“Don’t you think you’re overreacting? The way I look at it, it may be nice to visit with friends at church but that’s not the real reason to attend. We’re supposed to be there to worship.”

  “Tell that to Lance.”

  “I will, if you’ll accompany me to the Sunday morning service.”

  “Oh, I don’t think…”

  “Don’t think. Just put on your big girl shoes and do it, as my granny used to say.” He could feel himself beginning to blush. “Of course, that’s not exactly how she put it but you get the general idea.”

  “I’ve heard similar old sayings right around here.” Rachel frowned. “I thought you were from California.”

  “I am. My grandparents, however, were genuine hillbillies, just like you.” He was pleased to see her smile and chuckle.

  “Don’t let too many folks hear you call us that,” she warned. “We may refer to ourselves that way but we tend to take exception to having outsiders do it.”

  “I’ll be careful. So, how about it? Will you go to church with me and introduce me around?” Waiting, he was afraid she’d refuse so he goaded her. “Unless these childish threats have you ready to hide from life and turn into a hermit.”

  “Me? Hide? No way,” she insisted.

  “Good. Then tell me where you live and what time you want me to pick you up Sunday morning.”

  “I never said I’d go.”

  “No,” he drawled, “but you didn’t say you wouldn’t, either.”

  The look of alarm on her face was priceless. Jace hoped she could tell that his interest was purely platonic because he didn’t want to create a false impression that he was actually pursuing her.

  Moments later he stopped worrying. After all, how much more innocent could their time together be? He did want to find a home church and since the Good Lord had placed Rachel in his life, he figured it was only sensible to kill two birds with one stone.

  That analogy immediately chilled him to the bone. Any mention of killing brought his thoughts back to the threatening notes. And to the looming danger that he had yet to identify, let alone counteract.

  FOUR

  Sunday morning dawned bright and sunny, although the temperature was predicted to rise no higher than forty degrees by afternoon. Rachel wasn’t surprised. There were slim daffodil fronds peeking out of the ground and a few crocuses and hyacinths had already bloomed. Other than that, there was little sign that winter was past.

  Shivering, she pulled her wool coat over her pale blue sweater and skirt, picked up her purse and bible and stepped out onto the front porch of her modest brick home to wait for Jace.

  Chilly weather wasn’t the only reason she was trembling, she realized with chagrin. Going back to church after having been absent for so many months was bound to cause a stir. So was being accompanied by a handsome newcomer.

  That thought made her smile in spite of her misgivings. She knew it was wrong to gloat but she could hardly wait till the news of her arrival reached Lance Beech and his cohorts.

  “Some loving Christian I am,” Rachel admonished herself. “Shame on me.”

  Sighing, she closed her eyes and said a quick prayer for forgiveness. She and Lance had parted amiably, at least as far as she was concerned. Why he had grown so antagonistic afterward was beyond her. She had phoned several times and tried to get him to discuss their breakup but he had always hung up on her, leaving her to come to her own conclusions.

  The thing that hurt the most was that so many folks had sided with him. At least that was how it had seemed. In retrospect, she wondered if her own guilty conscience about the breakup had colored her perception or made her imagine negative reactions from other people that were not really that bad.

  Noticing the slow approach of a white pickup truck, Rachel’s heart leaped. Was that Jace? If so, he was right on time.

  She waved. The truck pulled into the circular drive and stopped in front of her. Before the driver had time to jump out, let alone circle to the passenger side, Rachel was already climbing in.

  “I would have opened that door for you,” he said.

  “Sorry.” Her tingling cheeks warmed under his scrutiny and the slanting rays of the sun. “I was in a hurry because it’s so nippy out this morning.”

  He rubbed his hands together and blew on them, creating a cloud of steam inside the truck’s cab. “I know what you mean. I didn’t care that my truck’s heater was broken when I lived in California. I haven’t been this cold since I went to ski camp in my teens.”

