After she was done capturing the flower, along with a curious chipmunk, she loaded her equipment back up, keeping out her camera for snapshots. As they hiked back up to the road, Faith in the lead, the pines towered above them, allowing a bit of dappled sunlight to create lacy patterns on the delicate underbrush below. Nearing the trail head, Faith stopped and turned back to him.
He paused in mid-step and tried to read her closed expression.
“Tell me something, Shane. Do you feel closer to God in church or out here?”
He regarded her, sensing the weight of her question, yet at the same time, feeling unbalanced by her mercurial moods. What answer did she expect? What answer did she want? He could guess the direction of her thoughts easily enough. “Honestly, it's easier for me to turn my thoughts toward God out here where His beauty is so awe-inspiring. But at the same time people need each other. We're not supposed to go it alone.”
“I'm not talking about quitting church,” she said, the color high in her cheeks. “But out here, it's just me and the elements. If I get hurt it's because I was careless, not because of anyone's selfishness or agenda.”
So I was right. But it was a hollow victory. Shane knew she'd been hurt by someone. Who hadn't? And for whatever reason she was not able to get past it. He didn't know how to respond without ticking her off even more. Had her sisters abandoned her? Rejected her? Had it been one or both of her parents? “I know people can be difficult to deal with, but with the frustration that working on relationships brings, there's also a tremendous amount of blessing. And sometimes the outcome is even sweeter if it's something you've really worked at.”
He figured his answer dissatisfied her when he saw the skin tighten around her eyes. “As I just said, I feel closer to God out here.”
Shane bit back a retort, praying inwardly for the right words. But in this case it seemed saying nothing was the better choice.
She turned and headed back toward the Jeep. She had answered his question whether she realized it or not. Faith's only friend was her sentimental boss. Shane sincerely hoped he could add to that number by at least one.
Chapter Eight
Faith was fuming by the time Shane dropped her off at the office. She watched him go into Bascombe Productions to ostensibly speak to Merle. Instead of following him, she detoured to her house and clumped inside. The echoing quiet didn't cool her mood any. After retrieving her camera, she flung the backpack onto the couch. Faith turned on her laptop and uploaded the day's photos, acutely aware they weren't as good as what Shane would've come up with.
Once the upload was complete, she kicked off her boots and headed to the shower. Even hot water and a good scrubbing couldn't erase her angst at Shane and his assumptions about her life. Faith got dressed, dried her hair, and then padded into the kitchen for dinner. Her cupboards weren't much help. Same with her refrigerator. She glared at the wilted lettuce and leftover TV dinner congealing on the wire shelf.
It looked like she'd have to go to the grocery store. Faith peeked out her front window and scowled. Shane's Jeep was still parked out front. As she stood trying to figure out a way to sneak out without being noticed, she saw Shane emerge from the office, followed by Merle. Edging away from the window slightly, she watched as they climbed into the Jeep and left together.
Apparently that social butterfly-slash-ranger was making good on having his uncle over to dinner. Which meant Shane would be showing off his photos. Faith stared unseeing as the Jeep disappeared down the road. Once she realized they were gone, she grabbed a pair of sneakers by the door and shoved her feet into them. If she was going to be replaced, at least she wanted to be well-fed. In moments she was on the road to the local Shop 'n Go grocery store.
Inside, the fluorescent lighting bounced off freshly-waxed floors and tinny Muzak sounded from ceiling speakers making her anger morph into a vague sense of depression. A few lingering shoppers compared products or shuffled after their grocery carts. She recognized several of them, but didn't know their names.
Faith picked up a plastic shopping basket and headed to the freezer section. She stared at the selection for several minutes, knowing the bright colorful photographs didn't truly depict the hard, frosty contents she'd see when she got home. Her depression grew. She turned from the glass doors and wandered over to the deli. A woman from her church turned down her aisle, sorting through coupons as she went. Faith smiled at her when she looked up, but the woman's attention flickered right past her as she went by. Faith's smile faded.
I do have friends. This is a small town where everyone knows everyone else. Just because I haven't memorized every person's name doesn't mean I don't have any friends. She grabbed a mini pizza and orange gelatin salad from the deli case and headed for the checkout line. The teenage clerk—who also attended her church and was here nearly every time Faith shopped—smiled absently, her attention on the cute bagger. The bagger grinned and flirted shamelessly back at the clerk.
Faith lifted her lips. “How's it going?”
The girl—her nametag said Tina—pulled her attention from the bagger and looked at Faith. “Hey.”
“You staying busy tonight?”
The girl stared at her— the only customer in sight. “It's actually been a little slow.”
“Oh.” Faith cleared her throat, trying a different tack. “You go to Gateway Community Church, right?”
“Yeah.”
“I go there, too.”
“That's great.”
The bagger held out her plastic grocery bag. Faith took it, chastising herself for putting herself forward to a couple of love-sick teenagers. She left without attempting to befriend any other hapless passersby.
