Книга - Brides And Blessings

Brides And Blessings
Molly Noble Bull


FROM MOVIE STAR…TO A PASTOR'S WIFE?Actress Suzann Condry took on a tough role when she traded lives with her twin sister, Holly. Suzann needed to get away from Hollywood…and Holly believed Suzann might find both peace and faith in charming Oak Valley.Anything can happen when twin sisters trade lives!Could Suzann convince everyone she was the sweet church librarian? Especially Josh Gallagher, the handsome assistant pastor who looked like a rugged rancher. Suzann feared he suspected her…until he asked for a date. She soon dreamed of an "ordinary" life as Josh's wife. But would Josh still love her once he learned her true identity?









Table of Contents


Cover Page (#u6c9d5e08-7842-543d-833b-5b30b923fc69)

Expert (#u2e252e04-1f05-55bb-86b9-48057c99dc17)

About the Author (#ud920bb51-995b-5067-93d0-0a58465890fa)

Title Page (#uff1bab82-c469-58da-89ab-3a9673afc9d7)

Epigraph (#u3c25a9e3-8ce4-5da3-8bbb-d6c741134055)

Dedication (#u3b61124d-d918-51ed-8da7-2224ae70b96b)

Chapter One (#u6032b648-8f50-5745-b7d9-92739e378e48)

Chapter Two (#uaa67c738-d16e-5f72-bfac-6ad16513dc44)

Chapter Three (#u6fe195bc-f78c-5aa1-b218-d5d9462b0f77)

Chapter Four (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)

Dear Reader (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)




“Everybody thinks you’re perfect

for the job,”


Josh assured her.



“Who’s everybody?” Suzann demanded to know.



He counted with his fingers. “Well, there’s me…and…” A mischievous grin appeared on his handsome face and he touched his second finger. “Then there’s me, of course, and there’s…”



“You?” She laughed softly. “I think I get the picture.” Suzann shook her head. “Josh Gallagher, you’re impossible.”



“Impossible?”



He gazed down at her, the tender light in his sky blue eyes reminding Suzann of the brief kiss they’d just shared at her doorstep.



Her smile faded and she looked away.



“Nothing’s impossible,” he said quietly. “You just have to go after what you think God wants for your life.”




MOLLY NOBLE BULL


A lifelong Texan, Molly Noble Bull is married and the mother of three grown sons, Bret, Burt and Bren. She and her husband, Charlie, also have three preschool grandchildren and are hoping for many more. They own a home in the Texas hill country, but currently live in Victoria, Texas.



Both her father and her maternal grandfather were ranch managers, meaning they were real-for-sure Texas cowboys, and all three of her sons are involved in cattle ranching today. Molly spent part of her childhood on a sixty-thousand-acre, south Texas cattle ranch. When she writes about cowboys like Josh Gallagher, her hero in Brides and Blessings, she is writing from personal experience.

Besides her writing, Molly is involved in Christian causes and is interested in Bible prophecy. She also helped form three Internet loops for Christian women who write romance novels. She encourages readers to write to her in care of Love Inspired/Steeple Hill, 300 East 42nd Street, Sixth Floor, New York, New York 10017.




Brides and Blessings

Molly Noble Bull







www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)


Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within

me, bless His holy name.

—Psalms 103:1


To my three grandchildren—

Bethanny, Dillard and Hailey Bull,

and to my critique partner, Kathryn King Brocato.

But to God give the glory.




Chapter One (#ulink_d5f20117-a194-508b-ba64-45c72dc2a708)


It was now or never.

Either Suzann Condry exchanged identities with her twin sister within the next ten minutes. Or she flew back to California and forgot the whole idea.

The morning sun streamed through the east window of the rustic living room. Suzann drummed her fingers on the arm of the tan leather couch. When her sister came up with the idea, it had seemed like the perfect solution to Suzann’s problems. But actually going through with the deception produced unsettling feelings that she hadn’t anticipated.

Suzann gazed at her twin sister, seated beside her. “Thank you again, Holly, for agreeing to meet me. Taking a two-week vacation from your job in order to be here couldn’t have been easy to manage.”

Holly’s smile beamed softness and serenity. “Mother always said that at the time of my adoption, she learned that I had a twin sister somewhere. I just didn’t know how to find you until you phoned me from L.A. It was icing on the cake to discover you’re also famous.”

“I wish I’d known about you,” Suzann said, “but I didn’t know a thing until I found my original birth certificate after Mom died. But I mentioned that, didn’t I?” Suzann shook her head, hoping to clear her mind. “I’m more stressed than I realized.”

“That makes two of us.”

The plan sounded simple enough. Suzann would become Holly Harmon. Holly would become Suzann Condry—former child movie star, actress, model, national icon.

For the first time in her life, Suzann would be free of glamour, fans and glitz. A new identity, no matter how brief, would also give her a means of escaping an unhappy relationship, and the clutches of the paparazzi.

But had the past two weeks with Holly in an isolated cabin in the Texas hill country been long enough? Did she know her sister well enough to swap lives with her?

Everything happened quickly. One minute Suzann was going through her mother’s things after the funeral, the next she was phoning her agent, telling him she was adopted and asking him to hire a private detective to search for her birth parents. Mike phoned a reliable detective agency the next day and signed on one of their investigators to handle the case.

Discovering that she was the daughter of an unwed, teenage mother was surprising. She practically fell out of her chair on learning that she had an identical twin sister.

Once she got Holly on the phone, the sisters set up the get-acquainted meeting at the cabin. At their first face-to-face, it was Holly who suggested that they switch lives, perhaps because Suzann had shared how depressed she’d been lately. Suzann’s actor boyfriend, Greer Fraser, had dumped her for another movie actress, and her heartbreak had been smeared all over the tabloids.

At first, the mere idea of assuming her sister’s identity shocked Suzann. To begin with, such a disguise would never work. Suzann’s face and figure had been on movie screens, in magazines, and on television since she was in diapers.

Holly attempted to convince her sister that she would look different without that heavy makeup she constantly wore in California. When Suzann finally saw how much Holly looked like her with makeup, she was persuaded to give the madcap idea a try. Still, even at this late date, she had doubts.

Suzann squinted at the autumn-kissed hills beyond the east window. They couldn’t have found a more beautiful setting for their scheme.

Holly’s transformation still amazed her. Bleachedblond hair, carefully applied makeup, and a designer outfit hid her sister’s true identity. But no amount of makeup could hide Holly’s winsome smile or the wide-eyed innocence of her chocolate-brown eyes.

Holly peered at Suzann questioningly. “I’m doing the innocent stare thing again, aren’t I?”

“Really, Holly, I think you look great. Still, you’re going to have to keep working if you hope to look like Suzann Condry.”

Holly bit her lower lip. “I’m trying, really.”

“I know you are. You know you really are a dead ringer for me,” Suzann said, hoping to encourage her sister. “In fact at the moment, you look more like me than I do.”

Holly laughed nervously. “A lot has happened in two weeks, hasn’t it? I think letting your hair go back to its natural color and the black-rimmed glasses add just the right touch. Now, if I can ever get used to these contacts, I guess I’ll be all set”

Holly was warm and tenderhearted. She was also naive. Was Suzann expecting more of her sister than Holly could give?

Absently, Suzann curled a lock of her long, dark auburn hair around her forefinger. “Do you think we can pull this off?”

“I certainly do.”

“Then I think we can too,” Suzann said with feigned optimism. “You know, I’ve dreamed of this.”

“Dreamed of what?”

“A normal life.” Suzann smiled thoughtfully. “I’ve been in the limelight since before my second birthday. This will be my first opportunity ever to live like normal people do, and I owe it all to you.”

“Think of it this way—you’re giving me the chance to wear designer clothes and live in a mansion in the California hills. What more could I want?”

“How ‘bout your life back?”

“I’ll get it back in six months,” Holly said. “That’s soon enough for me. Still, I’m unsure how to play a movie star.”

“At least you won’t have to do any acting,” Suzann said. “Playing a church librarian in Oak Valley, Texas, might be the hardest role I’ve ever taken on.”

Holly shrugged. “The only acting I’ve ever done was a role in a church musical.”

