Love Came Unexpectedly. Ruth Scofield

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СКАЧАТЬ take long,” she said with a note of pride. “But for breakfast, I put a rush on it. Where are we going?”

      It didn’t matter a whit. She could eat a cow. Maybe two.

      “There’s a place about ten miles that way that’s good.”

      She had no idea where “that way” was. She supposed he was safe enough. He escorted her out to the road where a small red pickup was parked.

      “Now tell me, where did you get the name Sunny?”

      “My mom named me Sunny because she said the day I was born was the sunniest day she’d ever seen,” she said, climbing into the truck. She did know that much, at least.

      “What did your dad say to that?” He closed her door, then went around to his side.

      Sunny shrugged. “I don’t know. He died before I was born.”

      “That explains it.”

      “Explains what?”

      “Oh, um…that your granddad never said…never knew about you. I guess the communication got lost along the way somewhere.”

      “Yes, I suppose so.” She didn’t want to discuss it, not with this near stranger. Her emotions were too on edge. “Tell me about the lake and its history.”

      “Ah…that’s a tall order.” And a safe one. “All right, here goes. In the thirties, the local utility company built the lake to generate electricity, and since it’s a private concern, that’s why anyone can build right on the lake…”

      Grant talked all the way to breakfast. She watched him shift gears at a crossroad, barely glancing to the right and left. Then he talked through breakfast, and she watched his expressive eyes as he told her of the struggles of the utility company to obtain all the land.

      At the end of their meal, he slowly wound down. He’d eaten his eggs and sausage, while she nibbled on the last of her toast, having consumed her meal without a word.

      “Fascinating,” Sunny said. It was a word she used when she didn’t know what else to say in a given conversation. But she really meant it. The history of the region was fascinating.

      “Well, now that you’ve got your tummy full, what are you going to do?”

      “Go shopping.”

      His mouth drooped. “It figures. I never knew a woman who didn’t want to shop all the stores in an area new to her.”

      “I meant for groceries. Where are the nearest grocery stores?”

      His face brightened. “Really? Well, your best bet is about two-plus miles at the end of this road. You know, I could do with a bit of grocery shopping myself. Why don’t I take you now? It would be silly to go all the way back to Sunshine Acres only to pick up your car.”

      She studied his face. Did he really have nothing better to do?

      “What about your resort? Don’t you have riders…er, customers arriving?”

      He glanced at his watch. “Not likely today. But it’s early yet. If we shop quickly, I won’t be that late getting back. Besides, I have someone there to take care of anyone that might happen by.”

      “Oh, that’s nice. You have an assistant.”

      “Yep. His name is Buzz.”

      “All right, I suppose. I appreciate the help.”

      The grocery store was a small one, but she chose several frozen entrées and lots of fresh vegetables and fruits. Grant settled for coffee and steaks.

      On the drive home, Grant talked of his plans for Grant’s Retreat.

      “I hope to expand to three trails a day in the summer. It would be great, if I can continue to trail the extended ride through the forest. And in autumn, I plan to host some evening rides. But I just got going before the end of last year…nobody but my family came for rides, practically. Old Nathan has been…was wonderful about waiting for payment while I’m getting started.”

      “What do you mean? About my grandfather?”

      “He owned the land. Didn’t you know?”

      “No.” She watched the ribbon of road twist and turn while he talked.

      “Yeah. And then there was a ten-acre partial in the valley that attaches to mine that he had an eye on. It made a solid bridge to mine. He called me as soon as it went on the market. I was able to snap it up.”

      “I see.” Childish, unreasoning jealousy welled up inside her. Jealousy and envy over knowing and spending time with Nathan, really knowing her grandfather. How did this stranger rate so fine a treatment from someone who… Nathan was her grandfather? To spend days with him, to hear him talk, to know how he moved, how he went about his work, to know what he liked to eat?

      Grant glanced at her, his lashes flickering her way. He spoke more softly. “I guess you do. Nathan…was a fine man. None better.”

      They’d reached her place, Grant parking along the road. Sunny wrenched opened the door as soon as he halted the truck.

      “Thanks for the breakfast and the grocery run,” she said formally. “I must go now. There’s a lot of papers to read and…other work to do.”

      He unloaded her bags and set them by the door, glancing curiously at her face. “All right. I gotta go, too. I’ll be seeing you,” he said in parting.

      But Sunny was already searching for her key.

      She tried to shake off the feeling as she pushed through her door. It was ridiculous, feeling jealousy. That she hadn’t known her grandfather was no one’s fault—only a fact of life. It couldn’t be helped. She shouldn’t feel jealous…but she did.

      She heard the disappearing motor, not paying much attention to Grant’s leaving.

      After years of neglect, how could she not feel such…hurt? Her grandfather had been alive during all those years she had struggled, when she had needed family. And she hadn’t known of him.

      Pain shafted all the way down to her toes.

      Irrational anger raged suddenly, something she’d never experienced before in her life. How could her grandfather have been so close to Grant? Close to a stranger? As though those two were the ones related, and not her. Leaving her out.

      Lord, I need Your calming spirit… I don’t know why I feel such rage…and hurt, too. I shouldn’t. It’s so selfish and irrational… I’m an adult now and should be beyond such feelings. Nathan couldn’t have known I even existed before a few months ago, and that’s no fault of his. I guess it’s Mom’s fault, if anyone’s.

      With all of her might, she shoved the feelings down. In her mind, she quietly quoted Scripture to accomplish the task, something she’d done since her childhood.

      “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped…” came to her СКАЧАТЬ