  “I’ve never been skiing,” Rachel said, thankful that he was making small talk rather than being too serious.

  “So, how long will it be before we see summer around here? I can hardly wait.”

  “You won’t be saying that when it’s over ninety degrees with one hundred percent humidity.” Rachel laughed when he made a silly face. “I’m not kidding. It gets good and hot during the middle of summer in Arkansas.”

  “Thanks for the warning. I’ll remember that. Any other tips you can offer a California transplant?”

  “Well, stay out of the long grass and weeds as soon as the temperature warms up.”

  “Because of snakes?”

  Rachel fastened her seat belt as he pulled away from the curb and started down the road. “Them, too. But it was ticks and chiggers I was thinking of. They lie in wait in the grass and then jump onto your ankles.”

  “I know about ticks. What’s a chigger?”

  “Invisible and itchy. You’ll find out soon enough. One misstep and you’ll be an expert.” She leaned forward and pointed. “Slow down. There’s Serenity Chapel.”

  A sloping asphalt drive led to the church that was perched at the front of a hill. Behind it, redbud trees were showing the first flush of pink color against the dark green cedars. Many oaks stood bare, awaiting the warmth and longer days of spring as their signal to leaf out.

  “Where do you want me to park?” Jace asked.

  “Anywhere is fine. I’m not fussy.”

  She was gathering up her belongings when the cell phone in her purse jingled a tune. “Oops. I forgot to shut that off. Good thing it didn’t ring during the sermon or Pastor Malloy would have been upset.”

  Unfolding the little phone and putting it to her ear, she smiled and offered a cheery “Hello?”

  No one responded. Rachel scowled. “Hello? Is anybody there?” She held it out and looked to see if there was a number she recognized on the lighted screen. Apparently, the number had been blocked. “Huh.”

  “What’s the matter?” Jace asked.

  “There’s nobody on the line. You heard the phone ring, too, didn’t you?”

  “Yes. Loud and clear. Maybe it was one of those computer-generated calls where they try to sell you something.”

  “That’s probably it. Oh, well, it served a purpose. It reminded me to shut this off.” Before she could do so, however, the little phone rang a second time.

  “Hello? Hello?”

  This time, instead of silence, Rachel heard an indistinguishable sound. “What? Speak up, please. I can’t hear you.”

  She looked at Jace and noticed that he was on full alert, scanning the church parking lot through the truck’s windows.

  “Who is it?” he asked.

  “I don’t know.”

  Just then, in the temporary hush before Jace spoke again, she heard a distinctive sound. Someone was breathing hoarsely, harshly, as if bent on sounding menacing.

  “I’m not afraid of you,” Rachel insisted, although her hands were shaking.

  Jace snatched the phone away from her and held it to his ear.

  “Nothing,” he said a few seconds later. “The connection’s broken.”

  As he handed the cell phone back to her his warm, reassuring touch lingered on her hands, cupping them and stilling their quaking.

  She didn’t mind one bit. “It’s not even safe at church,” she whispered, biting back tears.

  “You’re safe with me,” he assured her. “Wherever we are, I’ll keep you safe. I promise.”

  “How? We don’t even know who or what we’re up against.”

  She could tell from his tight-lipped expression that he had no ready answer, no explanation that would calm her fears.

  That’s because he knows there’s real danger, she concluded with a start. She wasn’t the only one who was nervous. Her companion and protector was just as tense as she was. And that scared her even more.

  In light of all that had happened, it was hard for Jace to relax and participate in the worship service because he kept looking for clues about who might have been threatening Rachel. Given the timing of the cell calls, he assumed that whoever had made them had been watching. To have done that, he would have had to be in or near the church parking lot. Therefore, he might also be taking part in the service.

  By Jace’s estimation there were at least a hundred men in attendance, which gave him plenty of suspects. However, just because the threatening notes were phrased as if composed by a man, that was no guarantee there was no woman involved. He’d seen plenty of cases that had seemed to be of masculine origin which had turned out otherwise.

