Riley's Reverend

by Kirsten Osbourne

  “All right.” She grew silent as she ate her meal. He watched her, wondering what was going on in her mind. Her thought process was so strange to him that he was never sure what she was thinking.

  “Did I do something wrong? Or say something I shouldn’t have?” he asked after her head had been down for a while.

  “I was just kind of hoping you’d want me around a little more.” She shrugged. “I thought we were getting closer than you obviously think we are.”

  “We are getting close,” he said softly. “I just don’t want to hold you back from doing what you want to do.”

  She nodded, wishing she didn’t feel the sting of tears at the back of her eyes. She was feeling over-emotional this week, and she wished she could just stop it. “All right.”

  His hand covered hers. “I’m so sorry I made you feel badly.” He hadn’t meant to, and now that he understood where she was coming from, he wanted to kick himself. The girl was the sweetest person he knew, and he had no idea why she wasn’t more confident in relationships.

  She shrugged. “I’ll be fine. I just . . . wasn’t sure if you really wanted me around or not.”

  “Of course I do! I can’t imagine a single day without you!”

  “Well, there would be lots of days without me if I was doing classes in Lewiston. It’s a drive, and the classes are six hours a day.”

  “Ahh. I understand, then.” Blake shook his head. “I’m still not going to hold you back, but you’d better be talking to me driving there and back. I will miss you horrifically. You might find me camping on your front lawn, begging for a glimpse of you.”

  She laughed softly, brushing away the single tear that had fallen. “You’re silly. You don’t have to humor me, you know.”

  “I’m not humoring you. I’m genuinely that lovestruck over you.”

  Riley sighed. “Sorry for getting emotional. I try to hold things in, but sometimes, I just lose it.” And he’d used the word love. Well, lovestruck. Did that mean he was actually falling in love with her? Really and truly?

  “You don’t have to hold things in around me. I’m not going to know the real you if you do that. And I desperately want to know the real you.”

  She happily went back to eating her Chinese food, glad she was with a man who was so loving and kind. “Thank you for putting up with me.”

  “I’m not just putting up with you. I’m relishing every single moment we spend together. You’re awfully special to me, Riley Quinn.” He suddenly grinned. “I want to call you Harley Quinn.”

  She laughed. “That’s my grandpa’s name. I always giggle when I think about it.”

  “I can understand that. It’s funny.” He was glad the whole thing had been smoothed over and she could laugh again. He hated to see her sad.

  After they’d finished their meal and paid, they went back out to the car for their drive home. “Did you go to high school in Riston?”

  Riley nodded. “We all did. There’s only one high school in the whole county, and the rest of us are bussed. That’s why I know all the River’s End Ranch people. I went to school with them.”

  “I’m glad you’re not limited in friendship to Quinn Valley. I keep waiting for someone to bow before the princess, but no one does.”

  She laughed. “No one ever will either. It would make me crazy if that happened.”

  “I can understand that. So . . . I was wondering if you wanted to have lunch with me after church tomorrow. I’m sure we could find something yummy.” He kept his eyes on the road as he drove along the highway back to Riston. He wished there were interstates to travel between the two places, but it was just a two-lane highway, and he’d been warned that deer and moose liked to jump out in front of cars, especially at night.

  “I would love that. Are you planning to leave Quinn Valley again? Or do you want to go back to the pub?”

  “I think the pub was nice. I wish I could hear Ivy sing. I’m assuming she doesn’t usually sing in the afternoons.”

  “She doesn’t. But I think she’s on the schedule for Saturday night. We should have gone tonight, but maybe next Saturday.” If they were still together. She kept waiting for him to end things, but she was so glad he hadn’t yet.

  “I would love to go listen next Saturday night. Do we need to get there early to get a table?”

  “Usually. Maybe you can get a table around five thirty, and I’ll head right over after work.” If they were still together. Obviously, he thought they would be.

  “I think that’s a great idea. I can take some work to do and ignore everyone until my princess arrives.”

