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The Troublesome Angel
Valerie Hansen
The pint-sized orphan had big, big plans… She longed for Graydon Payne to be her daddy, and Stacy Lucas to be her mommy. And there was only one way to bring them together: by running away…. Stacy would do anything to find the lost child - even face the man she never wanted to see again. She had managed to avoid Gray all these years. Now it was time to put their differences aside and join forces on a heart-wrenching mission.Since Gray had last seen Stacy, he had discovered something more powerful than his wealthy family. But it would take more than steadfast faith to locate the missing cherub in the vast Ozark wilderness - and to convince Stacy to give him another chance. It might even take a miracle….
The only mistake Stacy had made was agreeing to have anything more to do with Graydon Payne.
Her thoughts about him were already too tender, too intimate, to be rational. The more time she spent with him, the greater the risk she might forget her place, might convince herself to overlook the danger inherent in falling in love with a man like Gray.
Stacy caught her breath. A tremor of awareness came alive in her soul. Softhearted idiot that she was, she’d fallen head over heels in love with the one man who was everything she’d always sworn she’d avoid! Now what? she asked herself.
The answer came easily. Now nothing. Graydon Payne was never going to learn how she felt about him.
VALERIE HANSEN
was thirty when she awoke to the presence of the Lord in her life and turned to Jesus. In the years that followed she worked with young children, both in church and secular environments. She also raised a family of her own and played foster mother to a wide assortment of furred and feathered critters.
Married to her high school sweetheart since age seventeen, she now lives in an old farmhouse she and her husband renovated with their own hands. She loves to hike the wooded hills behind the house and reflect on the marvelous turn her life has taken. Not only is she privileged to reside among the loving, accepting folks in the breathtakingly beautiful Ozark mountains of Arkansas, she also gets to share her personal faith by telling the stories of her heart for Steeple Hill’s Love Inspired line. Life doesn’t get much better than that!
The Troublesome Angel
Valerie Hansen
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.
—Proverbs 3:5–6
Thanks to my wonderful prayer partners in the Seekers Sunday School class and to all the other faithful Christian friends who bless me by simply being themselves. And a special thanks to Joe, the love of my life, who volunteers to cook dinner when I’m busy writing. Contrary to popular belief, he does not do it because I get so engrossed in my work that I forget what’s on the stove and burn everything. He does it because he loves me, and supports me…and he knows we’d both starve to death if he didn’t! Thanks, honey.
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Epilogue
Letter to Reader
Chapter One
Stacy Lucas couldn’t help praying the same thing over and over. “Please, Father, guide my steps and let me be in time. Please, Father…”
Barely two hours had passed since she’d received the emergency call. That was a plus. It would have been even better if she’d been at home in Cave City, instead of leading a search-and-rescue seminar hundreds of miles away. The quicker she went to work after a person was discovered missing, the greater the likelihood of success.
She focused her thoughts on the lost child as the small plane circled lower over the lush green hills of the Arkansas Ozarks, preparing to land. The scared little girl would probably hide. Most of them did. That was why Stacy’s trained tracking dogs were so essential.
Her friends, Angela and Judy, both rushed across the tarmac to welcome her with hugs as soon as she climbed down out of the Cessna plane. They were babbling so anxiously they drowned each other out.
“Whoa. Take it easy, you two.” Stacy stepped back and held up her hands. “Everything’ll be fine. You’ll see. Just give me a chance to get the dogs out of their crates and we can get started. You have no idea how worried I was when I realized it was your campground I was being sent to.”
“We didn’t want to bother you. Honest, we didn’t,” Angela told her. “Especially since—”
“Hey, don’t apologize. I’m glad to be here. When all this is over, we’ll have to catch up on old times.”
She turned back to the plane and retrieved her gear from the cargo area while she watched the pilot and another man unload her dogs in their lightweight traveling kennels.
As soon as both dog boxes were safely on the ground, Stacy concentrated on her worried friends. “I’ll want to know everything about the missing girl. Even the stuff you don’t think is important. You can fill me in while we drive back to your place, okay?”
“It isn’t going to be that easy,” Angela warned.
“Why not?” Stacy was releasing her older search-and-rescue dog, Lewis, from his portable kennel. The half-grown pup, Clark, whined and barked to be let out. As soon as she had both dogs secured on leashes, she looked to her lifelong friends for an answer.
Angela Gardino was short and dark-haired. Blond Judy McKenna was the tallest of the three. Neither seemed eager to fill her in. Stacy frowned. “Well, guys?”
“Because of him.” Judy nodded toward the Spring River Campground van parked at the edge of the tarmac.
Stacy shaded her eyes and peered. Tinted windows kept her from seeing inside. “Who is it?”
“The kid’s uncle.” Angela’s voice was strained. “You’ll never guess who he turned out to be.”
“Suppose you just tell me.”
Angela shook her dark curls and looked to Judy for moral support. “You do it.”
“Oh, sure. Hang this on me.” Judy bent, patted the eager dogs to stall for time, then straightened with a sigh. “Tell you what. Why don’t we all go over to the van and let you see for yourself?”
Stacy was getting exasperated. “Look, is there a little girl lost in the woods, or not?”
“Oh, there is, all right,” Angela grumbled.
“Then what are we standing around talking for? Every minute counts.” Stacy slung her pack over one shoulder. “Give me a hand with the dogs’ crates, will you?”
The other two women were already lifting the cages by themselves. “We’ll get these,” Judy insisted. “You go on ahead.”
“Okay. Just hurry up.” Leading the way to the van, Stacy had no trouble attributing most of her old friends’ obvious nervousness to the distressing situation of having a helpless child lost from their campground. Thank goodness the local authorities had had the good sense to call in a team of search dogs before the situation deteriorated.
She was barely twenty feet from the beige van when its sliding side door opened and a tall man stepped out. A baseball cap and sunglasses shaded most of his face. The rest of him was dressed far too formally for a trek in the woods, let alone camping. His suit was neatly pressed, his shoes obviously expensive. Something about his bearing reminded her of someone. Who?
The man raised his head. Dark glasses still masked his eyes, and yet… That strong chin! That arrogant mouth! That cynical expression!
Stacy’s breath caught. Her stomach knotted. Her eyes widened. Graydon Payne, of all people! No wonder Angela and Judy hadn’t wanted to tell her!
“Oh, dear God,” she whispered. “What have I done to deserve this?”
Sensing her sudden apprehension, Lewis bristled and growled at the man. Clark, however, seemed oblivious to anything but the exciting chance to meet a new person.
Stacy expertly controlled both dogs as she approached.
The imposing man frowned. “What are you doing here?”
“I’ll be coordinating the search efforts for a missing little girl.” She squared her shoulders proudly beneath her insulated jacket. “It’s what I do now.”
“For a living?” He sounded incredulous.
“Part-time, yes,” Stacy said. “I suppose that surprises you, doesn’t it?”
“It floors me.”
“Good.” She dropped her pack at his feet. “Stow that carefully, then help Judy and Angela load the dog crates in the back, will you?”
“I beg your pardon?”
Stacy couldn’t help smiling. It had been years since pompous, arrogant Graydon Payne had done his best to ruin her life. She’d thought she’d never see him again. Now, here he was, apparently in need of her services, and it was a joy to be able to turn the tables and order him around for a change.
She pointed to the wire cages. “Those fold up. Lay them flat behind the back seat and let’s get going. We don’t want to waste precious time.”
That statement seemed to jar him into action. He strode to the rear of the van and helped Judy and Angela with the cages. Stacking them as Stacy had instructed, he slammed the rear doors and quickly followed the others around to the front of the vehicle.
To his chagrin, Stacy and her rescue dogs had climbed in ahead of him and were taking up most of the available bench seat in the center. The campground owners had already hopped into the two front bucket seats, leaving Graydon no choice but to sit by the panting canines. And Stacy Lucas.
Enjoying his obvious discomfiture, Stacy didn’t try to control Clark’s exuberance as much as she might have under other circumstances. The golden retriever-lab crossbreed wiggled happily at Graydon’s feet for a few seconds, then rose up and plopped his big paws into the man’s lap as he lunged to lick his face.