“You’ll do fine,” Suzann said. “And remember, Mike will be right there to help you out, anytime you need him.” Suzann smiled. “Mike McDowell’s a sweetheart. And the best agent I know. But don’t let all that charm fool you. I’m paying him big bucks to show you the ropes in California.”

“I’ll try to remember.”

Suzann wanted to kick herself for reminding her sister that she paid Mike to be nice to Holly.

“I’m sorry,” Suzann said beseechingly. “I shouldn’t have said that. Sometimes I can be pretty thoughtless, I guess. But I never meant to hurt your feelings.”

“You haven’t.”

Suzann feared that she had. Something was bothering Holly.

“Tact is seldom necessary in Hollywood,” Suzann explained. “In the future, I’ll try to remember I’m not in Tinsel Town anymore.”

“I’ll try to remind myself that I’m not me anymore,” Holly said. “I’m you now.”

“And I’m you.” Suzann tried to make her voice sound perky and inspiring. “Doesn’t this sound exciting?”

“Yes,” Holly said under her breath. “Yes, it does.”

Suzann’s upbeat comment hadn’t lifted her sister’s spirits. She wondered what would.

“You hinted that you have a secret crush on the youth director at your church. What did you say his name was?”

“Josh Gallagher.” Holly laughed self-consciously. “Some of the women in my Sunday School class call him Sir Gallagher-had.”

“I believe there was once a famous knight by that name.”

“So I heard.” A trace of a smile still lingered in Holly’s eyes. “And for your information, I never said I had a crush on him. Josh doesn’t know I’m alive. I said he was good-looking. Probably every single woman in the church noticed that.”

“I stand corrected.” Suzann wiggled her nose teasingly. “Now, back to Mike.” She put her hands on her knees. “I want you to feel free to phone him at any time and for any reason.”

“All right.”

“He’ll also be your escort whenever you go out socially, so he can tell you who is who among my circle of friends. Any problem with that?”

“Not at all. I’ll need to be with someone who knows who I really am. Otherwise I would never be able to go through with this—this disguise.”

Suzann’s throat felt dry and sore. However, she’d learned long ago that mentioning one’s aches and pains proved pointless. The show must go on—no matter what.

She reclaimed her mug from the coffee table and blew away invisible steam before lifting it to her lips. The warm liquid soothed her burning throat.

Somehow, the sugary taste and the scent of fresh coffee also triggered still more thoughts on her physical condition. Was she sick instead of tired? Impossible. Suzann Condry was never ill.

She swallowed slowly and glanced back at her sister. Holly had already demonstrated what a kind, straightforward person she could be. Still, how could Holly possibly fit into the world Suzann had left behind? And deep down, was Holly wishing she’d never suggested that they make the switch?

Five weeks ago Suzann didn’t know she had a twin sister. Now that she’d had the opportunity to know Holly, they had bonded in ways Suzann never thought possible. A lump formed in her throat. It wouldn’t be easy to say goodbye.

“Holly, it’s not too late to back out. Are you sure you want to go through with this?”

“I’m sure. And I have no intention of backing out.”

“You can’t know how much this means to me,” Suzann said. “And how much I appreciate what you’re doing.”

“You’re my sister. We’re family now.”

Suzann reached over and hugged her sister. “You’re great.”

When the sisterly embrace ended, Suzann took Holly’s hand in hers and held it. After all the years of living as an only child, it felt good to have a sibling.

Yet in a few minutes, Holly and Mike would take a limo to the airport in San Antonio and fly to California. Suzann would settle into Holly’s apartment here in Texas. They wouldn’t see each other again for months, and there were still so many things they had never discussed.

“Holly, what’s the real reason you agreed to do this?”

Holly hesitated as if she was going over something in her mind. “I’m doing this because of you.”

Suzann pressed her hand to her chest. “Me?”

Her mother’s locket under her palm felt cold and as unyielding as Greer Fraser’s heart. Suzann moved her hand to her face, touching her chin with her forefinger.

“You hardly know me,” Suzann added.

“Don’t be silly. You’re my twin sister. Why, I already love you.”

“Is that the only reason you’re doing this?”

“Not entirely.” Holly focused her full attention on Suzann. “I happen to think there’s something missing in your life. Something important. Stepping into my shoes for a few months, you might find out what that important something really is.”

Suzann inclined her head toward her sister, planning to ask what could be more important than a normal life. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Mike, standing in the doorway.

“How long have you been there?” Suzann asked.

He grinned, first at Suzann and then at Holly. “Not long. And it’s time to go, Sue. It’s a long drive, and our plane leaves in less than two hours.”

Holly didn’t move a muscle.

“He means you, Holly,” Suzann said. “You’re the only Sue in this room now.”

“I know he meant me. It’s just that—” Holly’s voice cracked with emotion “—after all these years, I’ve finally found my sister. I’m not ready to give her up yet”

“I’m not ready to give you up, either.”



Holly and Mike left a few minutes later. Suzann stood at the window until the rented limo disappeared behind a hill.

She gathered her things and locked the cabin. Then she settled behind the wheel of Holly’s compact car and flipped on the heater. At the fork in the gravel road, she turned onto a narrow, two-lane highway, speculating about what lay ahead.

She already missed Holly, and there was so much to do and so much to remember. Recalling everything Holly had told her about Oak Valley and her new life there might prove more difficult than memorizing a scene from a movie script.

Now what was the name of that good-looking assistant pastor who also served as the youth director at Holly’s church? Oh, yes, Josh Gallagher. Suzann smiled to herself. After hearing Holly rave about the man for two weeks, her curiosity level had reached an all-time high.

The highway snaked around rocky hills and over numerous low-water crossings. Holly had prepared her for huge trees, clear running water, and a hint of fall colors brightening the landscape. Yet the sheer beauty of a late-October morning in the Texas hills astounded her. If she didn’t know better, she would swear she was driving through the autumn countryside in Vermont or Connecticut.

Suzann had grown up in L.A. Holly had spent her growing-up years on a Texas ranch. Though their lives couldn’t have been more different, some similarities were astounding.

As children, both twins hated math, loved art and music, and were poor spellers. Both sucked their thumbs until they were four years old, got the chicken pox the Christmas they were six, had big orange tabby cats as pets and liked to keep things neat and tidy.

If that were not enough, Suzann and Holly put on identical blue sweat pants and matching tops on their second morning at the cabin without knowing what the other twin planned to wear that day. Suzann still couldn’t understand it all. However, Holly had suggested she read a book on twins who were separated at birth. Suzann resolved to buy a copy.

A white water tower in the distance told Suzann she would soon arrive in Oak Valley. Holly had said the town all but shuts down by noon on Saturdays. Suzann glanced at the hand-drawn map Holly had given her. A native Californian should be able to find Holly’s apartment with no problem at all.

The apartment on the second floor of a mom-andpop apartment house looked even smaller than Suzann expected. Still, a rush of excitement filled her as she opened the door for the first time.

Inside the doorway, her eyes widened, taking in the deep blue and off-white color scheme, and the quaint, antique furniture. Just what I would have chosen, she thought. And lace curtains. Perfect. She put down her suitcases. It seemed identical twins—even when separated at birth—were more alike than she had dreamed possible.

A document in a wooden frame hung over the bookcase. Suzann crossed the room for a closer look. Holly’s college diploma stared at her from behind clear glass.

Her twin sister had said she was a university graduate. Now Suzann also knew that Holly graduated from Baylor with a degree in English and library science. Very impressive.

Suzann always dreamed of going to college. But how could she? As the main breadwinner in her tiny family, it was a wonder she managed to graduate from high school.

Oh, she’d taken courses in drama at an exclusive school in New York City, but that didn’t count. Her studio paid for the courses, and she was pressured to take them.

Pressured should have been her middle name. Growing up, adults manipulated her constantly. Was it surprising that now, as an adult, Suzann had a problem making decisions?

Suddenly tired, she sat down and leaned back, gripping the maple arms of an aged rocker. The wood felt good under her hands, strong, like solid families. She’d never experienced that kind of closeness. She’d merely simulated that emotion when the movie script called for it.

Oh, her mother had loved her, all right, and was always just and kind. Yet for whatever reason, her adoptive mother, Nancy Condry, was distant—seldom kissing or hugging Suzann. As an adult, she still struggled to fully understand.

