began jumping around with happiness.
Lynn pressed her shoulders back and shook her head.âThank you,â she said, stiffly, âbut we donât need help building our tree house.â
âI donât mind.â Chance, what are you saying?
âHe donât mind, Momma.â
âGavin, youâre showing very bad manners. Again, thank you but weâre fine,â she said firmly. âCome on, boys, we need to go.â
âBut, Mommaââ
âJack, we need to go home. Remember we have Christmas lights to put up, too.â
Both boys looked reluctantly at him but obediently headed off to the car. Lynn didnât meet his gaze as she said goodbye to Norma Sue and Esther Mae. He thought she was just going to walk off but then she paused. âIâm sorry. Thanks for the offer though,â she said, then strode away.
What had she been through?
Chanceâs cousins walked up. âWhat was that all about?â Wyatt asked.
âThat was Lynn being stubborn,â Norma Sue offered.
âGavin and Jack were trying to get Chance to help them build a tree house, but Lynn is Miss Independent and having none of that.â
Esther Mae harrumphed. âShe needs to get over that.â
Wyatt got a thoughtful gleam in his eye. âReally.â
Cole grinned. He was the youngest brother, about Chanceâs age and his former partner in crime. âDid you tell them you were a master tree house builder?â
âI think we can both swing a hammer better than we could back then.â Chance chuckled. He and Cole had tried to build a tree house when they were about eightyears old. âWe were stubborn back then though. We re fused help from everyone.â
âUntil Dad stepped in,â Wyatt added. âYâall had the biggest mess. Dad finally had to insist on making it safe for yâall to use.â
âThank goodness.â Seth gave a laugh that was more of a grunt. âOh, by the way, I forgot to tell you Melody said thanks for taking those lights up to the church for her.â
Esther Mae beamed. âLynn told us about that last night when we were decorating for the fundraiser. What a cute way to meet,â she gushed. âAre you coming to the fundraiser tonight?â
Chance had already told Wyatt and all the guys the day before that he was going to pass. Wyatt hadnât liked it and had told him that being around people would be good for him, but he understood. Now, looking at Esther Mae and Norma Sue, Chance wasnât sure what to say. They had worked hard on this fundraiser, evidently, and it was for a good cause. His conscience pricked at him. He was startled that they hadnât yet mentioned his preaching. He was relieved by the reprieve. âIâm not sureââ
âSure you are.â Norma Sue looked serious. âChance, we just heard what a hard time youâre having dealing with the loss of this young man. The best thing is for you to get involved with your familyâ¦and we are your family. I expect to see you there.â She shot Wyatt a firm look. âSee to it.â
Wyatt gave a slow grin. âYes, maâam. You heard the lady, Chance.â
He was dug in deep for patience.
Esther Mae dipped her chin, causing the yellow daffodils on her hat to bend forward as if they, too, were watching Chance. âIâm expecting you there, too. So donât disappoint me. I know youâll enjoy it. And it will be good for you. Lynn will be there, too.â
Great, just what he needed. Chance wondered what Lynn would think if she knew what was going on.
âAnd youâll enjoy the auction, too,â Cole drawled.
âWhat auction? I havenât heard anything about that.â
Seth hiked a shoulder. âAw, itâs just stuff for the la dies.â
âBut youâll still enjoy seeing them bid,â Norma Sue added quickly, and Esther Mae grinned and nodded.
Everyone was