’s words hang in the air while she finished her cereal. But the question followed her even as she changed into her pajamas and crawled into bed. No doubt about it, the last couple of years had taken a toll, both emotionally and physically. Add her nonexistent romantic life into the mix and things looked even drearier. The life she’d always striven to keep perfectly under control had disintegrated beneath her. No matter how hard she tried to ignore it, the nagging sense of failure lingered.

Not even the move to Juniper Bluff had been entirely in her control. Struggling through her grief over Mom’s death, she’d had no other goal than to bolster her advertising clientele and strengthen her position at the advertising firm. Little did she realize her family had been working behind the scenes to bring her and Dad back to Texas.

Okay, yes, seeing Dad happier than he’d been since Mom had first developed kidney disease was definitely a blessing.

But being strong-armed into working with an almost-complete stranger on a project she had neither the time nor the experience for? This was a situation she needed to get under control ASAP.

After returning calls and replying to a few emails Tuesday morning, Brooke decided she couldn’t put off the inevitable. She found Shaun’s number in her phone and pressed the call button.

He answered with a breathy “Hello?”

“Hi, it’s Brooke. Is this a bad time?”

“Just caught me hauling a hay bale, one of the many delightful ranch chores I’ve been delegated.”

She chuckled. “I take it your future brother-in-law is still alive and kicking.”

“Yeah, my sister’s put a lot of effort into planning the wedding, so she’d be really miffed if I did him in.”

“Oh, the sacrifices we make for family.” No kidding. “So, about this Christmas project...”

“Right. Unless you’ve come up with a brilliant idea to get us out of it, we should probably start brainstorming.”

Brooke perused her computer calendar. “Shall we meet at the doughnut shop for coffee in the morning, say around seven—or is that too early for you?”

“I’m an early riser, or at least I’ve become one since moving in with Kent. See you then.”

Ending the call, Brooke typed in the appointment. A moment later, Inez Quick, the chamber president, tapped on Brooke’s open door. She carried an armful of file folders.

Brooke gave a mock groan. “More stuff I need to familiarize myself with?”

“No rush.” The slender fifty-something woman dropped the stack on Brooke’s desk, then tucked a strand of dark hair into her French twist. “These contain minutes and project reports from several of our committees. Speaking of which, how did your church meeting go last night?”

“Can you spell gullible? Seems the newest kids on the block are prime targets for getting volunteered.” She went on to explain about the Christmas outreach.

With a thoughtful smile, Inez perched on a chair across from Brooke. “Think of it this way. The more in tune you are with the pulse of Juniper Bluff, the more effective you’ll be at this job.”

Loath as she was to admit it, her boss had a point. At least it was easier to swallow than her family’s constant harassment about getting a life. “Problem is, I’m so new in town that I have no idea where to begin.”

Inez reached across the desk for a pen and scratchpad. After jotting some notes, she passed it back to Brooke. “Here’s a list off the top of my head of area agencies that support needy families. Contact a few of them and ask for ways your committee might help.”

Brooke perused the list. “Thanks, this is great.”

Rising, Inez turned to go. “Oh, and feel free to work on the project during office hours as your schedule permits. I meant what I said—this could help you build a few more inroads with the local business community.”

Having her boss’s approval alleviated a few of her concerns about spending time on the project. By the end of the day she’d called every organization on Inez’s list and had also contacted Pastor Terry at Shepherd of the Hills to ask about any particular needs he might be aware of. The responses she’d collected would give her and Shaun more than enough to kick off their planning session. The hard part would be narrowing down the options to what would best fit the abilities and interests of the service committee.

Armed with computer notes full of information from the agencies she’d called, Brooke arrived at Diana’s Donuts the next morning a few minutes before seven. She was surprised to find Shaun already holding a table for them.

“You really are an early bird,” she said as she set down her things.

Shaun smiled over the rim of his coffee mug. “Didn’t want to hold you up in case you were in a hurry to get to work.”

“No worries. I now officially have my boss’s go-ahead for this venture, which means we won’t have to meet at zero dark thirty next time.” She covered a yawn. “Be right back after I get some coffee.”

Diana greeted her at the counter. “Conspiring with the handsome new stranger, I see.”

“Conspiring—really?” Brooke rolled her eyes. Safer not to acknowledge the handsome new stranger remark at all—not that she hadn’t noticed. In fact, the more Shaun’s beard grew out, the more her gaze drifted to his manly chin. “We’re just working together on this church outreach thing.”

