by Carol Cox
Without giving him time to respond, she led him out to her Honda.
Paul raised his eyebrows when she stepped into the street and circled around to the passenger side. Kate didn’t offer any explanation, just motioned for him to roll down his window.
She beckoned for the boy to follow and gave Paul a look that meant, “Go along with me on this. I’ll fill you in later.”
“I think I’ve found an answer to your dilemma about the backyard.”
Paul gave her a puzzled look, then his face cleared. “You mean those broken limbs?” At Kate’s nod, he reached through the open window and extended his hand to Kate’s confused companion.
“Paul Hanlon,” he said. “I’m the pastor of Faith Briar Church.”
To his credit, the young man responded without hesitation and grasped Paul’s hand in a firm grip. “Nice to meet you, sir. My name’s Cody.”
Kate tucked that bit of information away in her memory. How nice to know his name at last!
Paul smiled. “You’ll have to excuse me for not getting out to give you a proper greeting, but I have a bum leg at the moment.”
He indicated the crutches angled across the back of the seat. “That’s how you can help me out, if you’re willing.”
Cody squared his shoulders. “I’d be happy to help, if I can.”
Paul’s eyes crinkled at the corners. “Glad to hear it. An attitude like that will take you far. Here’s the situation. That storm we had the other night knocked some limbs off one of our trees and broke more of them loose. They’re just dangling from the trunk, and I don’t want them to hurt anyone. With this leg the way it is, I’m not in any shape to cut them down and clear them away. Does that sound like something you’d be willing to tackle?”
Cody nodded eagerly. “Sure. No problem.”
Kate held up her hand and fluttered her fingers so Paul could see the bill she held tucked in her palm.
Without missing a beat, he added, “We’ll pay you for your time, of course.”
The boy flushed. “That won’t be necessary.”
“Nonsense. A workman is worthy of his hire.”
Kate seized the opportunity to press the ten-dollar bill into the boy’s hand and closed his fingers around it. She smiled up at him. “See? I told you it wasn’t charity.”
Cody looked down at his hand, then shoved the cash into his front pocket as though he was afraid he might change his mind if he hesitated.
He looked back at Paul, and his brow furrowed. “I don’t know where you live.”
Paul motioned toward the backseat. “Hop in. We’ll take you as far as the high school. It’s only a little ways up the road from there. Oh, wait a minute. You’re going to need a saw and a ladder.”
He pulled out his key ring, separated one of the keys from the rest, and handed it to Cody. “This’ll get you into the garage. There’s a light switch by the back door. The tools are along the right-hand side. You’ll find the pruning saw hanging on a rack on the wall. It’s the one with the thin, curved blade.”
Cody nodded. “I know what one looks like.”
“Great. You’ll need to cut off the limbs that are hanging from the tree, and then saw all the downed branches into shorter lengths. When you’re finished, I’d like you to carry them out of the yard and stack them all on the other side of the fence.”
“I can do that, no problem.” Cody turned the key over in his hands. “But are you sure you want to give me this? You don’t even know me.”
Paul gave him a wink. “My wife is a good judge of character. If she thinks you’re the right one for the job, that’s good enough for me.”
After dropping Cody off at the high school, Kate eyed Paul skeptically. “I wanted to give him a chance to earn some money, but I didn’t expect you to hand him your key right then and there.”
“It’s only the garage key. It won’t let him into the house.”
“But all your tools are in the garage. What if—”
Paul reached toward the steering wheel and covered her hand with his. “Sometimes you have to believe in people enough to let them believe in themselves. I have a feeling that if my actions show I trust this young man of yours, he’ll rise to the occasion.”
Kate pulled his hand to her lips long enough to press a kiss on his fingers. “That’s one of the reasons I love you, Paul Hanlon.”
Chapter Nineteen
Kate cupped her chin in her hands and tried to tune out the sounds of pounding feet and a cheering crowd.
Did Avery have anything to do with the runaway Mustang? And did any kind of connection exist between him and Roland Myers? Those questions and more had plagued her ever since Skip’s surprising statement three days earlier.
Now she had two leads to follow, if only she could find the time to pursue them!
A long stint in her studio the day before allowed her to make substantial progress on the fanlight. Perhaps she could spare an hour or two sometime in the next few days to—
“All right!” Paul clapped enthusiastically and pounded the front of the bleacher with his good foot.
Kate came back to the present with a jolt.
Paul beamed from ear to ear. “Wasn’t that a great play?”
Kate nodded and smiled, hoping she didn’t appear as clueless as she felt. She slid closer to him on the bleacher and twined her arm through his.
Normally she preferred sitting about midway up in the stands so as to be able to see all the action. That evening they sat on the lowest bleacher so Paul wouldn’t have to climb.
The view wasn’t nearly as good without the advantage of height, but with Paul beside her, it didn’t matter one bit. That Friday night she felt far more a part of things than at the last game she attended—and it was all due to having the security of his presence.
It did seem odd, though, to have Paul sitting next to her instead of being out on the court with the other Faith Briar players.