Graydon’s candid, “Oof!” almost made Stacy giggle. She knew this mission was a serious one—they all were—but humor often relieved the terrible tension associated with looking for missing people. And if ever there was a good reason to laugh in the midst of a potentially perilous situation, this had to be it. Pretentious Graydon Payne, the man who had once told her to leave his brother, Mark, alone because her kind didn’t belong in their elevated social circles, was getting his face thoroughly licked by a dog!
“I think he likes you,” Stacy wisecracked. “Although I can’t for the life of me see why. I thought he was smarter than that.”
“Very funny. I wish he wasn’t quite so affectionate. Call him off, will you?”
“Oh, okay. Clark. Down.” The dog obeyed immediately.
“Thanks.” Graydon dusted off his hands, then brushed at his dark slacks. “He’s shedding.”
“Probably. You’ll be glad to hear we haven’t been crashing through any patches of poison ivy lately, though.”
“Oh, good.” His tone was cynical.
Stacy got down to business. “So, the missing child is your niece?”
“In a manner of speaking.”
“That sounds like typical Payne reasoning. Is she, or isn’t she?”
“She will be. She’s being adopted into the family.”
It took Stacy only an instant to remember that Graydon’s sister, Rosalie, already had children. Which probably meant the missing little girl was to be Mark’s new daughter. Therefore, Mark must have married. That assumption lay like a stone on her heart…until she thought about what had happened and clearly saw the Lord’s hand in shaping her life.
Graydon watched her, assessing her reactions. It was hard to believe this was the same Stacy Lucas he’d once known. That girl had been an under-achiever. All she’d had on her mind was marrying his brother and gaining the security that came with the Payne money and their good name. He’d have sworn there wasn’t an altruistic bone in her body. And now look at her.
He cast her a sidelong glance. In many ways she was the same, with long, golden-brown hair and eyes the color of a summer sky. But her attitude and bearing were totally different from what he remembered. She’d been shy and unassuming when Mark had brought her home to meet the family. This Stacy Lucas was self-assured, poised and evidently well thought of in her profession. He just hoped she didn’t hold a grudge when it came to doing what she and her dogs were trained for.
“Listen, Stacy, I’m sorry if…”
She waved her hand to dismiss his unfinished sentence, turned away and stared out the window. “There’s no need to apologize, Mr. Payne. You and I have had our differences but that’s all in the past. Actually, Mark did me a favor.”
“He did?”
“Yes. If we’d married back then, as I’d hoped, I might never have followed my heart and become involved with search and rescue. I’ve wanted to do this job ever since I was a kid. In a roundabout way, I guess you could say I owe you and your family for my rewarding career.”
Closing her eyes for an instant she had a fleeting flashback to the plane crash that had made her an orphan when she was barely ten years old.
Unconsciously, she rubbed the top of her thigh through her jeans. Nowadays, hardly anyone noticed the slight limp which was her only tangible tie to that awful night. In her memory, however, fragments of the incident replayed almost daily, especially when she was on assignment.
She felt a familiar nudge at her knee. Lewis laid his furry chin in her lap, begging her to scratch his ears. Not to be outdone, long-haired, golden Clark wiggled in between her and Graydon, trying his best to displace his comrade.
Stacy smiled down at them. “You boys are ready to work, aren’t you?” Lewis stared up at her as if understanding every word, his tail thumping against the wall of the van.
Impatient, Clark wasted no more time vying for her attention. Instead, he turned his efforts back to the man seated next to his mistress.
“Oh, no. Not again.” Graydon caught the dog’s front feet in midair and held him off. “Down!” To his surprise, Clark sank back to the floor as he was told. “Well, well. What do you know? Maybe he really does like me.”
Stacy was going to say, “He also likes to steal garbage out of the trash when I’m not looking,” then decided against voicing the thought. There was no use goading her former nemesis. Graydon Payne might live up to his name and be a real pain, but he was still a member of the public she’d sworn to serve. What was past was past. The important thing was the missing little girl, she reminded herself, again. All else was trivial.
Even the old scars on her broken heart.
When Stacy arrived at the campground, she was met with utter chaos. The local sheriff greeted her solemnly as he shook her hand. “I’m sure glad to see you, ma’am. It’s been a long time since we’ve needed you.”
“Hello, Frank. I’m glad I was available. You ready to fill me in?”
“Not much to tell. We’ve got a real mess out there in the woods, a bunch of folks beatin’ the bushes, hollering at each other and gettin’ nowhere fast.”
“That’s normal,” Stacy said. “Where’ve you set up your command post?”
“Over here.” He led the way.
Stacy sensed Graydon following. The fine hairs on the back of her neck prickled a primitive warning. What a jolt it had been to encounter him again! And how odd to sense that he was truly concerned for the missing six-year-old. The Graydon Payne she’d met when she was dating Mark had seemed totally oblivious to the needs and concerns of others.
Ignoring his formidable presence hovering directly behind her, she greeted the other searchers with a polite, businesslike nod and immediately launched into her standard instruction speech. They were to cover designated quadrants of the forest, reporting in at set intervals and notifying the command post before deviating from their assigned territory for any reason. Once each team had finished the first wave of searching, they’d be given orders as to what to do next.
“I’ll take my dogs and sweep out from the last place the girl was seen,” Stacy concluded. “I’ll be the only one moving in random directions. Is that clear?”
The men nodded. Pointing to the map, Stacy quickly gave out their assignments, then led them in silent prayer before she dismissed them. They moved away in groups of two. Only the sheriff remained to man the command post.
“I’m coming with you,” Graydon announced.
Hearing his deep voice so close behind her gave Stacy a start. She whirled. “Thanks, but no thanks.” A faint tremor in her hands was the only thing that betrayed her nervousness. “I work alone.”
“Not this time, you don’t.”
She glared up at him, fists on her hips, stance firm and wide, radiating authority. Her dog spoiled the image when he lunged to one side and almost pulled her off her feet.
Graydon was frowning. “I’m going. That’s all there is to it. If you don’t let me walk with you, I’ll just follow anyway. Which would you rather have?”
“Neither. But I don’t suppose that was one of the choices, was it?”
“No.”
“You’ll ruin your good clothes.”
“I have others.”
“I’ll bet you do.” She pressed her lips into a thin line. Reasoning with a stubborn man like him was impossible.
Clark gave another mighty jerk on the leash. Teenage dogs were usually incorrigible and this one was no exception. He was twice as headstrong as Lewis had been at the same age.
Stacy’s quick mind assessed the situation. Maybe there was a way around her dilemma after all. If Graydon went along with her plan, she’d have Clark out of the way so Lewis could work, unhindered. If he refused, she’d have him out of the way. Either choice made her the clear winner.
She extended her left hand, Clark’s leash held tightly in her fist. “Okay, take this. Borrow some survival gear and meet me back here in five minutes. I’m putting you in charge of this dog.”
“Me?” Graydon’s scowl deepened.
“Why not? You said he likes you.”
“Yes, but… What if I make a mistake? I don’t know anything about search and rescue.”
“Then you and the dog are about even,” Stacy countered. “He doesn’t either.” She heard the sheriff chuckle in the background.
Graydon snatched the leash out of her hand. “That’s comforting.”
“I thought you’d like it.” She met his challenging gaze boldly. “See if you can find something else the little girl touched recently, preferably an item of her clothing. Bring it with you when you come back. Remember, five minutes, tops. After that, I’ll be gone.”
To avoid any more argumentative conversation, she turned her back on Graydon Payne and concentrated solely on the sheriff. “Now, Frank, what other evidence have you turned up and what else can you tell me before I leave?”
Graydon returned within three minutes, much to Stacy’s chagrin. Over his suit he wore a bright-orange, hooded sweatshirt, the kind hunters used to keep from being confused with their prey. He reached into the pocket of the coat and brought out a small, pink glove with white-and-brown bunnies knit into the pattern on the cuff. “Will this do? I found it at the edge of camp.”
Stacy recognized it as the mate to the plastic-wrapped glove the sheriff had passed on to her. “Why didn’t you give that to Frank?”