  “Ivy’s a princess, too. Don’t go making her jealous.”

  He grinned. “There’s only one princess I care to be with. The others can get just as jealous as they want.”

  She shook her head. “I can’t believe you’re slighting my sisters and my cousins.”

  “You have to be first in my mind.”

  “That’s good by me. Just keep that opinion to yourself.” Riley couldn’t believe how close they’d gotten in such a short period of time. Though she was still feeling a little unsure of herself in the romance arena, he didn’t seem to find her lacking.

  When they reached her house, he walked her to her door and kissed her softly. “Lunch at the pub after church, and then maybe we can do a movie this weekend. The theater in town is playing the live-action Aladdin. I want to see it.”

  “I cannot believe that Will Smith is playing the genie. So exciting. Yes, I want to go. Yes, yes, yes!”

  “Then we’ll do that. Don’t tell anyone, but I’m a closet Disney fan. We went as often as we could while we were growing up.”

  “World or Land,” she asked.

  “World. It was closer. And bigger.”

  “I’ve only ever been to Disneyland. I’ve dreamed of going to Disney World.”

  “Maybe we’ll do that together someday.”

  She smiled, liking the idea a lot. She stood on tiptoe and kissed him once more. “All right. I need to get to bed if I’m going to be up for church in the morning. And I have a feeling that I’m going to really enjoy looking at the pastor this week. I wonder if he’ll mind . . .”

  Blake laughed. “Not at all. He’s just happy you like him.”

  “So much.” With that, Riley went inside and closed the door. The more time she spent with him, the more time she wanted to spend with him. It was a vicious cycle.

  Riley was early for church the next morning, and she talked to people like she did every Sunday morning. She couldn’t help but notice that there was still a throng of women surrounding Blake, but that was only to be expected. They’d back off soon enough. She hoped.

  Right before the service started, she moved to sit with her family. Her parents were already there, and so were Renae and her husband. No one else had made it so far.

  During the sermon, Riley was sure she was looking at Blake with lovesick puppy eyes, and his eyes looked directly at her multiple times. He was a great deal calmer this week, and there was no tell-tale shaking of his hands. As she watched him, she realized just how good he was at his job, and she was very proud of him.

  As soon as church was over, there was a crush of women going to talk to him at the front of the church once again. She decided to walk over and join the throng, because she wanted to see if he’d acknowledge her and their relationship.

  She walked over, and his whole face lit up when he saw her join the group of women surrounding him.

  “Does everyone know Riley Quinn?” he asked.

  The other girls all nodded.

  He didn’t reach out and take her hand or anything, but the look he gave her told the other girls everything. Kara, a girl Riley had known her entire life, sighed heavily. “Of course it would be a Quinn who would catch his eye. I think that family is blessed. Or magic. Or something.” The group of women disappeared and left Riley there with Blake.

  “Do you feel rescued?” Riley asked.

  “Yes. Than
k you so much! I need to stick around for a little longer. Do you want to meet me there again? Or do you want to wait?” He really didn’t care as long as they got to spend time together in a little while.

  Riley shrugged. “I’d like to get out of my girl clothes and change back into me.”

  He chuckled. “I was just thinking how beautiful you look in that dress.”

  “Thank you. You look pretty incredible in your suit.” She grinned at him. “I’m going to go home and change, and I’ll see you in a little while.”

  He watched her leave, glad that she’d interrupted the women around him. He’d heard a couple of the men in the congregation call the women his “harem,” and he really didn’t want that description to stick.

  He went home, changed, and met her at the pub, where Ivy was once again their server. “I want to eat the same thing I ate last week,” he told Riley’s cousin. “The shepherd’s pie.”

  “All right, and I know that’s what Riley wants, so I’ll put the order in.” Ivy turned and walked away. She obviously had something on her mind that had nothing to do with her work.

