Nervously Matt searched the back of the church one more time. Again, no sign of Amy.

Growing tired of smiling at those guests seated directly behind him, he had no choice but to turn his attention toward the front of the church. As he watched his uncle Chad place Susy’s hand in Dave’s, he swallowed hard. He wanted what they had. And in a selfish moment, he couldn’t help but cry out to God, When will it be my time?

It wasn’t that he didn’t wish Susy and Dave all the happiness in the world. He just wanted a little marital bliss to drift his way….

CRYSTAL STOVALL

dreamed of writing inspirational romances from the moment she discovered Grace Livingston Hill’s novels as a teenager. These books changed her life in a profound way, starting her on a quest to blend faith and romance in her personal life, as well as launching her writing career. She’s a graduate of Oral Roberts University and a recipient of the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart Award.

Crystal lives in Tulsa with her husband, Jim, who is president of the Emmy Award-winning Narrative Television Network. Though she’s lived in Oklahoma for nearly twenty years, she’s still an easterner at heart. Her frequent visits to her upstate New York hometown—especially a certain boulder on the edge of Cayuga Lake—provide her with the inspiration and perspective that she finds essential to her writing.

A Groom Worth Waiting For
Crystal Stovall

www.millsandboon.co.uk

…Be strong and courageous.

Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the

Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

—Joshua 1:9

To my sister, Amy—

May your life always be blessed

with an abundance of love and happiness

And to Lila Junk,

who continues to be an angel in my life

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Letter to Reader

Chapter One

This was not at all the way Amy Jenkins had imagined her new life. In her daydreams, she’d pictured a cozy apartment with a fireplace and a courtyard view, a satisfying job that challenged her yet left her fulfilled at the end of the day and a new church family that made her feel like she’d finally come home.

Instead, on this dreary May morning she was lost, tired and hungry. But those problems could all be easily remedied. At the next convenience store she passed, she’d buy a bag of peanuts and ask for directions. And if she spent her money wisely, she had more than enough saved to cover meals and a motel room until the end of the month.

But what couldn’t be fixed was the lost feeling in her soul. What should she do next? Where should she go? The questions spun in her head as she drove down the Kentucky highway.

Gripping the steering wheel as if it were a life preserver, Amy prayed the next gust of wind wouldn’t blow her into the deep ditch that separated the highway from miles of horse pasture. Between the hard rain and patchy fog, it took all of her concentration to keep the midsize car between the white road lines.

Only two weeks earlier, Amy had closed her eyes, twirled herself around as if she were playing pin the tail on the donkey and pointed to a city on the huge map of the United States she’d hung on the living room wall. For several minutes, she’d stood in front of the map, too scared to open her eyes. She’d promised herself she would move to whatever city her finger landed on. It didn’t matter if she pointed to Detroit, Wichita or Chicago, she was relocating. There was no other choice. Still, keeping her fingers crossed behind her back, she’d hoped at least for a warm, sunny climate, such as San Diego or Orlando advertised.

What mattered most, though, was that she put miles between herself and her Ohio hometown. And most important, miles between her and her ex-fiancé, Garry. She opened her eyes and smiled. Lexington, Kentucky. It sounded like the kind of city where a girl with a broken heart could make a fresh start.

However, within only a few hours, Amy’s carefully made plans had dissolved like sugar in water.

Leaning forward on the car seat, she wiped excess moisture from the windshield with her sleeve in an attempt to improve visibility. Then she almost passed a convenience store and strip shopping center before she spotted them. Hitting the brakes as hard as she dared, she slowed down enough to make the right turn safely. Because most of the parking lot was roped off for construction, Amy was forced to park in front of the dry cleaners, which was three businesses to the right. Turning off the ignition, Amy let out a huge sigh and then rested her forehead against the top of the steering wheel. Between the weather and her worries, she was stressed to the limit.

Oh, God, she prayed. What should I do now? Was I wrong to come to Lexington? Is this a sign You want me to go back to Ohio?

She didn’t wait for an answer, because there was no way she was going back to Ohio. At least, not for a very long time.

The rain eased, and Amy dashed for the front door. A loud buzzer sounded as she entered the store, and the middle-aged clerk behind the checkout counter instantly looked up and said hello. An easy-to-read name badge identified him as Hank.

Amy returned his friendliness with a smile and then shook her arms and shoulders as if she were part feline. Rubbing her upper arms with her palms, she attempted to warm herself. While the hooded sweatshirt and fleece pants were comfortable, they weren’t quite warm enough for the cold front that had moved through the city the night before. However, her warmer clothes were in storage, and since the chilly weather wasn’t expected to last more than a day or two, it hadn’t seemed worth the trouble to retrieve her coat.

Realizing she was the only customer in the store, Amy said, “It looks like the construction has hurt your business.”

“Not really,” Hank said. “You just missed the morning rush. We’ve been here for years. Our customers won’t let a little inconvenience scare them away.”

“That’s great,” Amy said. “Where do you stack today’s paper?”

“In the aisle to your right.” Hank watched as she selected a newspaper, turning away only to answer the telephone.

With the paper tucked under her arm, Amy headed for the back of the store, intending to grab a soda until she spotted a cappuccino machine. Even though she wasn’t crazy about convenience store coffee, the thought of drinking something hot cheered her. At the same time she set an empty to-go cup in the machine and pushed the proper sequence of buttons, the front door opened and the loud buzzer sounded again. As Hank had with her, he looked up from his paperwork and greeted the stranger.

“Hello,” he called, watching the man in the tailored suit just as he’d observed Amy.

Making his way down the aisle with hurried strides, the confident-eyed man asked, “How fresh is the coffee?”

“The pot just finished brewing and the bagels were delivered first thing this morning,” Hank assured him.

It wasn’t until the tall stranger turned the corner that Amy realized he was headed straight for her.

“I don’t know how you can drink that stuff,” he said, pointing to the coffee, milk and sugar mixture that streamed into her cup. Picking up a glass coffeepot, he poured himself a cup of regular coffee and selected a sesame seed bagel.

Amy shrugged, thinking that if the man really wanted to strike up a conversation, he could have opened with something a little more friendly. Removing the steaming coffee cup from the machine, she took a sip and smiled at the stranger as if this were the best cappuccino she’d ever tasted.

But it wasn’t, and Amy turned away to hide her grimace just as the door buzzer sounded again and two men dressed in gray work uniforms entered. As the clerk called out his greeting, Amy felt a measure of safety knowing Hank was alert and observant. It only took one more sip to convince her she couldn’t finish the drink. Like the handsome stranger had said, it was awful. But it was warm. Pressing the paper cup against the side of her neck, she enjoyed the warm print it left on her skin. For the first time all morning, she felt a moment of relief.

Everything will work out, she told herself. Somehow, she would put her life back together. She’d find another job and an even better apartment. But as for men, it would be a long time, if ever, before she trusted her heart to anyone.

Moving the cup across her forehead and down her cheek, Amy reveled in the heat. Sensing the stranger beside her move, she stepped to the left to avoid a collision. Before she could look up, she felt the man’s hand cover her mouth at the same instant he yanked the coffee cup from her hand and tossed it to the floor.

From the front of the store, she heard someone call, “I’ll check the rest of the store to make sure we’re alone.”

Held tightly against the stranger’s chest, she didn’t have time to think as he pulled her around the pyramid of motor oil cans, just missing a perfectly balanced stack of cheese crackers.

She struggled, making little impact against the man’s grip. With his hand clamped across her mouth, he pinned her head against his hard chest. When she tried to scream, she found she could barely open her mouth enough to breathe, let alone to bite him.

The last thing she glimpsed as he backed through the vertical blinds that hung in the narrow opening between the retail space and the storeroom was her newspaper and cappuccino splattered across the beige tile floor and a man at the front of the store pointing a gun at the clerk who’d been so nice to her.

Though the man in the suit continued to hold her firmly, Amy didn’t stop struggling. If only she could break free. If only she could make a run for the door.

Oh, God, she prayed, help me. Protect me. Please, Lord, let me get out of this alive.

The storeroom was dim and cool, and the stranger who’d preferred his coffee black and fresh steered her to a back corner.

