by JoAnn Durgin
Marta found a seat on one of the vacant benches as Lexa crossed the circle to join Sam and their children. Leah ran over to her and planted her little hands on Marta’s knees. “Can I sits with you?” The dark-haired tyke gave her the sweet smile that always melted her heart. She’d had a couple of sleepovers in the past year with the twins and Joe to give Sam and Lexa a romantic night away.
“Of course, sweetie.” Marta pulled the toddler onto her lap and kissed her cheek. “Have you had a fun day?”
“Uh huh.” Squirming on her lap, Leah nodded. “I helped Mommy maked peach cobbler. For Daddy. He saided he loved it.”
“You did? Your cobbler was absolutely scrumptious!” Marta balanced Leah between her knees, arms wrapped around her, lightly bouncing her back and forth.
“What’s scrumpshis?”
“It means it was so good that I wish I had some right now.” Marta’s heart warmed when Leah giggled.
“Do you ladies mind if I join you?”
At the sound of Eliot’s deep voice, Leah snuggled closer and burrowed her head into Marta’s chest. The child didn’t know Eliot well and wasn’t used to him. As brawny and muscular as he was, Marta imagined he must be rather intimidating. Not to mention his black eye. He’d ditched the sunglasses since his black eye was a moot point by now. Marta couldn’t help but wonder how many times he’d sported one. Hazard of his job perhaps? Trying to explain his shiner to the kids had been a challenge. She’d overheard Lexa trying to tell Joe what happened to Mr. Eliot earlier in the dining hall and she hadn’t envied Lexa that task.
“This is Mr. Eliot, Leah. He’s my special friend.” She smoothed hair away from the little girl’s eyes as Eliot carefully lowered his large frame onto the log bench beside her as if testing his weight. Considering she was holding Leah, it wouldn’t be good to send her flying off the bench.
“Ohhh. He’s weally big.” Turning her head, Leah peeked up at him. “Are you Goliath?”
Marta swallowed her grin and caught the way Eliot’s eyes lit. The tiniest lines at the corners of his eyes crinkled. Since he seemed at a loss to know how to respond, she needed to say something. “Mr. Eliot is tall—just like your daddy—and he’s a very gentle giant.”
“Did somebody throwed a stone at you?”
“No one threw a stone at me.” The corners of Eliot’s lips upturned.
Leah leaned closer, peering at the area beneath his eye as if inspecting the wound. “Does your booboo hurt?”
Marta’s heart lurched when Eliot’s eyes softened. “No, honey. It doesn’t hurt.”
“Guess what, Leah?” Marta continued to bounce the child on her knees.
“Whats?” Sticking her thumb in her mouth, Leah stared up at Marta as if she had all the answers. The implicit trust youngsters held for adults often stole her breath.
“I saw Mr. Eliot eat two whole bowls of the peach cobbler tonight.”
That caught Leah’s attention. “You did?” She gave Eliot a bright but shy smile more reminiscent of her quieter twin sister. “Hannah and me helped Mommy maked it. My daddy loves it.”
“Did you now?” Eliot rubbed his stomach in an exaggerated way and made smacking sounds with his lips. “It was the bestest peach cobbler in the whole world.”
Marta ducked her head to hide her smile, finding it incredibly sweet to see a grown man act silly to please a child. She hadn’t observed Eliot around children except on rare occasions. When Hannah called across the circle to her twin sister, Leah slid down from her lap and waved to them. “Bye, Marta. Bye, Gentle Giant.”
“Bye, Leah.” Eliot chuckled under his breath. “Thanks for defending my honor.”
“Always. I think you have another female fan.”
“I love kids but haven’t had the opportunity to be around many of them. So, how old are Lexa and Sam’s twins now?” Eliot dug into the hard ground with the heel of his boot but it wasn’t budging.
“They’ll be three on Valentine’s Day. Before that, Joe turns four in December.”
“Hard to believe.” If she wasn’t mistaken, she detected a life is passing by me too fast wistfulness.
Feeling a night chill, Marta zipped her Baylor University hoodie and crossed her arms on her knees. “Listen, Eliot. I’m sorry for prying into your life earlier. I had no right.”
