Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
With a polite smile, I replied, “They’re going well. Weather is saying we might get some snow this week up at the higher elevations.”
“You ever find out about them poachers I saw walking into the park?”
“We looked for tracks and brought a couple dogs in, couldn’t find anything.”
He huffed. “Not looking hard enough then. I’ll keep my eyes open for you, Ranger.”
Placing my hand on his shoulder, I gave it a squeeze, not bothered by his comment. “Thank you, Bobby. I appreciate that.”
I continued to the pew to sit down. My folks were on one end, sitting next to Hadley. Emma was on the end of the pew nearest the center aisle. I slid past her to sit between Hadley and my mother, putting my daughter beside Emma.
I had to fight the urge to sit next to her myself and focus on the sermon instead.
The sermon was about forgiveness and moving on. A few times, I glanced over to see Emma looking a million miles away, lost in her own thoughts. I wanted to reach across Hadley and take her hand, tell her that whatever she was trying to leave behind, she could let it go. But that would make me the world’s biggest hypocrite.
When the service ended, my mother and Tammy quickly flanked Emma.
“It’s women’s church now,” my mother said, wiggling her brows.
I leaned into Emma and whispered, “Fake a ruptured appendix unless you want to be trapped.”
Emma giggled, and I decided right then and there I was going to add her light laugh to my favorite-sounds-ever list.
“Hadley, we’re going to borrow your Emma,” Tammy said, quickly looking up at me before focusing back on my daughter.
“Okay! But just for a few hours, then you have to give her back to me and Daddy ’cause she’s ours.”
Emma gazed at Hadley with nothing but love in her eyes. When she glanced at me, her expression changed and her teeth sank into that full bottom lip of hers, setting off a rapid pulse in my chest. She bit her lip every single time she was nervous or anxious about something. It was so innocent, yet sexy as all get out. She wasn’t trying to make a sexual overture, and that was exactly what made it such a turn-on.
I had to drag my eyes off her mouth, quickly glancing around to make sure no one saw me staring so hungrily at my daughter’s nanny.
“Have a good afternoon, Emma,” I said as I took Hadley’s hand and started out of the church.
“Will she be okay, Daddy?” Hadley glanced over her shoulder.
I did the same thing and caught Emma watching us walk away. She lifted her hand and waved, looking almost like she hated the thought of us leaving her behind. Hadley and I returned the wave.
“Of course. She’ll be with Grams and Aunt Tammy.”
When we got to the truck and I buckled Hadley in, I tapped her nose, taking in the smile on her face. “What are you thinking about?”
“Emma. I like her.”
“I do too, Hadley. It’s been good having her around.”
She nodded. “Yeah.”
“Come on, I’ve got something special planned for us today.”
Clapping her hands, Hadley cried out, “Yes! I can’t wait!”
I shut the door and walked around my truck, giving the church one last look before climbing in and driving off. I could only hope and pray those church women went easy on Emma and didn’t scare the poor girl off.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
EMMA - WOMEN’S CHURCH
The chairs were set in a large circle in the center of the room. In the middle of the chairs, a mat sat on the floor. The kind that you used when you were little in gym class, when you did tumbles and cartwheels.
Dear God, what have I gotten myself into?
Patty took my arm and walked us into the room. “Don’t be put off by the mat. You won’t have to sit on it your first time.”
I came to an abrupt halt. “What? Why would I have to sit on it in the first place?”
“It’s the sharing mat,” she answered.
“The sharing mat?” I echoed with uncertainty.
She smiled. “Yep. When you’re ready to share, you sit on the mat.”
“Share what?”
With a wink, she replied, “God will let you know.”
Plopping onto a chair, Patty went to the middle of the circle and clapped her hands. “Okay, ladies, it’s time to start the women’s church circle. We have a new member!”
A hush came over the room, and the women milling about turned to look at me, each clearly making her own assessment. One of them even pulled out a camera and took a picture…I’m pretty sure of me! The instant photo popped out of the front and the pretty blonde set it to the side, then opened what looked like a journal. She wrote something inside, occasionally looking back up at me.