“So your dad told me when he and Tripp dropped by here yesterday.” Diana passed Brooke a mug of steaming coffee, then leaned closer, elbows resting on the counter. “I hear he’s a pastor who’s been serving on the mission field. What else have you found out about him?”

“Honestly, you never used to be this gossipy in college.” Lifting her mug, Brooke offered a sugary-sweet smile. “On the house, right? Thank you so much.” She ignored Diana’s raised-eyebrow stare and sauntered back to the table.

Shaun seemed to come out of a daze as she sat down across from him. Straightening, he offered a brief smile. “Ready to get down to business?”

Brooke studied him. “Your heart still isn’t in this, is it?”

“Let’s just say I’m continuing to reserve judgment.”

“Believe me, I understand.” Maybe if she focused less on the Christmas angle and more on the community service aspects, it would be easier to detach from her emotions.

Shaun released a resigned sigh. “I did jot down a few thoughts, though.”

“Good. We can combine your ideas with what I’ve gleaned from area aid organizations.” Yes, let’s keep this all business. She reached into her tote for her tablet computer. Tapping a few icons, she brought up her notes from yesterday’s calls.

“Wow, high-tech.” With a wry laugh, Shaun tugged a folded paper from the pocket of his plaid flannel shirt. “Hope my handwritten jottings aren’t too old-school for you.”

“As long as your hen-scratching is decipherable, I’m good.”

Shaun’s eyes narrowed in feigned offense. “My penmanship is excellent, and I can produce my third-grade report card to prove it.”

Every time a touch of the man’s humor rose to the surface made it easier to like him. Maybe they could actually make this work. Wiggling a brow, she held out her hand for the paper. “I prefer to judge for myself, if you don’t mind.”

He slapped it into her palm, then sat back and smugly crossed his arms.

“Hmm, yes, a graceful slant, nicely rounded letters, clean and confident lines. Quite passable. Well done, Mr. O’Grady.” Her teasing expression turned apologetic. “Excuse me. I guess that should be Reverend O’Grady. I didn’t know until the meeting that you’re a minister.”

Shaun glanced away, his jaw clenched. “Wish Emily hadn’t said anything.”

“I’m sorry,” Brooke murmured, concerned she’d somehow offended him. “I didn’t realize you wanted to keep it private.”

“It’s not that so much.” Drawing a deep breath, Shaun folded his hands on the table. “But people respond to clergy a little differently, and since I didn’t come to Juniper Bluff for anything more than some much needed R and R, I don’t advertise my professional background.”

Brooke nodded. “That helps me understand your reluctance to get involved in this service project. If you really don’t want to do it—”

He interrupted her with a weak laugh. “Hey, if it’ll give me a break from mucking stalls and hauling hay bales, I’m in. So let’s hash out some ideas, okay?”

They spent the next half hour comparing notes and listing the pros and cons of various service possibilities. Brooke quickly discovered they were coming at the project from two very different perspectives—hers shaped by results-oriented efficiency, while Shaun leaned toward the personal aspects. By the time Brooke had to leave for the office, they’d whittled the list down to the top three service projects they could agree on.

“Let’s think on these and meet again in a few days,” she suggested. “I’ll do more research, too.”

Shaun fingered his empty coffee mug, his brows converging to form a pensive crease down the middle of his forehead. “You know, there’s one thing we haven’t done yet, and I’m embarrassed for not suggesting it.”

Brooke looked up from tucking her tablet into her tote. “Oh? What have I missed?”

“We haven’t prayed about what we’re doing.”

Now Brooke was embarrassed, and more than a little ashamed of how her mother’s lengthy illness and death had slowly eroded her prayer life. “You’re right. I can get so focused on the details that I forget to bring God in.”

“But I’ve got no excuse.” Shaun’s mouth twisted in a pained smile, and he lowered his voice. “I’m a pastor, remember?”

The resignation in his blue-gray stare shifted something in Brooke’s heart. Diana was right—there was much more to Shaun O’Grady than met the eye. “Would you like to say a prayer now?”

Shaun bowed his head, and Brooke did the same. “Lord, we’re two newcomers to this town and church, but for whatever reason, we’ve been called upon to serve. Guide us and help us to do our best for You and for those who will be blessed by our efforts. In Your Son’s name, amen.”

“Thank you,” Brooke said, a catch in her voice. “Remind me to have you pray at each of our meetings.”

“We could take turns, you know.”

“Uh, no, that’s okay. You’re the pro in the prayer department.” With a quick breath, she stood and slid the strap of her tote to her shoulder.

Walking out together, they agreed to meet again on Saturday, and Brooke hurried across the square to the chamber office. There, at least, she could pretend for a while that she had everything under control.