The Matchmakers of Butternut Creek by Jane Myers Perrine Read Free Book Online Page A

Stupid because she had no interest in him, but he kept looking. Finally, as he drove out of the campground, he saw her in the rearview mirror watching their vehicle pull out.
     
    * * *
    At eight forty-five Monday morning, Adam heard the door into the reception area from the parking lot open and knew trouble had arrived. Couldn’t be Maggie. She didn’t show up until later. He guessed it was at least one Widow, maybe more. Right now, he didn’t feel like facing any of them. Could he sneak out a window?
    Stupid response. He couldn’t hide from the Widows. He’d known they’d descend on him as soon as the pillar had debriefed her granddaughters and they could gather. Oh, maybe he could dodge them for an hour or two, even a day, but they’d catch up to him eventually, hunting him down like a pack of Miss Marples.
    At least he’d arrived early to prepare himself. In front of him, he had a cup of coffee and a Bible. He’d spent a few minutes in meditation, but they hadn’t given him enough time. He wished he had another thirty minutes to brace himself, but he didn’t. He folded his hands and awaited the inevitable.
    “Pastor, are you here?” Mercedes called.
    Before she’d finished the sentence, the pillar stomped into his study, folded her arms, and stared at him while she stood at the door like a rock in the middle of a creek. The three other Widows—Blossom had joined them—flowed around her and headed toward the chairs in front of the desk.
    He stood and reached toward Blossom. “Welcome. Good to see you.”
    She smiled as she shook his hand. Then all the Widows, including the newest, sat.
    Except for Miss Birdie. When she finally strode toward the desk, she stood behind the chair Blossom had snatched and glared. “We came to discuss the retreat,” Winnie said.
    Before he could say anything, Blossom looked over her shoulder at Miss Birdie. She must have felt the intensity of her expression. “Why aren’t you sitting down?” she whispered.
    “Because you are sitting in my chair,” Miss Birdie whispered back. The pillar had the loudest whisper of anyone Adam had ever heard. When she whispered, people obeyed.
    Including Blossom. She leaped to her feet, scuttled to another chair, and sat down. With a smile, Miss Birdie lowered herself into her place.
    “You’ll notice, Preacher, Blossom has joined us this morning .” Miss Birdie’s voice underlined the temporary nature of Blossom as a Widow—it was the pillar, after all, who had the final say.
    “Good to see all of you,” Adam said.
    “We came to discuss the retreat,” Winnie repeated.
    “Went very well. I believe the young people had a great time.” He smiled at Miss Birdie. “What did Bree and Mac tell you?”
    The pillar leaned forward. “They told me nothing happened between you and Gussie.” She sat back and shook her head in disgust.
    “Oh, dear,” Blossom said. “Is that good or bad?”
    Birdie ignored her and plowed ahead. “That’s what my granddaughters say. Nothing happened.”
    “I don’t know why we bother to send you off on these weekend excursions,” Winnie said, “if you aren’t going to take advantage of them.”
    Adam could explain that his finding a wife had not been the purpose of the retreat but he’d said it so often and the explanation did so little good, he didn’t.
    “Bree did say that you and Gussie patrolled the grounds Friday night,” the pillar said.
    “Alone,” Mercedes added. “Only the two of you.”
    “Did anything happen?” Winnie asked. “Did you make a move?”
    “Yes,” Adam said.
    Three of the women scooted forward in their chairs and watched him like a boggle of weasels eyeing a terrified rabbit. Blossom moved forward a few beats later, which made him think the newest and possibly temporary Widow didn’t realize exactly what was going on.
    “I…” But he couldn’t say any more, because he’d started laughing so hard at their hopeful expressions. Three of them looked at him as if