  Solving this puzzle was not going to be easy, Jace mused, shaking hands with fellow worshippers after the conclusion of the service. Rachel had introduced him to so many people he was thoroughly confused, especially when she tried to relate one to another by mentioning the participants’ kinship.

  Finally, he held up his hands in surrender. “Whoa. I appreciate your trying to orient me as to who’s who, but you lost me at the last third-cousin-twice-removed.”

  Rachel chuckled. “Sorry. You’ll be all right as long as you remember that nearly everyone is related in some way to everybody else.”

  He saw her jaw clench and noticed that she’d suddenly sobered. “What is it? Something wrong?”

  “Only the usual,” she said. “See that man over there in the tan sport jacket? That’s my father. I had hoped we could get in and out of here without running into him, but he’s seen us.”

  “Who’s that with him?”

  “One of the guys I told you about. Dad wants me to date him.”

  “How can I help?”

  “Just be yourself.” She snickered. “I think. I really don’t know you well enough to be certain, but I suspect my father won’t like you much. He’s never approved of any of my friends.”

  “Then we should give him something to think about,” Jace said, slipping his left arm lightly around the waist of her coat and pulling her close to his side in spite of the resistance he could feel from her as her father walked toward them. “Try to act as if you like me. We’ll never fool him if you look like you’re about to clobber me for getting fresh.”

  “Who says I’m not?”

  He laughed. “Atta girl. Keep that spunky spirit and you’ll be fine.” Sticking out his free hand and smiling, he preempted Mr. Hollister’s anticipated criticism with a cheerful, “Glad to meet you, sir. Rachel’s told me so much about you. It’s a real pleasure.”

  Beside him, he felt the young woman’s tension start to ebb, especially once her father had accepted the offer to shake hands. Although the older gentleman was scowling and so was the slim, twentysomething man with him, Jace felt as if he had won the first skirmish. He was sure it helped that their meeting had taken place right outside the church and in the presence of so many townspeople.

  Rachel found her voice. “Dad, I’d like you to meet Jace Morgan. Jace, this is my father, George Hollister. And this is…”

  “Alan Caldwell,” the younger, dark-haired man said, also offering his hand.

  “Pleased to meet you both.” There was no doubt in Jace’s mind that neither George nor Alan was really pleased to make his acquaintance. They were both smiling and acting amiable enough but there was an undercurrent of tension as thick as L.A. smog on a windless day.

  George cleared his throat. “So, you’re the new deputy Harlan hired. I’d wondered what you looked like. Should have spotted you from the military haircut.”

  “And now we’ve officially met, so you know,” Jace said with a smile, then turned his eyes on Rachel and gave her a barely perceptible squeeze. “I think I’m really going to like it here.”

  To his surprise and amusement, she tilted her head, looked up and batted her eyelashes at him. Jace nearly burst into laughter. Whether her father took her actions seriously or not, the whole scenario was hilarious.

  Apparently, Alan was not amused. The younger man wheeled and stalked off while Rachel’s father blustered something about having to meet someone for Sunday dinner, then also took his leave.

  As soon as George was out of sight, Jace loosened his grip and stepped away. “That was fun. I think we got his attention.”

  Rachel giggled. “Looks like it. I can hardly wait till he phones me and reads me the riot act about keeping company with a man who’s not from around here.”

  “That’s a prerequisite?”

  “Absolutely. Dad will want to know your grandpa and father, at least, not to mention your more distant kin.”

  “Then he’s out of luck,” Jace said, still smiling. “They’re both deceased.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Yeah, me, too. But life goes on.” He led the way toward his truck. “So, what do folks do around here on a Sunday afternoon?”

  “Usually go out for dinner, then kick back at home. What did you have in mind?”

