Heart of Texas Volume One by Debbie Macomber Read Free Book Online Page B

accompanied with a squeeze tight enough to make Savannah wince. “If you run out of work for him, you send him my way, understand?”
    â€œIf you’ll excuse me, please…” Savannah said a little desperately.
    The Moorhouse sisters, Edwina and Lily, stepped into the vestibule, distracting Louise. Both were retired schoolteachers. Miss Edwina had been Savannah’s first-grade teacher and Miss Lily her third. The two were inseparable and Savannah loved them dearly.
    â€œGood morning,” Savannah mumbled as she slipped past the elderly pair.
    By the time she walked outside, she felt like gasping for air. Reverend McMillen stood just outside the large double doors and greeted each parishioner by name. Wade had a way of looking at a person and seeing more than the obvious. “Are you okay, Savannah?” he asked, holding her hand between both of his. “You’re looking flushed.”
    â€œI’m fine. Just a little warm.” Her discomfort had more to do with attracting unwelcome attention. All she wanted was to hurry home before someone else had the chance to corner her.
    â€œSavannah! Savannah!” Maggie Daniels, Caroline’s five-year-old daughter, raced to her side and proudly offered her a crayon drawing she’d made in Sunday-school class.
    â€œHi there, Maggie-may. What’s this?” Savannah asked, studying the paper. Maggie was her joy, the child of her heart. It had been a shock when Caroline Daniels announced she was pregnant her senior year in college. From the beginning there’d been plenty of speculation about the father of Caroline’s child, but Caroline had never said, and no one had ever asked. Caroline’s mother, Florence, had served as postmistress in Promise for years, and when she died last spring, Caroline had taken over her duties.
    Maggie had apparently transferred her love for her grandmother to Savannah. It made Savannah feel privileged, and she reciprocated the child’s feelings a hundred percent. Recently Caroline had relied more and more on Savannah to baby-sit, but she never minded. It was a delight to spend time with the little girl.
    â€œThat’s Joseph,” Maggie explained now, pointing to a lumpish figure in her drawing.
    â€œAh, I see,” Savannah said. “He’s wearing his coat of many colors. Look what a good job you’ve done!”
    Maggie glowed with pleasure. She tucked her small hand in Savannah’s. “Where’s Mommy?”
    Savannah was about to ask the same thing. The question was answered soon enough hen Caroline exited the side door with the other members of the choir. It generally took her a few moments to hang up her robe and put away the music sheets.
    â€œMommy, Mommy, look!” Maggie cried, rushing toward her mother, pigtails bouncing. The youngster threw her arms around Caroline as if it’d been a year since they’d seen each other.
    â€œWould you like to join us for brunch?” Caroline asked, lifting Maggie into her arms.
    Savannah declined with a quick shake of her head. “I put a roast in the oven before I left.”
    â€œDid Louise corner you?” Caroline lowered her voice.
    â€œShe tried.”
    â€œHey, give the old biddy something to talk about.”
    â€œCaroline!”
    â€œShe’s jealous, that’s all.”
    â€œJealous of what?” Savannah wanted to know.
    â€œOf you. For being young and pretty and having a good-looking man in your life.”
    â€œLaredo’s not in my life—at least not in the personal sense,” Savannah felt obliged to protest—although she wished it wasn’t true. She’d like him to kiss her or hold her hand—anything so she’d know he felt the same things she did. Once she’d caught him looking at her and she thought he seemed…interested, but she couldn’t be sure. If she’d had more experience, she’d know.
    â€œWell, more’s