by Lyn Cote
Tanner raised a hand to halt her. “I—”
“Hey!” Slamming the back door after her, Zoë, wearing her white DQ shirt and black shorts, ran down the steps toward Lucie. “You let me oversleep! I’m supposed to open the DQ today! I gotta be there in ten minutes!”
The girl’s aggrieved tone and stormy expression put Lucie’s teeth on edge. Hoping she wasn’t betraying this, she turned to the girl. “Sophie said you didn’t work till after—”
Zoë gave a huff of impatience. “Sophie can’t keep my schedule straight. I gotta go.”
“So what’s stopping you?” Lucie asked without sympathy. She sensed Tanner bristling at Zoë’s attitude.
“Just because I was in a little after curfew last night, Sophie took my keys to the truck away—again. That means you gotta take me in—again.” Zoë glared at Lucie.
Lucie didn’t believe in hitting children, but for just a moment, she understood why a parent might be tempted to threaten to “slap that expression off your face.”
Tanner spoke up. “Zoë, the youth group is planning a trip to—”
Lucie was surprised by his intervening. Way to go, Tanner. Hang in there.
“I heard all about the trip to Des Moines and Adventureland,” Zoë cut him off. “I’m not interested in kid stuff. I gotta go now or I’ll be late for work! And jobs don’t grow on trees around this Podunk burg.”
Tanner motioned Zoë to his car. “Lucie, you’ve got enough to handle here. I’ll run her in for you.” He walked away. “Go ahead and start planting the rows we’ve strung. I have to take care of something in town and then I’ll be back out to help you string the rest.”
“That’s all right,” Lucie said, not really wanting him to return. “You don’t—”
“I’ll be back in a half hour!”
Lucie recognized defeat and felt grumpy about it. Zoë’s behavior was dreadful. But foremost in her mind was Tanner.
His approach to the problem of integrating the newcomers into Pleasant Prairie was to knock on their doors and invite them to church and Sunday school? That must have gone over like a ton of bricks. He didn’t look clueless, but he obviously needed help in the area of people skills. And he’d come to her, the last person in Pleasant Prairie who wanted to work with him.
She watched him drive away.
Why me, Lord? Sophie and the kids need me. I’m planting a garden the size of Wyoming. Zoë’s a disaster waiting to happen. Who knows what she’ll get into this summer?
And now Tanner wants me to get him started with a problem like this? The man doesn’t have a clue of how to go about it. And what about me? I need a job! I’m broke. Isn’t there anyone else to help Tanner? I’m not a superhero!
Later, the wall phone rang in Sophie’s kitchen just as Lucie and Fella walked in. Lucie picked up the receiver.
“Hello, Lucie?”
Instantly recognizing the pleasant soft voice on the phone, Lucie slid onto the wooden kitchen chair. She’d finally come in to have a late lunch. The garden was only half-planted. Mirroring her fatigue, Fella slumped beside her feet, panting. She patted his head affectionately and took a deep breath. “Hi, Mom.”
“How’s Sophie, dear?”
Lucie cut right to the chase. “I won’t be back home for the foreseeable future.”
“I was afraid of that.” Concern vibrated in her mother’s voice. “Should I come?”
“I can handle it.” Lucie tried to keep the hopelessness out of her voice. But didn’t her poor mother, the pastor’s wife, have enough to handle with her endless round of church meetings and volunteering? Lucie wouldn’t add another burden.
“What about your job hunt?” Her mother’s voice was hesitant.
Hearing her worry put into words pinched Lucie. “That will have to wait.” The gruff words scraped her throat.
“I’m sorry, dear. But God can handle that. How are you doing for money? Should Dad and I send you—”
“Mom, I’m okay,” she nearly snapped. She didn’t want to ask her parents for money. I should be past those days by now.
From his place at her feet, Fella yipped for his lunch.
“Just a minute, Fella,” Lucie crooned, glad of distraction.
“Did Sophie get a dog for the boys?” her mother asked.
