A Texas pastor has a million reasons to go...

and just one to stay: her

Searching for a new start, Pastor Shaun O’Grady can’t wait for his next foreign missionary assignment…until he begins working with Brooke Willoughby on the church’s Christmas outreach program. Even as they clash over program specifics, Shaun and Brooke are drawn to each other. Now Shaun’s not sure where he belongs: overseas for his ministry, or at home by Brooke’s side...

Award-winning author MYRA JOHNSON writes emotionally gripping stories about love, life and faith. She is a two-time finalist for the ACFW Carol Award and winner of the 2005 RWA Golden Heart® Award. Married since 1972, Myra and her husband have two married daughters and seven grandchildren. Although Myra is a native Texan, she and her husband now reside in North Carolina, sharing their home with two pampered rescue dogs.

Also By Myra Johnson

Rancher for the Holidays

Her Hill Country Cowboy

Hill Country Reunion

The Rancher’s Redemption

Their Christmas Prayer

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

Their Christmas Prayer

Myra Johnson

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-09753-6

THEIR CHRISTMAS PRAYER

© 2019 Myra Johnson

Published in Great Bri tain 2019

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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“Oh, but you’d look so handsome in a—”

Face reddening, Brooke pulled her lips between her teeth.

Heat infused Shaun’s face, too, even as his chest swelled at the compliment. Before he realized he was going to ask, he blurted, “Any chance you’d save me from going stag?”

Her eyelids fluttered. “Wow. Wasn’t expecting that.”

“Just thought it would be more fun to attend with a friend, especially since we’re both fairly new to town and probably won’t…” He let the thought fade away.

“Yeah.” The word came out on a sigh. She tucked her fingertips into her jeans pockets.

“I’d love to attend the wedding with you. Thanks. Now I really must go shopping.”

He thought she looked beautiful just as she was, paint-soaked jeans and all, and was about to tell her so before he abruptly came to his senses. Had he really been about to resort to shameless flirting? Because, seriously, this could go nowhere.

Nowhere.

Dear Reader,

As human beings, we naturally want to be in control, to make our plans and see them through. This was certainly the struggle Brooke and Shaun faced. Each in their own way, they had to learn how to let go of their own agendas and turn everything over to God.

Releasing control can be a struggle for me, too. I think I know what’s best for me, and my tendency is to push ahead until I make it happen...or make the situation worse. The problem is, I’m not God. He sees the whole picture—past, present and future—while all I can see is my own little part of it. I really don’t know what’s best for me, after all.

Yes, letting go can be scary. But as Shaun understood, all God asks of us is that we take each step in faith. If we’re trusting in Him, He won’t let us stray. The path won’t always be easy, and we may face periods of discouragement, but God’s best is always worth waiting for, no matter how long it takes.

Thank you so much for joining me in this return to Juniper Bluff for Brooke and Shaun’s story. The Texas Hill Country is very special to me, and I’m delighted to call it home once again.

I love to hear from readers, so please contact me through my website, www.MyraJohnson.com, or write to me c/o Love Inspired Books, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.

Keeping all my readers in my prayers,

Myra

For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.

—Isaiah 64:4

For my family of pastors, pastors’ wives and missionaries, all faithful servants of our awesome God: Peter and Johanna, Ben and Julena, Jim and Judy; and in memory of my late father-in-law, Reverend Lester Johnson.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Note to Readers

Introduction

Dear Reader

Bible Verse

Dedication

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

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Epilogue

Extract

About the Publisher

Chapter One

After nearly fifteen years of overseas missionary service, Shaun O’Grady had picked up many handy skills. Ranching wasn’t one of them. But since moving in a few weeks ago with Kent Ritter, the Texas cowboy soon to become his new brother-in-law, he was learning.

He’d just left the farm supply store with a bundle of push-in plastic fence posts and a roll of poly wire. On this chilly October morning, a steaming mug of coffee from Diana’s Donuts sure seemed like a good idea. Being Saturday, the place was packed, and Shaun had to wait several minutes in line before he made it to the counter.

“Morning, Diana. One large black coffee, please.” He tugged out his wallet. “Got any scones left?”

The ponytailed brunette peeked into the display case. “How does cranberry-walnut sound?”

“I’ll take it.” Shaun smiled his thanks as Diana handed him his order. Detouring to the condiment bar, he added a dollop of cream and grabbed some napkins as he scanned the shop for an empty table.

In the far corner, a couple of rancher types were getting up to leave. Shaun hurried to claim the table, but before he could set down his coffee and scone, a distracted-looking woman in business attire beat him to it.

“Oh!” Long honey-brown curls flipped across her shoulder as she looked up with a start. “Were you about to sit here?”

“No problem. I can...” Shaun took another look around. No more empty seats anywhere. Guess he could grab a to-go cup and take his coffee out to the pickup.

“You were in line ahead of me. You should take the table.” The woman gathered up her coffee and Danish, only to be jostled by the customer in the chair behind her. She gasped as hot coffee splashed over the rim of her mug.

“Careful, there.” Shaun set down his own mug and plate, then relieved the woman of hers. He thrust his fistful of napkins toward her. “Did you burn your hand?”

“I think it’s okay. Startled me more than anything.” She dabbed at a coffee spill on her slim plaid skirt. “So much for looking presentable for my meeting.”

“Hardly shows,” Shaun said with an encouraging smile. They’ll all be looking at your pretty face anyway.

Whoa, did he actually just think that? True, she was incredibly attractive, not to mention the whole dressed-for-success vibe. Most of Diana’s customers looked more like Shaun—faded jeans, dusty boots, weekend whiskers. Well, the guys, anyway.

He scraped a palm across his stubbly chin. “Hey, our coffee’s getting cold and the crowd doesn’t look like it’ll be thinning out anytime soon. Would you be okay with sharing the table?”

Relief and gratitude replaced the disgruntled twist to her lips. “If you’re sure you don’t mind.” She wadded up the napkins and offered her hand. “I’m Brooke Willoughby, your new chamber of commerce communications manager.”

“Wow, that’s a mouthful. Congratulations. I’m Shaun O’Grady, average guy in need of caffeine.” No need to explain further. Besides, he didn’t expect he’d ever have a reason to visit the Juniper Bluff Chamber of Commerce. After a quick handshake, they sat across from each other. “So, you’re off to a business meeting?”

“I’m being officially introduced to the chamber’s board of directors. And I’m a teensy bit edgy, as you can probably tell from my klutziness.” She took a sip from her mug, then uttered a nervous laugh. “You might want to grab a few extra napkins in case I accidentally tip my coffee into your lap.”

“I’ll take my chances.” Offering a grin, Shaun bit into his scone. “I’m wearing half the barnyard on these old jeans anyway, so who’d notice?”

Brooke’s warm brown eyes sparkled with a knowing glint. “You must be a rancher, like just about everybody else in Juniper Bluff.”

“Uh, that would be a no. I’m just staying with my sister’s fiancé on his ranch until I figure out...” He tapped his heel. This wasn’t a subject he particularly wanted to get into with a complete stranger. “I mean, I’m only in town temporarily.”

“Oh, so you’re not from Juniper Bluff. Neither am I. Until very recently, anyway. My mom died last year—”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Thank you.” The slightest tremor crept into Brooke’s tone. “Anyway, my dad and I just moved here from Los Angeles. I had a great job at an advertising firm, but Dad really wanted to have the family close together again, so...” She gave a half-hearted shrug.

“I understand. Family’s important.” Family could also be meddlesome, as in insisting Juniper Bluff was the perfect place for Shaun to recover and regroup after burning out on the mission field. “You have relatives in town?”

“My brother. When he heard about the chamber of commerce position, he said it sounded perfect for me and insisted I apply. Next thing I knew, Dad and I were packed and hitting the road.” Lifting a bite of pastry on her fork, she glanced toward the door. “Tripp was supposed to meet me here this morning, but he texted saying he got tied up at the clinic.”

“He’s a doctor?”

“A veterinarian.”

Shaun nodded as pieces started falling together. “Tripp Willoughby—right. We met when he assisted Dr. Ingram with one of Kent’s cows.”

“Kent’s your brother-in-law?”

