by Lyn Cote
She couldn’t take her eyes from his face. She claimed his lips boldly.
Peter pulled back a half inch. “Oh, Thea,” he breathed into her mouth, then his lips closed over hers.
“Well! You seem to be feeling better!” the nurse exclaimed cheerfully upon entering the room.
That sunny afternoon, Peter drove them to the lodge and parked. He walked around and opened Thea’s door and helped her out. On Peter’s arm, she had barely taken two steps when Molly galloped to her, barking excitedly.
She bent to pet her retriever. “Did you miss me, girl?” Leaping up, Molly licked her face like a puppy. Thea giggled. “I missed you, too, Molly.”
“Thea!” Cynda, Irene, Aldo and Aunt Louella ran down the steps to greet her with hugs, kisses and questions.
Peter hung back a few steps as though enjoying the sight. A car drove up and parked behind Peter’s vehicle and Peter glanced around.
Catching sight of the new arrival, too, Louella exclaimed, “Dick!”
Grim-faced, Mr. Crandon walked over and planted his feet squarely on the ground in front of Peter. Without preamble, he said, “Della, I’ve given you a hard time about this camp.” He paused and averted his eyes. “I think I might have set a poor example for Thad.”
Looking back to Peter, he continued, “I got excited over nothing. Everyone but Althea Lowell has been arguing with me for weeks. But I wouldn’t listen.”
“Stubborn. That’s what we told you,” Louella muttered.
Mr. Crandon frowned. “Anyway, I feel responsible to some extent for Thad’s actions. I was wondering if I offered to make things right by writing you a check for your camp, would you consider not pressing charges against Thad?”
Peter folded his arms and said calmly, “I don’t need any more money for expenses this year. The prospective donors who came with me were so upset about this latest event that they pledged enough to fund the camp for the rest of this year.”
“You won’t consider it then?” Mr. Crandon rumbled.
Thea stepped closer to Peter.
Peter put his arm around Thea. “I’ve already made a deal with Thad. He’s agreed to work around here for the next twelve months and I’ve agreed to drop the charges against him. I figured a year with my dad would do him more good than anything else.”
Strong emotion played over the older man’s face. “That’s decent of you. I’d like to bury the hatchet—”
“So would I.” Peter stuck out his hand. The two men shook hands.
Thea had to bat her eyes to ward off tears. Pride in Peter’s kindness filled her with joy.
“Anything else I can do for you?” Mr. Crandon asked gruffly.
Peter grinned. “Yes, I’ve heard you carve decoys for a hobby. Would you give a demonstration to my campers?”
Mr. Crandon smiled and shook his head. “You’re something, Della. Anything else?”
“As a matter of fact, yes.” Peter tucked Thea close beside him. “Thea and I are planning a fall wedding here at the camp. Would you mind spreading the news for us? Everyone in Lake Lowell is invited.”
“Peter!” Thea shrieked in shock. “When did you propose to me—when I was unconscious!”
“Well, no, I did it right now, I guess.” He hung his head.
Thea caught his chin in her hand. “Peter—”
Irene spoke up, “Oh, Thea, you know Peter. He always has a big new idea. You might as well get used to it.”
Thea chuckled. “I might as well. It will be for life.”
Peter beamed at her and pulled her to him.
“Thea! Cool!” Cynda shrieked. Molly began barking.
Peter and Thea were cheerfully mobbed on all sides. Peter, ignoring the hubbub, wrapped his arms around Thea and kissed her.
Letting her lips communicate her gladness, Thea kissed him in return, unmindful of the happy crowd around them.
“I’m so happy I could cry.” Aunt Louella dabbed her eyes.
“A wedding at the camp!” Irene clapped her hands together. “We’re going to have a great time planning this! I’ll make a tiered cake decorated with fresh flowers!”
“I’m going to be maid of honor!” Cynda gave a cheerleader jump.
Peter looked into Thea’s eyes. “Well, Thea, so much for your quiet life.”
Laughter bubbling up inside her, Thea threw her arms around his neck. “Thank heaven!”
Dear Reader,
Often we form opinions too quickly and learn later that we’re wrong. How irritating! How humbling!
God never makes mistakes. When He looks at us, His eyes examine our hearts. He’s never fooled.
Thea learned this when she began to look more deeply into the hearts of people she’d known and taken for granted for years and years. Peter Della, the new man in town, caused a transformation in Thea’s thinking and her community.
God often uses the unexpected to force us to stop and reexamine our lives. While this process is taking place, we are often uncomfortable or unhappy.
But at the end when we look back, we see that God’s plan was best And we can only be glad that God shook us out of our comfortable ruts.
Please let me know what you think of New Man in Town. My address is: P.O. Box 273, Hiawatha, IA 52233.
eISBN 978-14592-5782-5
NEW MAN IN TOWN
Copyright © 1999 by Lyn Cote
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