“No, I’m responsible for Fella being here and with a cast on his leg.” Now Lucie felt the need of her mother’s always-ready sympathy. “Mom, I feel terrible. He ran in front of the Bomb and I clipped him.”
“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry.”
“It wasn’t too bad, I guess. Just a broken leg. The vet said the accident could easily have been fatal. But I’m having trouble finding Fella’s owner.” She hurried to explain. “The vet thinks he belongs to a family in the trailer court just outside of town. But when I checked, I didn’t have any luck finding them.”
“Well, let Fella find them for you. He’ll know his own door.”
Her mother’s common sense wowed Lucie. “You’re right! Thanks, Mom.”
Her mother chuckled. “Call us if you need anything, dear. I have to go now. I’m late to my first meeting of the day—the young mother’s club.”
After their farewells, Lucie walked over and opened a can of dog food. “Here you go, Fella. I think my mom has solved your problem.”
As she bent to empty the can into Fella’s dish, she thought again of her mother and her endless round of church-related activities. Poor Mom. What a life. The church should pay her a salary, too.
The phone rang again. Lucie lifted the receiver. “Hi, Lucie here.”
“Lucie?” Tanner’s voice greeted her. “Sorry I didn’t get back to help you with the rest of the garden. A workman showed up at the church to put in a new electrical circuit board.”
“No problem. It’s planted.” Almost. “I’m just about to put supper in the Crock-Pot to slow cook. Sophie and the boys will be hungry when they hit the door.”
“I still want to get together with you to talk more—”
An idea snapped in Lucie’s mind. She’d kill two birds with one stone and not be forced into a tête-à-tête with this handsome, young minister. “Great. I’ll pick you up. You can go with me to Shangri-La after supper tonight—”
“I—”
“Can’t talk now,” she cut him off. “I’ll pick you up in front of the church at seven.”
She hung up and looked down at Fella, who was eating enthusiastically. “Well, he might as well know how I operate. I’m not going to sit around talking about what to do. He’s done that for more than six months. It’s time for action. And if Tanner Bond can’t get stand the heat, he better get out of the kitchen. I’m not my mother, the meek and mild pastor’s wife.”
Fella looked up at her as though making a comment.
“Yes, I know I don’t have time for all this extra stuff. But evidently, I am my father’s daughter. I can’t see a need in a community and just walk away. Darn.”
At seven in front of St. Andrew’s bright red double doors, Tanner looked disgruntled as he got into the Bomb. “We could take my car,” he muttered.
Lucie had predicted he’d say this. Why did men always think they had to be in the driver’s seat? “The Bomb has made it this far,” she replied airily. “It should get us all the way to Shangri-La.” She drove through town, the young pastor beside her, and turned heads. With an insouciant grin, Lucie waved and people looked away circumspectly.
Oops! I forgot about small-town gossip. And Tanner’s the pastor, the young eligible pastor. They’ll have us engaged by morning. I should have just met him at the mobile home court. Please, Lord, don’t let this touch off the local rumor mill.
As they headed toward Shangri-La, Lucie decided she needed more information. “So tell me more about how the community has been handling the Hispanic newcomers?” When he didn’t answer right away, she glanced at him. He was frowning. Still holding back? “Come on.”
He grimaced. “Are you always so…outspoken?”
“What are you planning tonight?” he asked in a wary tone.
“I asked first,” she reminded him, her voice tight.
He grunted his disapproval, but answered, “All right. They’re convenient targets for everything that happens.”
“Such as?” Is he going to make me drag every bit out of him?
“Kids have been stealing trucks off farms. You know how everyone just leaves the keys in vehicles around here.”
She nodded, aware that farmers had so many machines and vehicles and they didn’t want to be bothered carrying rings of keys. And in the past, they hadn’t had to worry about vehicles being stolen. How could anyone make a fast getaway with a tractor?
“Anyway, I think it’s just some kids joyriding. The trucks are always found abandoned in the area.”