  “Your sermon was so smooth this morning. You didn’t seem nervous at all, and every Quinn looked slightly ashamed. Most of the women in the whole church looked ashamed, honestly.” Riley was so excited to tell him what a wonderful job he’d done.

  He grinned. “I guess I did all right, then. I doubt it will make a big difference. Most of those sermons make a change for a week or two, and then the women go back to complaining about everything.”

  “Yup. That’s how it will work. But you tried and did your best. That’s what really matters.”

  “I know it is.” He reached over and took her hand, right there in the full view of everyone in the pub, and it was a popular lunch place after church on Sundays.

  She was surprised when he held her hand, but she liked it. Maybe he was getting over his worry about everyone there after all.

  After lunch, they split up, and she went home to start on her laundry. She couldn’t do it the next day, but she could definitely hurry and get it done on Sunday.

  She practically floated through the house as she did her Monday housework on Sunday. She was in love, and there was nothing wrong with her world.

  Eight

  Blake was punctual as always when he picked Riley up on Monday morning. She had something in her hands, and he wondered about it. “Is that food?”

  She nodded. “Of course. What did you think it was?”

  He shrugged. “I had no idea, really. I didn’t know if there was a birthday I didn’t know about or something like that. What did you make?”

  “Just a salad. I wanted to make something that would go well with Mom’s lasagna. I usually at least cook something, but we were out late, and I didn’t feel like it.”

  He laughed, opening her door. “Are you going to hold the salad the whole way? Or do you want to put it in the back?”

  “Nah, I’ll hold it.” She gave him directions at every turn, realizing they’d made it nine days together. If they had made it past a week, then maybe they could really make it last. “Are you nervous about meeting everyone?”

  “A little. It was weird just meeting the few people I’ve met. I know I’m going to feel overwhelmed with this huge crowd of people.”

  “Just remember, they’re going to be more afraid of you than you are of them . . .”

  Blake frowned at her. “Why would they be afraid of me?”

  “Oh, they won’t. It’s just something you’re supposed to say when someone is nervous about doing something, so I did.” Riley laughed at the confused look on his face.

  “Just doesn’t seem to help this time,” he said, shaking his head.

  “Trust me. It’s going to be just fine. At least you’ve got meeting my parents out of the way.”

  She directed him to turn into a huge ranch house, and she got out of the car before he could open her door. She knew she’d get harassed if she let him do that with her sisters and cousins watching.

  Walking to the door, she opened it, calling out, “We’re here!”

  Quinns seemed to emerge from every direction. Grandma hurried over and took the salad from Riley. “I see you two are still together. I think this is a record, Riley.”

  “It is, but who’s counting?” Riley hugged her grandmother around the salad bowl.

  Harley Quinn walked over, looking at the two of them carefully. “I haven’t met you yet.”

  “Grandpa, this is the new pastor in town. Blake, this is my grandfather, Harley Quinn.” Riley watched Blake’s eyes sparkle when she introduced her grandpa by name.

  “It’s so good to meet you, Mr. Quinn. I’m becoming fonder of your granddaughter every day.”

  Harley nodded. “Of course you are. She’s a good one. And call me Harley. It gets too confusing with so many Quinns around here. Will make things easier for all of us.”

  “Yes, sir.” Blake was glad that Riley was holding his hand, because he felt very out of place with all the Quinns surrounding him.

  Slowly, Riley introduced him to all of her aunts, uncles, and cousins. When she had finished, he felt utterly and totally exhausted. Leaning down, he whispered, “Can we walk for a minute or two?”

  Riley nodded, walking toward the door with him. “We really can be overwhelming. I know that.”

  “Definitely. I mean, I enjoyed meeting everyone, but I felt as if I was under a microscope.”

  “You should have. That’s how life works in my world.” She walked in a slow circle around the house, hoping he’d be able to calm his nerves. “Do you have the crystals I gave you?”

  He shook his head. “I just used them for the sermon.”