“You can trust me,” he whispered.

Amy didn’t move a muscle. Not even to breathe.

Trust him? She didn’t trust any man, let alone someone who’d just abducted her. And how did she know he wasn’t part of the plan? That he wasn’t a foil for the man holding the gun?

In an instant, Amy recalled every talk show and news story she’d ever seen that had given tips on how to survive a threatening attack. Listen to your instinct. Fear is your built-in radar detector, she remembered a safety expert saying.

Amy believed that the inner radar detector was really God’s voice. However, for the last month she’d been so mad at God she’d given Him the silent treatment. She wasn’t too sure she could depend on His help. And besides, her heart was beating so loudly she didn’t know if she could hear His voice even if He shouted at her.

“You have to trust me. It’s our only chance,” the man whispered as he quietly guided them along the back wall. He moved with a certainty that suggested he knew where he was and where he was headed.

Amy had no choice but to move with him. Together, they stumbled a few steps, and when her feet didn’t move in unison with his, he lifted her and pulled her into a tiny closet.

No sooner had they reached the hiding place than the light in the storeroom flashed on and they heard the squeak of rubber shoes on the tile floor. Doors were flung open, but in his haste the man overlooked the narrow closet door. Then the light flashed off and they heard the squeaky-soled man yell, “No one in the back.”

Though darkness engulfed them, Amy’s eyes adjusted quickly to the lack of light. The square closet was cramped and filled with mops, brooms and pungent cleaning products. Because the stranger had backed in first, Amy faced the door, which was open just a crack. The only light, a narrow beam, came from a high, tiny barred window on a far wall.

“If you promise not to scream, I’ll remove my hand.”

Amy swallowed hard. Blood raced through her veins and perspiration dripped from her brows. Could she trust this man?

Something deep inside her said yes.

Besides, what choice did she have?

The more time elapsed, the more she became convinced the stranger who held her tightly was as much a victim as she was. Nodding slowly, Amy silently promised she wouldn’t yell for help.

Hesitantly, he removed his hand, letting it hover near her lips until he was certain he could trust her. As she studied his hand in the thin ribbon of light, she sensed he was an honorable man. While his hand was large, there was a softness and dexterity in the curve of his fingers that revealed a sensitive nature. And though his nails were manicured and clean, calluses on his fingertips suggested he enjoyed working with his hands. However, the image didn’t mesh with the business suit, silk tie and expensive cologne.

For the first time, Amy wished she’d paid more attention to the man who still held her firmly with one arm. If her life depended on describing him, all she’d be able to say was he was of average height and weight, with blue eyes, light brown hair and a commanding voice. And he smelled so heavenly that the woodsy scent temporarily distracted her from the pending danger, causing her to think of verdant meadows and fast-running clear streams.

Just as she felt she could trust the man, he startled her by reaching into his suit pocket. Immediately, Amy froze as a hard object pushed against her side. She’d been wrong to trust him even a little. When she realized he was punching a number into a cellular telephone, she bit down on her lip to curtail a loud gasp.

The man spoke in a voice just above a whisper. “I’m at the Quick Stop convenience store. There’s a robbery in progress. I’m hiding in the storeroom with a woman who was also in the store. I don’t know what’s going down out there. I saw two men, and at least one has a gun. There’ve been noises which indicate a struggle, but we can’t see anything from back here. They don’t know we’re in the store, but I can’t be certain.”

Amy listened with amazement at the information the man relayed. She’d been so wrapped up in her own troubles that she hadn’t paid much attention to anyone else in the store. And while she sensed the ordeal might be far from over, at least with the police on the way she felt she had a chance of leaving the closet alive.

Instantly, a prayer formed in her mind. Dear God, let the police get here before it’s too late for us and the clerk. Even though she couldn’t see the stranger’s face, she knew without a doubt that he sent the same prayer heavenward.

Two angry voices splintered the silence, followed by the sound of shattering glass. Amy jumped at the noise, and the man embraced her with both arms. This time, though, she didn’t fight his closeness. She took the comfort and strength he offered, and leaned into his protective circle.

“We’re going to be okay,” he whispered. Though his voice sounded confident, she knew he was just as scared as she was. Finding his hand, she squeezed it, and he squeezed back.

The voices shouted at each other again, and Amy pressed against the man. Turning her head as if she couldn’t bear to see what was happening in the next room, she rested her ear against his chest. Finding comfort in the fast but even rhythm of his heart, Amy soon realized that her own cadence matched his.

Outside, car doors slammed. Then the store telephone rang. Someone answered on the third ring. Amy could only assume the police had arrived, and with their presence she prayed this terror would soon be over.

The man turned his ear toward the door, and Amy could tell he, too, was listening for clues as to what was happening on the other side of the wall. However, it was impossible to make any sense of the random noises. One thing was becoming very clear, though; something had gone wrong. Neither of the two voices belonged to the friendly clerk. The robbers were fighting with each other, and who knew what that could mean.

Amy did the only thing she knew to do. She prayed harder and faster.

And as if the man sensed the urgency of her messages to God, he clasped her hands as if to say he wanted to join in her prayers. Because she didn’t dare whisper any more than was necessary, Amy moved her lips as she prayed silently, and from behind she felt the man’s warm breath on her neck as he, too, prayed.

When they got out of the closet, she would owe this man her life. And somehow, she’d find a way to repay him.

Matthew Wynn held his breath as glass crashed to the tile floor, and each time the woman jumped, he tightened his grip on her arms. Though he was playing the role of protector, he’d never been more scared in his life.

For what seemed like forever, the shattering noise came in waves, as if a madman were swooping down the aisles with widespread arms, knocking dozens of jars to the floor. Matt couldn’t begin to guess what was really going on in the convenience store or why the police hadn’t been able to apprehend the robbers. Over and over, he searched his mind for a way to bring this situation to an end, but came up with no safe solution. For the moment, it seemed enough that he protect the woman in his arms.

Matt didn’t need to see her eyes to know she feared for her life. He felt her terror in the tremble of her hand, in the way she pressed against his chest as if she couldn’t get close enough and in the way she’d turned her head as if she couldn’t bear to face the truth. And yet, despite her fear, she’d reached out to comfort him. She’d let him know with the squeeze of her hand and a reassuring rub on his forearm that she believed if they worked together they’d leave the storeroom alive.

Finally, the crashing glass stopped, and both Matt and the woman exhaled at the same instant. Though Matt loosened his embrace, he noticed she didn’t move. In the silent lull, a storeroom clock ticked off the seconds. Though it felt like they’d already been held hostage for hours, Matt guessed the actual time was closer to a half hour. Feeling his legs cramp, he shifted his weight, and he wasn’t surprised when the woman’s movements shadowed his own.

Dear Lord, he silently prayed, show me what to do. Help me protect this woman, and please, Lord, keep Hank safe.

Though Matt didn’t know the clerk well, he thought the world of Hank’s father, Howard, who owned a local chain of convenience stores. Howard had given Matt his first job, and he’d worked in this very store until after college graduation. Back then, he’d had no clue that his knowledge of the storeroom layout might one day save his life. The closet they were hiding in had been added as an afterthought, and instead of having a real door, a makeshift one had been fashioned out of a leftover piece of wood paneling. Because the door blended into the paneled walls, the robber hadn’t noticed it when he’d searched the storeroom.

When the silence continued, it became more unnerving than the crashing glass and angry shouts. What could be happening out there? Should he leave the closet and peek through the doorway? It was their only means of escape, as the delivery entrance was generally locked at all times, and the only window was barely big enough for a dog to crawl through. Plus, it had bars. But even a peek seemed like too much of a risk. If it had been just his own life, he would have taken the chance. But he had to consider the woman, too.

As the silence drew out and the woman’s heartbeat raced his, his thoughts turned toward her. He’d never seen her before, but that wasn’t unusual in a city the size of Lexington. She’d caught his attention the instant he’d seen her by the cappuccino machine. Not just because she was attractive, but because there was a sad turmoil in her eyes that made her seem fragile and lost. He’d wanted to say something profound, but what could you say to a stranger? Instead, he’d barked out something silly about her cappuccino. Then she’d amused him by smiling as she’d sipped the sugary drink. He knew she didn’t like it but drank it just to spite him. And he felt that same spunky spirit now as they patiently prayed for their freedom.