“To-be. The wedding’s Thanksgiving weekend.” Shaun figured he could stick around at least that long. And maybe by then he’d have his head on straighter. He’d been praying desperately for direction about where his life was headed, but it seemed like God had gone silent.

“Last time I came to Juniper Bluff was for my brother’s wedding,” Brooke was saying. She looked up as Diana stopped at their table with a coffee carafe. “And here’s my amazing sister-in-law now.”

Arching a brow, Diana topped off their mugs. “Don’t tell me I’m the subject of more town gossip?”

Shaun did a double take. “So you two are related?”

“We were best friends in college and I introduced her to my big brother. Long story.” Brooke gave a meaningful eye roll. “But finally, all these years later, they’re back together and happily married.”

Guess Shaun still had a few local connections to work out. Except for running the occasional errand for Kent or grabbing a quick cup of coffee at Diana’s Donuts, he spent most of his time at the ranch. Keeping a low profile meant less explaining to do, and more time to think and pray.

He took another gulp of coffee before pushing his chair back. “I should get going. Got a pickup-load of supplies Kent’s waiting on. Nice meeting you, Brooke. And thanks for letting me share your table.”

“Actually, I think it was the other way around, but thank you, too.” Her perky smile practically lit up the room, and Shaun almost felt sorry he wouldn’t have a chance to get to know her better.

Which was crazy because clearly they traveled in different circles. More accurately, Shaun was currently caught in a going-nowhere loop, whereas Brooke Willoughby zipped along on the straight and narrow road to success.

Frowning, Brooke watched Shaun amble out of the doughnut shop. In her advertising work she’d had a lot of practice reading people, but he defied her powers of perception.

After offering refills to the customers at the next table, Diana plopped down in the chair Shaun had vacated. “He’s a puzzle, isn’t he?”

Brooke jerked her head around. “Who—the guy who was just here?”

“Don’t pretend you aren’t curious. We all are.” Gripping the edge of the table, Diana leaned forward. “So, what did y’all talk about? Did he reveal any interesting details about himself?”

“I think I did most of the talking—as usual.” Brooke lifted her coffee mug only to decide she’d had enough caffeine already. She set it down with a thunk. “All he basically said was that he hadn’t been in town very long—”

“And he’s staying with his almost-brother-in-law until after the wedding. Yada yada.” Diana crossed her arms and leaned back. “I was hoping for something a little juicier.”

“Digging for new gossip? Girl, you’ve been in the coffee-and-doughnuts business way too long.” Mimicking her sister-in-law’s pose, Brooke smirked and shook her head. “Anyway, I just met the guy. I should be asking you the questions. Who’s his sister? Anyone I’ve met?”

“Erin Dearborn. She’s Wanda Flynn’s partner at the WE Design shop across the square.”

“Oh, of course. Erin’s living in your old house, right?” Brooke tapped both temples in a duh gesture. “I may never get used to how in a small town everybody knows everybody.”

Diana’s expression turned sympathetic. “After living in LA, this has to be a huge change. Think you’ll adjust?”

“I’m sure I will...in time.” She certainly hoped so, since she hadn’t had much choice in the matter. “Anyway, Dad loves it here, and that’s what counts.”

“It was definitely a blessing when the chamber of commerce position opened up. We knew you’d be the perfect candidate.”

“Which reminds me,” Brooke said, collecting her shoulder bag, “I need to review my notes one more time before this meeting. Better get to the office.”

Diana walked her to the door. “Just remember, all work and no play—”

“Stop right there. I don’t need both you and my big brother ganging up on me. Dad, too, for that matter. I can’t believe you’ve already coerced me into joining a church committee.”

“What better way to get plugged into your new hometown? And perfect timing, too. The committee should be gearing up for their annual Christmas outreach. You’ll have a blast working with Emily Ingram, and you’ll make some wonderful new friends, I promise.”

“And I promise, there’ll be plenty of time for a social life after I’ve settled into my new job.” Stepping onto the sidewalk, Brooke scrunched her shoulders, as much from the unwelcome reminder of the approaching holidays as from the October chill in the air. She turned to Diana for a quick goodbye hug. “Gotta run. See you in church tomorrow.”

Though she didn’t relish getting involved with a Christmas outreach project, she couldn’t help appreciating the warm and welcoming church family at Shepherd of the Hills. Just as she’d hoped, they’d already made her dad feel at home, inviting him to join the seniors group and getting him involved in all kinds of fun activities.

Fun. Brooke had all but forgotten what the word meant. Helping to care for her mother during the last couple of years of her life, trying to keep Dad’s spirits up, fretting over her brother’s recurring issues with Crohn’s disease, all while succeeding at her high-pressure LA advertising job—no wonder her family continually nagged her to slow down and take care of herself for a change.

And she would, eventually. For now, though, staying as busy as possible was her saving grace. Besides, she thrived on exactly the kind of duties her new position entailed. She loved working with people, she loved designing effective media content and she loved the challenges of project management.

But one huge difference from the LA advertising firm? Her job at the Juniper Bluff Chamber of Commerce meant she’d be dealing with neighbors and friends, the same folks she might run into any day of the week at the supermarket, the coffee shop or at church. Her new boss was already stressing to her the importance—more accurately, the necessity—of community involvement. After years of intentionally keeping her professional and personal lives separate, this new way of operating would take some getting used to.

No doubt about it, her first official meeting with the board of directors had her on edge. She might already have the job, but she needed to assure the local business community of her dedication and enthusiasm. A quick perusal of her skirt convinced her the coffee mishap was barely noticeable. With a confidence-boosting inhalation, she checked traffic before crossing First Street.

Following a path through the town square, she nodded politely to other townsfolk enjoying the brisk, sunny day—families walking their dogs, children playing tag, a romantic couple gazing into each other’s eyes across a picnic table. On her left, Brooke passed the commemorative statue of Jake Austin, a town hero who’d died while rescuing a family from a car accident. Down another path to the right stood the gazebo, where a local country band entertained a small but growing crowd who clapped to the beat and sang along.

Small-town life. Brooke paused to soak it in. If she tried really hard to make this work, maybe she could be happy here. And perhaps, in time, the weight of the past few years would begin to slide off her shoulders.

Yes. Yes, I can do this. A determined smile forming, she continued across the square.

As she neared Main Street, someone seated on a park bench stood abruptly. When she sidestepped to avoid the man, her heel caught in the grass, and she scrambled to keep from toppling.

A steadying hand gripped her forearm. “Easy there. You okay?”

“Yes, thanks.” She looked up into a familiar face, with eyes as dark and brooding as a stormy sky—the same blue-gray eyes that had so recently intrigued her across the coffee shop table. Regaining her footing, she caught the strap of her purse before it slipped off her shoulder. “Shaun, right? Hi again. I’m having an unusually klutzy day, apparently.”

“Entirely my fault.” With his free hand, he stuffed his cell phone into his jeans pocket. His furrowed brow and sideways glance suggested his thoughts lingered elsewhere—possibly on a worrisome phone call?

Brooke could easily see why Diana and others might be curious about this mystery man. If Shaun O’Grady wasn’t a rancher, then what did he do for a living? And what profession allowed a guy to take several weeks off so he could hang out with his future brother-in-law until his sister got married?

And since not a single one of these questions was any of her business, she bit her tongue and asked instead, “Weren’t you in a hurry to deliver those supplies?”

“I was. I mean, I am.” Shaun released a tense half chuckle. “And you’ve got that meeting.”

“Right. So I suppose we should both be on our way.”

Neither of them moved.

Then they both moved at the same time and ended up doing an awkward dance in the middle of the path.

Laughing, Brooke held up both hands. “Hold on, okay? I’ll go right, you go left.”

Shaun shuffled from one foot to the other. “Wait—my left, or your left?”

“Um, my left. I think.”

A grin spread across Shaun’s face, the glint of sun in his eyes turning them more blue than gray. He took both her hands. “I think I’ve got this. Just follow my lead.” Taking two giant steps to his right, he moved her in a counterclockwise quarter-circle. “There. Now we’re both headed in the right direction again.”

Fingertips tingling, Brooke freed her hands. She nodded toward the curb. “And I’m guessing that’s your truck over there with all the fencing stuff in the back?”

“My future brother-in-law’s, actually. But yeah.” Looking slightly discomfited, Shaun ran a hand across the curling brown hair at his nape. “Nice running into you again, Miss Willoughby. Hope your meeting goes well.”