Looking at Paul, she suspected he felt the same way. He wore a broad smile and cheered for Faith Briar, adding his voice to the good-natured catcalls aimed at the players from St. Lucy’s.
But years of marriage had taught her to read the subtle signs below the surface. Beneath his buoyant exterior, she could detect a slightly hollow note.
He had seemed happy enough when they first arrived, smiling at all the people who came up to greet him and accepting claps on the back from teammates who said they knew a little thing like a broken ankle couldn’t keep him away for long. But it wasn’t the same as spending the evening out on the court as one of the players. Kate sensed the change in him the moment the opening buzzer sounded.
Sitting together as spectators wasn’t anything new for them. They had joked about wearing the varnish thin on their accustomed spots in the bleachers during Andrew’s high-school and college games. But this was different.
At Andrew’s games, their role was that of proud parents supporting their son.
But on this particular night, it was Paul’s team out there on the court, and Kate knew that made all the difference in the world. Paul’s features were set in a wistful expression, like someone on the outside looking in.
Like Cody, she realized with a start.
She looked back at Paul, wondering if her imagination had been working overtime. No, she hadn’t dreamed up the similarity. Paul wore a look of longing to be a part of things, to fit in—the same look she had seen more than once on Cody’s face.
Kate’s thoughts drifted to the boy who was clearing their yard of tree limbs at that moment. She had finally made a positive contact with him, but she still didn’t know his story, his family, or anything about him.
When she came right down to it, she knew nothing at all except for being convinced that God had brought the teenager into her life for some purpose.
She closed her eyes, the better to tune out the game sounds around her. Father, help me to know what that purpose is. I haven’t done so well with him up to now, knocking him into walls and scar
ing him away.
“Way to go, Justin!” Paul shouted. He pounded on the seat with his left hand and squeezed Kate’s arm with his right. “That’s the way to block a shot!”
Kate returned the squeeze, feeling a surge of appreciation for her husband.
How grateful she felt for Paul’s unquestioning support and quick understanding of her plan to win Cody’s confidence. Mere seconds after meeting Paul, the boy seemed at ease for the first time since she’d bumped into him.
She wouldn’t press too hard, she told herself, falling back into her reverie. She didn’t want to frighten him off just when she was starting to make progress.
At least she seemed to have made some inroads. Kate snuggled closer to Paul while she enumerated them. For one thing, she knew Cody’s name at last.
But not his last name, she realized with a pang of disappointment. Still, it was something to go on. She didn’t have to keep referring to him in her thoughts as “that boy” anymore.
For another, she sensed an immediate connection between him and Paul. She felt so grateful the two of them had finally met. Kate smiled and sent up another quick prayer. Forgetting those tortilla chips was no accident after all, was it, Lord?
Third, there was Cody’s willingness to pitch in and help a couple of total strangers. Another indication of his good character.
So she did know a little about him after all. But what was the next step?
Kate pondered the question. Now that Cody had lost his nervousness around her, she would try to engage him in a conversation the next time she saw him.
And there would be a next time. After all the times their paths had crossed already, she had no doubt it would happen again. And she intended to be ready when it did.
Her mind raced ahead, making plans. Since Cody now knew where they lived, maybe he would feel comfortable coming over to visit if she invited him to join her and Paul for some cookies.
Thinking of Andrew and his friends, she felt sure the ploy would work. Remembering their hollow legs, maybe she ought to make a double batch. No, make that an assortment of several varieties.
Kate lost herself in sorting through her favorite recipes. She would make chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin for sure. And maybe some peanut-butter cookies. Andrew’s friends had always clamored for those.
Blaaatttt! Kate jumped at the sound of the buzzer. A quick look at the clock told her the game was over.
Already? She shot a guilty look in Paul’s direction and saw him clapping wildly. At least she could tell from his reaction that the Faith Briar team had won.
Paul gathered up his crutches and made his way across the court to congratulate his teammates and trade friendly gibes with the opposing coach.
“Great game!” Kate could hear his booming voice above the rest of the noise.
They stayed until Paul had congratulated every one of his team members. Kate followed his lead as he waved good-bye and made his way out to the parking lot, thinking how odd it felt not to stay around until he and his teammates emerged from the locker room.
“Quite a game, wasn’t it?”
“It was, indeed.” Kate hoped he wouldn’t expect her to remember any details. She didn’t want to admit she’d been so wrapped up in her own thoughts that she couldn’t even tell him the final score.
“A good game,” Paul repeated when he had settled into the passenger seat of the Honda. “They all did a fine job.”
Kate knew his pleasure was genuine but sensed he felt slightly wounded that the team had been able to win without his help.
She started the engine, suddenly anxious to get home so she could sort through the thoughts that had occurred to her during the game. More than ever, she felt compelled to discover who took that Mustang, especially since Sheriff Roberts seemed inclined to write it off as a lost cause.
Not only that, she needed time to mull over the possibility of Avery’s involvement and decide what to do about it.
Before she could put the Honda in gear, Paul’s team started filtering out of the gym. “Looks like they’re heading over to the Smokeshack,” he said.
