Читать книгу Hometown Sweetheart - Lenora Worth - Страница 11

Shanna petted the golden retriever then offered him the last bite of her hotdog. “I’m not supposed to feed you scraps, I don’t think. So let’s keep this between the two of us, okay?”

The big dog woofed a reply then looked back up at her with expectant brown eyes.

“No more,” Shanna said, her hand on his shaggy back. “I’m in enough trouble with your keeper as it is.”

At least today, the group had eaten their hotdogs and chips and they’d even managed to cook their s’mores without anymore mishaps. If she didn’t count the boys picking on the girls, Katie falling down and scraping her hand and knee and Brady turning surly at the drop of a hat.

Glancing over at the lanky teen now, Shanna wondered if this week would help the kid. He was on probation for the vandalism since Cari had dropped the charges and suggested community service instead. The judge apparently had agreed to that and according to Cari and Rick, had given the kid a stiff warning. Rick had agreed to give Brady a part-time job after school as part of his sentence, too.

Shanna had met the boy’s formidable mother Doreen and his self-centered sister Bridget, so she could certainly understand why he was a troubled child.

When Brady got up and came to sit by her, she took that as a good sign. “What’s up, Brady?”

He grabbed at the dog. “Hey, Shiloh.”

“Is that his name?” Shanna asked, hoping to strike up a conversation while the other kids played kick ball around the camp. A nice breeze kept the day from being too hot.

Day Three was right on schedule, even if the kids had requested hotdogs again for lunch. They’d had a great morning devotional and discussion, after eating Miss Janie’s amazing pancakes. Then after a long walk, the kids had begged for another campfire meal. At least this time, Shanna hadn’t set the woods on fire. Nor had she seen their elusive neighbor either. He was keeping his distance while his dog was enjoying new friends.

Brady kept his eyes on the dog. “Yep. He’s Rick’s dog but he gets in trouble in town and they don’t like to keep him cooped up in the house so he has to stay out here.”

With Mr. Personality.

Shanna grinned down at Shiloh. “I’d think a big old dog would love being out here in the country better anyway.”

“I sure like it,” Brady said, rubbing Shiloh’s throat.

“Do you?” Shanna’s heart surged with hope. “Are you enjoying things so far?”

He looked at the other kids, his gaze staying on Pamela for a while. “Yeah, I guess. I don’t get why I have to hang with all these losers, though.”

“Hey, I brought you to help out, remember? You’re the oldest one here and I need someone to keep an eye on the younger ones.”

“But they’re not old enough to be in the youth group at church.”

“No, but they’ll soon be eligible,” she explained. “I want them to be ready to handle that when the time comes.”

“Oh, I get it. You’re exposing them to a few of us—the few considered the black sheep, first?”

“No, it’s not like that,” Shanna said, wishing she could find the right words. “I just think it’s a good idea for kids of all ages to learn to get along. Unfortunately, each of you here has had issues of some sort at school and with your parents. We have a very diverse group at church so it’s important that everyone respects each other at an early age.”

“My mom says some of these kids don’t belong at our church,” he retorted. “She thinks they’re beneath us.”

Shanna couldn’t say what popped into her mind at that comment. But it sure went to show how a parent could influence a child. Did his mother see that her judgments and criticisms rubbed off on her son?

Shanna had seen this firsthand. Her own parents had never attended church and scoffed at Christianity. Thank goodness her aunt had started taking her to church when Shanna was in kindergarten. And thank goodness her Aunt Claire was still her mentor and closest ally in Savannah.

Turning back to Brady, she said, “No one is beneath God’s love, Brady. We all fall short but He loves us anyway.”

Brady looked serious then nodded. “I guess you’re right. I’ve done some bad stuff but Cari forgave me and invited me to church with her and Rick. She treats me better than my mom and sister, that’s for sure.”

“Cari is a special person,” Shanna replied. “And she loves you a lot.”

“But she and my mom still don’t get along.”