Her adoptive father died in a car accident less than two years after Suzann was born, and her mother had needed a means of support for herself and her baby daughter. It couldn’t have been easy, rearing a child alone.

Nancy Condry stumbled into the world of baby modeling and child acting by accident. One of the few choices for a poorly educated, single mom living in California twenty years ago.

Suzann’s birth parents were an even bigger mystery, and Holly hadn’t been much help. However, Suzann would soon know the truth. Private detective Roger Bairn had promised to locate her birth parents and reveal all the secrets of her past.

She eyed a photo album on the lamp table beside her chair. Her sister had thought of everything. Suzann ran her hand across the smooth, leather cover, then opened to page one.

Her mirror image in pigtails, and wearing a blue-and-white gingham dress, grinned back at her. Holly was probably about ten years old and stood between her two younger brothers. Their parents smiled proudly behind them.

Now there was a real family. Suzann imagined two little girls in the picture instead of one. The fantasy warmed her.

A mental list of all the chores she’d proposed to do that morning interrupted her musings. I should unpack, she thought. Reluctantly, she closed the album, promising herself that she would return to it later that day.

She would be wearing Holly’s clothes. The only items she needed to put away were her personal belongings.

Then she planned to trek the six-and-a-half blocks to Oak Valley Bible Church. Walking instead of driving would give her the opportunity to see Oak Valley, firsthand. The exercise wouldn’t hurt, either. She recalled that Holly had said nobody but the janitor would be at the church on Saturday morning. She could explore the building without being disturbed.

The name Josh Gallagher flashed through her brain again. If her interest in men was as similar to Holly’s as her taste in home furnishings, she would find him appealing.

Rule number one. Josh Gallagher is strictly off-limits. If this crazy idea of Holly’s was going to work, she must constantly remind herself of that important guideline.

Suzann coughed and sneezed her way to the hallway leading to the church library. She would take a quick look inside, then turn around and go back to the apartment.

Just outside the door, another coughing spell paralyzed her temporarily. Her throat still hurt. She coughed again. This was not the time to come down with a cold.

She took a sip of water from the fountain nearby, then another. As she reached out to open the door, she thought she heard someone coming.

Suzann froze. She’d found empty buildings unnerving since she was a child. She pulled her hand back from the door-knob and slipped her key ring back in her purse.

The janitor—yes, that’s who it is, she thought. Now, what did Holly call him? Oh, yes, Turner. Albert Turner.

Whirling around, her mouth formed the letter M for Mister Turner. A tall, broad-shouldered man in a white, western-style shirt, jeans and brown cowboy boots came around the corner. Could this cowboy be the church janitor?

“Miss Harmon.” He propped his arm against the door frame. A one-sided grin emerged. “How was your vacation?”

“Great.”

His eyes sparkled. “Then are you rested and ready to get back to work?”

“Do I have to answer that?”

“Absolutely.”

The corners of his mouth still turned up, revealing even white teeth. His brown, wavy hair looked thick and coarse. Yet she knew intuitively that it would be soft to the touch.

The bronzed tan on his weather-worn face and strong-looking hands suggested an outdoorsman. Jeans and cowboy boots painted an even clearer picture. Everything about him told of a working man who spent hours in the Texas sun.

But what kept her looking at him were those blue eyes that appeared to glow with energy and excitement. Their sky-blue color contained specks of a deeper blue and were edged in navy, giving his entire gaze an intensity that she found compelling.

“Having trouble opening the library door?” he asked.

“Yes, as a matter of fact. I’ve lost my key.”

Not lost it, exactly. She just couldn’t figure out which key fit without trying all of the keys on the ring. A task she’d rather perform without curious witnesses. But the excuse gave her the chance to talk to him for a minute. She suspected that he wasn’t a janitor. She wanted to learn his identity before she ran into him again.

“Here,” he said. “Try mine.”

“Thanks.”

So, he had a master key. Maybe he was the janitor after all. Or maybe he was…

Of course.

He didn’t fit her idea of a man of the cloth. Yet this too-handsome cowboy had to be none other than Josh Gallagher, the youth director and assistant pastor.

After seeing him, she knew why he’d captured the notice of all the single women in the congregation. That lean muscular body and long legs left no doubt.

“Don’t forget,” he said, “Pastor Jones wants us to work on that duet for next Sunday.”

“You don’t mean tomorrow, do you?”

“Tomorrow’s this Sunday.” His engaging grin held a pinch of laughter. “Don’t worry. We still have two weeks to practice. Do you have a copy of the music yet?”

“Yes. I mean—You know, I can’t remember.”

“Don’t let it bother you. I’ll run off a copy of mine.”

Suzann nodded her thanks and put the key in the lock. As she reached back to return his key, another coughing spell erupted. She felt slightly light-headed and feverish now along with her other symptoms.

Without a word the cowboy reached for a paper cup above the fountain. He filled it and handed her the water.

“Here,” he said, “drink this.”

She put the cup to her lips and drank. The urge to cough slowly vanished. The cool water also relieved her aching throat a bit. But she still felt woozy.

“Thanks,” she said. “I needed that.”

“You sure did.” His deep chuckle filled the air. “Are you all right?”

“I’ll—” she swallowed “—I’ll be fine.”

“Did you know it’s getting dark outside? Looks like rain.”

“In that case, I’ll cut my visit to the library short.”

“Can I get you anything?” He hesitated thoughtfully. “We have cough drops in the church office. I’ll go get you some.”

“You’re kind to think of that.”

When he’d gone, Suzann sat down at the desk, put her head down and closed her eyes. When she finally lifted her head again, she studied the room, searching for some sort of work that she could be involved in when the cowboy returned. Turning in her chair, she pulled out a book from the bookcase behind her.

The Church Directory.

She’d been wanting something that would acquaint her with the congregation at Oak Valley Bible Church. A church directory was just the text she’d been hoping to find. She would check it out of the church library and take it back to Holly’s apartment for further study.

She filled out the library card and opened the book to the first page. She’d just turned to the Gs for Gallagher when Josh reappeared with the cough medication. Casually, she flipped to the Rs.

“How’s the cough?” He handed her the box of candied drops.

“Better.” She popped a drop in her mouth. “Yum, cherry-flavored. My favorite.”

“Keep the whole box then. We have several cartons of the stuff in the church office.”

“Thanks again.”

He shifted his weight from one long leg to the other as if there was something more he wanted to say. “As you know,” he began, “I’m new to Oak Valley, and I thought the pastor said you were a native Texan. But you sure didn’t sound like it just then.”

She needed to forget her cough and get in character.

“I have several friends from other states.” Suzann’s sculptured lips formed her best ingenuous smile yet. “I guess it’s beginning to rub off.”

“Yeah, that’s probably it.”

He still looked puzzled, but maybe not as much as before.

“I couldn’t help noticing that you’re wearing cowboy boots and jeans,” she said with a Texas accent. “Were you raised on a farm? Or do you just like Western clothes?”

“A little of both, I guess. But it was a ranch. Not a farm,” he corrected with a spark of amusement in his eyes. He glanced out the window. “Why, it’s starting to sprinkle.”

The light shower had turned to rain by the time she looked out too. The trees and the entire parking lot had grayed eerily. She could barely see the street beyond.

“You sure don’t need to be out in wet weather with that cough of yours.” He glanced toward the side door. “If you’ll give me your car keys, I’ll re-park your car under the carport.”

“I—I walked.”

“Walked? Didn’t you notice those dark clouds coming up from the north?”

“I guess I was distracted. Coming from far west Texas, I’m still amazed when I find autumn colors this far south. Besides, fall is my favorite time of the year.”

“Fall’s my favorite time of the year too,” he said. “But you need to look up once in a while, young lady. Know what I mean?”

Suzann forced herself to hold in a smile. Josh looked to be in his mid- to late-twenties. She was probably only a few years younger than he, if that.

“I’ll try to remember to do that,” she said after the long pause. “But I do hope you’ll keep reminding me.”

He cocked his head to one side and grinned his heart-stopping smile again. “I can’t seem to stop preaching, can I?”

“Occupational hazard, I guess.”

He laughed. “You know, you have a great sense of humor. I guess I never saw that side of you before.”

“My funny side only comes out when I’m feeling a little bit under the weather.”