“Thanks. Have fun playing rancher, Mr. O’Grady.”

While Shaun jogged toward his pickup, Brooke continued to the end of the block and crossed Main Street. As she pushed open the chamber office door, Shaun drove by on his way around the square. He waved, and she waved back, then shook her head as she stepped into the lobby. The man had definitely piqued her curiosity, and he was certainly easy on the eyes. But since it didn’t sound like he planned on being in Juniper Bluff much longer, she’d do well to put him out of her mind and focus on impressing the board members with everything she hoped to accomplish as the chamber’s new communications manager.

On the drive back to the ranch, Shaun turned up the radio full blast. Kent’s preference for twangy country music didn’t exactly appeal, but maybe it would help get his mind off the unsettling morning he’d just been through. If his introduction to Brooke Willoughby hadn’t been plenty to shake him up, the phone call from missions director Henry Voss more than made up for it.

“We need you back in Jordan, Shaun,” Henry had said. He’d gone on to describe a position overseeing a newly formed network of house churches in Amman. “You’re my number one choice, but I need your answer pretty quick.”

Shaun didn’t feel anywhere near ready to return to full-time service. “I don’t know, Henry. I’m still figuring things out.”

“I understand. Take a couple of weeks to think it over and pray about it. I know God will lead you in the right direction.”

He only wished he shared Henry’s confidence—not in God’s wisdom but in his own ability to discern the Lord’s leading.

Or could this position be God’s answer to Shaun’s confusion? Maybe God just needed him to release his faith struggles and simply trust again. All he had to do was call the director back and say yes.

After parking the pickup next to the barn, he opened the recent calls list on his phone, his thumb hovering over Henry’s name. But the pinch in his gut wouldn’t let him complete the call. Barging from the truck, he stuffed the phone in his pocket. All he wanted right now was to lose himself in the monotony of helping Kent plant fence posts.

So he threw himself into that task, losing track of the time as the relentless work cleared his mind. By early afternoon, they’d set up temporary fencing through a section of pasture and connected the wire to a solar-powered charger. Afterward, Shaun moved out of the way while Kent climbed on Jasmine, his big black cutting horse, to herd several head of cattle into the fenced-off section. Kent said rotating grazing areas helped maintain the ecology of the land. Or something like that. All Shaun knew was that he’d worked up enough of a sweat stomping fence posts into the ground that he no longer needed his quilted flannel jacket.

With the task complete, he waded through knee-high grass and weeds to where he’d parked the pickup on a narrow rutted lane. A few minutes later, he caught up with Kent at the barn. Going cross-country on Jasmine, Kent had made better time and probably enjoyed a smoother ride as well. Bouncing over all those rocks and potholes had been painfully reminiscent of Shaun’s most recent missionary years in Ethiopia. His tailbone still ached at the memory of driving an ancient Land Rover with no shocks over roads better suited for donkeys and goats. Jordan, on the other hand, held much more pleasant memories...but was that incentive enough?

Pocketing the truck keys, he clamped his teeth together. Henry had given him two weeks. If God hadn’t given him a crystal clear no by then, he’d accept the call and start making plans for his return to Jordan, a previous post where he’d felt he really had made a difference. With that much settled for now, he put Henry’s call out of his mind and focused on the task at hand.

While Kent tended to Jasmine, Shaun unloaded the pickup bed and stowed the leftover wire and fence posts in the storage room. As he finished, his sister’s car pulled up outside the barn. He strode out to meet her and was nearly bowled over when Avery, his seven-year-old niece, plowed into him.

“Uncle Shaun, look! I lost another tooth.” Avery tipped her head back and opened her mouth.

“Whoa, you sure did. Hope the tooth fairy was generous.” He dropped to one knee to inspect the newly vacant spot on her upper gum. The shiny serrated edge of a new tooth already peeked through.

Avery cupped her hand around Shaun’s ear. “It’s okay. I know Mom’s really the tooth fairy. And she gave me two whole quarters.”

“Cool. Don’t spend it all in one place.” Tousling his niece’s mop of pale red curls, Shaun pushed to his feet. “Hey, Erin. Back for more wedding planning?”

“If I can tear my cowboy away from his cows. Looks like y’all have been working hard today.” Erin wrinkled her nose as she came closer. “Smells like it, too. Watch out, or Kent will make a rancher of you yet.”

“Don’t hold your breath.” Then Shaun got a whiff of himself. “On second thought, maybe you should, at least until I get cleaned up.”

They all entered the farmhouse, and Shaun made quick work of going to his room, discarding his soiled clothes and washing up.

By the time Shaun came downstairs in a fresh polo shirt and jeans, Kent had already cleaned up, too. He and Erin had just sat down at the kitchen table with glasses of iced tea and their wedding planning notebook.

Kent motioned Shaun over. “Pour yourself some tea and join us. I’m supposed to be picking a groom’s cake and I need another male’s perspective.”

“Afraid I wouldn’t be much help in the cake department. Think I’ll see what Avery’s watching on TV.” Shaun started for the living room.

“Uh-uh, big brother.” Erin patted the chair next to her. “Sit down a minute. There’s something else we’ve been meaning to ask you.”

Erin’s elfin smile belied the hint of something more serious in her tone. Figuring this didn’t involve cake selections, Shaun cautiously lowered himself into the chair. “I’m not the guy to give advice about tuxes or flowers either, in case you were wondering.”

“Actually...” Erin reached for her fiancé’s hand, and Kent scooted closer. They both looked slightly nervous. “What we wanted to ask—I mean, with you being an ordained minister—”

Palms outward, he leaned back in the chair. “I think I know where this is going, and the answer is no.”

“But it would mean so much to have my brother officiate at our wedding. Please, Shaun, would you at least think about it?”

“I’m honored and touched that you would ask, but I’m not ready to—” His mouth went dry. He couldn’t meet his sister’s gaze. “Sorry, I just can’t do it.” He shoved up from the table and marched upstairs.

Alone in the guest room, he sank onto the bed and dropped his head into his hands. Didn’t they understand how messed up he was? When he couldn’t even discern God’s will for his own life, what made them think he could bestow a proper blessing on their marriage? After all his sister had been through with her abusive first husband and starting over after their divorce, she deserved only the best.

It was Greg, the eldest of the O’Grady siblings, who’d had the bright idea Shaun should spend some time in Juniper Bluff after returning from his most recent—and most discouraging—missionary assignment. This was supposed to be a kind of sabbatical, reconnecting with himself and with God. So far, all he had to show for it was more confusion, along with several new calluses from the hard labor of ranch work.

He wished he had the sense of direction of the woman he’d met this morning—Brooke Willoughby. An image of her crept into his thoughts. There was a woman who knew where she was going. She might display a few nervous twinges about settling into her new job, but underneath it all she exuded professionalism and self-assurance. True, he couldn’t deny the irrational spark of attraction he’d felt, but besides the fact that they were both new in town, what could they possibly have in common?

Not that it mattered, since their paths weren’t likely to cross again anytime soon.

Then why, absurdly, did he wish somehow they would?

Chapter Two

Leaving the sanctuary with Kent, Erin and Avery after worship on Sunday morning, Shaun glimpsed a familiar cascade of honey-brown curls. So much for discounting his chances of running into Brooke Willoughby. This was small-town Juniper Bluff, after all. Engaged in a spirited conversation with Diana from the doughnut shop and another woman, she didn’t notice him as he walked past.

“That’s the new communications manager for the chamber,” Erin said. “I met her in the women’s Bible study this morning. She’s really on the ball.”

“Yeah, I know.” As they continued toward the exit, Shaun couldn’t keep his head from swiveling in Brooke’s direction.

Erin looked at him askance. “You know?”

Shaun should have kept his mouth shut. He faced forward and walked faster. “Diana’s Donuts was packed yesterday, so we shared a table.”

A mischievous chuckle erupted from Erin’s throat. “Kent needs to send you to town more often.”

“Speaking of which,” Kent said, tapping his church bulletin against his palm, “I’ve been working on getting more connected here at church, and the service committee looks interesting. They’re meeting tomorrow night to discuss plans for this year’s Christmas charity project. Why don’t you tag along with me?”

