On Sunday morning Jess walked beside Betty as they headed for the ramp to the right of the main church entrance, his hand hovering at her elbow.
With the temps hovering in the 40s and bright sunshine, the heavy snowdrifts had melted down to small mounds of slush and the sidewalks were bare, but with a brisk wind blowing from the north, none of the other parishioners were gathered outside to talk.
He helped Betty through the door and smiled as she made a beeline for a group of her friends chattering to one side.
“Howdy, Jess.” Pastor Bob clapped a hand on Jess’s back. He lowered his voice. “Any more word from California?”
The noise level in the entryway increased as a flood of children poured from the Sunday-school wing and scattered, looking for their parents.
Surveying the entryway to make sure the twins weren’t close enough to overhear, Jess shook his head. “Just Lindsey’s phone call, but it was over two weeks ago. I have no idea if she’ll actually show up, so I’m not saying anything to the girls.”
“Good. Poor little lambs. No sense getting their hopes up.” Bob rubbed his snowy beard. “But at least you know their mom is still living.”
Jess nodded his head, then turned and saw Abby appear in the doorway, holding each of the twins by the hand. Her silky crimson blouse shimmered, clinging to every slender curve.
Apparently he wasn’t the only one who noticed her, because Trace Jorgensen, the local banker, took one look and headed straight toward her with a wolfish smile on his face.
Jess ground his teeth and forced his attention back to the pastor. “Sorry, Pastor, what did you say?”
Bob gave him a knowing smile. “I shouldn’t keep you from your family, and I see someone I need to talk to. Take care.”
But before Jess could reach Abby and the twins, Maura stepped in his path and brushed a swift kiss against his cheek. “How’s everything out at the ranch?”
Jess dragged his attention from Abby to the woman now standing squarely in his way. “Fine.”
She glanced over her shoulder at Abby, then rested a hand on his arm. “I left you a message but haven’t heard back. Have you thought about redecorating your office yet?”
He frowned. “Redecorating?”
“Your office.”
“Uh, no. Maybe someday.”
Her face fell for just a moment; then she rallied, and her determined smile returned. “Well, you do remember the Christmas-program rehearsals are coming up after Thanksgiving, right?”
He blinked. “Rehearsals?”
“For all the children. I’ve scheduled them for the first, second and third Sundays in December. Since this is your first time through all of this with children, I thought you might need a little reminder.” She pressed a folded sheet of paper into his hand and smiled up at him. “We handed these out last Sunday, but your girls weren’t here. They will be part of the Christmas program, right?”
He started to say, Yes, if they’re still here in Montana, but caught himself just in time. Mentioning that uncertainty to one of the local busybodies would lead to a conversation he didn’t want to pursue, and then see it shared with everyone in town.
He looked over her shoulder and caught Abby’s gaze drift between him and Maura. She gave him a faint smile, then turned back to Trace.
Maura gave his arm a flirtatious little shake. “Jess?”
The temptation to brush her aside and interrupt Trace’s obvious interest in Abby caught him by surprise.
There were a dozen reasons why he had no right to feel possessive, and just as many reasons why he and Abby would never again be involved. This surge of protectiveness had no place in their business relationship. But still...
He jerked his thoughts back to the woman standing in front of him and tried to remember what she’d just said. “Uh...yes. Thanks. They’ll be here for the Christmas program.”
“You seem mighty distracted today, cowboy.” Maura move a little closer. “I miss you. Maybe we can get together again just for old times’ sake? And if there’s ever any way I can be of extra help with your sweet little girls...”
This time he looked at her—really looked—and saw the hope in her eyes mingled with a touch of jealousy and desperation. Because of Abby? But he and Maura had been down this road before and it had always ended up the same. Her blatant disinterest in the twins had been the final straw.
And having Abby in his life again—for whatever brief time it would be—had made him see that no one else would ever take her place.
A woman in high heels instead of Western boots would never be the right fit for his life.
