“He does? How?”

  “He puts her down all the time. She says he’s just teasing her, but it doesn’t sound like it to me. He talks her into doing stuff she doesn’t really want to do. He didn’t want her to go to camp this year, so she didn’t. Then yesterday she told me she’s decided not to go back to school. She’s going to work so they can get married sooner.”

  “Why is she with him if he treats her bad?”

  “I have no idea. I tried to talk to her about it, she doesn’t see it, I guess. She gets mad and tells me not all guys are like Brian.”

  “That’s scary.”

  “I know. I’m praying she sees the light before it’s too late.”

  “When are they getting married?”

  “Sometime next year. I don’t think they’ve set an exact date.”

  “Well, that’s something at least.”

  “Yeah. Do you think you could keep an eye on her? Let me know if you see or hear anything that seems strange?”

  “I can try. She hasn’t been at church much lately.”

  “She hasn’t?”

  Holly shook her head. “I thought maybe they were going to his church.”

  “I doubt it. He’s not really a churchgoer. Molly told me that he promised to go to church with her every week, but it sounds like that didn’t last too long.”

  Holly added Molly to her prayer list that night. She had been surprised at Tamara’s words because Chase had always seemed nice when she’d met him. But she knew Tamara had spent more time with her friend away from church and obviously had picked up on some disturbing things. It wasn’t like Tamara to hold negative opinions of someone, making Holly believe she had some legitimate concerns for her friend.

  Molly and Chase were at church the next two Sundays while Tamara was in town, but the following week Holly noticed they were absent again.

  Sarah’s second birthday was a big event. She had two parties. One at day care and another at home. Holly made a cake in the shape of a bunny for her. She felt pleased with the results, and Sarah enjoyed making an old-fashioned mess with more of the yellow and white frosting on her face than in her tummy.

  Holly bought her a new baby doll and a cradle, along with a fake bottle, extra clothing, and a pretend binkie. Sarah went to bed with the dolly tucked under her arm.

  The following Wednesday Holly found Scott in Deb’s kitchen when she arrived. He was eating breakfast with Madeline. He didn’t have to work today in exchange for working this Saturday. He took Madeline and the others to the bus stop. When he didn’t come back right away, Holly wondered where he had gone and asked Deb as casually as possible. He had been on her mind a lot lately.

  “He had some errands to run,” Deb said. “Why, did you need something?”

  “Oh, no. I was just wondering. How has it been having him and Madeline here?”

  “Good. At least for me. Scott’s not sure he likes his new boss yet. They’ve had a few disagreements about his schedule and overtime pay.”

  Holly didn’t pry further. She didn’t want to make Deb suspicious about how much she’d had Scott on her mind. He returned after picking up Madeline and Isabel from kindergarten and spent the remainder of the afternoon playing with the children. Holly caught herself staring at him more than once.

  ***

  “Okay, I guess that does it,” Aunt Dana said, writing down the phone number of where she and Jack could be reached for the next two days if their cell phones didn’t get service there. They were leaving for Yakima early in the morning for Brenda’s wedding.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to come with us?” Aunt Dana asked her again. “Terri said she has room.”

  Holly declined. She didn’t know Brenda and wasn’t sure how Sarah would do in a strange place. She preferred to stay home and have a leisurely weekend. Ty wasn’t going either, but he had to work, so she would have the house to herself most of the day.

  The following afternoon she decided to take Sarah to Deb’s to play with Madeline. While the girls played in Madeline’s room upstairs, Holly did some work on the computer for Deb. Her employer had become much more computer savvy in the last year, but she still tended to get behind. Holly enjoyed helping her, but she found the work tedious.

  Holly watched the clock carefully. She wanted to be sure and leave well before dinnertime, knowing Deb would invite her to stay if she didn’t leave soon enough. Ever since Wednesday when Scott had been there all afternoon and her thoughts had wandered to what if? a dozen or more times, she decided it would be best to avoid him as much as possible.