Suddenly there were a hundred questions he wanted to ask her. Like where did she live and what did she do for a living? How did she happen to be in this convenience store this morning? Did she believe in God? Did she love to ride horses across grassy meadows? Did she like corn dogs and chocolate ice cream cones? It seemed silly in this tense moment to wonder these things. Yet it was better than focusing on what could happen if things went wrong.

Without thinking, he brushed his hand across the top of her head, memorizing the silky feel of the fragrant strands. He swallowed hard, desiring to rub his hand down her cheek and neck and across her arms. As if, in the simple touch, he could know this woman. But he knew that was impossible. He sensed her complexity. This was a woman of spirit and passion, yet graced with enough common sense to trust him in this dangerous moment.

The shouting started again, but Matt couldn’t understand what was being said. Instinctively, he tightened his embrace as the woman pressed against him. Leaning his head close to hers, he whispered, “It’s going to be okay. It’s going to be over soon.”

In response, the woman placed her hand over his, and in the long, desperate squeeze communicated her faith in him and God. And as her message pulsed through his body, Matt felt something more profound and more deep than he’d ever experienced before. He felt as if he knew this woman in ways he’d never understood another woman. He felt as if she could see through the darkness to his vulnerabilities, to his longings, to his failures, as well as his hopes and dreams for the future. It was crazy, but he felt closer to her and more connected to her than he’d ever felt to anyone in his life.

He shook his head in an attempt to break the bond between them, to prove it didn’t exist, to prove it was merely a figment of his imagination. But the magic permeated the storeroom just as the scent of warm cinnamon bread lingered in the kitchen long after the last bite had been swallowed.

For just a moment, Matt didn’t want the standoff to end. He wanted to go on holding this woman forever.

The woman’s body stiffened, propelling Matt back to the danger at hand. The noises had changed. The front door buzzer sounded, and new voices filled the room. He thought he heard the click of handcuffs but couldn’t be certain.

When she tilted her head toward him as if to ask if it would be safe to go out, he answered by pulling her closer. He wouldn’t risk her life by venturing out too soon.

Finally, a gruff man, who identified himself as a police officer, shouted from the storeroom doorway that it was okay to come out. Matt and Amy sucked in their breaths, leery of leaving their safe nest.

“Dear Lord,” Matt prayed, “thank You for keeping us safe.”

Amy finished, “And thank You for sending a guardian angel my way. I don’t know what I would have done if I’d had to face this ordeal alone.”

“We made it through together,” Matt said, then squeezed her hand.

The police officer charged into the storeroom and opened the closet door. Both Matt and Amy exhaled in unison.

“There’s a man and woman in here,” the officer called to his partner. Immediately, two paramedics rushed in carrying medical equipment. Even still, Amy remained in the stranger’s protective embrace until a paramedic pulled her free.

Chills suddenly descended upon her, and in that instant, she felt more alone than she ever had before. She looked at the nameless stranger’s blue eyes and thought she saw her anxiety mirrored on his face. She wanted to reach out her hand, to draw them together again, but a flurry of uniformed men blocked her silent plea.

“Are you hurt?” the paramedic asked, glancing from Amy to Matt.

“I’m fine,” Matt said. “Please, help her.”

“I’m okay,” Amy insisted. For the first time, in full light, she looked into her protector’s eyes and was overwhelmed with gratitude. “If it hadn’t been for this man’s courage and quick thinking, I hate to think what might have happened.”

Amy stammered over the last words, and the tears that she’d been too frightened to cry began a slow descent down her cheeks.

With a gentle flick, Matt wiped the tears away, then pulled her close. With his arms around her tightly, he felt as if order had once again been returned to his world.

As if it were the most natural thing to do, he kissed the top of her head, and he would have been happy to never let go. She felt so right in his arms. She felt like the woman he’d been searching for. The woman who would bring an end to his lonely life and fill his dreams once again with hope.

Reluctantly, he let go of her so the paramedic could check her physical condition. Whether it was by chance or God’s design, this woman had suddenly come into his life, and he didn’t want to let her walk away. He wanted a chance to get to know her, to discover if she was everything he believed her to be.

The officer in charge waited until the paramedic finished examining both of them, then said, “I’m going to need your statements.”

Amy and Matt both nodded.

“And Hank?” Matt asked, anxious to know if the clerk had survived.

“He’s going to be okay. He had a heart attack during the robbery, but he’s on the way to the hospital,” the officer explained.

Matt’s jaw dropped. “Oh, my gosh. I had no idea. So what happened out there?”

“At this point, we can’t be certain, but Hank’s heart attack probably saved his life. The best I can figure, he had the attack about the same time they pointed a gun at him.”

“But why didn’t they just shoot him and run?”

“We may never know the answer to that.” The officer shook his head, raising his brows over perplexed eyes. “These two men are wanted in other states for similar robberies. And they’re not stupid. Being convicted of robbery is a far cry from murder or manslaughter. Regardless, they’ll both be going away for a long time.”

Matt still didn’t understand. “You’d think when things got botched, they would have taken the money and run.”

“It’s called greed. Hank was in so much distress he couldn’t open the safe. One of the guys had seen a commercial that claimed aspirin could save a heart attack victim, so he forced Hank to take aspirin. However, by the time Hank responded you’d already made your call and the store was surrounded.”

“And so they panicked and argued about how they were going to get out of this mess.”

“You could say that. The one guy went berserk and in a rage destroyed everything in the store. Listen, if you’ll have a seat, I’ll be back in a few minutes to take your statement.” The officer went into the retail area.

Matt met Amy’s gaze and for the first time realized he didn’t even know her name.

“I’m Matt Wynn,” he said, extending his hand.

“I’m Amy Jenkins,” she answered, grasping the hand that had been her lifeline for the last hour. “I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you. I owe you so much. You saved my life.”

Matt shook his head. “I didn’t do that much.”

“You saw what was happening and you reacted quickly. If those men had seen us, there’s no telling what would have happened to us.”

The thought of anything happening to Amy distressed Matt. Though he’d only known this woman an hour, he couldn’t bear the thought of harm befalling her angelic face.

“I want to try to make this up to you. You have to let me find a way to repay your courage and kindness.” Amy’s eyes pleaded for him to accept her offer.

Once the crazy idea popped into his head, Matt pushed it aside. However, he wasn’t prepared to let Amy walk out of his life, either.

“There is something you can do for me,” Matt finally said.

“What?” Amy asked, her eyes brimming with gratitude.

“Assuming you live here in Lexington, you can be my date…to three family weddings this summer.”

“Your date to a wedding?” Amy repeated as if it were the most outrageous idea she’d ever heard.

Matt looked away, anticipating her rejection. And if she did, he wouldn’t embarrass himself further by trying to persuade her.

“Yeah.” He tried to explain as if it were no big deal. “I’ve got three cousins getting married this summer, and there are few things worse than going to a family wedding without a date.”

Amy looked at him for a second, emotions he couldn’t read flickering in her wide brown eyes. He was certain she was going to say no.

“You did save my life.” She swallowed hard, as if this was the hardest thing she’d ever said in her life. “I suppose it is the least I can do.”

“Then you’ll be my date?”

Though Amy smiled as she nodded, Matt saw the terror in her eyes. The prospect of being his date at the weddings frightened her more than the morning’s ordeal had.

He instantly wished he could take back his invitation, but it was settled. Amy Jenkins, for better or worse, would be his date to three family weddings.

Chapter Two

If she’d thought she’d had a choice, Amy would have said no. Definitely not. Going anywhere near a wedding ceremony was out of the question. The mere thought of bridal gowns, lace veils and cascading bouquets gave her the heebie-jeebies.

When he’d given her an out, she should have said she was from out of town, just passing through Lexington. It wouldn’t have been a lie. At this point, she didn’t know if she was going or staying.