His animated expression fell away. “That’s right. You’re sick, aren’t you?”

“I think I just need to rest up from my vacation.”

“Well, if you think I’m going to let you walk home in the rain, you have another think coming.” He reached in his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. “Let me pull my truck around. And meet me at the side entrance in five minutes.” He started to walk off, then stopped and turned back. “Unless you would rather stay a little longer.”

“No,” she said. “I’m ready to go right now.”

She knew she shouldn’t be catching a ride with her sister’s secret love. But it was raining outside. And she was feeling sicker by the minute.




Chapter Two (#ulink_5c9cea8e-bc57-5bb1-a934-cd0f5dfceb93)


Holly, on her flight to California, tried to ignore Mike in the first-class seat beside her. Yet he kept staring at her as if he couldn’t believe his eyes. He appeared amazed that she looked so much like Suzann. Holly had the sudden urge to stare right back.

With his green eyes and blond hair, some might call Mike McDowell handsome. Holly saw him as conceited, condescending and a big phoney. During the last two weeks, the only time he’d been halfway civil was when her sister was around.

A man like Mike probably expected every woman on the planet to fall down at his feet. He would be surprised if he knew how truly unimpressed Holly really was. She would definitely put Mike McDowell on her prayer list.

Suzann had depicted Mike as charming, a sweetheart. Holly thought his congenial attitude was a facade to impress her wealthy sister. She intended to be courteous to Mike, but the friendship balls were all in his court.

He leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms over his chest. “We’ll be landing in less than a hour, and I’m bushed. I haven’t had a day off in over two weeks. Sometimes I think Suzann forgets that she’s not my only client.”

Holly didn’t feel like making a comment.

“I hope you don’t mind,” he continued, “but I’ll be out of pocket for the next few days. So I won’t be able to take your phone calls.”

She stared at him, unable to believe what she was hearing. “What?”

“Now, hold on. Don’t blow this way out of proportion. You can still call me—just not right away. And whatever you do, don’t tell your sister.”

“Now, let’s see. I don’t know a single person in California but you. And I’m pretending to be a movie star. So if a problem comes up, who should I call? Nine-one-one?”

He laughed. “That sounds like something Suzann would say. I’m glad to see that you’re finally beginning to lighten up.”

“And?”

“I have someone in mind to take my place. You can call him anytime.” He handed her a calling card.

Stunned, Holly shook her head. Then she glanced down at the white card. Turning it over, she read a name and a phone number. Dr. Shawn McDowell, Pediatrician.

“Shawn’s my younger brother,” Mike said.

“Does he know who I am?”

“Not yet.”

Her sister had said that nobody else in California was to know. But that was because Suzann assumed Holly could go to Mike for help. Did Mike intend to explain the situation to his brother? Or leave Holly dangling?

If his past history symbolized his future acts, Mike planned to wash his hands of the entire matter. So far, he’d showed a complete lack of interest in doing anything he was hired to do.

Holly was completely disillusioned long before her plane touched down at Los Angeles International. By the time the limo her sister rented arrived at Suzann’s hilltop mansion in southern California, Holly felt like Alice at the bottom of an extremely majestic rabbit hole.

The house was done in shades of blue and off-white, suiting Holly’s tastes perfectly. She found antiques in almost every room—from France, Germany, England. Pewter goblets and bowls were everywhere. If I’m ever as rich as my sister, she thought, I’ll decorate my whole house just like this.

Gertie, her sister’s round, jolly, Austrian housekeeper, and Gertie’s son, Buddy, gave Holly a warm “Welcome home.” But, of course, they thought she was Suzann. Bates, Suzann’s butler, driver and sometimes secretary, exhibited a more formal demeanor.

When phone calls from Suzann’s numerous Hollywood friends started pouring in, she told Bates to say she was unavailable. Holly wasn’t ready to play “let’s pretend.”

Shortly before lunch, she picked up her Bible and moved outdoors, settling into a reclining chair by the pool. She imagined what the pool might look like on a summer night, the blue water all lighted up and inviting. The surrounding lawn looked smooth and green, with rows of tropical plants lining the rustic, cedar fence.

The setting was lovely. However, she’d never felt lonelier nor more out of place. Her old life in Texas hadn’t prepared her for the fast lane. For all the help her childhood experiences on a Texas ranch gave her, she might as well be living on another planet.

But she’d see this through, no matter what. Without the opportunity to spend time in a Bible-believing church environment, Suzann might never find the Lord.

She’d questioned whether or not she should phone Suzann and tell her about Mike. Sure, he’d asked Holly not to tell her sister that he wouldn’t be taking her calls, but Holly never promised she wouldn’t.

The unmistakable scent of cucumbers reminded her that she was hungry. She selected a sandwich from the tray Gertie placed beside her chair. The crunchy cucumber and taste of mayo fill her mouth. The sandwich was certainly palatable, but Holly would have preferred a cheeseburger and fries. She put down the sandwich and reached for her Bible.

After reading for half an hour, she prayed. Finally, she relaxed. She was about to close her eyes and take a quick nap when a man she didn’t know opened the yard gate and started toward her.

Holly jerked to a sitting position.

The man looked to be in his early thirties. He wasn’t tall—probably not more than five-eight—and his close-cropped hairstyle framed a rugged-looking face that few would call handsome. Yet Holly saw a kindness in that face. Somehow with a simple glance, he managed to put her at ease.

“Where did you come from?” she asked.

“I’m sorry, Miss Condry, if I scared you. But my brother, Mike, asked me to stop by. Your maid said I’d find you here.”

His deep voice was as comforting as his warm, open gaze.

Relief surged through her. “Oh, yes. He mentioned you.” She forced a pleasant expression. “You’re the pediatrician.” She offered him her hand.

“I’m Shawn McDowell.”

“Glad to know you, Doctor.”

“Please, call me Shawn.” He shrugged, clearly baffled, and shook his head. “Look, I don’t have a clue what I’m doing here.” Shawn peered at Holly as if he expected answers. “Would you mind filling me in?”

When she didn’t reply, he raked his hand through his thick, sandy hair. Then he pulled up one of the benches and sat down beside her.

Holly was at a loss to know what to say. Wasn’t it enough that Mike had deserted her? Did he also expect her to cover his tracks?

It would be easy to simply play along, pretend she was Suzann, and make Mike do his own dirty work. But that wasn’t Holly’s style. As a Christian, she felt she had to be honest with this man. His enquiring, blue-green eyes demanded it.

“I’m not who you think I am.” Her throat tightened. She paused before continuing. “I thought Mike would have told you.”

He scratched his head thoughtfully. “I must have missed something. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I’m not Suzann Condry.”

“What did you say?”

She lowered her lashes so she wouldn’t have to see his reaction to her revelation. “I’m her identical twin sister, Holly Harmon.”

“Look, ma’am, I think I’m in way over my head here.” He stood as if to leave. “I better go.”

She felt the color drain from her face. “No, please. Wait.”

“I’m a doctor. Not a private detective. Mike should have sent a private investigator, instead.”

Tears glistened in her eyes. First she’d convinced Suzann she should tell her parents in Texas about the identity switch. Now she’d told the secret again and still had no one to turn to.

One of her false eyelashes partially separated from her left eye. She yanked it off, pulling off the other one for good measure. The doctor probably found such behavior offensive, but she hated false anything. She also hated her current situation.

Holly knew the rules in Oak Valley. She had no idea how to proceed here. The urge to cry was now almost overwhelming.

“Don’t go.” Her voice choked with emotion. “I need…”

He sat down on the bench again. His compassion-ate gaze touched her emotionally. “Hey, are you all right?” He hesitated. “Is there someone you would like me to call?”

“There’s nobody I can phone but your brother, and he’s not taking my calls.”

“How ‘bout if we start at the beginning?” he suggested gently.

As best she could, Holly explained all that had happened in the last month. If his expression was an indication, Shawn McDowell wasn’t buying any of it.

“Do you expect me to believe all this is on the level?”

“As strange as it may sound, I do.”

“And you also want me to believe you’re a church librarian?”

“Normally, I hardly wear makeup at all.” She sniffed and wiped her eyes. “My hair’s dark auburn, and I wear glasses.”

A slow grin started in his eyes. “A sort of female Clark Kent, huh?”