Shaun gave his head a brisk shake. “I don’t think so.”

“Come on, it’ll do you good to get out and meet more people.” They’d reached Erin’s car, and Kent helped Avery buckle into the back seat. Blocking Shaun from proceeding on toward the pickup, he glowered. “How long have you been staying with me at the ranch now—a month? Six weeks? About all you come to town for is to pick up something for me at the ranch supply store or to visit Erin at her place.”

“I’ve been attending church with you nearly every Sunday,” Shaun shot back. “And didn’t I just say I met Brooke at the doughnut shop? So I get out plenty. I’ve got all the acquaintances I need.”

Kent shared a meaningful look with Erin, and then both of them pinned him with concerned frowns. “I spent years holding things in,” Kent said quietly, “isolating myself when I could have been sharing my problems with people who cared. So I know avoidance when I see it.”

Hands on hips, Shaun exhaled sharply through his nose. Erin and Kent had been more than patient with him as he worked through his issues with God. He knew they were only trying to help. “Okay, you could have a point. But these past few years trying to make a difference in Ethiopia... I can’t begin to describe the frustration and disappointment.”

“We know, Shaun.” Erin touched his arm. “And we understand why you needed to get away and decompress. But getting involved in something on a smaller scale—a project where you can readily see the results of your efforts—might turn out to be just what you need.”

Shaun didn’t want to admit it, but his sister could be right. “All right,” he said, hands raised. “No promises, but I’ll attend the meeting with you and see what it’s all about.”

Kent clapped him on the shoulder. “Good man. Now, let’s go see what Erin’s got cookin’ for dinner.”

One thing Shaun had learned upon his arrival in Juniper Bluff was that his little sister had become not only a talented interior designer but a pretty amazing cook. He’d come to look forward to meals at her house or when she brought something special out to Kent’s.

He was proud of his baby sister in other ways, too, and felt rotten that while serving overseas he’d been unaware of everything she’d gone through with her abusive first husband. It helped only slightly to know their older brother, Greg, hadn’t been any more clued in than Shaun. Until the bitter end, Erin had managed to hide the truth from almost everyone close to her. Guess it ran in the family.

Interesting how Greg had contrived to send both his troubled siblings to Juniper Bluff to heal and start over. Erin had found not only a profitable outlet for her design talents but true love with someone who’d treat her right. Shaun had no expectations of romance, but if his sojourn in this friendly small town made room for God to shed a little light on his path, he’d be grateful.

He chuckled to himself as he wondered when his philanthropic elder brother would leave big-city San Antonio behind and settle in Juniper Bluff permanently. Greg spent a good part of his time here anyway to oversee the Camp Serenity program for disadvantaged kids at Serenity Hills Guest Ranch. It was probably only a matter of time before Greg started pestering Shaun to join him as a volunteer counselor, but that sounded too long-term.

On the other hand, the Christmas outreach project had a clear beginning and end, which seemed much more doable, something Shaun could complete even if he did feel led to accept the Jordan position.

On Monday evening he rode into town with Kent for the meeting. Erin wouldn’t be participating—too many wedding details to iron out, Kent explained, plus she stayed busy with her interior design clients and keeping up with Avery.

They arrived at the church a few minutes early, and Kent introduced Shaun to the chairperson, Emily Ingram. “Emily’s married to Dr. Robert Ingram, the vet who takes care of my livestock.”

Shaun smiled and offered his hand. He recognized Emily as the woman Brooke Willoughby had been in conversation with yesterday after church.

“A missionary and a minister,” Emily gushed. “I know you’ll be a huge asset to the group.”

He suffered a moment of regret for not asking Kent to omit that part of his background. “Just consider me another willing worker.”

As other committee members trickled in, Shaun took a seat next to Kent near the end of a long, oval conference table. Clearing her throat, Emily Ingram prepared to open the meeting, only to pause at the click of heels in the corridor.

Seconds later, Brooke Willoughby slipped into the room. She offered a shy smile. “Hope I’m not late.”

“Just getting started, Brooke. Have a seat.” Emily motioned toward the only empty chair, directly across from Shaun. While Brooke got situated, Emily introduced her. “Many of you know Brooke’s brother, Tripp, Robert’s partner at the vet clinic. Brooke just accepted a position at the chamber of commerce, and we’re delighted to welcome her to Juniper Bluff.”

Brooke’s cheeks colored at the polite smattering of applause. “Thanks. I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone.” Then her gaze met Shaun’s, and a surprised glint flickered in her brown eyes. “Oh. Hi.”

He couldn’t explain the flutter beneath his sternum. For one thing, he wasn’t the type to experience flutters in the presence of an attractive woman. For another, he’d already surmised their strongest common link was an affinity for good coffee.

Calling the meeting to order, Emily saved him from having to form a coherent response. After opening with a brief prayer, she consulted her printed agenda. “In the interest of time, I’d like to table the usual reports until the end and get right to our Christmas service project.” When no one objected, she went on, “Since this is my first year to chair the committee, I did a little research to see what’s been done in the past—helping a needy family buy gifts for their children, serving Christmas dinner at a shelter, and I think last year you put together care packages for the Camp Serenity kids.”

Shaun sat back and listened while the committee batted around those ideas and a few others. After several minutes, he glanced across the table to see Brooke silently chewing her lip and added one more thing to their list of commonalities. As the two newbies on the committee, both were reluctant to wade into the middle of a discussion that grew more vocal as each new idea emerged.

Emily tapped the table with her pen. “With so many possibilities to consider, I suggest we give oversight of the project to one or two individuals. They can sort through the options, make the final decision and then get back to the committee with their directives for implementation.”

At last, a voice of reason. Shaun liked Emily Ingram already. He scanned the room and tried to guess which among the regulars would get the chairperson’s nod. Probably not Kent, since he was in the middle of planning a wedding. Maybe the sixty-ish lady at the other end of the table who’d had plenty to say about nearly every idea presented?

Then he felt Emily’s gaze on him. She smiled like the proverbial cat who ate the canary. “Nothing compares with the freshness of new ways of looking at things. Shaun and Brooke, our newest committee members, could we prevail upon the two of you to head up our Christmas outreach efforts?”

Brooke’s gaze locked with Shaun’s. Squirming in his chair, he looked equally taken aback by Emily’s request. Brooke forced down a swallow while pawing through her oversize purse for the water bottle she’d brought. She’d tried to persuade both Diana and Emily yesterday that she wasn’t quite ready for committee involvement, but she may as well have been arguing with those fence posts Shaun had been hauling. Maybe if she stalled long enough, he’d make convincing excuses for both of them.

He coughed into his fist. “I actually just came along at Kent’s invitation. I’m not really in a position to—”

“Oh, you’ll do fine.” Emily reached across the table to pat his wrist, then did the same to Brooke. “With your unique combination of skills and experience, you two are exactly what this committee needs.”

Nearly choking on a sip of water, Brooke shook her head. “Wouldn’t you rather ask someone who knows the community much better than either of us?”

“Right,” Shaun agreed. “We’re both practically strangers to Juniper Bluff.” He set his hands on the armrests as if preparing for a quick exit.

Kent, obviously the future brother-in-law Shaun had mentioned, chuckled to himself while appearing a teensy bit remorseful about setting Shaun up for this. Family pressure? Brooke could totally relate.

Emily maintained her ethereal smile as she jotted notes. “Shaun and Brooke, why don’t you two get together over the next couple of weeks and hammer out a plan of action? You can report back to us at our next meeting.”

Brooke cast Shaun a get-us-out-of-this stare. He responded with tight lips and a helpless shrug. Before either of them had a chance for further protests, Emily moved on to the next item on the agenda. Brooke scarcely heard a word as she mentally rehearsed one statement after another about why she was a bad choice for this assignment. She’d hit Emily with them the moment the meeting ended. The glazed look in Shaun’s eyes suggested he was doing exactly the same.

After other business had been covered and Emily adjourned the meeting, Brooke and Shaun attempted to corner her. The woman barely slowed her pace as she turned off lights, locked the classroom and marched out to the parking lot. But no matter how forcefully they reiterated their objections, she insisted they were more than up for the task and they should feel free to call if they had any questions.

“Oh, boy, I’ve got plenty,” Brooke muttered as Emily drove away.