He nodded but stared straight ahead. “I understand your curiosity. We’re good friends and friends share things like that. My situation is different. And a little strange.”
“I understand. Well, sort of.” Turning toward him, their knees touched, sending a heightened awareness of him through every part of her. “I heard what you did for Mitch in New Orleans, so I have no reason to criticize anything you do. Cassie and Mitch are so grateful that they can’t stop expounding on your virtues. Rightly so, and I mean that in the best possible way. Not being sarcastic in the least. You’re a true hero to them. You swooped right in there”—Marta motioned with her hand as if it were a bird before lowering her hand to her lap—“and saved the day. You’re apparently very good at what you do. Not that I ever doubted it for a second. I can’t begin to imagine how many other people you’ve probably rescued. Or saved. Or both.” Why was she stumbling over her words?
Eliot’s gaze moved away from her again. “I’m thankful I found Mitch.”
“We all are. How did you find him, anyway? Wait.” She raised her hands. “Let me guess. You can’t answer that one either? See, I can’t seem to stop myself.”
“No worries. In answer to your question, I asked around in the ward where Mitch had been working. I found out where he was last seen, talked to a few locals. It’s amazing what information people will give up when they’re offered the things that tempt them the most. It’s the ultimate seduction.”
Marta sucked in a quick breath. “You’re not talking about anything illegal, are you?”
Eliot leaned close, for her ears only. “Yes, but only as an enticement. I’m not talking seduction in the sexual sense. Seduction takes many forms. People can be surprisingly gullible, Marta. A large part of what I do is as much mental as it is physical. I try to read people by analyzing their motivations and end goals. Then I follow through with an effective plan.”
“Ah,” she said. “So, what you’re saying is that—at heart—you’re a psychologist?”
“Sure, if that works for you. I need to give credit where it’s due. The Lord had a whole lot to do with me finding Mitch.”
“How so? I mean, of course He did. But in what way, exactly?”
Eliot didn’t immediately respond. “I don’t know how to answer that except to say that He’s blessed me with intuition, opened the right doors, and pointed me in the direction of the right people. And he’s given me the good sense to know when to follow a lead or when to recognize and respect a closed door.”
“You’re a fascinating man, Eliot Marchand.” She stared at him in wonder. “Tell me, is there anything you don’t know?”
“Sure. Lots of things.”
“Felipe can’t stop talking about you,” she said to fill the silence when he offered nothing further. “He’s got all kinds of theories. Like you’re a super spy or a double agent.”
“You’re starting in on me again, you realize.”
“You told me not to feel as though I have to apologize, so I’m not,” she said. “However, I will say that I think you’d look handsome in tights and a cape.”
“Don’t get your hopes up. Never going to happen in this lifetime. And that’s more what a superhero wears, not a spy or a double agent.”
“Hey, don’t knock it,” she said. “I’m sure you heard about the Renaissance-themed first birthday bash for Leah and Hannah. Sam was the king, complete with crown, tights, and a crown. Didn’t hurt his image any. Same for Josh as the king’s court jester.”
“Good for them. Still not happening.” His dimple surfaced. “I’m sure Thompson had a field day with it.”
Marta laughed. “He did.”
“Of course,
Felipe’s other theory is that you’re an incognito NFL player.”
Eliot cocked his head to one side. “Now that I’d consider.” Leaning back on his palms, he extended his long legs in front of him and crossed them at the ankles. Typical Eliot. He wasn’t giving an inch, neither admitting nor denying a thing. What an adventurous life he must lead. At least he’d stayed safe from harm—except for the black eye—in his latest travels. Marta couldn’t bear the thought of anything happening to this man.
Across the prayer circle from her, Kevin planted a kiss on Rebekah’s forehead. Beck seemed to be feeling better. Next to them, with Gracie on his lap, Marc moved his arm around Natalie. A few months into her pregnancy, Natalie wasn’t showing yet. After some initial morning sickness, she now glowed and was the picture of health. And Gracie. With an exquisite china doll face surrounded by a mass of gorgeous dark hair and a perennially mischievous smile, Gracie was already pushing Joe’s buttons. They should be fun to watch.