She returned his smile and glanced down at her Bible. “Yeah.”

“So what do you want me to do?”

“Your brother said you would fill in for him while he’s—out of pocket. The trouble is, I don’t know what he was supposed to do…besides take my phone calls and escort me around town.”

“Phone calls, I can do. I’ll check with my brother to learn my other duties.”

“Then you’re willing to help me?”

His grin held a trace of amusement. “I’ll do whatever I can.”

“Oh, thank you, Dr. McDowell.”

“Shawn.”

“You can’t imagine how much I appreciate this. But if you don’t mind, please call me Suzann.” Her laugh held a nervous undertone. “I’m supposed to be an actress. Isn’t that a riot?”

“I don’t know. I think you’re doing a pretty good job of it. You managed to convince me to go along with your plan, didn’t you?”

“Oh, I’m so sorry to put you out like this.”

“Don’t be sorry.” His smile caused Holly’s heart to skip a beat “I think I might learn to enjoy it.”



Suzann reclined on the blue couch in Holly’s living room. Since Josh drove her back to the apartment, she’d had a constant string of guests—concerned church members—bearing covered dishes of food. She appreciated their kindness, but she just wanted to be alone and get some sleep.

She’d tried her best to pay attention to her current visitor. For almost half an hour, Mrs. Henrietta Beesley had talked endlessly about her single nephew from Dallas.

“He’s a preacher, you know,” she’d said, “and a church librarian would be perfect for someone like him.”

Mrs. Beesley rattled on. Suzann wondered what she was going to do with all that food; the dishes covered the kitchen table. Part would fit in the refrigerator. Some might go in the freezer. She had no idea what to do with the rest.

Maybe she would give it to Josh Gallagher. After all, he was the one who must have spread the word around that she was ill.

Mrs. Beesley picked up her empty dessert plate and leaned toward the coffee table that separated them. She’d placed the chocolate cake she had brought directly in front of her and had already had two slices.

“I must say, this is the best cake I’ve ever made.” She grinned sheepishly. “Would you mind terribly if I had another piece?”

“Not at all.” Suzann choked back a laugh. “Help yourself.”

The older woman cut a slice of cake. The doorbell rang.

The mere thought of facing anymore covered dishes made Suzann feel sick to her stomach. She cherished the concern and kindness of the church members she’d met. But enough was enough. She got up off the couch and crept to the door.

Josh Gallagher stood on the front porch, holding a paper bag. “How are you feeling?” He reached in the sack and pulled out a can of chicken soup. “How does soup and crackers sound to you?” he asked. “I’m buying.”

She was surprised at how happy she was to see him. “Hi, Josh. Come in. Mrs. Beesley’s here,” she added with a nod toward the older woman—seated on the couch.

An embarrassed smile surfaced on Josh’s handsome face. “Glad to see you, Mrs. Beesley,” he said. “How’s the back?”

Mrs. Beesley joined Suzann at the door. “Oh, Brother Gallagher.” Eyes fluttering, the older woman pressed her hands together excitedly. “How kind of you to ask.” Her bubbly expression faded, and she placed her right hand to the small of her back. “I’ve really been in a lot of pain lately.”

Suzann focused her gaze on Josh as he listened intently to Mrs. Beesley describe her ailments. Casually, he turned to Suzann.

“Miss Harmon looks tired,” Josh said to Mrs. Beesley. “Why don’t we put away the food and let her get some rest?” He grinned at Suzann. “We’ll lock the door on our way out.”

Suzann hadn’t meant to actually go to sleep. But that was an exceptionally downy couch. She drifted off in seconds.

When she opened her eyes, the telephone was ringing. She sat up. Someone had covered her with a blue, patchwork quilt. What a sweet thing to do, she thought. A smile played on her lips as she reached for the telephone.

“Hello?”

“Hi,” Josh said. “How was the soup?”

“Soup?”

“The soup Mrs. Beesley and I left warming in your oven. Didn’t you see my note?”

“Not yet, I just woke up.”

She glanced out the double windows facing the street. It was already dark outside. She looked down for her watch and realized she wasn’t wearing it.

“What time is it, anyway?” she asked.

“Six-thirty.”

“I must have really slept.”

“Apparently. Didn’t you hear all that racket when the thunderstorm passed through?”

“Not a thing.”

“So far, we’ve had almost half an inch of rain.”

“Really?”

She knew he hadn’t called to give her a weather report. Though she liked talking to him, she wished he would get to the point.

“Do you mind if I stop by and give you that music I promised?” he asked. “I ran it off on the machine here at the church a few minutes ago.”

She wanted him to drop by, but…

“I’ll just stay a minute,” he added. “I’m headed for a movie, and you’re on my way.”

Did he have a date for the evening? It bothered her to realize that he might. The fact that she cared one way or the other worried her still more.

“What do you say? May I come by or not?”

“Sure,” she heard herself say, “come on over.”

“Can I get you anything from the store first? You know, something for your cold? Tissues, maybe? Throat lozenges?”

“Right now, I can’t think of a thing.”

“Then I’ll see you in ten minutes.”

Josh was coming on pretty fast and strong for a country preacher. But maybe he was just trying to be kind. Wasn’t it part of his job? Why, half the congregation had stopped by to check on her that day.

Suzann cautioned herself not to attach any special meaning to Josh’s concern. He was probably just a caring person.

Caring.

A picture of Greer Fraser’s handsome face rose up before her. Suzann flinched. Greer had proved just how uncaring he really was the day he broke off their relationship and moved into Elaine Eaton’s apartment in Los Angeles.

Holly would probably say she should never have gotten so involved with a man like Greer. But how could Holly possibly understand the kind of life Suzann had lived before she came to Oak Valley?

Suzann should never have allowed Greer back in her life, but he’d showed a renewed interest in her once he moved to California. Suzann fell for it. And why not? Greer was considered by some to be the best-looking man in Hollywood.

Until Greer, Suzann had always refused to date actors, convinced that they were too in love with themselves to truly love someone else. However, Greer seemed to have changed since New York City. Suzann had thought he was warmer—more honest.

The fact that he’d duped her the second time proved two things: his acting talent was greater than his critics indicated, and Suzann Condry could be deceived.

Loving and caring were just words to Suzann. The citizens of Oak Valley might believe in such things, and once, she did, too. But she was no longer convinced those romantic notions had any basis in reality.

A tickle in her throat became a deep cough. A knock at her door said that Josh waited on the porch outside. She took a sip of water to muffle her cough. It didn’t work.

“You all right in there?” he asked. “That cough of yours sounds bad.”

“Give me a minute. I’ll be fine.”

She fumbled in her purse for the cough drops he’d given her, then remembered that she’d left them in his truck. Her eyes watered and burned. Suzann wiped her eyes, took a big swallow of water, and coughed some more.

“Let me in this minute,” he said. “Or I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll—”

“Okay, okay.”

She stumbled to the door and nearly fell. Grabbing hold of the back of the high-backed rocker, she paused to steady herself.

She knew that she had been dizzy earlier, but hadn’t counted on being weak as well. Suzann flipped the latch and stepped back from the door.

Josh’s encouraging smile faded. “You need to see a doctor.”

“It’s just a cold. Besides, doctors’ offices aren’t open on Saturday night. Won’t you come in?”

“The emergency room at the hospital over in Kerrville is open.” He came inside, removed his raincoat, and looked around.

“Just drop your raincoat there, by the door.”

Wrapping his wet coat in a tight tan bundle, he did as she said. His dark brown hair looked damp and curlier than she remembered. He handed her the sheet music wrapped in clear plastic. “Here.” Then he shook out the surplus moisture from his hair. Droplets of rainwater trickled down both cheeks.

“I’ll get you a towel.”

“No, no, no. You sit. I’ll get it.”

“But you don’t even know where the bathroom is.”

“I’ll find it.”

“Through the bedroom. First door to the right.”

Suzann felt self-conscious and blushy, but managed to hide it. She’d entertained men alone in her house many times. So why was she embarrassed now? Was she suddenly becoming another Pollyanna like her sister?

In six months she would leave God, the church, and the state of Texas forever. Her goal was to learn from these people, not join them. She was in Oak Valley to rest and sample a normal life. And for no other reason.