“He has the other one. In all the confusion I forgot I’d stuffed this one in my pocket.”
“You’re sure it’s hers?”
“Positive. I bought these gloves and a matching jacket for Missy—Melissa—when I heard Mark and Candace were taking her camping. They said she loved them…wore them all the time, even at home.”
A twinge of mild regret stirred in Stacy’s heart. So, Mark was married, just as she’d figured. To her surprise, the thought didn’t linger long enough to make her melancholy. There was no time for self-pity. A poor, frightened child was wandering alone in the wilderness, probably crying, freezing and hungry. That was all that mattered.
She looked to Graydon. “Okay. Show me exactly where you found the glove. We’ll start there.”
“It was over by the rest rooms, on a path that leads into the forest.” He pointed. “That way.”
“And you’re sure she left of her own accord?”
“Positive. Several people saw her go.”
“Okay.” Taking the glove, Stacy held it for Lewis to smell, then guided him in the direction Graydon had indicated. It didn’t take him long to strike a trail, put his nose to the ground and start into the woods at a fast pace.
“Good boy, Lewis. Go on! Find her!” Adrenaline surged through Stacy, sharpening her already keen senses. Praise God, the trail was still warm so the chances of finding the child were very good, especially with a competent tracking dog like Lewis on the job.
He was the calm, sensible one of the pair, the one whose head was always clear, whose canine judgment she trusted implicitly. Clark, on the other hand, was a clown in a dog suit. It was hard to believe they were half brothers.
Which reminded her… Glancing over her shoulder, Stacy caught a glimpse of Graydon and the younger dog. They were lagging behind while Clark sniffed the base of an interesting tree. That figured. His faculties might be as good as Lewis’s but his instincts pertaining to a search were sorely lacking. Until he learned to prioritize, he was next to useless as a rescue dog, no matter how well he could find hidden items in the course of his training.
And speaking of useless, she added, there was also the matter of Graydon Payne. She should never have assigned Clark to him. It would probably take her weeks to undo the damage he was doing to the poor dog’s training.
She called back. “This way! Make him follow us.”
“How do you expect me to do that?” Graydon yelled. “This dog has a mind of his own.”
“Yours is supposed to be stronger,” she countered. “Show him who’s boss.”
“He is, in case you haven’t noticed.”
Whistling, Stacy got the retriever’s attention and he headed for her at a dead run, dragging the surprised man along behind him in a stumbling, sliding charge.
By the time Graydon and Clark arrived at the spot where Stacy had stood, she and Lewis were already underway again.
“You could wait for us,” he shouted.
“Not when there’s a child who needs me,” she called back over her shoulder.
He jogged to catch up, his smooth-soled shoes slipping on the pine needle carpet as Clark pulled him along. Short of breath, he managed to gasp, “You really take this stuff seriously, don’t you?”
Stacy’s jaw clenched. She was used to having people question her skills, especially since she was a fairly small woman, but coming from Graydon Payne the remark sounded even more negative than usual.
“Search and rescue is my life,” she said flatly. “And I’m very good at my job.”
When he answered, “I believe you,” sounding totally truthful, she was temporarily speechless.
“If this had happened a month ago, before all the trees leafed out, we’d have a better chance of spotting her.” Stacy paused to catch her breath and check her topographical map. The sloping, densely forested and rocky terrain had slowed Lewis’s progress considerably and he seemed to have temporarily lost the child’s trail.
Graydon was breathing hard, too. “We’ll still be able to find Missy, won’t we?”
“I hope so. It’s not as cold today as it has been. That gives us a bigger window of opportunity.”
“You don’t sound terribly concerned.”
“Don’t I? Sorry.” She took a drink of water from her canteen. “The truth is, I care very much. I also know that an emotional approach to a case like this often leads to critical mistakes. That’s the last thing we want. If Lewis doesn’t find her soon, I’ll call in other handlers and add more dogs to the search party.”
“Good.” Graydon eyed the canteen, held out his hand. “I could use a swallow of that.”
“Where’s yours? I told you to get survival gear before we left camp.” For the first time, she noticed he wasn’t carrying a backpack.
“You gave me so little time I didn’t have a chance to do more than grab this coat out of somebody’s truck,” he alibied, patting the front pockets of the bright-orange hunting jacket. “I’ve got a candy bar in here but that’s about all.”
“Terrific. I knew I shouldn’t have let you come along.”
Bestowing a slight, lopsided smile on his companion and trying to look suitably contrite, Graydon held out the candy bar. “Trade you half of this for a drink of water?”
“I have my own food. Thanks, anyway.”
“You’re not going to make this easy for me, are you?”
“Nope.”
His smile grew. “You have changed.”
Stacy looked up at him and nodded. “Mister, you have no idea.”
Chapter Two
Graydon slipped the candy back into his pocket. “Please?”
“Is this your idea of begging? Sheesh!”
“I’m not used to it. That’s the best I can do. Come on. Be a sport and give me a drink.” He reached toward the canteen, freezing in midmotion when Lewis growled. “Oh-oh. Maybe I should have offered the candy to the dog.”
“Don’t do it. Chocolate can be toxic to dogs.” Stacy couldn’t help smiling as she explained, “Lewis is my official protector. When you got too close, he let you know how things stood, but I don’t think he’d go so far as to actually bite you.”
“How comforting.”
Relenting, she held out the canteen. “Here. Just don’t drink too much. We need to save some for Melissa when we find her.”
Raising one dark brow, Graydon kept an eye on the defensive animal at her feet, took a swallow and handed back the canteen. “Do you think we’re close?”
“I can’t be sure. Lewis was acting confused when I stopped. He’s either lost the trail or it’s become complicated because the child doubled back.”
Graydon cocked his head toward the far end of the taut leash he was still holding. The younger dog was busy sniffing dirt, sprigs of grass and nearby insects. “This one acted kind of funny by that dead tree at the bottom of the hill. Do you think he might have caught a whiff of Missy’s trail?”
“Clark?” Stacy huffed in disgust. “I doubt it. He’s about as aware of what’s going on as these rocks we’re standing on.”
“Then why bring him?”
“It’s good training. If I don’t expose young dogs to real working conditions and the hardships of the trail, I won’t be sure I can rely on them when the time finally comes for them to function alone. Clark will learn a lot by watching Lewis. I hope.”
“Lewis and Clark? Oh, I get it.” Graydon made a sarcastic sound deep in his throat. “Cute.”
Stacy wasn’t about to let him antagonize her. “Look, Mr. Payne. I didn’t come out here to defend my training methods or my dogs. I’m here to find a lost child. Nothing else counts. So if you want to waste time arguing, I suggest you go back to camp and pick on somebody else.”
Frustrated, he ran his fingers through his thick, dark hair, pushing it back off his forehead. “I didn’t realize I was picking on you. I’m sorry if that’s the way it sounded. I guess I’m more worried about Missy than I thought.”
Stacy was instantly penitent. “Of course you are. It’s perfectly natural. I shouldn’t have snapped at you. I’m sorry, too.”
One corner of his mouth lifted in a half smile. “Okay. That’s decided.”
“What is?”
“That we’re both sorry excuses for sympathetic human beings. Now, tell me the truth. What are our chances of finding Missy?” He couldn’t bring himself to add, alive.
Stacy heard the unspoken question in his tone. “I think they’re very good.” She laid her hand lightly on his arm to comfort him as she spoke. “Kids tend to live in the moment rather than plan ahead, like finding water to drink or a place to keep warm at night, the way an adult might. They mostly wander aimlessly at first, then hunker down to sleep when they run out of energy, which makes them doubly hard to find unless a rescuer has a dog with a good nose and strong instincts.”
“A dog like Lewis.”
“Yes.” Stacy reached down to give the animal a pat. She owed her own life to a dog that had led a search party to her when she’d been lost and nearly frozen to death. No matter how long she lived or how hard she worked, she knew she’d never be able to repay that debt. She also knew she’d never stop trying. It was her job. The career that God had arranged for her. At times like this, it was crucial to remember that the Lord was in charge. Of everything. Which might mean…
Pensive, she looked up at Graydon. “Tell me again. Where was Clark sniffing when you thought he was acting funny?”