“But some people are saying it’s the newcomers?”
“Yes, but there isn’t any proof that it is. It’s just easier to suspect a stranger.” He sounded indignant.
She liked him for that. She hated injustice, too.
She drove through the entrance of the mobile home court. “But nothing specific? No situation where a Hispanic was caught doing something?”
“Well, one Mexican-American teen was caught trying to let some cattle out of a pasture. Unfortunately, it was a farm right on the highway. It could have caused an accident, injuring cattle and motorists.”
“Not good.” With twilight glowing around them in the soft late-spring air, she parked in the visitor’s parking area and got out. She opened the back door and urged Fella off the seat by tugging on his new leash.
“Why did you bring the dog?” He stared at her distrustfully. “And now it’s my turn for an answer. What exactly have you got up your sleeve?”
“First, I still think that Fella belongs to someone here. And my mom suggested that a dog would know which door is his.”
Tanner looked impressed. “Good idea. Your mother has her wits about her.”
Her wits about her? The man talks like a book.
“Okay. What’s second on your agenda?” he persisted.
Fella looked around and then began sniffing the air.
“Okay,” she gave in. “About getting the Mexican-Americans and the locals together—the baseball game in the park yesterday morning seems to me to be a good place for us to start—”
Suddenly Fella took off, his casted leg barely slowing him in his rush. It was all Lucie could do to keep up with him and hang on to the leash.
With Tanner at her side, Lucie raced after the dog. “Slow down, Fella! You might hurt your leg!”
After a short run down the first lane, Fella charged up the steps of a dusty trailer. Fella barked excitedly. But no one came to the door.
Lucie shortened Fella’s leash and knocked on the door. From behind her on the step, she could feel Tanner’s hesitance. She ignored it.
The door opened finally. A short, stocky Latino man frowned at her.
Fella leaped up, barking in a frenzy of joy.
Afraid the dog might hurt himself in his excitement, Lucie bent down and picked him up. He wriggled in her arms, trying to break away and leap inside.
“Whatever you’re sellin’, we don’t want it.” Ignoring Fella, the man started to close the door.
“Wait!” Lucie edged forward. “I’m trying to find this dog’s owner—”
“I don’t know the dog. I never seen it before.” The man tugged on the doorknob.
“Then why did he lead us right to this door?” Lucie asked.
“I don’t know,” the man said with obvious irritation.
“Are you sure he’s not yours?” Tanner interposed. “We’re just trying to help.”
“No, and I’m gonna shut this door now.” And he did.
Fella struggled in her arms. Lucie stumbled against Tanner and he caught her before she lost her balance. Fella barked frantically, nearly leaping from her arms.
With a firm hand, Tanner took hold of her elbow and led her down the metal steps. Then he walked her away at a brisk pace.
She ignored the barking dog and Tanner. What was going on here? Fella obviously knew the man, obviously wanted to get inside. Suddenly she pulled away from Tanner and turned back toward the trailer.
“What?” Tanner expostulated.
Or that’s how he sounded to her. She liked that old-fashioned word expostulated. It fit the sound he made, a sound of objection, of wanting to hold her back. And though she appreciated his concern and having him with her, it didn’t work. Expostulation or not, she had to try again.
With Tanner right beside her, grimacing with disapproval, she went back and knocked on the same door.
Still in her arms, Fella began barking again, though he sounded heartbroken now. The dejected sound made her feel even more sorry for the little dog.
The man’s voice came through the open window. “Who is it?”
“It’s me, Lucie Hansen,” she shouted over Fella’s barking. “This is obviously your dog. I’m really sorry about hitting him. It was an accident. But I’ve paid the vet. All I want to do is return him to his owner. I can’t keep him—”
The door opened a crack.
“Sammie,” the man bellowed, “get away from that door!”
“But, Papa—”
The sight of the child electrified the dog. Wild now, Fella almost succeeded in leaping from her arms. That sealed it in Lucie’s mind. This is your home, Fella.