  She wondered where the feelings for him had come from all of the sudden. Scott had always been Madeline’s daddy and Deb’s son before. But now he was Scott: A twenty-four-year-old single man: Good looking, funny, soft-spoken, and caring. Exactly the kind of guy she would wish for herself and Sarah, but would the feeling ever be mutual? She didn’t know if she could afford to get her hopes up or give Scott any kind of an indication that she was interested. But her smiles for him had become too frequent, her longing to see him more urgent, and she didn’t know how much longer she could keep her heart from yearning for something she might never have.

  The less she actually saw Scott, the better, even if she knew an evening here with him and Deb would be much more enjoyable than going home to an empty house. She wanted to stay, but another side of her was resisting.

  Run, Holly! Run as fast as you can. There will be someone else later, when you’re ready. This isn’t the right time. Scott isn’t the right guy, and you don’t want him to be the one to tell you that. Just tell yourself and spare yourself the heartache.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  “Okay, Deb. I’m leaving,” Holly called from the front hall. “See you tomorrow at church.”

  Lifting Sarah into her arms, she grabbed her bag and opened the front door. A cold blast of air rushed in, blowing strands of hair into her face.

  “See you,” she called after them. “Thanks for doing the computer stuff. Be careful on the road; it’s coming down hard out there.”

  She pulled the hood of her coat over her head. “I will.”

  Holly held Sarah close to her body and hurried them both to the car. The hood on her jacket kept her hair from getting wet, but the strong wind pelted her face with fat raindrops. Reaching her car parked in the driveway, she opened the door, swung Sarah into her car seat, and fastened the buckle as quickly as possible

  She slipped into the front and let out a pent up breath, brushing strands of damp hair from her face. Grabbing her keys and putting them into the ignition, she was anxious to get the car warmed up and the heater blasting hot air. It had cooled off fast. Last week they were having balmy seventy-five degree days with nothing but blue skies stretching beyond the hillsides. Even this morning it had been nice, but now the clouds were thick and dark gray. A gray that promised a good storm was just beginning.

  She turned the key. Nothing happened. She tried again.

  Click...click...click.

  Holly heaved another sigh and tried a couple more times. Still nothing. Not knowing anything about cars, she knew she had two options: sit out here in the cold, or go back inside. Exposing herself to the elements once again, she got out of the car, unfastened Sarah from her seat, and ran back to the house.

  Welcoming the warmth and shelter once again, she set Sarah down and followed the little legs through the living room and into the kitchen. Since Uncle Jack and Aunt Dana were out of town, she hoped Deb wouldn’t mind giving her a ride home.

  “Car won’t start,” she announced.

  “Dead battery?” Deb asked.

  Holly shrugged. “It makes this clicking sound when I turn the key. I didn’t leave my lights on.”

  “We can ask Scott to take a look when he gets here. You can stay and have dinner with us.”

  Holly didn’t know how to turn her down and reluctantly agreed to the arrangement. Madeline went with Sarah into the living room to play. Holly went back out to her car several times during the next hour to try again, but nothing changed. At five-thirty she began helping Deb with chopping the vegetables for the stir-fry.

  They heard Scott come through the door about fifteen minutes later, and Madeline ran to meet him. Deb went out to mention the car. He said he’d take a look after dinner. The rain was coming down in buckets at the moment.

  When Deb began cooking the meat and veggies in the wok, Holly went into the living room to check on Sarah. She’d heard her fussing a few minutes ago and supposed she was getting hungry. Emerging from the kitchen, she spotted her daughter on the couch, sitting on Scott’s lap. Holly came to a dead stop. Madeline sat beside them as he read them a book. He had both girls’ full attention.

  She bypassed the living room and went down the hall to the bathroom. When she returned, she went to pick up some toys the girls had been playing with, all the while listening to Scott’s voice. He read with wonderful expression and kept the girls’ attention for the entire story. Then Madeline got down to get another book and scrambled up beside him once again.

  “Read this one, Daddy. Sarah likes this one.”