“Down there. By the big, dead oak. Do you think…?”
“Maybe. It’s worth a try.”
She stopped him when he started to lead the way. “Wait. Let Lewis and me go first so we don’t muddy up the scent anymore than we already have.”
Graydon nodded and pulled back. Restraining Clark, he watched Stacy make her way down the slope. There was quite a contrast between the no-nonsense persona she presented to the world and the empathetic part of her character, wasn’t there? She’d tried to keep her sensitive nature hidden but he’d sensed it from the moment he’d seen her again. The truth dwelt in her eyes, betrayed a tender-hearted spirit. Stacy Lucas cared. Deeply. And he admired her for it.
Coming to his senses, Graydon berated himself for letting his attention wander. The only thing he should be concentrating on at a time like this was finding Missy…before it was too late. His stomach knotted. No way was he going to let anything happen to that darling little girl. She must be so scared, so alone.
Graydon knew what it was like to be totally alone, even in a crowd. He’d had a whole lifetime to adjust to the feelings of emotional isolation he’d battled ever since he was a boy.
Clark was so eager to join Lewis that he couldn’t stand still. He whined and lunged against the restraint of the leash, then began to run in circles around the man who was holding him back.
Looking down the hill, Graydon saw Lewis and Stacy in the distance. The dog had taken off again, pulling his leash taut and making Stacy run to keep up. He must have struck the trail!
Gathering the braided nylon lead in his hand, Graydon kept Clark on a short tether so he could extricate himself from the tangled loops the dog had made around the calves of his legs.
“Okay, okay. I get the idea,” he grumbled. “Just a minute, stupid. You’re the one who got us all fouled up like this, not me.”
As he bent to step out of the last confining coil of nylon, Clark lunged. The leash tightened. Graydon hit the ground with a thud, feet in the air!
The enthusiastic dog immediately jumped atop his chest, licking his face with delight.
“Stop that! Down!” Spitting dry, crumbled leaves and muttering under his breath, Graydon pushed the friendly pup away and scrambled to his feet. Thank goodness Stacy Lucas hadn’t been close enough to see him knocked down!
Anxious, he peered down the hill. She and her dog were still in sight!
“Okay, you dunderhead,” he told Clark. “Let’s get going before we lose your mommy.”
The dog wagged his plume of a tail and looked up at the man as if he understood every word.
Stacy glanced over her shoulder to make sure her so-called partner reached the bottom of the steep hill safely. Clark was casting left and right, sniffing the air, just the way a rescue dog was supposed to. Would wonders never cease! Maybe she’d been right to keep training him after all.
Shouting, “Over here,” and waving her arm wildly so Graydon could see where she was going, she plunged into a thick stand of oak and cedar, following Lewis. The dog immediately began whining and scratching at a pile of dried leaves and twigs beneath the largest tree.
“Good boy, Lewis! Good boy!” He began to dig more frantically. Brown refuse flew. Stacy got a glimpse of bright pink. The jacket! It had to be.
“Oh, please Lord, let her be here,” she prayed softly. “And let her be all right.”
Approaching, she tightened up the leash and ordered Lewis to sit. “Melissa? Is that you?”
There was no answer.
Stacy crouched down, reached out her hand, and brushed off the exposed arm of the jacket. “Melissa? It’s okay, honey. I’ve come to take you back.”
The child bolted out from under the leaves and clambered away with a shriek. Startled, Stacy rocked back on her heels and nearly fell over backward.
She was alive! Stacy’s breath left her in a whoosh of pure relief. She sank to her knees, her arms around Lewis, her prayers of thanks so heartfelt they were wordless. Tears blurred her vision.
“It’s okay, Melissa,” she said, fighting to speak calmly. “We won’t hurt you. The dog is real friendly. He helped me find you. Isn’t that nice?”
The tremulous reply came as a sobbed, “No!”
That surprised Stacy. She’d had disoriented adults try to refuse a rescue but she’d never seen a child do it. They were usually so glad to be found they were no trouble at all.
Melissa faced her, blue eyes wide and frightened, long, strawberry-blond hair matted with twigs, leaves and dirt. Tears left muddy streaks as they trickled down her cheeks. “I don’t wanna go back. Never ever.” Sniffling and wiping her nose on her sleeve, she started to inch away.
“Wouldn’t you like to pet my dog?” As hoped, that offer stopped the child’s retreat. “He’s very nice. Aren’t you, Lewis? Would you like to shake hands with Missy?”
The little girl’s tears ceased. “Wh-what?”
“I said, Lewis would like to shake hands with you.”
“You called me Missy.”
“Isn’t that right?” Stacy knew she could always grab the child and take her back forcibly but she didn’t want to traumatize her any more than she already was. The best thing to do would be to drag out their conversation long enough for Graydon to arrive. Then the poor, scared little girl wouldn’t have to trust a stranger.
“I like people to call me Missy,” she said softly.
“Then that’s what I’ll do,” Stacy vowed. She held out her hand. “Friends?”
Before she could answer, Clark and Graydon broke through the thick stand of trees at a run, startling everyone. The instant he spotted the child he let go of the leash and opened his arms. “Missy!”
Squealing, she ran into his embrace. “Uncle Gray!”
He scooped her up and spun around in circles. Pure joy filled the clearing. The sight of the usually formal man hugging the dirty waif brought fresh tears to Stacy’s eyes. This was what her job was all about.
He spoke lovingly, without reproach. “Where have you been, Missy? I was worried sick! We all were.”
“I don’t wanna go back to Mark’s.” She buried her face in his collar.
“You don’t want me for an uncle?” he asked.
“Course I do.”
“Well, I can’t be your uncle if you aren’t Mark’s daughter.”
She raised her head and studied him. “You can’t?”
“Nope. That’s how it has to be.”
Stacy could tell from Missy’s expression that she was thinking hard. There was no telling what kind of temporary living conditions the motherless child had been subjected to. It was natural for her to be afraid. Of everything.
Approaching them slowly, Stacy patted Missy on the back and spoke soothing words while Gray continued to hold her.
He gazed down at Stacy over the child’s shoulder and mouthed, “Thank you.”
“You’re quite welcome.” Stacy stepped away and reached for the handheld, two-way radio she carried. “I’m going to call in the good news and get everybody headed back into camp.” She glanced at the sky. “We’d better get a move on, too. It’ll be dark soon.”
She saw Graydon close his eyes for a moment as he nodded acknowledgment. Clearly, he cared about this child. Finding her so quickly had been the first miracle. Realizing that any Payne had a loving bone in his or her body had been the second. The third would probably be getting Clark to walk calmly back to camp without taking off to chase squirrels or rabbits.
She watched her two dogs tussling while she used the radio. Lewis usually put up with Clark’s exuberance with stoic grace until the pup got too pushy. Then he simply growled a warning and the younger dog backed off. Too bad people weren’t that smart.
Stacy smiled to herself as she considered her impromptu helper. For a stuffy businessman in a silk suit and Italian loafers, he’d conducted himself quite well.
Of course he did, she countered. He wanted something from me. “Something I was more than happy to give,” she whispered. At least this time, Graydon Payne hadn’t asked her to walk away from love.
Other ecstatic searchers mobbed them as they entered the campground. Nearly everybody was shouting and cheering. Some wept.
Graydon still carried Melissa. Stacy fell back and let him precede her into the camp.
Lanterns glowed everywhere. News cameras with blinding lights illuminated the area as brightly as a summer day. Mark Payne stood in the center of the circle of well-wishers. His arm was around the shoulders of a woman who looked as if she’d just stepped out of a fashion magazine. Every dark hair was in place, her nails were long and polished, her makeup was flawless and she was smiling demurely. A perfect couple in a perfect world.
That was what bothered Stacy the most. While Graydon had shouted and run to Melissa the moment he saw her, the child’s prospective parents were just standing there, waiting for her to be delivered. Like a package.