  She sighed. “I don’t have extras on me today either. I shouldn’t have left my purse! You should use them every time you think you’re going to be nervous about anything. They’re wonderful.”

  “All right. I’ll try to do better.” He slipped his arm around her waist as they talked. “So it’s not raining. Does that mean we’re doing something outside?”

  “Yup. Grandma will say that it’s too nice a day for everyone to stay inside and underfoot.”

  “Sounds like you’ve heard that once or twice.”

  “Once or twice a week for twenty-three years.”

  He chuckled softly. “Well, it must have stuck.”

  As they rounded the last corner, Riley felt a drop of water on her nose. Afraid to look up, she said, “Is one of my cousins dumping water on us from one of the upstairs windows, or is it starting to rain?”

  He sighed. “I’m afraid it’s starting to rain.”

  “Buck up, buttercup. We’re going to be inside this afternoon, and you are going to be all Quinned out soon.”

  “All Quinned out?”

  “How would you describe it?” Riley asked.

  When they got back inside, there was a huge spread of food in the kitchen. Everyone took a paper plate and a fork and walked around getting whatever they wanted to eat. “I thought about barbecuing, but I was afraid it would rain. I told Harley that my knee was telling me to expect rain, but the old fool wouldn’t listen to a word I said,” Gertrude Quinn announced to whomever would listen to her.

  “Your knee is always right, Grandma,” Riley said when no one else responded to her. “When is Grandpa going to learn?”

  “Never, that’s when,” Grandma responded, and then she got in line with everyone else to serve up food. “I guess we’re going to our indoor plan now. I almost feel sorry for Blake, with it being his first Quinn party and all. He should have been broken in a little easier.”

  “I think I can handle it,” Blake said, startling Riley. She’d really expected him not to speak unless spoken to.

  “We’re going to have fun anyway,” Grandma continued. “I have a great competition ready for you, and as always, Grandpa and I will be the judges.”

  “So it’s something creative,” Riley whispered to Blake. “That means Robyn and her famil
y have the upper hand. I’m determined to win this time, though. There’s a Memorial Day trophy with the Bob Quinn’s family name on it.”

  “So do your grandparents’ go out every year and buy a trophy for each holiday?” Blake asked. This whole thing was very strange to him.

  “Not at all. So last year, Uncle Harold’s family won because it was a crafty project. So this year, they had to bring it back, so the next family could win it. Though if it’s crafty again, it’ll be all about Robyn.” She glanced across the room at her cousin, wishing she had a way to get her to stop being so darn good at crafts. It would probably make more sense if Riley just got good at crafts, and she realized it, but she found them boring.

  “That makes more sense. So every trophy is recycled year after year?”

  “Yup. Makes it even more fun, because we can get a trophy, and then we miss it when it goes to another section of the family. We have to win!” Riley was annoyed that it was another crafty thing. Grandma must have Robyn in mind every time she made one of those contests.

  He laughed. “So this is like the Superbowl of being a Quinn, huh?”

  “Yes! Every time is like the Superbowl of the family. We’re insane.” Riley freely admitted her family was crazy. Big, lovable, and absolutely belonging in an asylum. What was wrong with that?

  The two of them found a spot to eat on the sofa, squished up against each other. There was a huge table, but it wasn’t nearly big enough for everyone.

  When they were almost done eating, Grandma stepped into the middle of the room, and everyone grew silent. They knew she was about to announce the contest for the afternoon, and everyone was full of excitement. No matter how many times Quinns competed with each other, the thrill of the moment never ceased.

  “We were going to do a triathlon type thing in the yard, but it’s raining . . . so . . . today’s contest will be building card houses. Each family will be given a flat surface and exactly two hours. The best house wins the trophy!”

  Blake leaned closer to Riley. “Is she serious?”

  “Dead serious. That’s the only way Quinns know how to be about contests. We’re going to build the best darn card houses in all of Idaho! Just watch!” Riley liked the idea of this one. If the houses toppled a lot, then they would be more competitive.