Chapter Two

LuAnne refilled their drinks and brought out Paul’s biscuits and gravy, then took Skip’s order.

“I’ll have the steak and eggs—and lots of coffee.” Skip yawned again and ran a hand through his scruffy red hair.

“Looks like you had a rough night,” LuAnne said.

“Rough morning. Been workin’ since five.”

“Five, huh?” She chuckled. “You poor thing.” She didn’t have to add that she was on duty by that time on a daily basis—and had been for thirty-some years.

Skip ignored her teasing and shifted his gaze to the pastors. “So, how are you holdin’ up, Father Gregory? It’s been a tough morning for you too.”

Lucas nodded. “Good, considering. I’m just thankful no one was in the church when it happened.”

Kate and Livvy sent each other questioning looks. “What’s going on?” they asked in unison. “What happened?”

“I was going to tell you earlier, but Troy came in, and we got sidetracked. Anyway, a little after five this morning, I got this call from Skip telling me there’d been an accident, and I’d better get down to the church right away. I wasn’t sure what to expect.”

Kate pictured an accident scene with flashing lights and wondered why she hadn’t heard the sirens.

Lucas paused to take a sip of coffee. “When I got there, Sheriff Roberts and Skip were talking to a guy in a beat-up old pickup. Guess he’d come barreling through town at around five this morning. You remember that big rut on Ashland in front of the church?”

“Boy, do I,” Paul said. “Had to take my pickup in to have it realigned the first time I went that way.”

“Yeah, well, this guy didn’t see it either,” Skip said, jumping in. “He must have been going fifty when he hit it. We couldn’t get him to admit to that, but he did tell us about the window. In fact, he called us.”

“So what happened?” Kate asked, urging Lucas to go on.

“Apparently he didn’t have his rifle hooked in his gun rack. According to him, the rifle bounced off the rack onto the seat and discharged out the open window. Sprayed a load of buckshot clean through one of our stained-glass windows.”

Kate gasped. “Oh no!” She loved the stained-glass windows at St. Lucy’s. “Which one broke?”

“The one of Peter walking on the water and holding the cross.”

Kate groaned. One of her favorites. “How badly was it damaged?”

Lucas shrugged. “Parts of it are okay. Actually, Kate...I was thinking maybe you could take a look. See if there’s any way you can fix it.”

“Me?” She gasped. “Wow, I don’t know.” Kate enjoyed working on stained-glass projects in the spare bedroom she’d converted into a studio. She’d created some fairly complex pieces, including Tiffany lamps and windows. And had, of course, done numerous gift pieces for Smith Street Gifts. But she’d never tackled a project quite like what Lucas was suggesting.

Lucas smiled. “From what I’ve seen of your work, I’m sure you’d do a great job. The stained-glass window you did for Faith Briar is beautiful.”

“I agree,” Paul winked at her. “She’s the best.”

The other pastors, Livvy, and LuAnne all agreed as well.

Kate smiled at her friends. “Thanks for the votes of confidence. I’d be honored to take a look at it.”

“That’s all I ask.” Lucas leaned back in the booth. “If you decide you really can’t do it, maybe you could find someone for me.”

“Sounds like a good plan. In fact, maybe I could pick it up this afternoon. I’ll need to lay it out in my studio to assess the damage and see what needs to be done.”

“Great. I’ll have it ready for you.”

Turning back to Livvy, Kate said, “Can you believe that?”

Livvy tucked an errant strand of her auburn hair behind her ear. “Which part, the one about the crazy hunter or the fact that you get to play with stained glass?”

Kate chuckled. “Both, I guess.”

They turned their attention back to the conversation still going on at the pastors’ table.

“So what happened to the guy?” Paul asked.

“He was pretty shook up,” Lucas told them. “In fact, if I’m not mistaken, he was so penitent and thankful to be alive, I think we might have us a convert.”

Skip nodded. “Well, he can pray all he wants, but it won’t get him off the hook with the department. Sheriff Roberts cited him for reckless driving and reckless endangerment. He’ll have to pay a hefty fine and restitution.”

“That won’t come cheap,” Paul said. “I imagine that window’s worth quite a bit.”

Lucas shrugged. “I have a board member looking into it. I do know we’re insured.”

Though Kate wanted to know more, she didn’t want to seem nosy. She settled back in her seat, determined to hold her curiosity at bay. She’d have time to chat with Lucas later.

All too soon, Livvy announced that she had to get to work, and her departure prompted the others as well. Minutes later Kate and Paul headed for home.

After turning onto Smoky Mountain Road, Paul glanced at her. “What’s bothering you, Katie? You look worried.”

“Hmm. Not worried, just curious.” She flipped up the visor since the sun was no longer in her eyes. “Did you see what Troy was driving?”

Paul shook his head. “I didn’t notice.”

“A newish Audi Sports Coupe. He was wearing nice clothes too.”

“So?”

“I’m thinking he had a pretty good job. He might even have owned his own company. He seemed almost desperate when he talked about his family.” Kate chewed on her lip. “Skip thought he’d seen him before at a homeless camp.”

“Which Troy denied...Does it matter?” Paul glanced her way again.

“Well, yes. I’d like to know where his family is. Maybe we can help them while Troy’s looking for work.”

Paul smiled and gave her hand a squeeze. “But he said they weren’t staying out there. Why would he lie about it?”

“I don’t know. But they have to be staying somewhere.”

“Why all this interest in someone you just met?”

“When I first saw him, I thought he looked like Andrew, and there was an air of honesty about him.” She smiled. “He brought out my maternal instincts. I had this irresistible urge to help him.”

“And you did. I was proud of the way you initiated the giving. Not everyone would do that.”

“I suppose. Do you think I did the right thing?”

“Giving is always right.”

“Yes, but what if I’m wrong about him. I confess a tiny part of me wondered if he might be a con.”

“Sometimes that’s the best we can do. We may not always be right, but we have to follow our instincts and trust that God will work everything out for good.”

“Exactly what I was thinking.” Kate leaned over and kissed his cheek. “What makes you so smart?”

He chuckled. “I don’t know. Trying to keep up with you, I guess.”

She playfully punched his arm. “I know I did the right thing. Maybe I need to make it a point to look for his family. I have this nagging feeling something isn’t as it should be.”

“Sounds like you aim to find out what that is.” Paul lifted an eyebrow.

“You know me far too well, Pastor Hanlon.”