She’d done background studies for various movie roles in the past. Why was this any different? She would simply have to become more objective.

Josh trekked back to the living room, rubbing his head with a blue towel. Suzann had settled onto the couch again. He sat down beside her.

“I hope you don’t catch my cold,” she said.

“Not a chance. I just had one.” He wrinkled his nose boyishly. “And that’s my quota for the year.” He grinned. “Besides, I’ve been praying.”

“I hope it helps.” Why did I say that? she wondered. “I mean—” she shrugged “—of course it helps.”

“Nobody would know that better than a prayer warrior like you.”

Prayer warrior? What’s that?

Nothing came to mind. If Holly mentioned that subject at all, it had been deleted from her brain before Suzann arrived in Oak Valley. She would need to phone Holly and asked her for a definition of these new terms.

“You know,” he said, “we’re expecting more rain tomorrow. I don’t think you should even consider trying to go to church in the morning unless you feel a lot better.”

He slanted his head to one side, pressing his palm against her forehead. A thrill shot through her.

“You have fever. Have you eaten anything?”

“Not yet, but I will.”

“I haven’t eaten anything since lunch,” he said. “How about if we pull out that soup from the oven, open the crackers, and have us a feast? Otherwise, I’ll be stuck eating a bucket of popcorn at the movie.”

“Soup and crackers sounds good to me.”

Since it was her home, Suzann expected to serve the meal. But Josh insisted on doing all the work. As he set about laying the table and fixing the food, he urged her to take something for her fever and even went to the medicine cabinet in the bathroom in search of aspirin.

Suzann had never known a man that could be so nurturing and at the same time so manly. She found the combination delightful. Suzann grew reflective. Holly had expressed those same sentiments about Josh.

When Josh returned to the kitchen, he brought a yellow rose from the bouquet Mrs. Winslow had sent. He placed the flower in a china bud vase on the small table. Sitting across from her, Josh folded his big, rough hands, and said the blessing.

Later, as they spooned their soup, Suzann took in the white linen table cloth and her sister’s spotless kitchen. The table looked lovely. Josh had thought of everything. They were even using linen napkins and Holly’s best china.

“Everything looks perfect,” she said. “I feel like a queen. But you’ve done too much. If this keeps up, you’ll have me spoiled.”

“Sick people deserve to be spoiled.”

“You’re very kind. In fact, the whole congregation is kind. Maybe too kind. I’ve never seen so much food in all my life.”

“I’ve talked to several of the ladies since they stopped by to see you, and you’re well-liked here in Oak Valley. But I suppose you know that.”

She glanced down at her soup bowl. “Thanks again.”

He put down his spoon and wiped his mouth. “Mrs. Winslow mentioned that you insisted on seeing pictures of all her grandchildren. Do you like children?”

“Yes. I mean—Of course I do.”

Suzann liked children, all right, but that was not the reason she’d asked to see the pictures. She was still trying to match names with faces.

“Have you ever worked with children, Miss Harmon?” he asked.

“Yes. And please, call me—call me Holly.” Suzann blinked, trying to think how her sister would have responded. Nothing surfaced. Was she about to blow her cover?

“Maybe you shouldn’t call me Holly after all,” she said.

“Why not?”

“It sounds too informal.”

“As you must know, many in the church even call the pastor by his first name.”

“That’s true but…”

“You think I should call you Miss Harmon.”

“Exactly.”

“All right,” he said, and a faint smile shone through. “But it seems out of character for you.”

“Out of character? Why?”

“Now that I’ve gotten to know you, you seem more down to earth than the shy librarian I first thought you were.”

“The change is only temporary. As I said earlier, I’ll be my old self again as soon as I get over this cold.”

He chuckled softly under his breath. “Frankly, I like you better the way you are now.”

“Coughing and sneezing my head off?”

He threw back his head and laughed. “No, that’s not what I meant at all.” His mirthful laugh evolved into something much more intense. “I think you know it too.”

Was she imagining things? Or did that look in his eyes say that he found her extremely attractive?

This would never do. She shouldn’t have allowed Josh to drop by again, much less fix her supper. It was probably something Holly would never have considered doing.

She glanced at the clock over the refrigerator. “It’s ten after seven. If you don’t leave right now, you’ll be late for that movie.”

“I’m already late,” he said. “The movie starts in five minutes. I could never get there in time. But that’s okay. The picture is there for three more nights and—” he studied her painstakingly “—you’re tired, aren’t you?”

“Well, it has been a long day.” She faked a coughing spell to make her point.

“You go in and rest while I do these dishes.”

“Please. Don’t.” Suzann hadn’t intended to sound so abrupt She tried to soften it by forcing a weak smile. “Put the dishes in the sink to soak. I’ll do them later.”

“Sure, and then I’m out of here.” He paused contemplatively. “Do you mind if I phone you in the morning to see how you’re doing?”

“Go ahead if you like, but I can’t promise I’ll answer. I’m taking your advice and sleeping in.”

“I won’t call until after church then,” he said.

“That’s very thoughtful of you, but don’t feel that you must. I do a pretty good job of taking care of myself.”

His face flashed disappointment. “I see.” Josh continued to study her with those electrifying blue eyes of his.

She felt terrible for speaking so curtly to him. Suzann wished she could take back her sharp remark. Yet if she did, he might miss her meaning.

Josh slipped his right hand in the pocket of his jeans as if he was searching for his truck keys. “I better go,” he said rigidly, “and I hope that cold of yours disappears real soon.”

“Thanks.”

Then he left.

She hadn’t liked treating him so callously. Suzann bit her lower lip.

Like many child actors, Suzann had always felt that in order to get love and acceptance, one must perform perfectly—before the camera and everywhere else. She had no faith in people who offered affection without expecting something in return.

Suzann knew she was still slightly depressed over her breakup with Greer Fraser. Until the onset of her cold, she hadn’t realized that she was physically exhausted as well. When Josh offered to nurse her back to health, Suzann was warmed by his concern and amazed at how different he was from Greer and the other men she’d dated in the past.

Somehow, Josh’s interest and nurturing nature struck an unsung chord deep within her—as if he was gently teaching her to trust. At the same time, Suzann saw Josh’s kindness as a warning. Take it slow and easy. Men like Josh were rare in California…and that was where she would be living in six months.

She knew she needed the kind of tenderness and understanding that Josh could give her. But she was afraid to reach out and take it. Besides, she wasn’t in Oak Valley to start a romance. Or to steal her sister’s beau.




Chapter Three (#ulink_28f8272e-2ed2-5024-a7f4-aea98ee9f8ff)


Suzann crawled into Holly’s single bed under the double windows and went right to sleep. Four hours later, she woke up, feeling uneasy and slightly disoriented, but fully awake.

Yawning, she glanced at the luminous clock, blinking in the darkness. Eleven o’clock.

It would be nine in California. Maybe she should give her sister a call.

Suzann fumbled for the phone on the nightstand, then dialed. Bates answered. Rats. She’d hoped Holly would pick up. She faked her best Spanish accent ever and asked to speak with Miss Condry.

“She’s talking to a gentleman in the drawing room.”

Suzann’s right brow lifted. “Really? Tell her this is Maria Garcia from Texas. Her friend from Oak Valley.”

“She hasn’t been taking her calls today. But if you’ll hold, I’ll go in and give her your message.”

Suzann coughed. “Thanks.”

A few minutes later Holly came on the line.

“Your Spanish accent must have been pretty convincing,” Holly said. “You sure had your butler fooled.”

“It’s not the first time. How’s—” Suzann coughed again “—how’s California?”

“Super, but you don’t sound so good. Are you all right?”

“Just a slight cold. So, how do you like my humble abode?”

“Your house is fabulous. But if you hadn’t drawn me that map, I would never have found your bedroom.”

Suzann smiled. “Who’s your guest? Mike?”

Holly grew silent. “No, his brother.”

“The pediatrician?”

“Yeah.”

“Mike said his brother had moved to Burbank. So what’s Shawn doing there? And where’s Mike?”

“It’s a little hard to explain right now. And Shawn—I mean, Dr. McDowell—is waiting. Could I call you back tomorrow?”

“Sure.”

Suzann held the receiver away from her ear for a moment before hanging up. Something strange was going on in California. She intended to find out what it was.