Purposely avoiding Mark, Stacy veered away from the crowd. She wasn’t angry with him or sorry he’d married someone else. Not anymore. She simply had nothing relevant to say to him. Besides, her job was over. She and the dogs had done what they’d come for. Now, all she had to do was find Judy and Angela and arrange for one of them to drive her home to Cave City in the morning.
Judy met her halfway to the camp office that also doubled as living quarters. Hugging Stacy, she grinned foolishly. “Congratulations!”
“Thanks. Where’s Angie?”
“She went to bed with a migraine and missed all the excitement.” A wistful smile replaced the wide grin. “I thought I was going to cry like a baby when I saw that kid again. You did a great job. You’re a genius.”
“I don’t do the sniffing, the dogs do. But thanks, anyway.”
“Well, okay. So you hang out with geniuses. Hairy ones.” She bent to ruffle Clark’s ears, then gave Lewis a more gentle pat on the head. “This one looks kind of droopy.”
“I know. He’s tired. I’m going to retire him soon. He’s not as young as he used to be. You’d never know it, though, when he’s hot on the trail.”
“Speaking of being hot on somebody’s trail…” She cocked her head back toward the gathering of rescuers, reporters, cameramen and celebrants. “Look. Here comes you-know-who.”
“I don’t have to look,” Stacy said, making a face. “It’s getting so I can sense when he’s around. The hair on the back of my neck prickles.”
“Uh-oh. Sounds serious. Let me know if he starts to give you indigestion. That’s a sure sign you’re interested.”
Stacy’s silly expression became a grimace and she rolled her eyes to exaggerate her sentiment. “Don’t be ridiculous. You know I had my fill of Payne men a long time ago.”
“True. But you never know what intriguing surprises God might have in store for you.” Judy leaned closer, cupped her hand around her mouth, and added, “You haven’t been praying for a husband, have you?”
“Certainly not! And if I had been, Graydon Payne would be the last man—” The direction of Judy’s glance and her widening grin told Stacy it was time to stop talking. Maybe past time.
She turned slowly. Graydon was smiling down at her benevolently. “Did I hear my name mentioned?”
“Not on purpose, you didn’t,” Stacy said, quickly changing the subject. “How’s Missy doing?”
“She’s too tired to cause much of a ruckus.” He held out his business card. “Give me a call and I’ll be glad to fill you in on her progress. In the meantime, I want to thank you for all you’ve done.”
“It’s my job.” Stacy took his card reluctantly.
“Nevertheless, I’d like to shake your hand.”
She had no good reason to refuse such a request. Nor was she sure why she felt so hesitant. The man had been a perfect gentleman while they’d been in the woods. Not that she’d expected any less from him. After all, he’d once told her that her social station was so far beneath his and his family’s, he wouldn’t be able to stoop that far down if he’d tried.
Remembering their past unhappy association brought back Stacy’s professional air. She handed control of the dogs to Judy, took his hand, shook it formally, and said, “It was my pleasure to be able to help, Mr. Payne.”
If he’d released her at that moment, she’d have been fine. Instead, however, he clasped her hand as if they were the best of friends and covered it with his other, looking at her warmly.
Stacy’s pulse quickened. Short of breath, she tried to pull away. “What are you doing?”
“Trying to show my appreciation.” His thumb grazed her wrist, setting up a tingle that shot up her arm and did a tap dance along her spine.
“A simple �Thank you’ would suffice.”
“I don’t think that’s enough. You showed up here as soon as you were called and performed with great professionalism and skill. I’m indebted to you. Aren’t all the people you help grateful?”
“Not so you’d notice,” Stacy said truthfully.
“Most of the time they’re too caught up in what’s happened to even realize I’m there.”
Graydon continued to hold her hand. “That’s too bad. You deserve more praise.”
“I’m not in this business for the glory, which is why I’m trying to dodge all those reporters,” she said, glancing back at the crowd. “And stop that.”
“Stop what?”
“That.” Stacy clasped her free hand over his and stilled his casual caress. To her surprise, he released her as if he were dropping a red-hot coal. Not only that, he looked like he might actually be blushing under his perfect tan.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize—”
“That I’m not the impressionable girl I used to be?” She smiled coolly. “You don’t owe me a thing, Mr. Payne. Neither does anyone else in your family. No one could pay me enough to cover the long hours, sweat and tears I put into my job.”
“Then why do you do it?”
It would have been simple to give him a pat answer. It would also have been a sin. Stacy knew better than to pass up the chance to offer an honest statement of her faith. Such opportunities didn’t come every day. They were far too precious to be wasted.
“Because I’m trying to follow God’s leading for my life,” she said, “to stay in His will, to be the person He expects me to be.”
“That’s very noble.”
“No, it isn’t. It’s hard. And scary. And sometimes it breaks my heart.” Stacy’s voice softened.
“If I were in charge of the universe, no one would ever fail. Or be lost. Or lonely. Or die. I don’t understand why things happen the way they do. I never did. All I can do is give it my best and put my faith in Jesus.”
“Even when you fail?” he asked quietly.
“Oh, yes.” She looked up at him, willing him to understand. “Especially when I fail.”
Chapter Three
By nine that night the campground had quieted down. Too tired to go home, Stacy had showered, eaten, borrowed a pink sweat suit from Judy and was sprawled in a comfy chair by the fireplace in the main cabin. Lewis and Clark both lay napping by her bare feet.
She pushed up the oversize sleeves of the sweatshirt and hugged herself. “Umm, this feels so good. Thanks again. I was in such a big hurry to get here and begin the search I came straight from the seminar in Atlanta. I wish now I’d gone home to get different clothes.”
“No problem. Too bad I don’t have something more your size. You should let me wake Angela and ask her.”
“No way. I know what her migraines are like. She needs to sleep it off.”
“You’re right. So what’s Plan B? Do you need to go back to Atlanta and finish up there or what?”
Stacy picked up her mug of hot cocoa, wrapped both hands around it to enjoy the warmth and took a sip. “No. I’m all done. The last of my tracking demonstrations were over by late yesterday. That’s one of the reasons I was free to respond when we got your call. Everybody else is still committed to wrapping up their classes.”
“I’ll bet that was no accident. I was sure praying you’d be the one they sent.”
“I’m glad, too. I’ve been so busy lately I haven’t taken time for my friends. I’ve really missed you guys.”
“We understand how it is. I’m just sorry it turned out to be the Paynes who needed your help.”
Thoughtful, Stacy nodded and sighed. “Yeah. Me, too. For more reasons than one.” Ever since she’d stepped off the plane and encountered Graydon she’d been feeling an uncomfortable pricking at the edges of her conscience. “I’m afraid the Lord may be trying to nudge me about something.”
“Like what?” Leaning closer, Judy added, “Forgiveness?”
That insight took Stacy by surprise. Her eyes widened. “How did you know what I was thinking?”
“I didn’t. But I know you. It’s not like you to hold a grudge or be unfriendly toward anybody. I think it’s possible the Lord threw Graydon Payne in your path to get you to face the old hostility you’ve hung on to for so long.”
The idea did not sit well with Stacy. Caught up in the pathos and excitement of Missy’s rescue, she’d managed to temporarily set aside her intense, long-standing dislike for Graydon and his stuffy family. Now it was back.
She knew it was wrong to harbor resentment. She also knew she wasn’t ready to lower her guard and give up the protection those hostile feelings provided. They were necessary for her emotional well-being.
Purposely changing the subject, Stacy said, “I was hoping you or Angela could spare an hour or so to drive me home in the morning.”
“Sure.” Judy relaxed, leaned back. “Anything for a hero.”
“Cut that out. I’m not—”
The dogs perked up and stared at the door. A loud knock sounded. Lewis growled. Clark jumped up, tail wagging.
“If that’s more reporters, please don’t let them in.” Stacy yawned. “I’m too tired to make good sense.”
“Right.” Judy’s outlandish bunny slippers made a swishing sound as she padded to the door, followed closely by the younger dog. “Who is it?”
A man’s voice said, “Special delivery for Ms. Lucas.”
“Try again,” Judy countered. “In case you haven’t noticed, we’re in the middle of nowhere. The post office has enough trouble delivering our regular mail. No way is there a special delivery at this time of night.”