But the man had saved her life, and in the fervor of the moment, she’d promised to do anything to repay his bravery. Why couldn’t he have asked her to do something simple, such as cooking his meals or washing his car for the next year? On top of everything else that had happened, a date to a wedding was one more headache she didn’t need.

Determined to back out of her promise before it became more complicated, Amy decided to tell Matt while she still had the nerve. After all they’d just been through, he couldn’t have been thinking clearly, either. He probably regretted acting on impulse as much as she did.

Touching Matt on the arm, she tried to get his attention, but failed. His body blocked the doorway between the storeroom and the retail area, preventing her from seeing whatever he stared at. Curious, Amy moved toward the door, only to have Matt stop her.

“Let’s stay in here a little longer,” he said.

While Amy appreciated his protectiveness, she wasn’t about to let him shield her from the truth. Though she couldn’t push past him, she did lean forward enough to see around him. She gasped. The convenience store looked like a tornado had ripped through it. Smashed bottles of soda, ketchup and pickles, as well as every other kind of food that came in a glass jar, speckled the beige tile floor. The white shelves and refrigerated units sat empty and exposed, their contents heaped in careless piles.

“Wow,” Amy said, realizing that the situation had been more volatile and dangerous than she’d imagined.

With her hand covering her mouth, she thanked God for sending Matt to save her. If Matt hadn’t been at her side… She couldn’t finish the thought. And she couldn’t tell him she wouldn’t be his date. She owed this man so much more than a few hours at a family wedding. This was a small price to pay for saving her life.

Having seen enough, Amy took a few steps backward. Matt quickly retrieved two chairs from the end of the room that served as an office area for the convenience store manager.

“Can I get you a glass of water or a soda?” he asked.

Amy shook her head, amazed he could remember to be so polite at a time like this. Then she noticed his nervous hands. As if it were beyond his means to control, he repeatedly clenched and unclenched the hands that had held her tightly. She understood then that his desire to attend to her needs was merely a way of covering his own distress.

“I guess we’re both still in shock,” Amy said.

Matt nodded. “Everything is just now sinking in.”

They lapsed into silence, neither able to put into words the intense feelings that surged through their hearts and minds.

Feeling too vulnerable to look at Matt, Amy focused on her trembling hands. Even pressed against her abdomen, they shook. Then his hands covered hers, bringing with them a warmth that made her feel safe.

Amy wasn’t certain how long they sat with their hands entwined. She just knew she wasn’t ready to let go of this stranger. She wanted to know more about this man who’d unselfishly helped her. Was he from Lexington? What did he do for a living? Had he ever suffered from a broken heart?

When the police officer cleared his throat, Amy glanced quickly at Matt, then suddenly felt foolish for the way she clung to him. Gently pushing his hands away, she concentrated on recreating the sequence of events in her mind.

“Let’s start from the beginning,” the officer suggested.

“I got here first, and I was the only one in the store besides the clerk. I picked up a newspaper and then made a cappuccino.” Amy’s voice quivered until she noticed the amusement in Matt’s eyes.

“And for the record,” she said, “it was the worst cappuccino I’ve ever tasted.” She ignored the officer’s impatient glare. The lighthearted comment relaxed her enough to continue. “The door buzzer sounded again, and that’s when Matt walked in.”

Matt picked the story up from there. “I said hello to Hank, and then I hurried to the back of the store to get a bagel and a cup of coffee to go. I’d promised to stop by Aunt Lila’s, and I was already running late. I said something to Amy about the cappuccino. I remember she had her back to the door when the buzzer sounded. By chance, I happened to look up and see the two men enter, and for some reason, I had this feeling something bad was going to happen. Because we were in the back near a stack of oil cases, they didn’t spot us. As soon as the man with the beard pulled the gun on Hank, I grabbed Amy and shoved her into the closet. One of the men made a quick check of the storeroom, but because the closet door is made from the same paneling as the walls, he overlooked the closet. From that point on, we didn’t see anything. We heard plenty of unidentifiable noises and shouting. But we didn’t move.”

“Is there anything you’d like to add to this story?”

“I wish I could have done more to help Hank. But I was afraid that if I entered the store I’d only put him in more danger, and I didn’t want to leave Amy.”

Amy shook her head. While Matt had supplied all the facts, he’d left the heart of the story untold. There was the way he’d held her tightly. The way his moist breath had crawled down her neck. The way his heartbeat had filled the tiny, square closet and had turned the cramped space into a safe refuge. And even more important were the roller-coaster emotions that still traveled on invisible tracks between them.

Turning toward Amy, the officer said, “I need an address and telephone number where I can reach you.”

Amy bit her lip as she was painfully reminded that she was temporarily without a home or a job. Inhaling deeply, she said, “I’ve just arrived in Lexington…this morning…and I don’t have a permanent address yet. But I’m planning to stay at the hotel near the airport until I can find a place. I’m headed over there to check in as soon as we’re finished,” she promised.

“Do you have a work number?”

“I thought I had a job and an apartment, but they both fell through this morning. But that’s another story,” she said, hoping to conceal the embarrassing state of her personal life.

The concerned expression on Matt’s face bothered her. It was almost as if she could see another hare-brained idea percolating in his deep blue eyes. She may have needed his help during the robbery, but only she could put her life back together. No one could help her find her place in the world again or rebuild her relationship with God.

Turning toward Matt, the officer wrote down an address as well as home and work telephone numbers that meant little to Amy. But in another week or so—if she stayed—she’d know her way around Lexington.

Thinking they were free to go, Amy walked into the convenience store, only to come face to face with a crowd of media reporters. With microphones thrust in front of their mouths and bright lights glaring in their eyes, Matt and Amy once again recounted their story. And when Matt got to the part of the story where they were huddled in the storeroom closet, he paused to look at Amy for just a second. It was a moment the reporters missed but a moment Amy would always remember. She had shared something extraordinary with this man that she would never forget. In those closet moments, they’d lived in an unreal world where their fears and hopes had meshed into one.

But this was the real world, Amy told herself. Matt Wynn was a stranger and a man. And she’d learned the hard way that if you trusted a man he would eventually break your heart.

When the media prolonged the interview, Matt gripped Amy’s arms and with a move that caught both the media and Amy off guard, he guided her through the store, out the door and into his car.

After locking the doors, Matt quickly left the parking lot and headed down the highway.

“Now, why did you do that?” Amy demanded.

“I was doing us both a favor,” Matt said. “The media wanted to make a lot more out of this story than there was.”

“You’re talking about the way they focused on us being in the closet together for over an hour.”

“Exactly. They’ll make a mountain out of a molehill.” Matt concentrated on the road, which was still wet, though at least the fog had lifted and the rain had stopped.

“And nothing happened in the closet,” Amy said, wanting to be very clear on this point.

“No, nothing happened. Well, we can’t exactly say that. We shared a very unique experience, but that was all.”

Amy looked out the window. He’d said precisely what she’d wanted to hear, and yet his declaration left her disappointed.

Turning toward him, she asked, “Then why am I in the car with you, and where are you taking me?”

“To Aunt Lila’s,” he said as if his response should make perfect sense.

“To Aunt Lila’s?” she echoed.

“Like I told the police officer, I was on my way to see Aunt Lila before we were detained at the convenience store. The local stations always cut into programming when there’s a crime or emergency in progress, and if Aunt Lila didn’t have her television on, I’m sure someone in the family did and has called her. She won’t be satisfied until she sees both of us in person and she can judge for herself that we’re both fine.”

Amy started to object, but closed her mouth. What choice did she have? She couldn’t exactly jump out of the car. She’d go see his aunt Lila and then she’d take a cab back to the convenience store to pick up her car and her meager possessions, which were stored in the trunk.

Glancing at Matt, she sensed an urgency behind his serious countenance. He was up to something, and she had an uneasy feeling his plans involved her.

Matt turned onto the long, winding drive, which was edged by a white wooden fence. Though he didn’t look at Amy, he felt a huge measure of satisfaction at her awe-inspired gasp. Even though he’d driven this quarter-mile drive thousands of times, he never took its beauty nor its history for granted.