“I’m sorry, Maura. Excuse me.” He took a step around her and headed toward Abby and the girls. “So how was Sunday School?”
Sophie looked up at him. “We got a cupcake. And juice.”
“And pages to color,” Bella added. “And we heard a story about Baby Jesus coming soon. It was fun.”
“Good. I’m glad.” He gave Trace a long, level look. “How are things with your wife and kids?”
“Fine, fine...” The other man glanced between Jess and Abby, then backed away. “Excuse me. I suppose I’d better round them up before the service starts.”
Abby choked back a laugh. “Did you just intimidate that man somehow?”
Jess shrugged. “What did I say?”
She rolled her eyes. “Funny, but I thought I just saw a death glare, though I’m not sure why. He was only telling me an amusing story about Pine Bend. Anyway, it looked like you and Maura were having a nice conversation. I didn’t want to interrupt.”
“Like Trace just said, he’s a family man. But he still has an eye for any pretty lady who crosses his path...just so you know.”
“And I think Maura still has an eye for you,” Abby teased lightly. “If I’m not mistaken.”
“She’s a good person and deserves to find the right man someday,” Jess said in a low voice so no one else would hear. “Though that guy just isn’t me. I think she knows it and is just too stubborn to admit it.”
The initial notes of “Beautiful Savior” drifted from the sanctuary and the few stragglers chatting in the entryway started heading to the pews.
Jess ushered the twins and Abby to the usual Langford spot on the left, halfway down, where Betty had already taken a seat.
They’d missed church last Sunday because the girls were ill, and the weekend before they had been snowed in, so few of these folks had seen Abby around town. Now, from the corner of his eye, he saw the curious glances and heard whispers travel through the pews.
Some of them might’ve known her family and maybe even recognized her from years ago, while others were too new to the area. But—typical small town—everyone seemed to find her arrival fascinating.
He didn’t blame them a bit.
With that cascade of wavy blond hair and her shimmering blouse, she looked as out of place as a pretty little Arabian filly in a pen of Brahman bulls.
Bella and Sophie usually sat on either side of Betty during church services. But today they were nestled close to Abby’s sides.
How she’d won them over he wasn’t sure, but the maternal way she curved her arms around them to draw them closer captivated him...
And also made him think about his worries.
He hadn’t heard anything more from Lindsey, and he had no way of contacting her. Before Christmas, she’d said. Was she already on her way to Montana? Had she changed her mind? Or did she plan to swoop into town and whisk the twins back to California over the holidays? And why didn’t she call to let him know her current plans?
He forced his gaze to the front of the church when Pastor Bob began his sermon on prayer, wishing his own prayers could be answered. Wishing he knew what to ask for.
Pastor Bob’s voice rang through the church with power and conviction, drawing Jess’s attention back to the sermon. “...from Philippians Chapter Four, we read ‘...in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.’”
Jess closed his eyes. Offered up a prayer for the best possible future for Lindsey and her girls—whatever that might be.
And then prayed that God was listening.
* * *
Walking into the Pine Bend Community Church was like stepping back in time, Abby thought as the sermon ended.
The soaring white steeple still stood tall and determined against the wild, powerful forces of nature with the mountains close by.
The dozen stained-glass windows had always been Abby’s favorite part of this beautiful building. As a child, she’d loved to gaze at the brilliant colors and Bible scenes each one depicted.
Savoring the warmth of the little girls snuggled against her, she breathed in the scents of the candles on the altar and the matching bouquets on either side. The fragrance of those lilies, roses and carnations brought back a flood of memories from her youth. Funerals. The day of her confirmation. The weddings of relatives and family friends, with her always sitting between her parents.
At least until Mom had abruptly decided she’d had it with Dad, ranch life and Montana and taken off for Omaha.
With a start, Abby realized that everyone was standing up to leave.
A frown furrowed Sophie’s forehead as she stared at something on the other side of the sanctuary, then pointed. “Abby! It’s the sparkly lady. See?”