In spite of her weariness, Stacy joined her, and pressed her ear to the door. “Who is it?”
“Santa Claus?” the voice ventured. He waited, then tried again. “How about Howard Hughes?”
“It’s Graydon Payne,” Stacy deduced, scowling. “It has to be. Look how Clark’s tail is wagging.” Louder, she called, “What do you want?”
“To give you something.”
“There’s nothing you have that I want.”
“Then take it as a gift for the rescue program.”
Judy nudged her. “He’s got a point there. No use turning down a donation.”
“Slip it under the door.”
Casting her friend a disparaging glance, Judy opened the door instead. “Come on in. Only one of us bites, and it’s not the dogs.”
Graydon paused to lean down and greet Clark with, “Hi, buddy. Did you miss me?” He ruffled the dog’s silky ears as he entered the cozy cabin. “You did, didn’t you? I knew we were pals.”
“Hah!” Stacy wasn’t impressed, even if her idiotic dog had chosen that particular moment to roll over on his back at the man’s feet and beg to have his tummy scratched. That act of submission meant Clark trusted Graydon implicitly.
“Don’t pay any attention to her,” Judy said, gesturing at Stacy. “She’s always like this when she’s dead tired.”
“Grouchy?” He straightened, smiling.
“Catatonic. I’ve seen her practically fall asleep leaning against a tree…standing up.”
“That must make quite a picture.”
His wry smile and knowing gaze amused Stacy in spite of herself. “Watch for film at eleven,” she quipped. “The news crews just left.”
“I thought you were avoiding them.”
“I don’t like catching a cold, either, but some things are inevitable.”
“True.”
They were standing just inside the door, facing each other. Stacy’s weary brain was devoid of small talk. She looked up at him, intending to close their conversation, and was astonished to note an appealing sparkle in his eyes. They were dark-brown with a golden cast, not blue, like Mark’s. And his chin was more square, more masculine. Right now it was shadowed with a day’s growth of beard, giving him a rugged look. It was a definite improvement.
Noting her awareness, he raised an eyebrow and raked his fingers through his thick, dark hair. “Is something wrong?”
If Stacy hadn’t been so tired she might have censored her reply more carefully. Instead, she said, “Nope. I was just noticing how human you look when you’re not so perfectly groomed.”
“Oh, I see.” He began to chuckle. “You look different, too. Either that outfit stretched or you shrank. It makes you look like a teenager. Kind of cute.”
Blushing, Stacy refused to look away and give him the last word. “Flattery will get you nowhere.”
“Too bad. Guess I’ll have to come up with another approach the next time I want to impress you.”
“There won’t be any next time,” she countered. “After tonight I doubt we’ll ever meet again.”
He sobered. “I suppose you’re right. Which is why I stopped by.” Reaching into the pocket of his jacket he took out a check. “We want you to have this. Call it a reward, if you like.”
She hesitated several long seconds before giving in. “All right. I’ll take it. But only because the rescue program needs the financial support.”
“Of course.”
“I mean it. None of this is for me.”
“You don’t have to convince me,” he said quietly. “I believe you.”
Looking up at him, she scrutinized his expression as she asked, “Why?”
“Because I’m a Christian, too,” Graydon said. “And I don’t lie, either.”
Her eyes widened. Their gazes locked. “You are?”
“Does it surprise you?”
“Frankly, yes.”
Graydon laughed softly. “You’re not the only one who was surprised, lady. It sure shocked me when it happened.”
“What did you do, get hit by lightning?” Stacy still couldn’t believe he wasn’t teasing her.
“I get the feeling you don’t think it’s possible for me to change.”
“That’s not for me to judge, one way or the other,” she countered. “Your faith is between you and God. I’m sure Jesus knows what’s really in your heart.”
“Yes, he does.” Graydon didn’t extend his hand to her this time. Instead, he turned and reached for the doorknob. Glancing back, he paused and said, “Goodbye, Stacy. And thank you.”
She barely had time to echo, “Goodbye,” before he was gone, leaving an intangible void in his wake.
Judy’s “Wow!” filled the silence.
Startled, Stacy spun around. “I forgot you were here.”
Startled, Stacy spun around. “I forgot you were here.”
“No kidding. I could have set off fireworks in your pockets and neither one of you would have paid the slightest bit of attention.”
“Don’t be silly.”
“Okay. Have it your way.” Judy went back to her place on the couch and sat down, patting the cushion beside her so Clark would jump up and join her. He settled down next to her immediately, his golden head on her lap.
“You’re spoiling that dog,” Stacy told her. “By the time I undo all the bad habits you and Graydon Payne have taught him, I’ll be ninety.”
“Clark seems to like him.”
“The dog’s a doofus.”
Judy chuckled. “He’s not the only one. I couldn’t believe it when you asked the poor man if he’d been hit by lightning!”
“I did?” Stacy thought for a moment, trying to sort out the muddle her mind had been in ever since Graydon Payne had walked through the door. “Oh, boy. I did, didn’t I?”
“Uh-huh. But he took it pretty well. I’ll bet he really is a Christian.”
“His family’s always been big on church-going. Mark took me with him several times when we were dating.”
“That’s not what I mean and you know it.”
Stacy did know. People didn’t turn into cars when they stepped into a garage any more than they became Christians just by going to church. Warming a pew on Sunday morning might be good for your psyche, but it didn’t make you a believer. Neither did living an exemplary life. She ought to know. She’d done both as a child, and been miserable until she’d given up one day and turned her future over to Jesus. But could Graydon Payne have done the same thing?
She sighed. “Oh, dear.”
“What’s the matter?” Judy was rhythmically stroking Clark’s broad head.
“I just realized something.”
“From the scrunched-up face you’re making, I’d guess you aren’t thrilled.”
“No kidding.”
“Well? Give. What’s got you so dithered?”
“If that man really is a Christian, we’re part of the same family—God’s family.”
“So?”
“So I’m supposed to love him. Accept him. I don’t even like him!”
Laughing softly, Judy shook her head. “You sure could have fooled me.”
“I don’t know what to do with her,” Mark said, pacing his spacious, sunken living room. “Ever since Melissa met Stacy and saw those dogs, that’s all she’s talked about. Candace is getting really steamed about it.”
Graydon nodded. “I can understand that. She wants Missy to love her like a mother. But it’s not going to happen overnight. Kids need time to adjust.”
“That’s what the social workers said when I called them. I just wish I could do what they’ve suggested.” Mark cast a sidelong glance up the spiral staircase. “But Candace would kill me.”
“What did they tell you to do?”
Mark fidgeted and managed to smile at his older brother in spite of his obvious apprehension. “It’s not a big thing. It’d only take an afternoon. Just long enough to run down to Cave City and back.”
Raising an eyebrow, Graydon studied him. Ever since they were kids he’d been bailing Mark out of trouble, and it sounded like his baby brother wanted him to do it again. He decided to make him actually ask before he volunteered anything. The guy had to grow up sometime.
Mark cleared his throat. “You busy next week?”
“Boy, no kidding. I’ve been snowed under getting the city council in Conway to approve the plans for the consolidated mall project. I’ll probably have to fly to Saint Louis next week, too. If I’d known how much work this development consultant job was going to be, I might have accepted Dad’s offer of a vice presidency, like you.”
“You did the right thing,” Mark said, scowling. “Working for our father is no picnic. If it wasn’t for Candace I’d probably have quit by now, cashed in my shares in the company and sailed off into the sunset.” His arm swept in an arc that took in the sumptuous furnishings and open expanse of the expensive town house. “Sometimes I think I’m going to drown in all this responsibility.”
“I’ve told you what you need,” Graydon said sincerely.
“Yeah, yeah, I know. But religion isn’t for me.”
“I’m not talking about religion. I’m talking about a personal relationship with Jesus. Once you have that, all the other stuff falls into place.”
Mark perked up. “So you don’t have any trouble with tough challenges?”
“I didn’t say that. I have as many problems as the next guy. The difference is I don’t have to face them alone anymore.” His eyes narrowed. He thrust his hands into the pockets of his slacks and regarded his brother with suspicion. “Okay, get to the point. What is it you want me to do for you?”