Kate heard the tinge of sadness in his voice. The man needed cheering up, even if it meant delaying her own plans.
“How about joining them?” She guided the Honda across the parking lot. “I know they’d be thrilled if you could come.”
Paul waited a beat before answering. “I think I’d rather get home and see how that young man got along.”
Kate didn’t argue, though she suspected his real reason had more to do with not wanting to feel like the odd man out than any concern about the quality of Cody’s work.
Her heart went out to him; she looked forward to the day when he would be feeling like himself again. She put on her left blinker and slowed to turn onto Smoky Mountain Road.
“Wait a minute.” Paul sat up straighter, an excited look on his face. “I’ve just had an idea. Turn around and head back into town, will you? I didn’t see Eli at the game tonight, and I need to talk to him.”
Chapter Twenty
Kate swung the steering wheel back to the right and turned onto Smoky Mountain Road, crossing Mountain Laurel and heading toward Hamilton. The car shifted through its gears smoothly.
She only wished her thought processes could change speeds with such ease.
But she would manage. A smile curved her lips. Being a pastor’s wife all these years had taught her to expect the unexpected.
She made a right turn on Hamilton, then a left on Smith Street, and pulled up to the curb in front of Weston’s Antiques. Lights shone in Eli’s living quarters upstairs.
“It looks like he’s home. Do you want me to make sure before you climb out of the car?”
“No, let’s go together. I need all the exercise I can get.”
Kate went ahead of him, past the white picket fence and up the brick walkway to the front porch, thankful for the scrolled gas street lamps flanking the front steps that lit her way.
She pressed the doorbell, her thoughts already moving ahead. As soon as she had Paul situated inside, she could go back to her car and sort through her thoughts about Avery and the diner mystery.
From inside the building, she could hear the sound of footsteps descending the stairs. One edge of the lace curtains at the front window drew back, and Eli’s face peered around it.
“It’s Paul and Kate,” she called, uncertain of how well Eli could see through his tortoise-shell glasses in the dark.
The curtain dropped back into place before she finished speaking. She waved for Paul to join her. A moment later, Eli stood in the doorway, a smile of welcome on his lips.
“What a pleasant surprise! Come on inside.”
Paul leaned on his crutches. “We don’t mean to intrude on your evening, but I wonder if you might have a few minutes to talk.”
“Of course.” Eli ushered them inside and closed the door.
Paul shrugged out of his coat and hung it on a hall tree near the entrance. “I just wanted to run an idea past you and see if you think it would be worthwhile.”
“Sure.” Eli’s shy smile lit his whole face. “I’m always glad to help.”
Kate edged toward the door. “Why don’t I wait in the car and give you some privacy?”
“Not on a cold night like this,” Eli protested. “Paul and I can go in my office. Why don’t you browse around the store while we talk? I have some new items you might be interested in looking at.”
Kate hesitated. “Is this going to take quite a while?”
“Probably not,” Paul said. “But Eli’s right. It’s cold out there. I’d feel better if you stayed inside where you’ll be warm.”
The two men disappeared around a corner, and Kate heard the click of the door to Eli’s office. She sighed, hoping whatever Paul planned to discuss wouldn’t take too long.
Right now all she really wanted to do was to get home, curl up with a mug of coffee, and see if she could put together the pieces of this puzzle and come up
with some answers.
She wandered through the rows of collectibles that made up the display area of Weston’s Antiques. It looked as if Eli had added a couple of rolltop desks to his inventory since she had been in there last.
Kate threaded between a familiar serpentine-back sofa and a rosewood wardrobe and angled toward a walnut drop-front secretary. She didn’t see anything different in this part of the store.
Over in the corner, a stately grandfather clock ticked away, reminding her of the passing minutes. Much as she usually enjoyed looking at antiques, that night she longed for nothing more than to be alone with her thoughts.
Kate tapped her fingers against the carving on the back of a rocking chair that had belonged to some child from the Victorian era. She knew Paul wouldn’t have come to see Eli without a good reason. And experience had taught her there were no set hours for a pastor’s work.
Still, it would be nice to be able to look forward to an evening at home without any distractions.
On the other hand, she would never want to trade places with anyone. The joys of being a minister’s wife far outweighed any of the apparent inconveniences.
Look at the ways God had used them already in Copper Mill. The move had been a good one for Paul...even if he was on crutches at the moment.
Kate looked toward the back of the store, longing to hear the office door open.
Nothing yet.
She sighed again and headed for the area where Eli displayed some of the more fragile items. Maybe she could find a new teapot for her collection.
That foray ended in disappointment. Nothing new had been added to his assortment of teapots since her last shopping tour.
Kate fidgeted, wondering how much longer their discussion would take. And men say women talk a lot!
Over in a corner, she spied an old friend, a Tiffany lamp Eli purchased at an estate sale. No matter how often she saw the elegant creation, Kate felt drawn toward it.
It wouldn’t hurt to go look at it one more time. She never tired of studying the craftsman’s technique, looking for ways to improve her own stained-glass skills.