Shaun stood beside her. “Remind me to strangle my almost-brother-in-law.”

“Where is he, by the way?”

“Over there waiting for me in his truck.” Shaun nodded toward the dusty tan pickup Brooke had seen him driving on Saturday. “Kent should have warned me. His prize Brangus bull’s got nothing on the world’s most ruthless committee chairperson.”

Giving a snort, Brooke rifled through her purse for her keys. “I definitely need to have a word with my brother and sister-in-law.”

“Don’t tell me—you were steamrolled into joining the committee, too?”

“My family seems to think I need an actual life away from the office.” Brooke rolled her eyes. “Bossy big brothers and their wives are the worst.”

“Meddlesome little sisters and their fiancés are just as bad.” Shaun took a few steps toward Kent’s pickup, then turned and blew out a resigned sigh. “So, I guess we’re doing this?”

“If for no other reason than to prove Emily wrong. Should we decide on a time to talk one day soon?”

Offering a wry half smile, Shaun said, “I’m not the one keeping office hours. You name the time and place.”

“Things are a little crazy at the chamber right now while I get a handle on this new job. But maybe we could meet early one morning for coffee.”

“That works. Anyway, I’d say Diana owes you free coffee and doughnuts for life.”

Brooke snickered. “I’d have to agree.” She took out her cell phone and they traded numbers. “I’ll give you a call after I double-check my calendar at the office tomorrow.”

They said good-night, and Brooke slid behind the wheel of her metallic-red sedan. Passing the town square on her way home, she recalled her first two encounters with Shaun O’Grady. She still didn’t know what to make of the man. Although, thanks to Emily’s brief introductions of the other committee members, Brooke now knew Shaun was an ordained minister and former missionary—both of which made him much more qualified for a church outreach project. Maybe she could plead busyness and convince him to take the lead.

Besides, she’d been sorely dreading Christmas, her second since Mom died. Last year, she and Dad had been able to distract themselves with excitement over Tripp and Diana’s January wedding. This season, Brooke had planned to stay so busy at the chamber that she wouldn’t have time to think about the approaching holidays.

So much for that idea. At this rate, Christmas could be at the top of her priority list for weeks to come.

A few minutes later, she parked in the garage at home. She and her dad had rented a two-bedroom brick cottage down the block from Tripp and Diana’s house. For her dad’s sake, she couldn’t deny the advantages of living near family again, but being this close would take some getting used to. Especially if they insisted on micromanaging her personal life.

“How was the meeting?” Dad asked as she let herself in through the kitchen. He’d just poured himself a bowl of oat cereal as a bedtime snack.

Brooke tossed her purse onto a chair. “Fine, if you count getting roped into cochairing the Christmas outreach subcommittee. Tripp and Diana are so going to pay for this.”

Dad merely chuckled. “Not biting off more than you can chew, are you?”

“Probably.” After filling a cereal bowl for herself, Brooke plopped down at the table across from her father. “Hopefully my new partner in crime will carry most of the load.”

“And who might that be?”

“Guess I didn’t tell you about the guy I met at the coffee shop on Saturday. His name’s Shaun O’Grady, also new in town. He’s a minister taking a break from missionary work. That’s about the extent of what I know about him.”

“Old, young?” Dad swallowed a spoonful of cereal, then winked. “Married, single?”

Making a growling sound in her throat, Brooke glanced toward the ceiling. “Probably around my age and probably single. Happy now?”

“I’m plenty happy. The question is, are you?”

She let her father’s words hang in the air while she finished her cereal. But the question followed her even as she changed into her pajamas and crawled into bed. No doubt about it, the last couple of years had taken a toll, both emotionally and physically. Add her nonexistent romantic life into the mix and things looked even drearier. The life she’d always striven to keep perfectly under control had disintegrated beneath her. No matter how hard she tried to ignore it, the nagging sense of failure lingered.

Not even the move to Juniper Bluff had been entirely in her control. Struggling through her grief over Mom’s death, she’d had no other goal than to bolster her advertising clientele and strengthen her position at the advertising firm. Little did she realize her family had been working behind the scenes to bring her and Dad back to Texas.

Okay, yes, seeing Dad happier than he’d been since Mom had first developed kidney disease was definitely a blessing.

But being strong-armed into working with an almost-complete stranger on a project she had neither the time nor the experience for? This was a situation she needed to get under control ASAP.

After returning calls and replying to a few emails Tuesday morning, Brooke decided she couldn’t put off the inevitable. She found Shaun’s number in her phone and pressed the call button.

He answered with a breathy “Hello?”

“Hi, it’s Brooke. Is this a bad time?”

“Just caught me hauling a hay bale, one of the many delightful ranch chores I’ve been delegated.”

She chuckled. “I take it your future brother-in-law is still alive and kicking.”

“Yeah, my sister’s put a lot of effort into planning the wedding, so she’d be really miffed if I did him in.”

“Oh, the sacrifices we make for family.” No kidding. “So, about this Christmas project...”

“Right. Unless you’ve come up with a brilliant idea to get us out of it, we should probably start brainstorming.”

Brooke perused her computer calendar. “Shall we meet at the doughnut shop for coffee in the morning, say around seven—or is that too early for you?”

“I’m an early riser, or at least I’ve become one since moving in with Kent. See you then.”

Ending the call, Brooke typed in the appointment. A moment later, Inez Quick, the chamber president, tapped on Brooke’s open door. She carried an armful of file folders.

Brooke gave a mock groan. “More stuff I need to familiarize myself with?”

“No rush.” The slender fifty-something woman dropped the stack on Brooke’s desk, then tucked a strand of dark hair into her French twist. “These contain minutes and project reports from several of our committees. Speaking of which, how did your church meeting go last night?”

“Can you spell gullible? Seems the newest kids on the block are prime targets for getting volunteered.” She went on to explain about the Christmas outreach.

With a thoughtful smile, Inez perched on a chair across from Brooke. “Think of it this way. The more in tune you are with the pulse of Juniper Bluff, the more effective you’ll be at this job.”

Loath as she was to admit it, her boss had a point. At least it was easier to swallow than her family’s constant harassment about getting a life. “Problem is, I’m so new in town that I have no idea where to begin.”

Inez reached across the desk for a pen and scratchpad. After jotting some notes, she passed it back to Brooke. “Here’s a list off the top of my head of area agencies that support needy families. Contact a few of them and ask for ways your committee might help.”

Brooke perused the list. “Thanks, this is great.”

Rising, Inez turned to go. “Oh, and feel free to work on the project during office hours as your schedule permits. I meant what I said—this could help you build a few more inroads with the local business community.”

Having her boss’s approval alleviated a few of her concerns about spending time on the project. By the end of the day she’d called every organization on Inez’s list and had also contacted Pastor Terry at Shepherd of the Hills to ask about any particular needs he might be aware of. The responses she’d collected would give her and Shaun more than enough to kick off their planning session. The hard part would be narrowing down the options to what would best fit the abilities and interests of the service committee.

Armed with computer notes full of information from the agencies she’d called, Brooke arrived at Diana’s Donuts the next morning a few minutes before seven. She was surprised to find Shaun already holding a table for them.

“You really are an early bird,” she said as she set down her things.

Shaun smiled over the rim of his coffee mug. “Didn’t want to hold you up in case you were in a hurry to get to work.”

“No worries. I now officially have my boss’s go-ahead for this venture, which means we won’t have to meet at zero dark thirty next time.” She covered a yawn. “Be right back after I get some coffee.”

Diana greeted her at the counter. “Conspiring with the handsome new stranger, I see.”

“Conspiring—really?” Brooke rolled her eyes. Safer not to acknowledge the handsome new stranger remark at all—not that she hadn’t noticed. In fact, the more Shaun’s beard grew out, the more her gaze drifted to his manly chin. “We’re just working together on this church outreach thing.”

“So your dad told me when he and Tripp dropped by here yesterday.” Diana passed Brooke a mug of steaming coffee, then leaned closer, elbows resting on the counter. “I hear he’s a pastor who’s been serving on the mission field. What else have you found out about him?”

“Honestly, you never used to be this gossipy in college.” Lifting her mug, Brooke offered a sugary-sweet smile. “On the house, right? Thank you so much.” She ignored Diana’s raised-eyebrow stare and sauntered back to the table.