  Holly went to set the table, continuing to hear Scott’s voice, Madeline’s comments, and Sarah’s chatter coming from the other room. Deb called them to dinner during the third story. Holly pulled one of the high chairs over to the table and then turned to go get her daughter.

  She met Scott in the doorway carrying Sarah in his arms. Again a mixture of confusing feelings surged through her. He stepped past her and set Sarah in the high chair like it was something he did all the time.

  “Thanks,” she said.

  Scott glanced at her and sat down beside Madeline. She took the chair opposite him and felt a tiny smile form on her dazed face. Looking quickly away, she dished up some rice for her daughter and set it aside to cool.

  During the brief prayer of thanks, she tried to calm her heart. She had always liked Scott. He had a pleasant personality and loved his daughter. During the last few weeks she had entertained thoughts about him she never had before, but seeing him with Sarah did something entirely different to her heart.

  She dished up her own plate and poured Sarah a cup of milk. Madeline directed most of the conversation for the next twenty minutes. Holly barely heard a word she or anyone else said.

  Why do I suddenly feel nervous and self-conscious around him? Is it my imagination or have his eyes always been that brown? And where did that little cleft in his chin come from? He didn’t have that before, did he?

  He glanced at her. She looked away. Scooping up scattered pieces of rice from Sarah’s tray, she put them back into the bowl. Sarah tossed her spoon onto the floor.

  “All done?”

  “Ah-dun.”

  Glad for the excuse to clean up and get Sarah down, she took her into the other room and hoped Scott would take a look at her car now. She needed to get out of here as soon as possible.

  He helped his mom clear the table and then said he’d go investigate the problem. The rain had taken a break from its heavy downpour, but she knew it was still coming down when Scott returned and was drenched just the same.

  “I think I know what it is,” he said from the hallway, not wanting to walk onto the carpet in his wet boots and dripping jacket. “But I won’t be able to do anything until tomorrow. Do you want me to give you a ride home now, or are you planning to stay?”

  “Now is fine,” she said.

  “I’ll get my truck warm,” he said. “Come out when you’re ready.”

  “Okay, thanks. I’ll need Sarah’s car seat from--”

  “Already got it,” he said. “Is this your bag out here? I can take that out too.”

  “Yes,” she said, walking toward him to take Sarah’s coat from the peg. “Thanks. We’ll be right out.”

  “No hurry,” he said, turning away and stepping out the door.

  Does he always smile at me like that?

  Stop it, Holly. Snap out of this.

  I don’t remember him smiling at me that way.

  She pushed her conflicting thoughts aside, went to help Sarah with her coat and shoes, and said a quick good-bye to Deb and Madeline.

  “Will you be all right by yourself tonight, hon? You could spend the night here with the storm and all. The power might go out.”

  “I’m sure we’ll be fine,” she said. “Ty will be there, and we have a wood stove.”

  “Okay. If you change your mind, don’t hesitate to call. I’m sure Scott wouldn’t mind coming back for you.”

  “We’ll be fine,” she said again. “We better get out of here before it gets dark.”

  She carried Sarah to Scott’s truck. He got out to take Sarah from her and lifted her up into the car seat. She climbed into the warm cab, and Scott returned to his side. She secured the straps over Sarah’s torso, then fastened her own seat belt.

  Scott backed the truck onto the street. Once they were on the road heading out of town, they began to see more serious damage the high winds had already done. Fall leaves along with twigs and branches littered the winding road. The swaying trees towering above them made her nervous. She wondered if she should have stayed at Deb’s after all.

  They arrived at the house, finding it dark. Ty’s car wasn’t in its usual place. Scott offered to go inside and see if the electricity had already gone out. She handed him the key and watched from his truck as he opened the front door and flipped on the lights. Feeling relieved she would be able to stay, she unfastened Sarah’s straps and hoisted her out of the chair. Scott came back to take Sarah from her arms and hurry her into the house. Holly got out also, grabbed her bag, and closed the door behind her.