When the main house and stables came into view, Matt couldn’t resist stealing a glance at Amy. With widened eyes, she didn’t miss a single detail of the two-story white antebellum home that had been in his family for five generations. Turning slightly, she shifted her gaze to Aunt Lila’s formal garden, then to the white barns and corrals, all of which were framed by low rolling hills and a lush meadow on the north and east. He purposely kept his back toward the west so the sprawling housing development wouldn’t intrude on the picture-perfect horse farm.

“It’s beautiful,” Amy said. Leaving the car, she completed a slow three-hundred-sixty-degree turn. “Do you live here?”

Matt shook his head. “It belongs to my aunt. However, I oversee the upkeep for her, so I spend a lot of time here. Plus, she boards my horses.”

“You have horses?” Amy asked.

Matt nodded. “Do you ride?”

“Oh, no,” Amy said, shaking her head for emphasis. “But I once had dreams of owning a horse until my father explained that a collie puppy would make me just as happy.”

“Well, if you’re going to live in Lexington, you’ll have to learn to ride.”

Amy shook her head again. “Maybe later. I’m going to be pretty busy for the next few weeks.”

Matt looked toward the grassy meadow while he silently debated whether it was wise to even consider his plan. After all, what did he really know about this woman? One quick glance at her intent eyes squelched his doubts. He’d held this woman in his arms for an hour, and while he might not know much about her life, he knew enough about her heart and spirit to believe he wasn’t making a mistake. And if Aunt Lila felt she could trust the woman, too, then that would confirm his instincts.

“You told the officer you were between jobs,” he said.

“Yeah,” she answered, obviously unwilling to volunteer any more information than necessary.

“What kind of work are you looking for?”

Amy looked at the ground, then let her gaze roam the green vista. In that moment, he wanted to view the Wynn land through her eyes. Did she see the same beauty he did, or did she just see another wide-open space ripe for development?

When Amy finally met his gaze, he sensed a hesitation that grew from embarrassment. “Actually, I’m looking to change fields and I’m not certain what I’m going to do. I’m thinking of going back to school. If I do, I’ll need something that will pay the rent, yet be flexible enough to accommodate my class schedule.”

Matt read more into the response than he believed Amy wanted him to. Guessing her age to be mid-twenties, he further assumed she’d never really decided what she wanted to do with her life. It was a feeling he understood too well. He had worked several dead-end jobs after college before settling down in a career as an accountant. But it was his hobbies—the horses and the Wynn family land—that truly satisfied his heart. He chose to work as an accountant in order to make a living for the family he one day hoped to support, but he was most content and fulfilled when he was riding or caring for his horses or walking on the land where his great-grandfather and grandfather had walked before him.

“So, you’d be open to a variety of positions,” Matt clarified. When Amy hesitated before answering, he knew it wouldn’t be easy to get her to go along with his idea. But then maybe he was pushing too hard to keep her in his life. Still, he was convinced Amy and his aunt Lila were a perfect match. While his plan served his desire to keep Amy in his life, it also greatly benefited his aunt. And Aunt Lila’s health and well-being were major concerns of his, as well as the rest of the Wynn family.

“At this point, I can’t be picky,” Amy finally admitted.

“Well, maybe I can help,” Matt said, deciding to leave it at that until Amy and Aunt Lila had had a chance to meet.

Silently, he sent a prayer heavenward. Dear Lord, if it’s Your will for Amy to stay here, let Aunt Lila and Amy both see how much they need each other. It was out of his hands for now. It was in the care of someone who saw the bigger picture.

The front door of the stately house flew open, and Aunt Lila stepped onto the wide veranda. A month ago, she would have run across the yard with both arms flung wide, eager to hug him and feel for herself that he was okay. But recent surgery had slowed the sixty-year-old woman down, and for the first time Matt was worried about the aunt he adored. Then he saw her bright, youthful smile, and fifteen years melted from her countenance.

Taking off at a jog, Matt rushed toward her. She hugged him tightly, then sandwiching his chin between her agile hands, she looked him over.

“I’ve been watching the live coverage on TV. You had me worried,” she said, a glimmer of tears in her eyes. Though she’d never had children of her own, it hadn’t stopped her from spoiling Matt as if he were hers. “You don’t know how glad I am to see you.”

“To tell the truth, I was a little worried, too,”

Peering around Matt, Aunt Lila said, “And you must be Amy Jenkins.”

The older woman extended her hand, and Amy gracefully accepted the warm welcome.

“I’m pleased to meet you. I owe your nephew my life.”

“I suspect you had to depend on each other in order to survive,” Aunt Lila said matter-of-factly. “And after such an ordeal, you must be starving. I set out an early lunch. You can tell me everything while we eat.” Pointing a finger at Matt, she said, “Don’t leave out a single detail.”

“Aunt Lila,” Matt protested. “You shouldn’t have. You know the doctor released you from the hospital on the promise you’d take it easy.”

Looking beyond Matt, Aunt Lila spoke to Amy. “You understand, dear. There’s nothing like puttering in the kitchen to soothe the nerves. Besides, my sister, Louise, brought a roast and deviled eggs yesterday. I just set them on the counter. You’ll have to help yourselves.”

Amy smiled with understanding, and Matt felt a glimmer of hope.

The lush pastures, the magnificent home and Aunt Lila’s feisty spirit were too much for Amy to take in at once. Several times she’d lost track of the conversation and hadn’t realized Aunt Lila had spoken to her as her gaze roamed the spacious kitchen, admiring the unique collection of antiques or enjoying the view through the large window. At first, she worried that she’d offended the woman with her wandering mind, but she soon realized Aunt Lila was pleased to find Amy entranced with the home she dearly loved.

To her surprise, she answered Aunt Lila’s questions when she’d been reluctant to share personal information with Matt. For some reason she couldn’t fully identify, Aunt Lila put her at ease. She felt comfortable in this house, and after the unsettling morning, she wasn’t in a hurry to leave the older woman’s nest.

“They said on the news you’d just moved here.” Aunt Lila pushed her food around her plate, then nibbled on an egg.

“I grew up in a small Ohio town,” Amy volunteered. “There wasn’t much opportunity there, and when I decided to leave, Lexington seemed like a great place to make a fresh start.”

Aunt Lila nodded as if she understood completely what Amy meant, though that was impossible. From a corner chair, Matt sipped a cup of coffee while he quietly observed the exchange between the two women. Amy hadn’t given him a second thought until the curious look in his eyes turned smug. She had the oddest feeling that this moment was progressing exactly as he’d choreographed. And that bothered Amy.

“How long ago did you move here?” Aunt Lila asked.

“Today was my first official day.”

“Oh, my,” she exclaimed. “What a fine welcome you’ve received!”

“This morning was certainly more exciting than I’d hoped for,” Amy admitted.

Aunt Lila rose slowly, refilled the coffee mugs, then set a plate of sugar cookies on the table. “They’re Matt’s favorite. I know as long as I keep them stocked he’ll keep hanging around.”

Matt smiled, as if he’d heard this comment before. “Now, Aunt Lila, don’t be giving away my secrets so soon.”

“Don’t be certain this young woman hasn’t already seen clear through you,” Aunt Lila quipped.

“What’s there to see?” Matt joked. “I’m an open book.”

Amy looked from Matt to his aunt, suddenly feeling like the outsider. She’d been right, Matt was up to something. Impatiently, she stood, having had enough of the conversation. “If there’s something to be said, I wish someone would come out and say it. Otherwise, I’ve got to be going. While I appreciate your hospitality, I’ve got important matters to attend to.” Like finding a place to live and a decent job.

Matt opened his mouth, but didn’t say anything.

“Well,” Aunt Lila prodded. “Are you going to ask her or do I have to?”

“I’m not sure what you mean,” Matt said.

Aunt Lila rolled her eyes.

When Matt didn’t respond quickly enough to please Aunt Lila, she charged ahead. “It’s fairly simple, actually. I’m only a few days home from the hospital, and my family is worried that I’m overdoing it. They’ve tried to convince me to hire help, but until now I’ve refused.”

Amy nodded, beginning to understand the situation. “And your nephew knows I’m out of work, not to mention that I’d like to repay him for his courage.”