“Want to take a walk together after the devotions?” When she hesitated, Eliot nudged her shoulder. “Come on. You know you want to.”
“Why? So we can play twenty questions about your job some more?”
“Not at all. I prefer Lexa’s term of ‘flirt and skirt’ with one another. At least I think that’s what I heard.”
He knew about that? Covering her mouth, Marta muffled her laughter. Eliot’s radar must be set on high.
“I don’t think I heard your answer.”
“Yes, Eliot. The answer is yes.”
She moved her gaze around the circle as a convenient distraction or she’d be tempted to stare at the man all night. Winnie and Josh sat next to Cassie and Mitch. Chloe snuggled between Cassie and Winnie, Luke was on Winnie’s lap, and Josh bounced Emily on his knee. All three of the Grant kids were fair-haired, green-eyed, and adorable.
Marta suppressed her sigh. The perfect family.
No, Marta. No family is ever perfect.
The Grants had weathered their share of storms, but they’d found their peace. All of the couples sitting around the circle had endured trials of one kind or another. They just made it look easy. With faith, family, and close friends to lean on. That’s what it was all about in order to get through the journey. Sometimes she wondered if her journey would ever truly begin.
Sam and Lexa’s three kids sat between their parents. Joe, a miniature version of his father, kept a protective eye on his younger twin sisters. The fraternal Lewis twins reminded Marta of Red-Rose and Snow-White, a German fairy tale her grandmother used to read to her. Leah was Red-Rose, dark-haired and outgoing, whereas Hannah was Snow-White, fair-haired, quiet, and shy. The sisters got along well, and Marta admired how Lexa chose not to dress them alike and encouraged their distinct, individual personalities unless they asked to be “twinsies,” which they sometimes did.
Dean sat between Felipe and Angelina—that made her smile—while Sheila sat next to Gayle. Sheila darted frequent glances at the teenagers. While Marta understood Sheila’s concern, she also worried that her overprotectiveness might have the opposite effect and push Angelina in the opposite direction. She also noted how Dean couldn’t take his eyes off Sheila. Interesting.
“Is something going on with Sheila and Dean?” she whispered to Eliot.
“On Dean’s part, yes. He’s impressed by her, and I’m pretty sure he’s hoping for more. As long as he can reassure Sheila that Felipe won’t lead her daughter down the road to ruin.”
“Felipe’s all right. I wasn’t a bad kid, but I definitely had my moments of rebellion.”
“Didn’t we all?” True enough, and Marta wasn’t especially surprised to hear it from Eliot.
“I envision you as a scrappy kid. Am I close to the truth?”
Eliot’s dimple appeared again. “You could say that.”
They both sat up straighter as Sam opened with a short prayer. As Kevin and Cassie led the group in a few hymns and praise choruses, Marta enjoyed listening to Eliot’s deep tenor. In some ways, his voice reminded her of Sam’s—heartfelt and natural. She preferred to sing quietly since her pitch wasn’t exactly perfect. Well, not even close. Her brothers had teased her relentlessly when she’d auditioned for a singing group in high school. Never again.
Sam rose to his feet with his Bible in hand. “Friends, on our first night together, I think it’s important to remember our purpose and why we’re here. We’re not only helping to finish the construction of a church building for the One Nation under God congregation, but we’re here to be witnesses of the life-changing love that can only come from the Lord.”
Marta glanced around the circle, admiring how Sam commanded everyone’s attention and respect. An ordained man, he was bold in proclaiming his faith in Christ and often led them in devotions at their TeamWork gatherings. Their leader and mentor lived his faith and consistently modeled a godly lifestyle. And now his ministry extended to a popular book series centering on biblically-based principles for building a successful marriage and family.