“I thought you’d never ask.” Mark was grinning in triumph. “The social workers said they think Melissa will get over her obsession if we can provide closure. They suggested I take her to see Stacy and the dogs so she can thank them for finding her.”
“And you don’t dare do it because you have a jealous wife. You’re afraid she wouldn’t understand.”
“Bingo. That’s why you need to do it for me.”
Graydon took a deep breath and released it with a noisy whoosh. “I don’t know….”
“Hey, you’re the one preaching about your faith all the time. I’d think you’d be happy to put it to the test.”
There was no way to refuse without negating everything he’d just said to Mark. Either he trusted the Lord to handle things or he didn’t. But another meeting with Stacy Lucas? He had enough to do already thanks to his busy career. The last thing he needed was another complication.
Especially one as pretty and intriguing as the woman he’d encountered in the Ozark Mountains.
“Are we there yet?”
Melissa had asked the same question so many times Graydon had lost count. “Almost.”
“That’s what you said before.” She wrinkled up her little face in a pout. “I don’t believe you.”
“Okay. We can always turn around and go home if that’s what you want.”
“No!”
“Then I suggest you settle down and behave yourself. I’ve never told you a fib and I’m not telling one now.” He pointed to the digital clock on the dashboard of the BMW. “See this? When the hour changes to the number two, we should be getting close.”
Subdued, she muttered a sullen, “Okay.”
“That’s better.” Determined to distract her, he glanced at the crumpled, white paper bag in her lap. “Why don’t you have a piece of the candy we bought.”
The child’s small fingers closed in tight fists around the opening of the bag. “No. This is for the rescue lady and the dogs. We can’t eat it!”
“Oh, I see. Sorry.”
“It’s okay, Uncle Gray. You didn’t know.” Her voice grew thready. “I wanted to bring her one of my new dolls but Candace wouldn’t let me.”
“That’s because she bought them for you to play with.”
“Uh-uh. She put them on a shelf in my room. All I get to do is look at them, ’cause they’re so ’spensive.”
“Well, I’ll see if I can’t talk her into letting you play with one or two. Would you like that?”
“I guess so,” Melissa said quietly. She brightened, grinned over at him. “I’d rather have a puppy.”
Graydon laughed to himself. He’d walked right into that one, hadn’t he? The child might be only six but she was already becoming an accomplished negotiator. “Let me guess. I’ll bet you want a dog just like the ones Ms. Lucas has.”
“Uh-huh.”
He was about to caution her to wait awhile before asking Candace or Mark to buy her a puppy, when she squealed and pointed to the clock.
“Look! There’s a two!”
“You’re absolutely right. Good for you. And we’re right on schedule.” Peering at the street signs, he found what he was looking for and turned west. The meandering, narrow road led him farther and farther from town. Small farmsteads and older houses with tree-shaded yards were scattered across the rolling hills. Rural mailboxes indicated their ownership but half of those were unreadable.
Thinking he must be lost, Graydon was about to turn back and try another road when he spotted a hand-lettered sign that read Dog Training. Even if this wasn’t Stacy’s place, the folks who lived here might know her.
When he slowed and turned into the driveway, Melissa took off the safety belt he’d insisted she wear and got up on her knees to look out the window.
“Sit down, honey,” he warned. “I’m not sure this is the right house.”
“It is! It is!” she shouted, pointing. “Look!”
There were at least six, maybe seven, dogs visible in the fenced yard at the side of the house. They were jumping and barking with such fervor Graydon couldn’t be certain if any of them were the ones he’d met.
He parked, intending to have a look around before he let the child get out of the car. Missy had other ideas. She scrambled after him, darted past and raced up the steps to the front porch. By the time he caught up with her, she’d jumped up and rung the bell.
Concerned that there might be more dogs inside the house, he scooped up the eager child to protect her in spite of her protests.
“I can do it by myself!” Melissa whined.
“I know you can. And I’ll let you. I just want to make sure this is the right place before I put you down.”
“No!” Melissa was puckering up for a good cry. When the door opened abruptly, she began to smile instead.
It was all Graydon could do to keep from laughing at the comical expression of shock and dismay on Stacy’s face. “We were just in the neighborhood and thought we’d drop in,” he said. “I hope we haven’t caught you at a bad time.”
She recovered her poise and closed her mouth. “Oh, no. I always greet my guests wearing my rubber boots and torn jeans. I wouldn’t want anyone to think I was putting on airs.”
“Good. Is it safe to let Missy down?”
“Of course. All the dogs are in the kennel, but even if they were loose, it would be fine. I wouldn’t keep an animal that wasn’t gentle around children.”
She crouched to be at the same eye level as the little girl as soon as he lowered her to the porch. “I’m so glad to see you’re okay, Missy. I’ve been thinking about you.”
“You have?” Melissa’s voice was so faint Graydon could hardly hear what she said. After the tantrum she’d thrown in the car, it was a welcome change of tone.
“I sure have. And I’m glad you came to see me. It always makes me very happy when I find somebody who’s lost and bring them home safe and sound, like you. It makes my dogs happy, too.”
“I got you a present,” Melissa said, holding out the wrinkled bag. “I picked it out myself.”
Stacy accepted it as if it were worth millions. “Oh, how sweet. Thank you. Can I give you a hug?”
It was Graydon’s turn to be surprised. Missy launched herself at Stacy without a word and threw her arms around her neck so enthusiastically she nearly toppled them both over. This from the child who hadn’t let anyone touch her for weeks after she’d been placed in Mark’s home!
Graydon bent down, reached for Stacy’s elbow, and steadied her. “Easy, Missy. We came to thank Ms. Lucas, not break her neck.”
The little girl released her hold. “Okay. Can I see the dogs, now?”
“Sure,” Stacy told her. “You go around the house. I’ll meet you at the gate in a minute.” If I can find the strength to stand up, she added to herself. For some reason, her legs felt like she’d just run a five-mile obstacle course. Twice. She let Graydon help her to her feet only because she was certain she’d fall flat on her rear if he let go of her arm.
“You okay?” he asked. “You look kind of pale.”
“I’m fine. Probably missed lunch again. What time is it anyway?”
“Around two.”
“Well, that explains it. Low blood sugar always makes me a little woozy.” Stacy was trying to ignore the fact he was still standing close. Too close. And using up all the oxygen so she couldn’t get a decent breath of air. If her feet hadn’t refused to obey, she’d have stepped back.
“Why don’t you look in the bag?” he suggested, smiling.
She cast him a wary glance. “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing. Just remember, I wasn’t the one who picked out your present.”
Stacy parted the top of the bag and peered inside. Bright-orange, red, yellow and green shapes lay in a semitransparent pile. “Oh, wow! Gummi Bear candies! I haven’t had any of these since I was little.” Grinning, she popped one into her mouth. “I always thought the red ones were the best.”
Her childlike enthusiasm was so contagious Graydon forgot himself and joined in. “No way. They all taste the same.”
“Do not.”
“Do so.”
Stacy held out a green bear. “Here. I’ll prove it to you.” She popped it into his mouth the moment he opened it to argue, then poked around in the bag searching for a different color.
When she chose another candy and held it up for him, he didn’t respond right away, so she said, “Come on. Open up. Incoming bear.”
He didn’t move. Didn’t even flinch.
She raised her gaze to meet his. In place of the sparkle of mischief she’d glimpsed in his dark eyes before, there was now a warning. A solemnity that took her by surprise. It sent a frisson of alarm zinging up her spine.
“No,” he said softly, hoarsely.
Stacy blinked. Her quizzical gaze returned to his firm mouth, the stubborn jaw she’d noticed when his beard had shadowed it during Missy’s rescue.
Something had changed between them in a heartbeat. But what? The air was charged with tension. With indescribable awareness.
She swallowed hard. Had she and Graydon Payne actually been having fun together? Was that why the man had suddenly become so reserved? Or had she somehow caused him to withdraw? It was impossible to tell.
Still, she knew she had been enjoying herself in his company. Apparently, the Lord wasn’t through convincing her that she needed to forgive what had transpired between them in the past. Too bad He hadn’t dealt with her brooding guest in the same manner!