On the way home, Faith mentally went through the people she knew at church. She helped with several of the functions and in the nursey on a regular basis, but she could admit she hadn't pursued relationships outside of the building. And people rarely asked her to do anything strictly social. Maybe it was because when they did, she always had an excuse to beg off. She reminded herself the peace and quiet of her lifestyle was by choice. Life had been so chaotic in her childhood. So out of control.
So, it's not that I don't have any friends, it's just that I choose to be alone. And I like it that way. When I'm ready to start a social whirl, I'll put myself out there and start making connections. Faith made a face. The social scene wasn't too big in a small town.
When she was home, she arranged pizza and orange salad on a paper plate and turned on the news. Her favorite news anchors, Joe and Tracy, reported the daily events of Wheeler County.
Joe and Tracy. See, I know people.
***
The following day at work, Faith barely made it through until quitting time. She'd spent the evening before sniffling—must be a cold coming on—and today had been drudgery. The photos from Bear Creek had turned out only so-so. She tried to find 'hidden qualities' and tried to 'change context', but recognizing it was one thing while applying it was quite another. Instead of art, she had average photos of flowers and a creek and a chipmunk. Big whoop.
She'd even played around with some image editing. The end result seemed sophomoric to her eyes. Maybe she should pick up some photography courses. But the only place that offered classes was the satellite campus of the local community college. If she went there, it would come out that she hadn't graduated. Faith blew a lock of hair from her eyes and felt her features droop.
The bell above the door made her jump. She twisted in her chair and saw Shane walk into the lobby. Her heart lurched in her chest. He'd seemed much less attractive when she'd been thinking dark thoughts about him. Now, here he stood, watching her with his shiny brown eyes.
“Hello, Faith.”
She noticed his usual smile wasn't in place. That was probably her fault. �
�Hi.”
He checked his watch. “Merle called and asked me to come in before closing time. Do you know what that might be about?”
Faith shook her head. “He was gone most of the day and only just got back half an hour ago.”
“Well, he said it involved both of us.”
She blinked. “Huh.”
The man himself popped his head out of the back office. “Shane, you're here! Why don't you come on back.” He turned his head toward Faith. “You, too.”
Faith eased out of her chair and followed Shane across the office, wishing she could duck into the bathroom and check her appearance. Not that mattered. Shane wouldn't be interested in a person like her. And of course, she was fine with that.
When she walked into Merle's office, he stood behind his desk, his hands shoved in his jeans pockets. His white mustache was stretched over a wide smile. Faith flashed a look at Shane, found him doing the same at her, then redirected her attention to the boss, her face hot.
“I can't tell you two how tickled I am that you're striking up a friendship,” Merle said, to Faith's surprise.
Had Shane not mentioned the disaster of yesterday?
“And knowing you work together well—”
Hah.
“—I propose a project. It has come to my attention that the governor is holding a contest for a photograph that best represents the state. The winning photograph will be on every phone book, website, and tourist pamphlet the state puts out for the next year. I'd like you two to work on it together under the auspices of Bascombe Productions.”
Faith didn't say anything, nor did Shane.
Somewhere a cricket chirped.
Shane lightly cleared his throat. “Since I'm a government employee, doesn't that make me ineligible?”
Merle shook his head. “Only state employees are prohibited from entering. Not a problem as you're a federal employee.”
Oh, great. Faith looked at Shane, feeling last night's despair climb back onto her shoulders.
“And if your photo finals, or even wins, that would be a wonderful feather in the cap of this company.”
Faith cleared her throat. “Um, why don't Shane and I work separately and submit an image each, thereby doubling the chance of a win?” She didn't look Shane's way to see how he took her suggestion.
“Actually, I've already considered that, and you working together is the way I prefer it. But if you don't wish to be a team, by all means, enter the contest separately.”
Faith swallowed and tilted her head slightly to gauge Shane's reaction out of the corner of her eye.
“I agree with your idea, Merle,” he said. He turned to Faith. “I look forward to working with your niece.”
She sent him a wry look, hoping Merle didn't notice. Was he attempting to score points with his uncle? Or...
Faith compressed her lips and studied her boss. Had Merle seen the impressive quality of Shane's images and knew she wouldn't have a chance at winning unless they worked together? Her blood pressure mounted at the thought.
“Well?”
She pulled in a surreptitious breath, avoiding any eye contact with Shane. What choice did she have? If she refused, she might deny Bascombe's a win. “All right.”
“Good!” Merle said, rubbing his hands together. “I can't wait to see what you two come up with!”
Faith sent a tight smile Shane's way, then headed back to her desk. She stared at her computer monitor, struggling to rein in her conflicting emotions. On so many levels, this was humiliating. But she'd seen it coming. Merle couldn't just come out and say he didn't want the fate of the contest to rest on her inferior shoulders when there was true talent at his fingertips.
“Faith.”
The softly spoken word caused her to spin around. Shane stood nearby, his gaze watchful.