  Jace shrugged, hoping he looked nonchalant. “I don’t know. It’s getting a little warmer but I suppose it’s still too cold for a picnic.”

  “Only if you want to avoid frostbite.”

  “I know what you mean. I almost gave in and wore my uniform jacket over my suit this morning. I thought this was the south. It’s supposed to be hot here.”

  “Like I said, it will be in a few more months. It’s barely February.”

  “I know. But I keep hoping.” As Jace approached his pickup on the passenger side to unlock the door for her, he noticed what looked like a flyer tucked under one of the wiper blades. A quick perusal of nearby vehicles told him that no other cars had been similarly tagged.

  He put out an arm to block her path. “Hold it. Wait here.”

  “Why? What’s wrong?”

  “Probably nothing. I just want to be sure before you get into the truck.”

  “Sure of what?”

  Jace didn’t answer. He leaned over so he could read the note without touching it, then got down on his knees to check the vehicle’s undercarriage, just in case.

  When he rose and dusted himself off, he returned to Rachel. “We’ll need to phone the sheriff’s office.”

  “Why? What is it?”

  “Another threat,” he said, stepping between her and the few cars that remained in the lot. “I was afraid we were being watched.”

  Her voice quavered. “And?”

  “And, unfortunately, I was right.”

  FIVE

  The springtime sun was still shining overhead but in Rachel’s heart, it was the depth of winter. This couldn’t be happening to her. Not in Serenity. And surely not at church.

  Pastor Logan Malloy joined the small group gathered around Jace’s truck, listened to what was being said, then spoke directly to the sheriff. “Hi, Harlan. What’s the trouble?”

  “Just tomfoolery,” the portly sheriff insisted. “Pure and simple. Some yahoo’s got a grudge against Miss Rachel here and he’s actin’ out by leavin’ threats. Last one was stuck on this here truck.”

  Before she could speak in her own defense, the pastor did it for her. “I wouldn’t be so quick to brush it off as an innocent prank if I were you. Anybody who’s willing to behave like this on church property shows no conscience. And little or no regard for right and wrong, either, assuming they’re able to tell the difference.”

  Rachel sensed Jace’s closeness and once again stepped into the shelter of his arm around her shoulders, unconcerned about social proprieties. Truthfully, she felt a lot less bashful than usual, especially since there was so much strength and comfort associated with his presence.

  The fact that all the men had begun casting questioning glances at Jace convinced her that further explanations were in order. “Jace—Deputy Morgan—was the one who responded to the first threat at the shop and he’s been very helpful ever since.”

  “You have his references?” Logan asked Harlan.

  “Yep. All in order. He comes highly recommended. All the way from Los Angeles, too.”

  “I see.”

  “Really, Pastor Logan,” Rachel said. “You’re beginning to sound as critical as my father.”

  With that, the pastor smiled. “I am like a father in many ways. You’re a member of my flock so that makes you partly my responsibility.” He offered his hand to Jace. “Sorry if I sounded suspicious.”

  Jace grinned and shook his hand firmly. “No problem. I know why you did. Because I’m not from around here, right?”

  “Right. We tend to look after our own. Is this your first visit to Serenity Chapel, Jace?”

  “Yes. Miss Hollister invited me and I thought it would be best if she didn’t drive over alone. Not till the sheriff and I get to the bottom of her troubles.”

  “If you have a few minutes, I’d like to discuss the case with you. That is, if Harlan doesn’t mind.”

  The sheriff shook his head, making his jowls shimmy. “Naw. You go ahead, Pastor Malloy. I know you’re just like an old fire horse. No matter how long ago you quit, being a detective is in your blood.”

  “That it is.” Turning to Rachel, Logan Malloy said, “We can talk in my office.”

  “Fine. I have nothing to hide,” she told him, falling into step between the pastor and Jace. “I haven’t done one thing wrong.”

  She felt Jace’s hand lightly touch hers before he said, “You may not think you have, but somebody sure does.”