Suzann slept late the next morning. She might have slept longer, but a coughing episode woke her. When she recovered, she got out of bed and fixed herself a cup of coffee.

The church members she’d met would be in Sunday School and then church. So would Josh. She was free to study Holly’s family photo album and the pictorial Church Directory.

At a little before twelve, she fell asleep again. She didn’t open her eyes until she heard another knock.

Suzann combed her fingers through her hair and made her way to the door, pulling her white, terry-cloth robe closed in front as she went. The small window above the door revealed a young woman about Suzann’s age. She’d noticed her picture in the Church Directory. Still in her groggy state, she couldn’t remember her name.

Suzann opened the door. “Excuse my appearance—and for looking so vacant. But I’ve been sleeping a lot with this cold of mine.” She slanted her head to one side. “Please, come in.”

The young woman frowned briefly as if she might be confused. She was short and petite. Her hair was darker than Suzann’s. Some might call it black. Her eyes were a warm gray and circled by a thick layer of black lashes.

“We missed you at church this morning.”

“I missed being there.”

Suzann motioned toward the couch, taking the chair to the right of the couch for a better view of her guest. Could this be her neighbor? Suzann had caught a glimpse of a neighbor when Josh drove her home, but that woman had looked slightly older. So who?

In hopes of appearing relaxed and casual, Suzann pulled up her legs, covered them with her white robe, and hugged her knees.

“What’s been going on in Oak Valley since I’ve been gone?” Suzann asked.

The young woman sent her another puzzled expression, as if she’d expected Suzann to say something entirely different.

“Are you sure you’re all right, Holly?” the young woman asked. “You seem a little—” she shook her head “—I don’t know…different.”

Suzann stretched out her legs and sat up. Her body language earlier wasn’t doing the job. It was time for Plan B. Too bad she hadn’t come up with one yet.

“Maybe you should see a doctor or something,” the woman said. “About that cold, I mean.”

“That’s what half the church members who came by here yesterday said.”

“I would have come by yesterday too but—I just got back late last night.”

“How was your trip?”

“Trip?”

Suzann tensed. Trip was obviously not the word she should have used with this particular person. Wake up, Suzann, she thought. She could always blame her present addled state on her fever.

“That wasn’t a very good choice of words, was it?” Suzann said. “Sorry. How did it go?”

“At first Mother was devastated, of course. But she’s better, now that we think Dad’s going to be all right.”

“We can thank God for that.” Suzann suddenly realized to whom she was speaking, and her heart went out to Kate Devlon.

“I’m sorry about your dad,” Suzann said softly. “Wish I could have been there for you.”

“There was no reason for you to disrupt your vacation, and there was nothing you could do. Besides, you phoned, didn’t you?”

Suzann nodded. She should have guessed that the stranger was Holly’s best friend the minute Kate walked in.

Holly had described Kate as warm and fun-loving. Had Suzann known to whom she was speaking, common sense would have told her that Kate wasn’t likely to be upbeat when her father had just suffered a heart attack.

“You probably need to get back in bed.” Kate stood. “I better leave.”

Suzann wanted her to stay. However, it might be best to wait until she felt a little better and could keep up her Holly act before they had a prolonged visit.

Suzann got up then. “I’m really glad you stopped by.”

“Me too.” Kate grinned before starting for the door. “I would have brought you a covered dish, but—” she laughed and turned back to Suzann “—Brother Josh said that maybe you would like a visit only.”

Suzann followed Kate to the door. “He’s very perceptive.”

“Isn’t he, though?” Kate winked. “Do I smell romance in the air?”

“Romance?” Suzann was caught off guard by Kate’s remark. “No.” She shrugged nonchalantly. “We just happen to work at the same church, that’s all.”

“Are you sure that’s all it is?”

Suzann opened her mouth to answer. Then closed it. It would be too easy to say the wrong thing.

When Kate had gone, Suzann went back to the couch and reached for the Church Directory. She hoped to recall everything Holly said about Kate Devlon. She remembered that Kate was a rancher’s daughter, turned secretary to a local lawyer, and that she moved to Oak Valley about the same time Josh did. If Suzann hoped to be a convincing Holly Harmon, she would need to stay as close to Kate as possible.

By nightfall Suzann was beginning to question whether or not Holly intended to return her call. Josh hadn’t phoned either, but she wasn’t surprised after what she’d said to him.

At eight o’clock—California time—Suzann phoned Holly. Bates informed her that Miss Condry went out to dinner with Dr. McDowell. Confused and slightly aggravated, Suzann phoned Mike.

“I’m sorry,” a female at his answering service said, “but Mr. McDowell is out of the country. Why not try him again early next week?”

Out of the country?

Mike was hired to escort Holly around the area. What was he doing out of the country? His answering service wasn’t willing to give her so much as his location or a phone number.

Suzann phoned Holly again, instructing Bates to tell Miss Condry to call Maria Garcia no matter how late it was when she came in.

She’d drifted off to sleep when the phone rang.

“What’s the matter?” Holly asked. “Is your cold worse?”

“No, I was worried about you. And Mike’s out of the country. Would you mind telling me what’s going on?”

“Mike went on—on a sort of vacation.”

“So I heard,” said Suzann sarcastically.

“He said he was tired from two weeks in Texas without a day off. So he sent his brother to fill in until he gets back.”

“Does Shawn know who you really are?”

“I had to tell him, under the circumstances. Sorry,” Holly replied.

“It wasn’t your fault. But wait until I get my hands on Mike.” Suzann coughed several times. “How is Shawn working out as Mike’s stand-in?”

“Fine. In fact, I like him better than Mike.”

“But your heart belongs to Josh Gallagher, right?”

“Suzann, I wish you’d stop saying that. Josh Gallagher has hardly said ten words to me since the day we met. Besides, I heard he’s got a girlfriend who lives near that ranch his parents own, somewhere in the northern part of the hill country. And Mrs. Beesley said that his parents hope he’ll marry her someday.”

Suzann tried to swallow what Holly had said. But it would take time to digest it all.

“Are you still on the line?” Holly asked.

“I’m here. So what’s Shawn like? I’ve never met him.”

“Well, he’s warm, friendly, easy to talk to. He’s not pretty-boy handsome like his older brother. But in my opinion, he’s much better looking.”

“This sounds serious,” she teased.

“I just met the man yesterday,” Holly said with a sigh. “He only asked me out because he felt sorry for me after the way Mike treated me.”

“Maybe I should hire Shawn to look after you instead of Mike.”

“Don’t you dare because a man like Shawn McDowell has scruples. He might be insulted. Besides, he’s a Christian.”

“Excellent. This is getting better by the second.”

“The man is only being kind, Suzann. Why can’t you understand that?”

Suzann’s laughter echoed back to her. “We’ll see. Won’t we?”

“I don’t like the sound of your laugh. And if it means you’re planning to hire Shawn, I’ll never speak to you again.”

“Don’t worry. I was only joking. But if I contribute to the building of the new pediatric wing he plans to help build for poor children, who would be the wiser?”

Suzann felt a lot better after talking to Holly. Now she knew for sure that her sister had no claim on or interest in Josh Gallagher. But what about the girlfriend Holly mentioned? Was Josh serious about her?

If so, what business was it of Suzann’s? It would be a bigger stretch than she could fathom to think that a country preacher and a movie star might become a twosome. She needed to forget Josh Gallagher and focus on her real reasons for coming to Oak Valley, Texas.



Suzann returned to Holly’s job at the church library on Wednesday. Three women stopped by to check out books. Suzann liked them, but with the women mentioning the name Jesus in practically every sentence, her problem was in relating to them.

The church secretary burst into the library. Suzann secretly winced, then made an earnest effort to smile. Holly had said that Mrs. Olson was demanding but had a kind heart—once you got to know her. All she needed to do was get to know the woman as soon as possible.

“Here’s a schedule of events for the rest of the week,” the elderly secretary said. “Prayer meeting’s tonight at 6:30 p.m., followed by choir practice. Tomorrow night the women’s Bible study is at seven. You’ll be attending as usual, of course?”

Was she kidding?

“Friday night,” Mrs. Olson continued, “a school is scheduled for those who’ll be teaching Fall Vacation Bible School this year. I see you’re on the list.”