“When we think of missionaries,” Sam continued, “we often think in terms of overseas countries where a large percentage of the population has never heard the soul-saving message of Jesus Christ. While it’s true we’re to be witnesses wherever He sends us, we’re also called to be missionaries right here in our own country, whether in Texas, in Massachusetts”—Sam nodded to Marc and his family—“New York”—he angled his head toward Amy and Landon, then at Mitch and Cassie—“here in New Mexico, or anywhere else in our great country. Some of the members of the One Nation congregation are new believers who’ve overcome tremendous odds. A number of them have separated from their families and their old ways at great personal cost in order to follow Jesus. Most of us can’t imagine what that’s like but, as you know, that’s what being a Christ follower is all about, folks. Picking up the cross and being unashamed to share our faith.”
Sam slipped on his eyeglasses and then opened his Bible. “The verse I’d like you to meditate on tonight is from Hebrews 13, verse 2. It goes like this, ‘Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.’ Hospitality works both ways. In part to say thank you for helping to build their church building, our brothers and sisters in the One Nation congregation have graciously offered to cook dinner for us in our dining hall on Wednesday night. They’ve insisted on serving us, and all they ask in return is that we show up and enjoy the meal with them. I ask that you join us and be prepared to meet some of the best people you’ll ever have the honor of knowing.”
Sam tucked his glasses back in his shirt pocket. “That, my friends, is practicing the kind of hospitality that God intends. Hospitality that extends beyond our own inner circle. In large part, that’s what TeamWork is all about, and it’s our calling as ambassadors. When Lexa and I scouted this location, Pastor Chevy and his wife, Lila, treated us with that kind of hospitality when they graciously hosted us in their home.”
Closing his Bible, Sam’s voice was low and resonant. “The Lord has given each one of you unique and special talents. First Corinthians 12, verse 12, tells us ‘For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.’ Whether a member of TeamWork, or a member of the One Nation Church, we’re all called to serve the one true God.”
Marta’s breath caught as Sam’s gaze zeroed in on Felipe. “You are precious to the Lord, and you’re important to us.” The expression on Felipe’s face was difficult to read, but she could tell he listened.
Slowly turning around the circle, Sam’s gaze encompassed each of them. “You’re here with us in New Mexico for a reason. Never doubt that. The Lord is pleased by your presence here and your willingness to use your talents on His behalf. Our efforts will be blessed.”
Clearing his throat, Sam’s voice sounded a bit rough as he continued. The deeply held conviction, the passion in their TeamWork leader, never ceased to amaze her. Marta
moved her gaze to Lexa. The love and pride in her expressive face as Lexa listened to her husband was a beautiful thing to witness.
“In closing, remember that—as always—there’s power in numbers. I hope you’ll let us help ease your burdens. If there’s anything you need us to pray about with you, we’re here for each other, friends. If you ever need private counsel, please know that my door is always open.” Sam nodded to Josh before sitting beside Lexa.
Eliot squeezed Marta’s hand as Josh ended the evening in prayer and then dismissed them. “Get plenty of rest, folks, and be prepared for breakfast in the dining hall at six in the morning.” Josh laughed as protests and groans traveled around their circle. “Hey,” he said, “don’t hate the messenger, people.”
Eliot offered his hand to Marta. “May I have the honor of escorting you back to the ladies dorm?”
“That’s preferable to escorting me to the men’s dorm. That wouldn’t be appropriate.” When he shook his head, she felt like a fool. She needed to watch the sarcasm. In some ways, it was a nervous reaction.
After tonight, she didn’t know how many opportunities they’d have to spend together in the evening. The men planned to head back to the worksite after the prayer circle most nights to get in a couple more hours of work while the ladies and the children remained in the camp.
If she wasn’t needed elsewhere, she might ask Sam if she could tag along. No, that wasn’t the right word. Above all, she certainly didn’t want to appear like a loyal puppy jumping around Eliot’s feet. Like me! Like me! Goodness, she’d appear desperate.
“Marta?” Eliot arched a brow and waited, still holding out his hand to her. “Ready?”
As she grasped Eliot’s hand and he pulled her to her feet, Marta hoped they’d take the long way home.
Chapter 9
~~♥~~
“Come with me, Angel.” With his warm hand wrapped around hers, Felipe tugged her beside him as they walked.
“Where are we going?” Angelina didn’t bother trying to pull her hand away, but she didn’t want to think about the reasons why not.