  “Do you want me to get the fire going?” he asked once they were inside.

  “Sure,” she said, feeling the cold surrounding her. She had been tempted to say no, but something in the way he offered made her feel like he wasn’t asking for permission.

  She went to search for candles and a flashlight in case the power went out. The wind seemed stronger up here, rattling the windows in the kitchen as she got some candle holders from the pantry shelf. She heard the basement door open, and Ty came into the room.

  “I brought Thunder and Lightning into the garage,” he said. “Do you know if Pounce is inside somewhere?”

  “She came in when we got here,” Holly said, feeling relieved he was here. She went to the family room, taking three candles with her and leaving the rest on the kitchen counter.

  “Man, I haven’t seen one like this in awhile,” Ty said, coming into the family room and talking to both her and Scott. “I about got blown off the road.”

  “Yeah, us too. I better go,” Scott said, closing the door of the wood stove. He crossed the room and spoke to Ty. “You’re going to be here, right?”

  “Yeah.”

  “That’s good,” he said. “I don’t want Holly and Sarah to be here alone in this.”

  He shifted his gaze to her. “I’ll let you know about your car.”

  “Okay,” she replied. “Thanks for the ride.”

  Scott left the room, and she heard the front door close. Holly asked Ty if he’d had dinner. He said he hadn’t, and she offered to make him something.

  “No, that’s okay. I’ll make myself a sandwich.”

  Holly hadn’t gotten used to seeing Ty’s large frame. He’d had a major growth spurt over the summer and jumped over six feet with shoulders the size of Uncle Jack’s. He went into the kitchen, and she lit some candles on the mantle above the fireplace, then stood by the wood stove in the corner of the large room watching the trees whipping in the wind. She prayed for Scott, that he would make it home safely.

  “Papa Jack,” she heard Sarah say. She turned to see her daughter sitting in the rocking chair with large questioning eyes.

  “Papa Jack. Chair. Rock now.”

  Holly smiled. “I’m sorry, baby. Not tonight. Papa Jack isn’t here.”

  “Papa Jack,” she whined.

  Holly went to her and lifted Sarah into her arms, then sat down to rock her. “Mama will do it this time.”

  Sarah leaned against her, and Holly began singing some of Sarah’s favorite songs. During the second time through Itsy Bitsy Spider, the lights flickered. On the last line they flickered again and then went out. It wasn’t completely dark outside yet but getting close. She rose from the chair, carried Sarah into the kitchen, and lit two more candles. Ty had finished making his sandwich and was sitting at the table. She took one of the candles over so he could see the magazine in front of him. His eyes lifted when they heard a knock at the front door.

  Holly waited for Ty to answer it, wondering who would be dropping by at a time like this. Maybe one of the neighbors?

  She heard Scott’s voice and wondered why he had come back. She met him and Ty in the front hall. Scott began removing his coat.

  “A tree fell across the road on the hill and knocked down a couple of power lines. I can’t get through. Looks like I’m stuck up here for awhile.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Holly, Scott, and Ty sat around in the family room for an hour, staying warm, watching the candlelight flicker against the log walls, and listening to the wind howl outside. Sarah kept herself entertained some of the time but involved them in her play as much as possible. When Scott and Ty got on the topic of cars, Holly saw that it was getting close to Sarah’s bedtime and took Sarah upstairs to get her into her pajamas.

  She had planned to put her to bed, but Sarah wanted some milk. Going back down to the kitchen, she set Sarah at the table and poured a small amount into a glass and allowed her one graham cracker as a before-bed snack. Ty came into the room while Sarah was nibbling and asked her if she knew where any more batteries were. The flashlight she had found earlier was dead.

  She went to the usual place and found the shelf empty. “There might be some in the basement,” she said. Telling Sarah to stay put, and asking Scott to keep an eye on her, she went downstairs with Ty. She held a glowing candle while Ty did the searching. They found some in an emergency supply kit and returned upstairs. Holly noticed Sarah wasn’t at the table anymore.