“Shhhh, Sophie. Not so loud,” Abby whispered. “We need to be polite.”
“But—”
Abby turned to discreetly look in the direction the child was pointing and found her gaze colliding with Darla’s. Even from across the room, it was obvious that the poor woman had overheard Sophie. Her cheeks were bright red, and she looked mortified. Abby’s father was nowhere in sight.
Abby looked over her shoulder at Betty. “Can you keep an eye on the girls? I need to do some damage control before it’s too late.”
Darla quickly gathered her silver coat and matching bag and headed down the far aisle, her head down. Abby skirted the crowd and caught up with her just before she slipped out a side door.
“Darla—please wait.”
Darla pulled open the door to leave but stopped when Abby touched her arm. “What do you want?”
“I—I’m so glad to see you. I’ve been hoping I’d have a chance to chat with you sometime, and here you are.”
There were still bright flags of color on Darla’s cheekbones, and she lifted her chin with a touch of defiance in her eyes. “Well?”
“I’ve been working at the Langfords’ ranch, and I’m not sure if you heard one of the little girls speak too loudly a few minutes ago, but she adores your beautiful coat. I think it’s beautiful, too, but I just hope you weren’t offended by her remark.”
The defiance in Darla’s eyes didn’t waver. “I hear you talked to Don last week.”
“I’ve missed my dad, Darla. I wasn’t able to get back here for several years because my husband was ill, and I’ve wanted to make up for lost time.” Abby hesitated, searching for the right words. “When I heard he’d suddenly gone off to Vegas to get married, I’ll admit I was worried. It didn’t sound like the Dad I knew.”
Darla froze, and in that moment she seemed like something made of spun glass that could shatter at the slightest touch. “I know what people think.” Her brittle voice was cold as ice. “I see them giving me the side-eye when I pass. And I hear what they all say about me. I’m not stupid.”
Please, Lord, help me get this right.
“I’m not judging you, Darla. Or my dad. I have no right to do that. And no one else does either.” Abby took a deep breath. “He told me that things haven’t always been easy in your life. And he said that until you came along, he figured he’d be alone and lonely until he died. I think you’ve brought him a lot of happiness. And if you’re both happy, that’s what counts.”
Darla didn’t answer, but her hard mask seemed to slip a little, and in that moment Abby’s heart ached for the lonely, vulnerable woman she glimpsed inside.
Abby heard the thunder of little feet behind her and bit back a smile as the girls reached her and tugged on her coat.
“Uncle Jess and Gramma are in the car, Abby. Waiting right outside.”
Abby rested her hands on their shoulders. “The twins are Bella and Sophie, and I have the great pleasure of taking care of them. Girls, can you say hi to Mrs. Peterson? She’s newly married to my father.”
The girls mumbled a greeting, then raced back to the main door of the church. “Sorry about that. And now I suppose I’d better catch up before I get left behind.”
Darla nodded.
“Dad did ask you about Thanksgiving, right? I’d love if you two could come. We’d have a lot more time to visit, and you wouldn’t have to make Thanksgiving dinner for just two—or three, if your daughter is with you. She’s welcome, too.”
Darla hesitated, then shook her head. “I don’t think so. That’s your family.”
“Well, it’s not my family either—I’m just the hired help. And it’s not going to be a crowd. Just the four Langfords, a ranch hand and me. That’s only six, so it would be great to have two more. Please?”
Darla’s expression wavered, then her mouth hardened. “No. Thanks all the same.”
“The people around here haven’t had a chance to get to know you, but I think Betty and I can change that. Things could be different for you here, I promise.”
Darla gave a single shake of her head, but as she turned to go, Abby thought she saw a tear start to fall down her cheek.
Abby looked back to the altar, then lifted her gaze to the beautiful stained-glass window above it, which depicted Jesus and his lambs. Lord, I think I was meant to see her here today. I know she’s hurting. I promise You, I won’t give up on her...and I’m going to make things right before I leave.