If Graydon’s mood had plummeted because of her, it was understandable. A man like him wouldn’t want to be caught letting his hair down and enjoying himself with somebody who didn’t belong to a country club, buy her clothes at exclusive shops or have her hair and nails done professionally.
There he stood, all proper and perfect as ever in his crisp, tailored shirt and impeccably pressed slacks. He came from a totally different world. A place she had no desire to visit, even temporarily. She was more than content with the life God had given her, and she wasn’t going to let some good-looking, overbearing, stuffed shirt come along and steal her joy.
“Fine,” Stacy said, shoulders square, chin up. “Be a stuffy sourpuss. I’m going to take my candy and go share it with Missy. At least one of you appreciates the simple pleasures of life.”
Graydon stood very still as he watched her walk away. Was he really stuffy? Or was that just how Stacy viewed him? Not that it mattered what she thought. There was no reason why he should care. And no reason why he should find himself so attracted to her, either. That was what unnerved him the most. For an instant, when she’d fed him the candy and her fingers had innocently grazed his lips, he’d had the idiotic urge to take her in his arms and kiss her senseless. Talk about crazy!
Lost in thought, he mulled over their past. It would have been better for everyone if she hadn’t misunderstood his motives when they’d first met, years ago. The disillusioned look on her young face was one he’d never forget. He hadn’t wanted to hurt her. He’d simply known she was wrong for Mark and he’d said so, as much for her benefit as for his brother’s. Stacy had been naive. Innocent. Shy. The strong-willed Payne family would have swallowed her up and crushed the radiant spirit he’d sensed beneath her unsophisticated demeanor. He ought to know.
Only now she wasn’t shy, was she? Maybe she wasn’t naive, either, in spite of her supposed sweetness. Either way, he didn’t intend to stick around and find out. No, sir!
Coming to his senses he stepped off the porch and headed for the yard where the dogs were kept. He’d done his good deed for the day. He’d brought Missy to see her rescuers. Now, it was time to start home.
Graydon’s gut knotted again when he thought of his unsettling reaction to Stacy. Clearly, it was past time for him to make a hasty exit. Way past time. The sooner he got himself away from her, the better he’d like it.
He went to find Missy.
Chapter Four
When Stacy got to the back yard she found Missy sticking her small hands through the fence and giggling as all seven dogs jockeyed for position to lick her fingers. The comical sight made her laugh, too.
“Hi! Sorry I took so long.” Munching on a yellow Gummi Bear, she unlocked the gate, then paused before opening it. “This candy is delicious. Want some?”
“Sure! Can the dogs have a piece, too? I’ll share.”
“Let’s give them doggy treats instead, shall we? They’re better for them.”
“Okay.” Missy stood close at her heroine’s heels, waiting for the chance to enter the yard. “I can do it. I’m not scared.”
“All right. But first we have to make them sit and behave, or they’ll learn the wrong lessons.”
“Like what?”
“Like pushing and shoving to get what they want. They have to learn manners, just like you and I do.” Stacy noticed the child’s smile fading.
“What’s the matter?”
“Candace says I’m a—a little bar—bar…something.”
“Barbarian?”
“That’s it.” She looked up at Stacy, her eyes wide, her expression hopeful. “I’m not, am I?”
“Well, I certainly don’t think so.” It was hard to keep her opinion of the Paynes to herself. If it hadn’t been for the good of the child, she wouldn’t have held back or made excuses for them. “Maybe it’s just that Candace hasn’t been around kids before. Give her time. She’ll get used to having you there.”
“I wish…”
Stacy sat down on the lawn and opened her arms to the sad little girl. “Come here.”
Missy didn’t hesitate to crawl onto her lap.
“I know how it is to wish for something so hard you think you’ll burst. But sometimes there’s just no way for our wishes to come true, even if they are wonderful.”
“My—my daddy died,” Missy whispered. She wrapped one arm around Stacy’s neck and buried her face against her chest.
Deeply moved, Stacy rocked them both back and forth. “It’ll be okay, Missy. It’ll be okay.”
“No, it won’t.” Her voice was barely audible.
Tell me what to say, Lord, Stacy prayed silently. Show me how to help her. Please?
Folding the woeful little girl in a tight embrace Stacy blinked back bittersweet tears as she fully realized why she’d been chosen to minister to Missy. “I do understand how you feel, honey. My mama and daddy both died in a plane crash when I was ten years old.”
Melissa drew a shuddering breath. “They did?”
“Uh-huh. We were all flying home for my birthday. The plane had a bad accident. I was riding in the back seat.”
The child paled. “Did you get hurt?”
“My leg was broken. And I was very sad,” Stacy said simply. “When I got better, they sent me to live with some people who didn’t like me very much.”
“What did you do?”
Stacy wondered how to phrase her confession so it wouldn’t sound as if she were condoning running away from problems. “I was pretty dumb. I ran away and got lost.” She looked down to see what the child’s reaction was.
Lifting an eyebrow, Missy pressed her lips into a pout. “I don’t believe you.”
“Why not?”
“Because that’s what I did, too. Grown-ups always make up stories like that to fool kids.”
“Well, in my case, it’s all true,” Stacy told her.
“The reason I started working with my dogs is because they sent a wonderful dog to find me when I ran off and got lost in the mountains. When I grew up I decided I wanted to be able to help other lost people the same way.”
Missy got up and faced her, arms folded across her chest. “No way.”
“I can prove it,” Stacy countered. “Want to see my scar?”
“Is it yucky?”
“Not anymore.”
“Okay.” Missy cocked her head and bent down as Stacy adjusted the hole in the knee of her jeans to reveal a faded scar on her lower thigh.
“See? That’s where my leg was broken.”
“Oooh! Does it hurt?”
“No. But I’m glad I have it.”
Subdued, the girl asked, “Why?”
“Because I needed the scar to prove to you that I do understand how you feel about losing your daddy.”
“You do?”
“Yes, I do,” Stacy said with a smile. She knew Missy probably wasn’t the only person she’d be able to identify with, to help, because of her injury. But she trusted God to show her more of His marvelous plans as she went along. Right now, it was enough that she believed she’d been led to this particular child at this precise time. “And I’ll try to help you all I can, because that’s my job.” Her grin widened. “Besides, I like you. You’ve got spunk.”
“What’s that?”
Stacy got to her feet, dusted off her jeans, and stuffed the small bag of candy into her pocket. “It means you’re brave. You ask questions. You also have the brains to sort out the answers you get.” She tousled Missy’s hair. “Come on. Let’s go get the dogs their treats.”
“I like ice cream. Got any?”
Laughing, Stacy led the way into the yard while the dogs gathered to welcome their master and her diminutive visitor with wagging tails and excited wiggles. “We can look in the freezer and see. You’ll have to ask your uncle if you can have some, though.”
“Oh, he always lets me have anything I want,” Missy said with obvious pride. “He likes me, too.”
Stacy heard Graydon calling to Missy and answered for her. “We’re back here on the porch. The gate’s unlocked.”
He came around the corner of the house, paused at the fence and eyed the barking horde. “You sure it’s okay?”
“I’m positive. The dogs have been fed recently. Besides, they don’t like their dinner on the hoof.”
“How comforting.”
Stacy laughed at his sardonic expression.
“What’s the matter? Don’t you trust me?”
“Not a whole lot.” He opened the gate and stepped through.
“Well, at least you’re honest about it.” She waved her licked-clean ice cream stick in the air. “Wanna join us?”
“No, thanks. We have to be getting back.”
Missy began to lean against her.
“You can’t go yet,” Stacy said. “I promised Missy I’d put my dogs through their paces before you left. She wants to see how I train them.”
“Maybe some other time.”
She knew better than to argue with someone as stubborn as Graydon Payne so she tried a more roundabout approach. “Nonsense. It’ll only take a few minutes. A promise is a promise. I make it a rule to never break mine.” She eyed Missy and added, “Especially where kids are concerned.”
Stalling while he decided what to do, Graydon checked his watch. “All right. I’ll give you fifteen minutes.”
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