“I am? I mean—I certainly am.”

“And don’t worry about the library. We’ll close the library during that whole week, just like we did last year.”

“That’s good news.” Suzann couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Was there such a thing as a night off around here?

“And don’t forget that you promised to help with the bake sale and car wash on Saturday to raise money for the church youth group,” Mrs. Olson added. “It’ll be held on the church parking lot again. And I hope you don’t mind teaching your Sunday School class this Sunday. Sally Rogers is out of town.”

“I’ll—I’ll be glad to do—to do whatever.”

“I was sure you would be. And remember to bring one of those delicious cakes of yours to the bake sale, Saturday.”

Suzann blinked. “Cake?”

“But with your talent for baking, just any cake you want to bring will be fine.”

Suzann had never baked a cake in her entire life. Nor had she taught a Sunday School class. Ditto to Vacation Bible School. She was thankful that the church secretary had left a copy of her duties. Otherwise, she would never remember them all. The thought of actually doing them made her head swim.

Okay, so she knew before she arrived in Oak Valley that Holly was a Christian and the church librarian. How could she have known that Holly’s entire life was immersed in the church?



Suzann didn’t see Josh again until the Vacation Bible School meeting on Friday night. The pastor was involved elsewhere. Josh conducted the meeting.

She sat stiffly beside Kate Devlon in the second row, speculating about whether or not Josh intended to acknowledge her. He’d made it clear that he wanted nothing more to do with her, and that seemed like a strange attitude for the youth director and assistant pastor of a church.

“Did you and Brother Josh have a spat?” Kate asked.

“Spat? Why, he means nothing to me.”

“Maybe not, but I think you mean something to him.”

Suzann wanted to remind Kate that Josh Gallagher had a girlfriend back home. She never got the chance.

A hush permeated the room. Josh asked Brother Winslow to lead the group in prayer.

Josh couldn’t help seeing Suzann during the meeting, but he acted as if she were invisible. The way he deliberately avoided her gaze exasperated her.

“See what I mean?” Kate whispered.

Suzann rolled her eyes upward.

Josh might never have looked at her if Suzann hadn’t raised her hand in answer to one of his questions.

“Yes, Miss Harmon,” he said without expression. “What kind of refreshments would you suggest for snack time?”

“Snow cones would be nice. They’re easy to fix, and if it turns cold again, we could serve hot chocolate instead.”

“That’s an interesting idea,” he said, “but I understand we had that last year. I’d like to try something new.” He looked away. “Anyone else?”

One of ladies who came into the library on Wednesday raised her hand. “Well, I like Miss Harmon’s idea about the snow cones. Just because we had them last year doesn’t mean we can’t have them again, and the children really seemed to like them.”

“I second that,” Kate said.

Josh’s mouth tightened. “Then if nobody has any other ideas, I guess it’s snow cones again.” He glanced at Suzann indifferently. “Thanks for the suggestion.”

She nodded, looking down at her teacher’s manual.

“So if nobody has anything else to say,” Josh said, “I guess I’ll see y’all here Monday morning at eight o’clock, sharp, ready to teach our autumn version of Vacation Bible School. Oh, and don’t forget the bake sale in the morning.”

Kate groaned. “How could we forget?”

Suzann stuck close to Kate’s side as they walked out to the parking lot. She had no illusions that Josh Gallagher planned to seek her out Still, it was nice to know that she wouldn’t have to face him alone if he did.

Josh went straight to his truck, got in, and slammed the door behind him.

“Wow,” Kate said. “He’s got it bad.”

Suzann shook her head. “What Brother Josh has is a bad temper.”

“He never had it until you came back from vacation. I’ve never seen him like this, and I’ve known him all my life.”

“All your life?”

“Had you forgotten that we grew up together?” Kate asked.

Could Kate Devlon be the girlfriend back home whom she’d heard so much about? No, if she’d been Josh’s girlfriend, Holly would have mentioned it.

“Would you like to go out for hamburgers?” Kate asked. “The Dizzy Dairy should be open, and I’ve got time, if you do.”

“Hamburgers sounds great.”

“Let’s take my car.”

Suzann had already learned that the Dizzy Dairy, or the “D.D.” as it was sometimes called, was the only place in town that served hamburgers, except for Juan’s Mexican Café. Kate drove by the D.D. slowly. Sure enough, Josh’s truck was parked out front.

“I think I’d rather eat at Juan’s,” Suzann said.

“Are you chicken, or what?”

“Let’s just say I’m playing it safe.”

It was ten by the time Suzann got back to the apartment, and she still had a cake to bake. She opened the kitchen cabinet. A box of cake mix and a can of ready-made icing glared back at her. Grabbing both of them, she read the directions on the back of the cartons. Hmm, this sounds easy, she thought. Literally, a piece of cake.

Yes, baking appeared easy enough—until she smelled burning batter. Suzann raced into the kitchen, grabbed a potholder, and opened the oven. A big puff of smoke caused her eyes to water.

Coughing, she pulled her cake from the oven amid a cloud of smoke. Besides being scorched on the bottom, it was lopsided and had an odor that would kill a healthy horse.

She considered tossing the horrible flop in the garbage and defrosting one of the cakes in the freezer. She might have if she’d thought she could get away with it.

Instead, she decided to tell the truth. So she burned a cake…What could they do to her? Even Mrs. Henrietta Beesley probably burned cakes once in a while.



A dry chill hung in the air the next morning as Suzann dressed for the bake sale. In jeans and a white, long-sleeved shirt, she added a green plaid jacket to cut the north wind that was howling outside.

She arrived at the parking lot right on time. A line of card tables were set up to the left of the whitepainted, country church. Josh, in jeans, boots and a blue cowboy shirt, checked his watch. She assumed that he thought she was late.

Suddenly, it dawned on Suzann that she and Josh were the only ones there. Where were the youth group members? Where was Kate when she needed her?

“Kate called in sick.” He examined her suspiciously without cracking a smile, his tan Stetson set firmly on his head. “Something about eating greasy burgers last night.”

“I thought we were here to raise money so the kids can take a ski trip to Colorado during spring break.”

His blue eyes narrowed. “We are.”

“So where are they? Aren’t the kids interested enough to help out?”

“The teenagers are on the parking lot at the back of the church building, washing cars. Of the two, I thought you might like helping with this job.”

“You were right about that.”

His guarded expression slackened. She thought he was on the brink of a smile.

“It’s just the two of us this morning,” he said. “Think you can handle it?”

“I don’t see why not.”

The muscles in his face relaxed. “So, how have you been?”

“Fine. My cold’s almost gone.”

“Took care of things all by yourself, did you?”

“I’m the oldest and the only girl in my family. Growing up, taking care of myself went with the territory.”

“Think you’re pretty independent, huh?” he said mockingly.

“I’m no clinging vine, if that’s what you mean.” Suzann went over to the card tables and began rearranging the pies. “There’s not much here.”

“It’s early yet People will be bringing stuff in all morning. By the way, what did you bring?”

She swallowed. “I…baked a cake.”

“Great, where is it?”

“I’m getting to that.” The wind whipped her hair, covering one of her eyes. “I just—” she pushed away the assailing strand of auburn hair “—I just didn’t bring it.”

“Why not?”

“I burned it, okay?”

“The famous Miss Harmon, baker extraordinaire, burned a cake? The young lady who has her recipes printed in the church cookbook? I can’t believe it.”

Suzann frowned. “Believe it.”

“I thought you were supposed to be a prizewinning baker.”

“I never said that.”

“Everybody else did.”

Suzann gazed at the card tables again. “Would you mind helping me move these tables? I think there would be more room for parking if we moved them a little closer to the building. It would also protect us from the wind.”

“Whatever the lady wants.”



An assortment of pastries had been brought to the church parking lot by noon. Suzann stood behind the table they were using as a counter top, surveying cakes, pies and cookies of all kinds.

The sweet scent of apple pie yanked her back to her childhood, flooding her mind with memories of a TV commercial she had made for a pastry company when she was seven. Suzann remembered the blinding yellow lights, and how hot and uncomfortable they made her feel.

The director had said in a loud voice, “Whatever you do, Mrs. Condry, don’t let that kid of yours sweat. It’ll ruin that expensive dress she’s wearing.”





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