Shaun seemed to come out of a daze as she sat down across from him. Straightening, he offered a brief smile. “Ready to get down to business?”

Brooke studied him. “Your heart still isn’t in this, is it?”

“Let’s just say I’m continuing to reserve judgment.”

“Believe me, I understand.” Maybe if she focused less on the Christmas angle and more on the community service aspects, it would be easier to detach from her emotions.

Shaun released a resigned sigh. “I did jot down a few thoughts, though.”

“Good. We can combine your ideas with what I’ve gleaned from area aid organizations.” Yes, let’s keep this all business. She reached into her tote for her tablet computer. Tapping a few icons, she brought up her notes from yesterday’s calls.

“Wow, high-tech.” With a wry laugh, Shaun tugged a folded paper from the pocket of his plaid flannel shirt. “Hope my handwritten jottings aren’t too old-school for you.”

“As long as your hen-scratching is decipherable, I’m good.”

Shaun’s eyes narrowed in feigned offense. “My penmanship is excellent, and I can produce my third-grade report card to prove it.”

Every time a touch of the man’s humor rose to the surface made it easier to like him. Maybe they could actually make this work. Wiggling a brow, she held out her hand for the paper. “I prefer to judge for myself, if you don’t mind.”

He slapped it into her palm, then sat back and smugly crossed his arms.

“Hmm, yes, a graceful slant, nicely rounded letters, clean and confident lines. Quite passable. Well done, Mr. O’Grady.” Her teasing expression turned apologetic. “Excuse me. I guess that should be Reverend O’Grady. I didn’t know until the meeting that you’re a minister.”

Shaun glanced away, his jaw clenched. “Wish Emily hadn’t said anything.”

“I’m sorry,” Brooke murmured, concerned she’d somehow offended him. “I didn’t realize you wanted to keep it private.”

“It’s not that so much.” Drawing a deep breath, Shaun folded his hands on the table. “But people respond to clergy a little differently, and since I didn’t come to Juniper Bluff for anything more than some much needed R and R, I don’t advertise my professional background.”

Brooke nodded. “That helps me understand your reluctance to get involved in this service project. If you really don’t want to do it—”

He interrupted her with a weak laugh. “Hey, if it’ll give me a break from mucking stalls and hauling hay bales, I’m in. So let’s hash out some ideas, okay?”

They spent the next half hour comparing notes and listing the pros and cons of various service possibilities. Brooke quickly discovered they were coming at the project from two very different perspectives—hers shaped by results-oriented efficiency, while Shaun leaned toward the personal aspects. By the time Brooke had to leave for the office, they’d whittled the list down to the top three service projects they could agree on.

“Let’s think on these and meet again in a few days,” she suggested. “I’ll do more research, too.”

Shaun fingered his empty coffee mug, his brows converging to form a pensive crease down the middle of his forehead. “You know, there’s one thing we haven’t done yet, and I’m embarrassed for not suggesting it.”

Brooke looked up from tucking her tablet into her tote. “Oh? What have I missed?”

“We haven’t prayed about what we’re doing.”

Now Brooke was embarrassed, and more than a little ashamed of how her mother’s lengthy illness and death had slowly eroded her prayer life. “You’re right. I can get so focused on the details that I forget to bring God in.”

“But I’ve got no excuse.” Shaun’s mouth twisted in a pained smile, and he lowered his voice. “I’m a pastor, remember?”

The resignation in his blue-gray stare shifted something in Brooke’s heart. Diana was right—there was much more to Shaun O’Grady than met the eye. “Would you like to say a prayer now?”

Shaun bowed his head, and Brooke did the same. “Lord, we’re two newcomers to this town and church, but for whatever reason, we’ve been called upon to serve. Guide us and help us to do our best for You and for those who will be blessed by our efforts. In Your Son’s name, amen.”

“Thank you,” Brooke said, a catch in her voice. “Remind me to have you pray at each of our meetings.”

“We could take turns, you know.”

“Uh, no, that’s okay. You’re the pro in the prayer department.” With a quick breath, she stood and slid the strap of her tote to her shoulder.

Walking out together, they agreed to meet again on Saturday, and Brooke hurried across the square to the chamber office. There, at least, she could pretend for a while that she had everything under control.

Chapter Three

The next few days had Shaun overanalyzing everything about Wednesday’s meeting with Brooke—including his openness to pray. Proved he and God were still on speaking terms, anyway, even if he was still light-years away from discerning the Lord’s plan for his life.

Walking one of Kent’s horses out to pasture on Saturday morning, he gave the gentle sorrel mare a scratch under the chin. Posey snorted her appreciation, her warm breath forming clouds in the chilly air. “You’ve got it good here, girl,” Shaun said as he unbuckled her halter. “Maybe if I spent my days munching grass and rolling in the dust, life wouldn’t seem so complicated.”

“Talking to horses is good therapy.”

Shaun turned to find Kent grinning at him across the fence rail. “One thing’s for sure—they don’t give me grief like my future brother-in-law.”

Kent released the gate latch and waited for Shaun to amble out. “Thought you were meeting with Brooke again today.”

“We’re having an early lunch at the supermarket deli.” He looped the halter and lead rope over the rail. “Which means I need to finish my chores pretty quick and clean up.”

“Work any harder around here and I won’t know what to do after you move on.”

Laughing, Shaun started back to the barn. “Maybe hire someone you’ll actually pay?”

“Room and board’s not enough for you?” Kent gave him a playful slug in the arm. “If you’re holding out for cable TV and maid service, you’re gonna be disappointed.”

They traded a few more friendly gibes before Kent saddled Jasmine and rode out to check on his cattle, and Shaun got busy mucking stalls.

He’d enjoyed getting to know Kent over the past few weeks. Watching him with Erin evoked not only joy at seeing his sister so happy after her failed first marriage but a twinge of envy as well. Serving on the mission field, Shaun had encountered more than a few single women his age who shared both his faith and his passion for those in need. He’d even had a couple of relationships he thought might actually go somewhere.

But something always held him back. In one case, it was because he’d felt the call to transfer elsewhere, but she hadn’t sensed the same leading. His second time around, they ultimately agreed their personality differences would only lead to problems down the road. But a huge factor for Shaun was the fear of divided loyalties. Could he sustain a healthy marriage while also devoting himself to mission service? And what of children? Starting a family involved a whole different set of decisions.

Now here he was, ankle-deep in soiled shavings and doing nothing remotely close to the plans and goals he’d set for himself as a seminary student. Was that the root of his current dissatisfaction—that he’d rushed ahead with his own agenda instead of listening more closely for God’s direction?

He couldn’t deny he’d experienced a sense of peace and relief when he’d first returned to the States and Greg had suggested he spend some time in Juniper Bluff. So maybe his stay here—yes, even the Christmas outreach project—was part of God’s will.

As for meeting Brooke Willoughby? Guess he’d have to wait and see.

Two hours later, he climbed into the battered green hatchback he’d held onto since college, mainly so he’d have something to drive during his stateside visits. Arriving at the deli, he claimed a table to wait for Brooke. When she sauntered in, curls loose about her shoulders and wearing a tunic-length striped sweater over black leggings, he allowed himself an appreciative grin. Working on this project with someone as sharp and as pretty as Brooke Willoughby definitely earned a mark in the plus column.

Pulling out the chair across from him, she nodded as he stood to welcome her. “I like a guy who’s prompt.”

“Don’t get used to it. A fresh deli sandwich just sounded a lot more appealing than another PB and J with Kent.”

Brooke laughed as she set her tote next to her chair. “Can’t blame you. Shall we talk first or get some lunch?”

“Breakfast was a long time ago. I vote for lunch,” Shaun said over his rumbling stomach. “Tell me what you’d like and I’ll place our order.”

He returned shortly with two sandwiches, potato chips and iced teas. “The one with the straw is your sweet tea,” he said. “Everything else is the same.”

Unwrapping her sandwich, Brooke cast him a smile. “You got the ham and Swiss on rye, too?”

“My favorite. And sour-cream-and-onion chips—missed those like crazy overseas.” Shaun ripped open the bag.

“Not a fan of sweet tea, though?”

He grimaced. “Makes my mouth pucker.”