“¡Cierra la puerta!” the man roared. “Shut it!”
The door slammed. “Go away, lady!” the man yelled. He added a loud string of insults in Spanish for good measure.
Tanner pushed forward. “There’s no need to be rude,” he shouted back, unexpectedly. “She’s just trying to do a good deed. You ought to be thanking her. And on second thought, I wouldn’t leave a dog with someone like you—”
“Tanner,” she cautioned him. This time she drew him away with her. She took him by the elbow and tugged him down the first step. Tanner allowed this, but he kept casting heated glances back at the trailer.
From her arms, Fella looked over her shoulder at the receding trailer, yipping. It was a painful sound to hear. She stroked the dog’s ruffled fur. By the time they reached her car, Fella had quieted. But he still whimpered on and off. It broke her heart. Sorry, Fella. I don’t understand why they didn’t want you, either.
“Well, we didn’t accomplish much with that,” Tanner said close to her ear, sounding sympathetic. He looked down at her, concern for her in his expression. “Don’t let it upset you. That man just doesn’t want his son’s dog back.”
She opened the back door and gently settled Fella, who was panting heavily, on the back seat, on the towel spread there. She then shut the door and leaned back against the Bomb. “I don’t know if we accomplished anything. I’m sure Fella knew that trailer. And that little boy—”
Tanner opened the driver’s side door for her. “You can’t make him take responsibility for the dog if he doesn’t want to.” Tanner took a deep breath. “Let’s go back to town. I’ll buy you a cup of coffee at the café and we’ll discuss this. I want—”
Her mind busy sorting out what had just taken place, she heard him only from a distance. “Not yet,” she said simply, and looked around. Had they been observed?
Of course, people had peeped out their windows. They’d watched Tanner, Fella and her. She and Tanner might as well take advantage of it. This trip is not going to be wasted! I’m not leaving without getting something started.
“What?” Tanner objected.
She pursed her lips, looking up at him, letting him see that she was undeterred. “Let’s knock on a few more doors.”
“What?”
“You’re starting to repeat yourself.” She shrugged. “I don’t know about you, but I don’t give up that easily. I’m here. I’m goi
ng to do something besides just talk.”
Lucie saw that her words had stung him, but she couldn’t think about his ruffled feathers. Besides, Tanner had come to her looking for help. Not vice versa.
“While Sophie takes little Carly to sit with Nate again tomorrow,” she went on, “I’ll have Mikey and Danny again for the day. Why can’t we spend the morning at the ball diamond in the park? At the very least, we’ll get to know some of the kids here. It would be a start—”
He tried to interrupt.
“Now, we’re just going to knock on a few doors,” she said in a soothing voice, “and talk about baseball practice tomorrow.” She heard Tanner grind his teeth.
“I don’t like to do things on the spur of the moment,” he said in an exasperated undertone. “We haven’t had a chance to talk this through—”
“What’s to talk about?” Through the car window, she told Fella to stay, she’d be back soon. “We’re going to invite kids to come to the park for a softball practice tomorrow morning. What trouble could that stir up?” She started away. “Think of it as a kind of a community survey.”
He tried to catch her arm and stop her.
She marched up the steps of the next trailer.
Chapter Four
Tanner couldn’t believe his eyes. Lucie headed back toward the trailers. He started after her. Someone had to keep her from stepping over the line. Didn’t she realize her impulsiveness could stir up real trouble?
Lord, this woman is going to drive me crazy! This morning, we just talked for a few minutes—make that seconds—about doing something. I haven’t even had time to pray about it—
Already up the nearest set of steps, Lucie knocked on the metal door, which was painted glossy turquoise. The woman who opened the door eyed Lucie with a worried expression.
Tanner stiffened, ready to defend Lucie against more verbal abuse.
Seemingly oblivious to the woman’s wary expression, Lucie beamed at her. “Hello, I’m—”
“I don’t want no trouble,” the woman interrupted.