Lone Star Blessings. Bonnie K. Winn

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СКАЧАТЬ wishing everything hadn’t gone so terribly wrong. “I love you, Lissy.”

      Hugging back, she sniffled. “Me, too.”

      “Tell you what. I’ll walk with you to church, or drive if you want.”

      “Walk,” she decided, still looking unhappy, tearing at his heart.

      He shoved the uneaten oatmeal aside. “How ’bout if I come back when church is out, share the picnic with you?”

      Her face transformed in an instant, and she grabbed his neck in a fierce hug. “Thanks, Dad.”

      His heart constricted as he hugged her back. “Okay, scoot. We have to get ready.” Even though he didn’t intend to enter the church building, his years of being a member mandated he dress appropriately.

      It didn’t take him long to change into a suit. Straightening his tie, he stared hard in the mirror, his voice barely audible. “Just so you know, Lord, this is for Lissy, not me.”

      The clatter of Alyssa’s shoes on the wood floor made him spin around and walk back into the kitchen. “You ready?”

      “Yeah.” She grabbed her bible from the counter. “When Grandma called, she said they’re going to California on vacation, but she’ll call you before they leave.” Shelley’s parents lived in Dallas, but they kept in touch by phone and regular visits, and the Sunday morning phone call had become a ritual.

      “Grandpa got his way, huh?” He smiled as the screen door banged closed behind them. “A fishing trip?”

      “Grandma didn’t seem to mind.” Alyssa hopped down the front steps.

      Their neighborhood was one of the oldest in Rosewood, and Main Street was barely six blocks over. Since Rosewood had been settled in the nineteenth century, many of the houses were Victorian. Not being a planned community, small houses often flanked larger, more ornate ones. The oak and elm trees were old, tall and broad, lining the streets and sidewalks. As they walked the few blocks toward church, the scent of late-blooming roses infused the air. Most of the century-old bushes should have been long dormant, but the mild Hill Country weather allowed a long season.

      Tucker and Alyssa weren’t the only ones walking to church. Most of their neighbors chose to leave their cars home on clear Sundays. They’d covered one block when Alyssa tugged on his sleeve. “Look, Dad.”

      Some woman was trying to back over the stone curb with a man in a wheelchair. He had only a rear view of them, but he could see they were having trouble. Tucker hastened his gait. “Whoa! Let me give you a hand.”

      The woman muttered something that he couldn’t quite make out. When he reached them, she turned her head. It was her.

      “I’ll ease the chair over the curb, if you’ll watch the leg rests,” Tucker offered.

      “Thank you.” Kate gritted the words out through clenched teeth as she tugged on the handles again, making no progress. “It seems stuck.”

      She was as cordial as he remembered. Having seen her at the hospital, he assumed she must be some sort of health worker—which made sense, seeing her now.

      Once the chair cleared the curb, Tucker turned it toward the church. “I’m guessing you’re headed this way.”

      “Thanks.” The older man sounded greatly relieved. “I’m Marvin Lambert.”

      “Tucker Grey.” He extended his hand, surprised by the strong shake from the older man. “And, this is my daughter, Alyssa. I don’t think I’ve met you.”

      Alyssa waved at them both.

      “I retired here about a year and a half ago.” Marvin gestured to the chair. “And, I’m not getting out as much these days.” He pointed to the woman. “This is my daughter, Kate.”

      The name clicked and he made the connection. Nodding to her, Tucker grasped the handles of the chair. “I recommend you stay on the street side instead of the sidewalk, sir.”

      “Marvin.”

      “Agreed.” Tucker ignored Kate’s startled expression as he took charge of the wheelchair. “We don’t have those updated sidewalks where the curb slopes down at the end of each block. But the street’s safe enough. The kids ride their bikes on this one all the time.”

      Kate looked anxious. “I didn’t think about the curbs when we started this adventure.”

      “At the church you can roll right up the driveway,” Alyssa added helpfully, falling into step beside Kate.

      “I’m glad to hear it.” Kate adjusted her purse strap. “I should have allowed more time to get there. You ought to go on ahead of us, we’ll slow you down.”

      Tucker didn’t release the handles. He liked watching the woman fidget. He could tell by the look of her that she didn’t give up control easily. Normally, that was a trait he admired. But she’d been prickly since she’d wheeled into town.

      Though his stride was brisk, Kate kept up with him. “Really. I can take over now.”

      She was as pretty as he remembered, especially with the stubborn set of her chin. “No problem. We’re going the same way.”

      Kate muttered something beneath her breath.

      Tucker smiled. The morning was looking up. With Kate on one side, Alyssa next to her, they walked down the street, three abreast. “So, didn’t want to try driving again in town?”

      Gritting her teeth, Kate glanced at the girl. “It’s only a few blocks. Not much point in taking the car.”

      They passed an older couple strolling slowly down the sidewalk. Tucker bent forward. “Marvin, I bet you like getting out in the air.”

      “Yep.”

      Tucker glanced at Kate. She refrained from commenting, but her chin jutted out a fraction farther. So he probed a bit more. “You from the city?”

      Pursing her lips, she definitely looked irked. “Any particular one? Texas alone has three of the biggest in the country.”

      So her temper was still touchy. Matched the deep blaze of her hair. He couldn’t help thinking, if she looked this good angry, she must really be something when she smiled.

      Once they arrived at the church, Marvin was surrounded by welcoming members. Many of their faces were familiar to Kate—people who had visited Marvin at the hospital or at home. A man offered to take over the reins, and wheeled Marvin toward the Sunday school building. Her father waved jauntily, clearly happy to be back among friends. As he rolled away, Kate turned to speak with Tucker. Realizing she’d acted grouchy, she intended to thank him for his help…but couldn’t see him anywhere. Even his daughter had disappeared.

      Feeling ridiculously bereft, Kate wondered where her class was held. She was usually pretty organized, but she hadn’t thought to ask Emma. The Community Church was a good-size set of buildings. The lovely old chapel stretched upward toward equally aged trees, the sunlight reflecting off the tall, multicolored stained glass panes. She guessed the second structure was the Sunday school СКАЧАТЬ