“Well, sometimes being a Christian means you have to let go and just get on with life, even if you can’t be best friends with certain people. I’m sure for your sake they’re both trying to reconcile.”

“At least they don’t get into fights anymore like they did when we were growing up.”

“That’s good and you’re the reason for that truce, I think. They both want what’s best for you.”

“Yeah, whatever.” He got up, bored again. “What’s next on our big adventure?”

“Well, speaking of Cari, she and Mrs. Adams are coming out tonight to make spaghetti and then we’re going to sing songs around the campfire again. We had fun last night doing that.”

“Wow, what a party.”

Looked like surly Brady had stepped back in. “I think you’ll have a good time. Miss Gayle loves working with the youth.”

Brady rolled his eyes. “I guess I can handle it, since I’m kinda stuck out here.”

He wandered off to sit with Pamela on a nearby bench, Shiloh following him. The other kids all loved the big dog, too. Checking to make sure everyone was content, Shanna got up to finish clearing their napkins and paper plates. The week had only just started and she was already exhausted. But she had high hopes for this week in the woods. They’d had a good lunch. The kids were comfortable with her and each other now. Some of the teens asked questions that showed they’d listened to her earlier devotional. She wanted these children to know God’s unconditional love and she hoped she could show them that she cared about them, too.

“Okay, people. Let’s get this cleared up and we’ll go for our next hike. There’s a pretty spot halfway up the mountain where you can see the whole town of Knotwood. Then we’ll come back and go inside to watch one of the movies we rented. After that, dinner and singing.”

Shiloh came running toward her but when the big dog almost knocked her down and kept going past her, Shanna turned to see what had caught his attention.

Simon stood at the open gate between their fences, his expression not quite a frown, but not anywhere near a smile, either. But he looked good in his old jeans and even older button-up shirt. He always looked good, even when he seemed so mad.

And just because she loved a challenge, Shanna tossed the rest of her trash in the nearby can and walked over to aggravate him a little bit.

“Come to fetch your dog?”

Simon saw the hint of dare in her pretty eyes. “He’s not my dog.”

“Is that why you let him roam around with us every afternoon?”

Not exactly sure why he’d let Shiloh stay out so long, he shifted his feet and glanced over at where the kids were playing ball.

“I forgot he was out,” he said, thinking it was the truth. He often let the dog roam around the gated yard but he had forgotten that he’d left the gate between the two properties open when he’d come over to put out the fire the other day. Or maybe he’d left it open on purpose so he’d have an excuse to come over.

She looked from him to his boot shop. “I guess it would be easy to get so caught up in your work you’d forget everything. Even all of us right next door.”

He hadn’t forgotten her, oh, no. He’d heard her laughing and calling out to the kids. He’d even heard her reading from the Bible and giving a lesson to go along with the Scriptures. But he wouldn’t tell her that. “I sure tried.”

“Were we too loud and noisy?”

“No. I just turned my music up.”

“Oh, right. I thought I heard a Toby Keith song playing earlier.”

He shot her his own daring look. “Got something against country music?”

“Not at all. I can dance the two-step with the best of them.”

That surprised him. “Really now?”

“Really. My uncle Doug grew up in East Texas and I still visit relatives there all the time.”

He let that slide. “I’ve got customers all over Texas.”

“I know. When I told my aunt and uncle I was moving here to take a teaching job, my uncle got all excited. He knows all about Simon Adams boots. He sure admires your work even if he can’t afford your cowboy boots.”

“I try to adjust my prices for customers,” Simon said, his tone defensive even if he’d worked to sound neutral. “I build a basic boot that’s fairly reasonable.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. I do need to get him something for Father’s Day.”

Father’s Day for an uncle? Interesting. “Too late for this year. I’ll be doing good if I get to the orders I’m working on for Christmas.”

“It’s amazing, what you do,” she said, the sincerity in her eyes making Simon think they’d somehow gone past sparring with each other to actually having a conversation. “Your brother brags on your work all the time.”