Remembering his commitment to start these meetings with prayer, he offered thanks for the meal and asked the Lord to bless their discussion. Considering how long it had taken them to narrow down their top-three list the other morning, agreeing on a single best plan of action would require God’s help in abundance.

They settled into comfortable silence while they ate. The way Brooke held her sandwich just so, keeping the bottom half in the wrapper so the juices didn’t drip, then dabbing the corners of her lips after every bite, Shaun couldn’t picture her ever being comfortable in a Third World country. And since it looked more and more like his sabbatical would be over by the end of the year, whatever other common likes or dislikes they might discover were moot.

Finishing the last bite of her sandwich, Brooke wadded up the wrapper. “Guess we should get started.”

After another swig of tea, Shaun reached beneath his chair for the steno pad he’d been using to collect his thoughts.

He watched with amusement while Brooke cleared a space on the small table for her tablet computer with attached keyboard. She laid her cell phone beside it. After several keystrokes and a few scowls and hmms while she appeared to search for her notes, she looked up with a satisfied smile. “Okay, all set.”

With great flourish, Shaun flipped open his steno pad and whipped a ballpoint pen from his shirt pocket. “Me, too.”

Her scowl returned, but a teasing glint flashed in her eyes. “You’re purposely trying to annoy me, I can tell.”

“Who, me?” What was it about this woman that brought out his playful side? Or was he merely growing more and more relaxed the longer he stayed in Juniper Bluff? Either way, it was a welcome change. He sat back and crossed his arms. “Since you’re so organized, why don’t you go first?”

“I will, thank you.” Brooke arched a brow as she turned her attention to her tablet screen. “Of the top three ideas we’d settled on, I’m leaning toward collecting grocery items and delivering them to needy families so they can make their own Christmas dinner. One of the agencies I contacted said they could provide some names.”

“Christmas dinner? Is that the best we can do?” Shaun had already crossed that idea off his list. All humor evaporating, he flipped to the page where he’d jotted his reasons. “Donating a few turkeys, yams and cans of cranberry sauce sounds easy and doable. But it’s one meal. So we do our good deed for the holiday and feel good about ourselves for the rest of the year, while these families face another year of wondering how they’re going to feed their kids or keep a roof over their heads? Sorry, that doesn’t work for me.”

Brooke stiffened. “Obviously, you have strong feelings about this. I wish you’d said something before we included that option on our list.”

He hadn’t meant to offend her, but clearly he had. He lifted both hands in a conciliatory gesture. “I’ve had more time to think about it, that’s all, and I think we can do better. I’d rather we choose something that will benefit the recipients for more than a single day.”

Lips pursed, Brooke typed something into her tablet. “Okay, one of our other ideas was organizing a Christmas store. We talked about collecting toys, clothing and other items, and then bringing families in to select Christmas gifts for each other—things they’d be able to use year-round.” She shot him a raised-eyebrow glare that communicated, I dare you to shoot this one down.

He drew a deep breath. “On the surface, it seems like a good plan. But you know what they say. Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day—”

“Teach a man to fish and he’ll never go hungry.” Brooke nodded briskly. “I get it, okay? But this is just a Christmas outreach. That’s all we signed up for. We’re not out to save the world.”

Fist clenched in his lap, Shaun glanced away. “Just doesn’t cut it for me, Brooke. Never has, never will.” Scooting his chair back, he gathered up his pen and steno pad along with the trash from his lunch. “Sorry to cut this short, but I told Kent I’d mow his lawn this afternoon. I should get going.”

What just happened here? Brooke picked up her jaw before it crashed onto her tablet keyboard. She swiveled in time to see Shaun toss his trash into the nearest receptacle before he marched out of the deli.

“We never even got to idea number three,” she muttered, her gaze shooting daggers at Shaun’s rapidly retreating back. Oh, well, he probably had a dozen reasons why he didn’t like that one, either.

Then why hadn’t he said something the other day when they were first paring down their list?

Her glance fell upon a nearby display of baked goods, where a tin of chocolate-frosted brownies sprinkled with walnuts caught her eye. Unable to resist, she hurried to stow her tablet and dispose of her trash, then took the brownies to the deli cashier. Five minutes later, she sat in her car with the open container on her lap. She was just about frustrated enough to eat the whole batch.

Sanity prevailed, however, and she stopped at two. After finding a used tissue to wipe crumbs and frosting off her lips and fingers, she decided some retail therapy was in order. Maybe not as good for her wallet but much better for the waistline. She headed downtown and parked at one end of Main Street across from the town square.

Two ladies’ boutiques, a card shop and the drugstore later, she now owned a new pair of silver hoop earrings and two bottles of nail polish. The next shop, WE Design, boasted a window display of handmade baskets amid autumn leaves and colorful gourds. While Brooke gnawed her lower lip and wondered if Shaun’s sister had made these baskets, an auburn-haired woman juggling an art portfolio and a huge cardboard box stumbled toward the entrance.

“Let me get the door for you,” Brooke offered, recognizing Erin Dearborn from the Sunday school class. “Looks like you’ve got your hands full.”

“Thank you!” Sparkling blue eyes peeked over the top of the box. “It’s not as heavy as it looks, just bulky.”

As Brooke held the door, the petite woman edged through. A glimpse inside the crate revealed several different-sized baskets. “You’re Shaun O’Grady’s sister, aren’t you?”

“Yes, and you’re Brooke from the chamber. Hi, nice to see you again.”

A million questions racing through her head, Brooke followed Erin inside. Maybe Shaun’s sister could give her a little more insight into what made the guy tick.

Behind the counter, a buxom woman in a full, flowing skirt was completing a phone call. She stepped around to relieve Erin of the box. “Mrs. Yates just called to reschedule her living-room consultation for Monday morning. Said she forgot about the church seniors trip to Kerrville today.”

Church seniors trip—must be the same one Brooke’s dad had signed up for. Seemed his social life was going gangbusters since they moved to Juniper Bluff.

Erin set down her portfolio. “Oh, good. That gives me more time to fine-tune my presentation.” She turned to Brooke with a smile. “Let me introduce Wanda Flynn, the other half of WE Design.”

Wanda offered her hand. “Redecorating is our specialty. Is there a project we can help you with?”

“Actually, I was hoping Erin could spare a few minutes. I’m Brooke Willoughby. Shaun and I—”

“Yes, the church committee. I’m so glad you two are working together.” Erin leaned closer, her tone becoming secretive. “He’d never admit it, but he really needs this.”

Maybe so, but Brooke didn’t need the man’s uncompromising attitude. “Can I buy you a cup of coffee?”

Ten minutes later, they sat across from each other at Diana’s Donuts. Brooke had wisely left her remaining brownies in the car, but control had gone out the window since lunch, and she couldn’t resist a caramel latte with whipped cream. Watching Erin sip Earl Grey with nothing but a dash of honey, Brooke suffered a twinge of guilt but quickly brushed it aside. She had more pressing matters on her mind than counting calories.

“I assume you want to talk about my brother,” Erin said with a guarded smile.

“I’m just trying to understand him.” Brooke dabbed whipped cream from her lips. “We met over lunch to discuss this outreach project but couldn’t agree on anything.”

“I guess it’s pretty obvious Shaun is an idealist, especially when it comes to making people’s lives better.”

“Which I’m sure served him well on the mission field. But this is small-town Juniper Bluff, and we’re just one teensy church committee.” Brooke’s frustration boiled over again. “Just. That’s the exact word he used. He said just doesn’t cut it for him.”

“Sounds like Shaun. He’s never done anything halfway. Kent, my fiancé, even jokes about how hard Shaun works at the ranch.”

Another sip of the caramel latte left a cloying taste in Brooke’s mouth. She set the mug aside and folded her hands. “So how do I work with him without losing my mind? I don’t want to disappoint the service committee, but if he isn’t willing to bend a little, this project is dead in the water.”

“I wish I had answers for you.” Sighing, Erin rested her forearms on the table. “When Shaun came home from the mission field at the end of the summer, he was a real mess—angry, discouraged, totally burned out. That’s why our brother Greg brought him to Juniper Bluff. We’re hoping his time here will give him some perspective and help him figure out where God wants him.”