Matt leaned forward in his chair. “Well, it just seemed to me that you both—”

“What do you think, Amy?” Aunt Lila interrupted.

“I don’t know what to say. You don’t really know me.” And I don’t know you at all, she thought. Though the offer seemed to be the answer to her immediate problems, was it prudent to move into the home of a virtual stranger?

“We’ll need to exchange references, of course,” Aunt Lila said, taking charge. “We could give it a try. See if it works, and if it doesn’t, what harm has been done?”

Amy bit her lip. “I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but I need time to think this over.”

“I’d like to sleep on it, too. Let’s trade references now. That way we can both make an intelligent decision by tomorrow evening.”

Amy glanced at Matt, and by the amusement in his eyes knew the situation was as much out of his control as it was hers.

Amy was relieved when Matt didn’t talk on the drive back to the convenience store. He saw her safely to her car, then waited until she’d driven off. As she watched him through her rearview mirror, the oddest feeling overwhelmed her. She felt like she was leaving her best friend behind, and yet twenty-four hours ago she hadn’t even known him.

Forcing thoughts of Matt from her mind, she focused on the task at hand—securing a room for the night. When the hotel near the airport turned out to be more expensive than she felt she could afford, she passed it up. An hour later, she settled into a budget motel near the interstate. Despite the thin walls and veneer furniture, it was new and clean, and the woman who’d checked her in had assured Amy several times it was safe. Though the clerk didn’t come right out and say so, Amy had the distinct impression she’d recognized Amy from the news.

Only one day in town, and she’d already made a splash. This was hardly the fresh start she’d planned. Yet, there was much to be thankful for, and she wouldn’t forget that. She thanked God for safely seeing her through the day.

“And Lord, I know we haven’t been on the best of terms lately, but I’d really like to change that. I’m just not sure how. I know You haven’t abandoned me. You proved that today. Don’t give up on me. I’m really trying to find my way back to You.”

She sat for a few minutes in silence, and her thoughts turned to Teresa, her close friend from high school. They’d had a big falling out during their senior year, over a boy, of course, and hadn’t talked for months. And when they did try to rebuild their friendship, the first few meetings had been awkward and uncomfortable. Yet, she’d always known Teresa would have been there for her in a pinch if she’d really needed a friend. That was sort of the way she felt about God right now. When He’d sent Matt to protect her, He’d proved He hadn’t abandoned her. But the lines of communication remained strained, and it would take time and effort to get back to the level of faith and trust she’d treasured before her ex-fiancé had destroyed her innocence.

As for things between her and God, she had a lot of hope. However, it would be a long time, if ever, before she’d trust her heart to a man.

Those thoughts led her back to Matt and Aunt Lila’s proposal. But before she could even entertain their offer, she needed to decide whether or not she would stay in Lexington. She had no ties here. Maybe losing the job and apartment this morning that she’d secured two weeks ago on her initial visit, along with the robbery, were signs from God that she didn’t belong here.

But if she didn’t stay in Lexington, where would she go? Who was to say bad luck wouldn’t follow her wherever she went? A quick check of her wallet convinced her Lexington was the practical choice. She only had a limited amount of funds, and she didn’t want to spend her nest egg looking for another city and moving her belongings. She’d already seen how quickly the expenses added up. If she was going to make it, she needed to be settled with a job yesterday.

Maybe she was supposed to go home.

But she didn’t want to go back to Ohio.

And it wasn’t just because of the humiliation she felt every time she bumped into Garry in public, which in her small hometown was often. No, much more was at stake than her pride.

Between Garry’s betrayal and the robbery, she felt vulnerable and unsure of her own capabilities, and she needed to prove that she could take care of herself. That she could make it on her own. If she went back to Ohio, she’d never have the opportunity to prove this. Her parents, though well-meaning and loving, would shelter and protect her.

In the lonely motel room, she admitted to herself and God what she wouldn’t admit to anyone else. She was scared. But deep in her heart she knew this was a turning point in her life, and what she decided today would affect her forever. She could go back to the past she knew, or she could move forward to an uncertain but promising future.

Lost in silent prayer, she felt the peace that had eluded her for months. She would stay in Lexington.

But as she considered the pros and cons of Aunt Lila’s offer, that answer was not so clear.

Matt recognized the blue car as soon as it came into view, traveling slowly up the meandering driveway. He was certain Amy had returned in order to politely turn down his aunt’s offer. And why shouldn’t she? Taking care of Aunt Lila while she recuperated from surgery wasn’t exactly an exciting career move.

Latching the corral gate, Matt jogged toward the main house, leaving the horses and stables behind. In shape from the many hours he spent working outdoors, he wasn’t a bit winded by the time he reached Amy. Approaching her as she shut the car door, he realized how glad he was to see her.

“Hello,” he called.

Though Amy shielded her eyes from the late afternoon sun, she wasn’t able to conceal her surprise, and perhaps even her disappointment.

“I thought you’d be at work.” She turned away briefly. “I didn’t mean that like it sounded. It’s good to see you,” she added with false brightness.

Though he couldn’t be certain, he sensed she felt the same mixed emotions he did. It was crazy that a woman he’d just met could capture his interest so quickly, and he couldn’t help but wonder if she were the one. No, he had to let those thoughts go. He didn’t believe in love at first sight. Love took time to grow and mature, and as lonely as he was and ready to settle down, he wasn’t going to do anything foolish. Still, what harm would it do to take the time to get to know this woman? To find out if something special could grow between them.

Matt swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple sticking in his throat as he looked into Amy’s bewildered eyes and instantly knew that if she left today he’d never see her again. Oddly, that made him feel sad. Yet, if that was God’s plan, then it was for the best.

“This is such a lovely farm,” she said.

As her gaze wandered, he realized she was stalling. That perhaps her mind wasn’t made up.

“Are there any questions I can answer for you?” he asked.

Amy pursed her lips as she gave the matter serious thought. “We didn’t discuss specific terms yesterday. I really need to know more before I can make a decision.”

“Then you’re interested?”

Amy nodded. “Your family has a sterling reputation. I’d be remiss not to consider working for your aunt.”

“You checked us out?” Knowing she was treating this offer seriously pleased him.

“I called the references, plus I stopped at the library to do some research on the Internet. Your family seems well established and respected. I understand they’ve played an important role in Lexington’s past.”

“That’s true,” Matt said with pride. And he hoped to do his part by preserving the family property, where it all began.

“If you stay in Lexington, you’re bound to run into us Wynn cousins. We’re a pretty active bunch.”

“And about this job?” Amy asked, as if she had dismissed any qualms she might have felt concerning the family.

“Basically, we’d like you to live with Aunt Lila and oversee the house and her needs. Your job would include everything from light housework and fixing meals to making sure she takes her medication on time and to help her with the exercise routine her doctor prescribed. Most importantly, you’ll need to make sure she doesn’t try to do too much too fast.”

Amy smiled. “And I have a feeling that’s harder than it sounds.”

Matt grinned, too. “Trust me, I’ve already tried and failed. She’s a stubborn woman with a heart of gold. And when she gets an idea in her head, there’s no stopping her.”

“Gee, I wonder who takes after her.”

Matt shook his head, enjoying the light banter.

“Does this mean you’ll take the job?” Looking directly at Amy, he held his breath as he waited for her answer.

Biting her lip, Amy still couldn’t make up her mind. For some reason she couldn’t explain, she wanted to say yes. But before she did, she wanted to make sure she was saying yes for the right reason. That she was doing what was best for her and not what was easy.

After having paced the motel room floor for most of the night without reaching a decision, she’d hoped once she reached the Wynn farm the answer would be obvious. And maybe it would have been if Matt hadn’t been here. Though she wanted to show her appreciation for the unselfish way he’d protected her during the robbery, she didn’t want to take the position out of obligation.

When Aunt Lila called, both Amy and Matt looked up. “Where are your manners, Matt? Show the lady to the house.” When neither moved, Aunt Lila waved them to come in.

“You heard my aunt,” Matt said.

“Yeah,” Amy said. As they walked toward the house, she found her answer. This home and this woman had a spirit that drew her. It was as if God had provided a safe haven where she could heal her broken heart.