“Do you want to get together for dinner so we can come up with a direction for this project?”
Faith glanced past him to Merle's office. His door was closed. She lowered her voice. “We both know why Merle wants it this way, so let's not pretend. Just go home, choose one of your photos and turn it in.”
Shane put up his hands. “Okay, I don't know what you mean by 'what Merle wants'.”
“Are you serious?” she hissed. “He's seen your work and can't trust me to do this right!”
His brows snapped together. “That's ridiculous!”
“No it isn't.”
He took a step closer, close enough for her to see sparks shooting from his eyes. “Merle has seen my work. You might be surprised to know he wasn't all that impressed. He prefers straight shots without editing or any 'hocus pocus' as he called it.”
Faith looked up at him, shocked. When she thought about it, she realized Shane might have something there. Merle didn't want works of art. He just wanted eastern Oregon represented in the raw. She bit her lip. “Then why does he want us to do this together?”
It was Shane's turn to stare at her for several moments. “Like I said before, he's concerned with how much time you spend alone.”
Faith rolled her eyes.
“Listen, tomorrow is Saturday. I won't be able to work on this during the week, so let's get this going sooner than later. Have dinner with me tonight and we'll come up with a plan. Hopefully then we can head out tomorrow and get something on film.”
“You mean on an SD card.”
He smiled suddenly. “It was just a figure of speech.”
Faith regarded him through her lashes. While Joe and Tracey had their appeal, she could admit it would be nice to not eat alone. Anticipation inexplicably extinguished rancor. “Okay, let's do this.”
Chapter Nine
Once again, Faith found herself at Shane's house, not quite sure how it had happened. After Shane keyed open the door and she followed him inside, he turned on the closest lamps, bathing the space in a golden glow.
“How does Chinese takeout sound?”
She offered what she hoped was a supportive smile. “Uh, sure.”
“Had I known I was going to have company, I would've fired up the crock pot this morning.”
Faith's eyes widened. “You do not have a crock pot.”
He grinned. “Sure I do. Eating out gets old after a while.”
She couldn't disagree there. “I should probably get one.”
“You don't already have one? Does that mean you don't cook?”
“I can cook, I just choose not to, generally.”
“Ah.”
Faith felt her mouth turn downward. “Okay, here's the deal, Shane, if we're going to work together, you cannot make comments about my personal life. Got it?”
“I just wanted to swap recipes.”
There he went again. As soon as she began to get huffy, he'd make a small joke that jerked her out of a perfectly good snit. She sent him a dark look. “I'll have the lemon chicken.”
Shane laughed and went to make the call. Faith wandered into the living room and perched on the edge of the leather couch. Despite the unusual warmth of the season, it was still chilly in the evenings. She wondered how to hint that she'd like a fire.
He came into the living room a few minutes later. “I put the order in. They should have it here in about half an hour.” Shane then went to the fire place and proceeded to light a splendid blaze.
Faith scooted to the other end of the couch closest to the warmth and put out her hands. “That feels wonderful.”
Shane stood and brushed off his hands. “Let me grab some note paper and we'll start brainstorming.”
When he left the room, she relaxed a little. Faith decided she needed to be calm and collected about this enterprise. Work with Shane, be civil, get the photograph, enter it. Done. She was an adult. She could control her vexation for
the short time they'd work together. After that, it was back to business as usual, just the way she liked it.
But when he returned, she felt herself tense up. Just being in the same room with him made her antsy. Shane dragged a chair over to the low coffee table and sat across from her.
“As soon as I heard about the project, I got an idea,” he said, his eyes glimmering with excitement.
Of course you did, she thought glumly.
“I thought it would be cool to have a composite result from several shots.” He began sketching the idea onto a piece of notebook paper. “Starting with mountains for the base image with the summit as the top of the image, then layer on a forest below that. The next layer down is a city skyline to represent the valley, and ending with a beach in the foreground.” He made a quick sketch on the paper. “You've seen photos of say, the Blue Ridge Mountains, where you get the hazy layers that go from light to dark. We can do that, but each layer in a different representation of the state.”
Faith could see it in her mind's eye. She was superfluous. “It's brilliant, Shane. Really.”
He smiled. “Thanks. The only hitch is that it's really not what Merle is looking for. He wants Bascombe's to be represented based on the type of photography they're known for.”
“Unretouched shots.”
“Exactly.”
“So, what, do we submit our photos to him and he picks what gets submitted?”
“I think he considered that, but in the end he decided he wants us to make the choice.”
“So what's the problem? Do the photo how you want and submit it.”
He lifted one side of his mouth. “But I'll know he would've preferred something else.”
Faith sank back against the cushions. “Shane, this is silly. Why don't you submit your idea, I'll do one of mine. I don't understand why he's wanting us to team up on this. He prefers the straight photos I take, and yet, we won't have a chance at winning unless you submit one of your ideas.”
Rock and A Hard Place (Cascade Brides Series) Page 8