So he was merely biding his time, hoping for an answer to drop out of the sky? Typically preferring action over indecisiveness, Brooke wasn’t sure she could relate. She raised her hands in surrender and leaned back in her chair. “Okay, I’ll try to keep an open mind. But Christmas isn’t that far away, and we need to agree on a plan sooner rather than later.”

“I’ll try talking to him, too. Just be patient. If you’re willing to give his ideas a chance, I know this will all work out for the best.” With a quick glance at the time, Erin drained the last of her tea. “I should get back to the shop, but I’m glad we had a chance to talk, and I hope we’ll become good friends.”

“I’d like that.” Brooke stood to share a parting hug with Erin. “And thanks for giving me some insight into Shaun.”

“I promise, once you get to know him, you’ll see what a great guy he is.”

Brooke could only nod and hope Erin was right. Much as she respected and admired Shaun for his missionary service, and even though she did find his quirky sense of humor appealing, she had no intention of allowing his personal issues to sabotage the Christmas outreach.

Completing his final pass with the riding lawn mower, Shaun shut off the blades and steered the mower toward the garage. The combined smells of cut grass and gasoline filled his nostrils, but nothing stunk so bad as the way he’d handled things earlier with Brooke.

Years ago, his favorite seminary professor had cautioned him about his idealism. “Not everything is black-and-white, Shaun. Demanding perfection from yourself or any other human being—at least in this life—will only bring disappointment.”

He was sure enough disappointed in himself, and he owed Brooke an apology. He wouldn’t blame her if she’d already phoned Emily Ingram to plead for someone else to partner with for the Christmas service project. Maybe he should have simply gone along with one of the plans Brooke had presented. The three possibilities they’d initially agreed to consider weren’t inherently bad, but after he’d had time to mull them over for a few days, he hadn’t been able to reconcile how limited they were. He wanted to do more.

He needed to do more, or a month or a year or a decade from now, none of it would matter.

Shoulders sagging, he trudged out of the garage and gazed up through the live oak branches toward a cloudless autumn sky. “I get it, Lord. I’m pushing too hard again.”

He’d back off, and he’d ask Brooke’s forgiveness and hope she’d give him another chance. He tugged his phone from his back pocket and started to call her but then decided she deserved the courtesy of a face-to-face apology. Maybe he could snag a few minutes with her after church in the morning, after they’d both had more time to cool off.

As he started toward the house, a shiny red sedan slowed at the end of the driveway as if searching for an address. Then the car turned in, tires rumbling over the cattle guard. Kent was out with the herd, and Shaun didn’t know enough about the area to offer directions, but he strode over anyway to help however he could.

With the tinted windows and the angle of the sun, he couldn’t make out the driver’s face—until the door opened and Brooke emerged. She slammed her door, then stood with feet apart and arms crossed. “Good, I found the right place. Hello again, Shaun.”

“Uh, hi.” His mouth tasted like dust and mown grass, which didn’t fully account for why he felt utterly speechless. “I—I was going to—”

She held up one hand. “Let me say what I came to say. As reluctant as I was at first, I’ve made a commitment to see this project through. I’d like us to try harder to work through our differences, but if you’re calling it quits, I need to know now.”

“I’m not.” The words came out in a squeak. He cleared his throat and spoke more firmly. “I’m not quitting, Brooke.”

Her brows shot up in surprise. “You’re—you’re not? I just figured—”

“I’m really sorry about leaving so abruptly after lunch.” Finding his courage, he stepped close enough to see the golden glints in her brown eyes. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and shrugged. “When I get focused on something, I can be pretty opinionated, I know.”

“That’s putting it mildly,” she muttered with a sidelong glance. Heaving a sigh, she went on, “You should also know I spoke with your sister this afternoon. She filled me in on a few things.”

Wincing, Shaun lowered his head. “What exactly did Erin tell you?”

“About how you never do anything halfway. How you got really burned out on your last missionary posting.” Brooke braced her hips against the fender. “How I should be patient and listen to your ideas.”

Smiling inwardly, he sent his sister a mental thank-you. “So...you’re willing to continue working with me?”

She didn’t answer right away. “In my advertising career I dealt with more than my share of difficult clients, and if they didn’t respect my professional expertise, I dropped them—politely, of course, but life is too short for that kind of stress.”

“I get it. I’m a stress-inducing pain.” Shaun studied his dirt-encrusted sneakers for a moment before peering up at her. “But you still haven’t answered my question.”

Hands lifted, Brooke gave an exaggerated huff. “Why else would I have driven all the way out here to clear the air when I could be shopping for things I don’t need or pigging out on brownies and caramel lattes?”

He must have lost something in translation, but as long as she wasn’t writing him off, he’d count his blessings. Which he probably hadn’t been doing enough of lately, and which most likely had contributed to his lousy attitude. His lips twitched in a smile. “So I guess we should talk more about these outreach ideas.”

“Yes, but not today.” Lips tight, Brooke hiked her chin. “I’m not feeling particularly charitable at the moment.”

“Toward me, or toward the world in general?”

“Mostly you.”

Did she have any idea the effect her persistence was having on him, the way her eyes glinted with mischief even as she threw him a peevish pout? Shaun tamped down the niggling twinges of attraction. “Okay, then. You name the time and place.”

“I’ll check my calendar and call you tomorrow.” She turned to open her car door.

“Maybe I’ll see you at church?”

She mumbled something under her breath that sounded a lot like “Not if I see you first.”

Watching her drive away, Shaun massaged the back of his neck. Crazy as it seemed, he was definitely experiencing more than friendly interest in Brooke Willoughby. Pretty obvious the feeling wasn’t mutual, but since he didn’t foresee sticking around Juniper Bluff beyond the first of the year, he had no business dwelling on it. He just needed to stay on her good side long enough to organize the Christmas outreach.

In the meantime, he’d better pray even harder for direction about where he went from here, because half of the two weeks Henry Voss had given him had already zipped past, and Shaun didn’t feel any closer to clarity than he had the day Henry had called.

Chapter Four

On their way out of the sanctuary following worship the next morning, Brooke’s dad excused himself. “There’s Lydia. I need to return her sunglasses.”

Brooke’s brows shot up. She grabbed her father’s arm. “What are you doing with someone else’s sunglasses?” A strange woman’s sunglasses, more to the point.

“Because on the way home from Kerrville, I was sitting on the sunny side of the church van, so she was kind enough to lend me hers.” He tried to shake off Brooke’s hold.

She held on tighter. “But you have a perfectly good pair of sunglasses. I helped you pick them out while we were still living in LA, remember?”

“Forgot to tell you,” Dad said with a grimace. “I accidentally left them at Mamacita’s.”

“Who on earth is Mamacita? And why were you at her place?”

Her father’s eye roll insinuated the absurdity of Brooke’s questions. “Mamacita’s is the Mexican restaurant where the seniors group ate yesterday in Kerrville. Cute place. I should take you there sometime.” He yanked his arm free. “Lydia’s almost out the door. Gotta catch her.”

Watching Dad hurry away, Brooke fought to keep from stamping her foot in a petulant show of annoyance.

Shaun ambled up beside her. “Everything okay?”

“Yes, everything’s peachy.” Not. Dad looked a little too cheery chatting it up with Lydia, and Brooke didn’t know how she was supposed to feel about that.

“Okay, then.” Shaun backed off a step. “Just wanted to ask if you’d thought more about scheduling another planning meeting.”

“Right, we should do that soon.” Giving herself a mental shake, she tore her gaze off her father and focused on Shaun. “Sorry, I’m a little worried about my dad.”

“That’s him in the corduroy blazer, right? Looks like he’s made a new friend.”

Exactly what worried her. Mom hadn’t been gone a year yet. Dad had no business getting all smiley with other women. “This was a mistake,” she muttered, barely aware she’d spoken aloud.

“Excuse me?” Shaun’s tone hardened. “I thought we’d come to an understanding yesterday. If you feel that strongly about not wanting to work with me—”

“No, no, that isn’t what I meant.” She couldn’t exactly blurt out all her misgivings about leaving a dream job in LA so she could bring her father back to Texas. Inhaling a calming breath, she briefly closed her eyes. When she opened them again, Dad was striding her way.

“Thanks for waiting, hon.” He turned a curious expression upon Shaun. “Don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Jim Willoughby, Brooke’s dad.”

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