She would help Aunt Lila get back on her feet, and in return, she’d use this opportunity to take stock of her life and make plans for the future. After all, this was only a temporary arrangement.

Chapter Three

Aunt Lila clasped her hands and smiled. “I’m glad to hear my prayers haven’t gone to waste. I have a hunch this arrangement is going to work out for both of us.”

Amy reached out to shake the older woman’s hand and was immediately pulled into a loose embrace. Though surprised by Lila’s enthusiasm, she appreciated the warm welcome. Still, for someone who’d refused to hire help, insisting she could make it on her own, Lila had quickly changed her mind. But that was a family matter, and Amy decided right then and there not to get caught up in the Wynn family business. She’d been hired to assist Aunt Lila and nothing more.

“I hope you’re right,” Amy agreed. “Finding a job and a place to live in one day is better than winning a sweepstakes. And I’m going to do everything I can to make your recovery as comfortable and easy as possible.”

“Oh, I have no doubt this arrangement is going to work out.” Though Lila appeared tired, a strange sparkle lit her eyes as if she knew a special secret. “And now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to lie down.”

“What can I do to help? Perhaps I could bring you a cup of hot tea? Or maybe you’d like me to run some water for a bath?” Amy asked, feeling like there was no time better than the present to get started.

“Oh, no,” Aunt Lila insisted. “I’m going to rest, and then after dinner we’ll discuss how you can best help me.”

“At least let me prepare dinner,” Amy offered.

Lila nodded with approval, then turning toward Matt said, “In the meantime, I’d like you to help Amy move her things into the south guest room and then take her on a tour of the property.”

Being a fast learner, Amy already knew better than to argue with Lila. However, she didn’t intend to spend the rest of the afternoon with Matt, and she was certain he’d feel the same way.

Amy and Matt both nodded as if in agreement, then waited until Lila had left the room before honestly facing one another.

“What was that about?” Amy asked.

“I’m not sure what you mean.” Matt shrugged, as if to say he truly was clueless.

“That look in your aunt’s eye.”

“Oh, that,” Matt said, shaking his head. “There’s no telling what she’s dreaming up. Trust me, you’ll get used to seeing that sparkle. Aunt Lila’s always got a plan.”

“Like what kind of plan?”

“Let’s see. She’s always redesigning the gardens or remodeling the house. And if she’s not doing something to the house or barns, then she’s helping raise money for a favorite charity or she’s working on a church committee. Her specialty is weddings, and lucky for her, her nieces and nephews have kept her plenty busy recently.”

Amy noticed Matt’s wistful eyes, but because she wanted to avoid any talk of weddings she let the look pass without comment.

“I gather Aunt Lila’s a very active woman.”

Matt grinned. “That would be an understatement.”

“Sounds like I may be the one who has a hard time keeping up.” From the brief time she’d spent with Lila, she knew she was going to enjoy working for this woman. Lila possessed a zest for life that was contagious, and Amy already felt a sliver of the woman’s optimism taking root in her own heart.

“She’ll keep you busy,” Matt agreed. “But I really think you’ll be a great team. Otherwise I wouldn’t have suggested this arrangement in the first place.”

“And I want to thank you for introducing me to your aunt. Without this job and home, I might not have been able to stay in Lexington.”

“Well, you did get off to a rough start.”

When Matt looked at her, she shivered, suddenly feeling the same electric connection she’d felt between them during the hour she’d spent in his arms in the storeroom closet. And then the moment passed, leaving her face-to-face with a kind stranger. Disturbed by her fluctuating thoughts, Amy determined it was time to end the visit.

“I owe you a lot. And I promise I’ll take good care of your aunt.”

“I know you will.” Then, clasping his hands together as he looked toward the door, he said, “Let’s get your things moved in and take that tour.”

“Really, I don’t expect you to waste your afternoon. I don’t have much in the car, and I’m certainly capable of wandering around the property on my own. In fact, I’d enjoy it. So, please, don’t feel obligated. I know Aunt Lila only wanted to make sure I felt welcomed, and you must have more important things to do.” Even before she finished the long speech, Amy knew she wasn’t getting through to the man. Her words bounced off his grin as if they were made of rubber.

Matt shook his head. “Your job’s going to be a whole lot easier if you learn from the start not to ignore Aunt Lila’s orders. I’ll never hear the end of it if I desert you now. Besides, it won’t take that long to see the property.”

Amy bit her lip in an attempt to stop the frown in progress. The same sparkle she’d seen in Aunt Lila’s eyes now simmered in Matt’s. While she didn’t want to start off on the wrong foot with her new employer, she wasn’t all that convinced Lila would really be upset if she took a rain check on the tour. If she hadn’t known better, she’d think Matt had his own reasons for wanting to stick around. Sighing, she realized he probably wanted to get to know her better. After all, he’d brought a stranger into his aunt’s home. He was probably having second thoughts and needed some assurance that he’d made a wise choice.

“Okay.” Amy gave in. “But just a quick tour.”

Then after dinner, she’d call her parents and assure them she was okay. In fact she was better than okay. As she met Matt’s gaze, she couldn’t help but feel her fresh start was going to be everything and more than she’d dreamed it would be.

As Matt carried the last suitcase into the grand foyer and up the wide, twisting stairway, he tried to see this house through Amy’s eyes. Was she intimidated by the high ceilings, Palladian windows, tapestry fabrics and miles of the finest polished mahogany? Or, despite the grandeur, did she feel the warmth, love and coziness that lingered from years gone by?

Matt set the suitcase next to a lopsided pile of boxes and bags. Amazingly, everything on the floor had been stuffed into the trunk of her mid-size car. And yet, considering she had just moved to Lexington, it wasn’t much at all.

“Is there anything else I can help you move?” he asked, thinking she might have left a rented moving trailer parked at the motel.

Amy shook her head, and as if she read the curiosity in his eyes said, “When I came to town two weeks ago on my scouting trip, I put the majority of my things in storage.”

“And that same trip you found a place to work and live?”

“Yeah, I thought I’d found the perfect job. I was going to be the leasing agent at a small apartment complex. Free rent was one of the perks. Not to mention the flexible hours and that I could have afforded to at least take a part-time load at the university this fall. But that all fell through this morning. There was a mix-up. Apparently, the man who hired me didn’t know the owner had already hired someone else.”

“Wasn’t there anything you could do?” Matt asked with great concern.

“Not really. The person they hired had already moved into the apartment. You know what they say about possession being nine-tenths of the law. The man who hired me claimed he tried to telephone me when he realized what happened, but I’d already left Ohio.” Amy rubbed her eyes and pushed her hand through her thick brown hair. “Even if I had a strong case, I don’t have the means nor the inclination to take them to court.”

Tilting his head and offering a wise smile, Matt said, “Things have a funny way of working out.”

Amy merely rolled her eyes and walked to the window. As she tentatively pushed aside the sheer drape, creating a small opening to peek through, Matt studied her profile for clues as to what she might be thinking and feeling. But her stoic countenance gave little away. Swallowing hard, he found himself at a sudden loss for words, wondering if he were crazy for bringing this woman into his aunt’s house. What on earth had possessed him? She was a stranger, and in this awkward, silent moment, he felt it profusely.

But she was a beautiful stranger.

While her eyes followed a restless black thorough-bred across a distant pasture, he watched her. He loved the way her silky dark brown hair graced the tops of her shoulders. And anyone with such fair skin certainly couldn’t spend endless hours in the summer sun. Instead, he imagined her sitting on his aunt’s veranda in the old rocking chair, sipping cold lemonade and nibbling on sugar cookies. With perspiration glistening on her slender neck, she would gently fan herself.

Matt turned away and took a deep breath. This was his loneliness talking. He’d always thought he’d be married by now. Instead, he had been best man to a string of cousins, and by the end of the summer he’d be the only unmarried Wynn cousin. And he didn’t even have a prospect in sight. That was, until he’d held Amy in his arms. Even though he’d been terrified during the life-threatening ordeal, he’d found a certain comfort in holding her close. It was as if his subconscious had taunted, This is what it would feel like to hold a woman you could love for a lifetime.