“He just likes the customers my boots bring into the general store.”

She grinned at that. “Well, it’s nice to be able to get sized for a custom-made pair of boots, I guess.”

“I do off-the-shelf boots, too. You know, for the general public. Less expensive.”

“Really? Maybe I will be able to afford a pair for my uncle after all. He’d love that.”

Simon would make sure her uncle got his boots, if he had to sneak around and get the man’s measurements himself. He didn’t know why that mattered, but he could be nice when the mood struck him. And looking into her eyes somehow did make him want to be nice.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, her tone full of distrust.

“Man, do I scare you that much?”

“You don’t scare me one bit,” she replied, her hands on her hips. “But I’m pretty sure I scare you. We all scare you. You know, you could be a good example to these kids. Come on out and play with us sometime, maybe? Tell us about your craft, measure some feet for boots—just for fun.”

“I don’t know about that.” Simon patted Shiloh, the steam gone out of his need to pick at her. But the image of her dainty little feet being measured for boots brought logic back into his brain. “I guess I’d better head back and close down the shop.”

She nodded then cooed at Shiloh, the sound of her gentle words making a funny little shiver do its own two-step down Simon’s backbone.

“You can send Shiloh over anytime.”

The dare was back and he couldn’t resist it. “And what about me? Am I invited back for s’mores next time you have a picnic?”

She seemed shocked, her expressive eyes widening. “I thought you’d rather not share in our little picnics out here. Or any other part of our happenings here for that matter.”

She had him there. He’d made it pretty clear he wanted to be left alone. “I’d rather not have to put out another fire but I like hotdogs.”

“Maybe next time then.” She turned to spin away then whirled back around. “Hey, your mom is coming later to cook spaghetti. You’re welcome to join us.”

His mother made the best spaghetti. Thick, rich sauce with fat meatballs. Garlic bread. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had her spaghetti.

“I’d better not—”

They both turned at the sound of a vehicle moving up the winding drive.

His mother. And she had Rick and Cari in the truck with her. Great. Just great. Too late to make a hasty getaway.

“Looks like that’s them now. They’re early,” Shanna said, waving in glee. “Your mother wanted to get a head start, I guess.” Shiloh took off, barking his delight.

While Simon stood there, busted and embarrassed. Because he knew his overly-zealous mother would jump to the wrong conclusion.

But Simon didn’t have to worry too much about his mother’s assumptions regarding him being caught here talking, no, actually flirting, with a pretty woman.

Oh, no. He knew he was in for some serious ribbing when his brother emerged from the big truck with a grin splitting his face.

“I see you’ve met Shanna,” Rick said, slapping Simon on his back so hard Simon nearly pitched forward.

Wanting to throttle Rick the way he’d done—well, tried to do—all during their growing-up days, Simon took a breath and counted to ten, thankful Shanna was now laughing and talking to Cari and his mother. “I came over to retrieve your dog.”

Rick let out a snort. “Didn’t look like you were in any kind of hurry to take Shiloh home to me.”

“I’m leaving—right now.”

“Yeah, right.” Rick gave him a long hard look. “I do believe I see a sparkle in my old brother’s eyes. Coming to talk to the pretty lady—there’s a new concept.”

Simon wished he’d stayed inside. “I had to be polite, now, didn’t I?”

“I didn’t think you knew how to be polite.”

Gayle walked up, her smile sure and steady. “I saw you talking to Shanna. Isn’t she the nicest girl?”

Nice. But certainly not a girl. A woman. Simon had flirted with a woman for the first time since Marcy’s death. And that thought alone was enough to sober him into being his old anti-social self.

“Real nice. So nice she just about burned down the woods and the cabin the other afternoon.”

With that, he turned and stomped back toward his workshop, leaving his mother and his brother staring a hole through his back.

But when he turned at the door, the only person he saw in the late afternoon sunshine was Shanna White.

And he also saw the hurt, confused look in her eyes, too. But he told himself it didn’t bother him.

Not one bit.