Shaking his head, Matt physically tried to suppress the ridiculous thoughts. While it was true he felt an unexplainable bond with this woman, it wasn’t love. Love didn’t happen in a flash or even in an hour. Real love, like the kind his parents and grandparents shared, took time to grow and mature. Glancing at Amy, he promised himself he wouldn’t blow their newfound connection out of proportion. They had survived a dangerous moment together. It was only natural he should feel drawn to her.

Feeling more confident, Matt moved to Amy’s side. As they stared out the window in silence, he resisted the urge to casually drape his arm across her shoulders. When he turned his head, he found her studying him with curious eyes. He smiled, and when he did, her composure cracked, and he saw the distrust, confusion and sadness she tried to hide. In that moment, Matt could only wonder why God had brought this woman into his life.

“How about that tour?” he asked, suddenly anxious to stretch his legs and inhale the fragrant Kentucky air.

They hadn’t walked very far when Matt realized Amy skillfully redirected the conversation each time it headed her way. While Matt wasn’t trying to be nosy or rude, he did wonder what had brought her to Lexington and why such a beautiful woman would be content to work for his aunt for the summer.

There were so many things he wanted to ask her. But as he’d learned from his horses, patience was a virtue. Given enough time, she would tell him everything he needed to know.

As they left the formal rose garden and started to follow the trail that wound around a small hill behind the estate, Amy stopped to take one last look at the large two-story white farmhouse, the expansive lawn and the series of white barns.

“It’s postcard perfect,” she said, admiration showing in her eyes.

Matt inhaled deeply, pleased by her enthusiasm. Next to family and friends, there was nothing he loved more than this one hundred acres.

“No matter what season it is, the view from here is spectacular.” Matt shielded his eyes with his hand as he let his gaze shift from the horses in the pasture below to the main stable with the towering clock tower and chimes that could be heard across the property, and then finally to the huge shade trees surrounding the house. The wooden swings he and his cousins had played on as children still hung from the sturdy branches. Someday, his children would swing beneath those oaks.

He felt Amy’s gaze upon him like a warm shadow. “This farm means a lot to you,” she said. He couldn’t be certain, but he thought he heard envy in her voice. And that made sense. His roots went deep, while she had yet to replant. It was as if she carried her heart and soul in a small container, transporting them from city to city, looking for the right place to dig in. Respecting her privacy, he resisted the urge to ask her what she was searching for.

“The land’s been in my family for five generations. It’s where I find my strength. It’s where I’ve learned who I am and what I’m going to be.” He hoped he didn’t sound lofty or arrogant. That wasn’t his nature. But it was hard to put into words how this place defined his life.

“This is where you meet God,” Amy wisely said.

“I never thought of it like that,” Matt said. But she was right. And suddenly a host of memories flooded him. He saw himself as a child walking this trail, wedged between his father and grandfather, listening as they talked of faith and hope and family loyalty. Things he was only beginning to truly understand.

“My grandfather always said, ‘You walk life out one day at a time.’ I guess I took him literally.”

Amy bit her tongue as if she were trying to gather her thoughts. “What if you didn’t have this land?”

“I can’t imagine that,” he said. He’d already told Aunt Lila that when she was ready to sell, he would purchase what still remained of the once thousand-acre horse farm. While everyone in the extended family loved the farm, no one else wanted the responsibility.

“No, that’s not what I mean. What if you didn’t have a place where you could come to God. Would you still be able to find Him?”

Matt started to answer quickly with a yes, but stopped himself when he realized her question must stem from her own search for God. This hill was where he came when he was troubled, when he needed to sort things out, when he wanted to draw closer to God. He glanced toward the top of the tree-covered hill and realized he couldn’t separate his relationship with God from this property. They were entwined like the ivy vines that covered the south side of the house.

“It’s easiest for me to find God here,” Matt finally said. “But God is in my heart. He goes wherever I go. Maybe it would take some time to relearn how to talk to Him if I didn’t have this outdoor sanctuary, but I would find a way to reach Him.”

Amy nodded, as if she were storing away each word for later retrieval. “I admire your confidence.”

In that split second, she caused him to reexamine his faith. Because he had been raised in a Christian family and surrounded by a loving extended family, believing in the power of God had come naturally. He witnessed it constantly when he walked barefoot through dewy bluegrass, when he inhaled the sweet fragrance of a cherry blossom or when he felt the rush of the spring wind against his face and neck as he rode his favorite mare across the meadow. And now he had to ask if he’d taken this heritage for granted. Maybe if he’d come from a different background, as this woman obviously had, he might not have found God so easily as a child.

Matt pursed his lips, then spoke with a grin. “Why don’t you give this hilltop a try and see what you find.”

Amy smiled back. “You’d share your special place with me?”

Enjoying the playful moment, Matt admitted, “It’s kind of like sneaking a girl into the boys-only tree house, but I think there’s room for us both on this hilltop. In fact, I’ll race you to the top.”

Before he finished issuing the challenge, Matt began the sprint up the steep but wide dirt trail. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Amy at his heels. Then within seconds, she reached his side, her breath even and strong. “You didn’t tell me you jogged.”

She smiled as she rushed past him to the top.

Even before she reached the top, Amy heard Matt’s footsteps slow. She took the few minutes of privacy he offered without question.

Shutting her eyes, she tilted her head back, letting the warm sunshine and breeze cleanse her. When she opened her eyes, the view from the small plateau was breathtaking. She could see for miles in all directions. Underneath the puffy blue sky, highways and housing developments crisscrossed horse pastures and meadows as the old and the new merged into one landscape. In the distance, she recognized the downtown Lexington skyline.

Though Amy couldn’t see Matt, she knew when he approached by the scent of his cologne. It was the same woodsy essence he’d worn when they’d been trapped in the closet, and she would forever associate it with the safety of his arms. So when his arm brushed against her shoulder as he stood behind her and pointed to the horizon, she didn’t flinch.

“See that row of trees?” he asked.

Amy nodded.

“That’s the original property boundary. If you follow it, you’ll be able to trace the original tract of land.”

With his free hand on Amy’s shoulder, they slowly rotated together. While she looked everywhere he directed, nodding at just the right moments as he pointed out the meandering stream, the rolling pastures and his prize thoroughbreds, her focus remained on him.

He spoke directly into her ear, so low and soft that his words resonated throughout her body. His breath caressed her neck like a gentle mist, while the spring breeze blew his scent as if it were made of silk, twisting around her body until she couldn’t move.

When he pointed out the housing development that now occupied nearly a third of the old homestead, his frustration and despair vibrated through her body.

“The developer actually did a great job of blending the homes into the landscape. He kept as many of the native trees as he could, he designed around the natural contour of the land and he even dug a pond and installed a natural stone fountain as the architectural centerpiece of the development.”

Even from the plateau, Amy could see the water spray high into the air. And she thought if she listened hard enough, she might hear the beads splash against the surface.

However, the admiration in his voice surprised her. “I thought you’d be bitter. I mean, I barely know you, and yet it’s obvious how much this family home means to you.”

“Yeah, I wish my grandfather and uncle could have held on to the entire tract of land, but I understand the economic reasons behind their need to sell off parcels. I probably would have made the same decision they did.”

“But it still upsets you,” she said. She hadn’t imagined his frustration.

He paused while his gaze perused row after row of houses. “I think what bothers me most is that this is a change that can’t be undone. The clock can’t be turned back on this development. The natural beauty, the innocence of the land is gone forever.”

Amy held her breath as he talked, thinking for a minute that he spoke about her. But that was impossible. He didn’t know how Garry had betrayed her days before their wedding. He didn’t know how Garry had humiliated and deceived her. In one careless moment, Garry had stripped her of her self-confidence and her trust in God and left her with a broken spirit. And like the land below, she would never be the same trusting, easy spirit she’d once been.

The wind picked up, swirling dust around Amy’s feet. She inhaled deeply, and for the first time since she’d left Ohio she felt a tingle of hope. Hope that here in Kentucky she could rebuild her life. And hope that on this hilltop she’d find her way back to God again.

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.