Keeper of the Stars

by Robin Lee Hatcher

  Several women from Meadow Fellowship Church had a quilting booth, and the quilts hanging on the wall behind their counter were nothing short of stunning.

  There was a booth with dolls and toy trucks, another with handmade baby clothes, and another with a plethora of knitted and crocheted goods.

  The bazaar wasn’t missing plenty of yummy food items either. Shoppers had choices of cookies, candy, pies, and cakes. Nothing like trying to gain the first couple of holiday pounds three weeks before Christmas.

  The thought made Penny smile . . . just before she took a bite of a giant-sized snowman cookie. It tasted even better than expected. Food had held little appeal to her the past two months. It was a nice change to bite into something and discover enjoyment again. She continued to nibble on the cookie while she strolled around the room, ready to help if help was needed.

  Her smile returned, even broader this time, when she saw Ollie Abbot enter the fellowship hall wearing a Santa hat on his head. With those woolly eyebrows and that beard of his, the mayor of Kings Meadow could pass for the jolly old elf with no trouble at all. But that plaid jacket would have to go.

  As if drawn by her smile, Ollie walked straight toward her. “Another successful bazaar, I see,” he said.

  “It seems to be.”

  “It’s a lot of work, I know, but you don’t look the worse for wear.”

  “Thanks.” I think. She chuckled to herself.

  “The missus says she gets half of her Christmas shopping done at this annual bazaar. Lots easier than that drive down to Boise and a day at the mall.”

  “Mom used to say the same thing.”

  “Yes, she did.” Ollie’s gaze scanned the room. “Is your dad here?”

  “Not yet, but he should be soon.”

  Someone tapped on Penny’s right shoulder. She looked to see who it was.

  Krista Malone, one of the high school principal’s daughters, said, “Mom needs an extension cord for the adding machine. The outlet isn’t working where it’s plugged in now.”

  “I’ll see to it right away, Krista.” Penny looked at the mayor again. “Please excuse me.”

  “Sure. Sure. You go on. I know you’re busy.”

  Fortunately, Penny knew where to look for an extension cord, and she was back in the fellowship hall with a couple of them a few minutes later. She took them to the long table near the exit that served as the checkout counter. As she plugged one of the cords into the wall, she made a mental note to tell Reverend Butler about the faulty outlet.

  When she straightened and turned, the first person she saw was Trevor Reynolds as he came through the entrance doors.

  What is he doing here?

  Oddly enough, her good mood didn’t vanish completely at the sight of him. Which didn’t mean she was glad to see him either. Only that the infusion of Christmas spirit was strong enough to keep less pleasant feelings at bay. Still, it might be best to give him a wide berth.

  That thought had no more than crossed her mind when he noticed her. A faint smile curved the corners of his mouth. She wondered if he might come over to speak to her and was glad when he turned toward the nearest booth.

  That’s a relief.

  She watched as he browsed items on the display.

  “Who is that?” someone whispered near her ear.

  Penny glanced over to see Tess Carter, the daughter of the local dentist, standing beside her. Tess’s gaze was locked firmly on Trevor as he moved to the next booth. Penny wanted to ignore the question but couldn’t. “His name is Trevor. Trevor Reynolds.”

  “Where has he been all my life?” Tess flicked a strand of loose dark hair behind her shoulder, then looked at Penny. “Do you know him? Could you introduce me?”

  The last thing in the world Penny wanted to do was play matchmaker for Trevor Reynolds and Tess Carter. Tess was a nice girl, a friend since elementary school, but a total flirt. As for Trevor . . . Penny wanted him to have more reasons to leave Kings Meadow than reasons to stay. “Sorry. I don’t really know him.” The words were accurate, if not entirely true.

  Tess laughed softly. “Well, I’m not going to let that stop me. Happy holidays, here I come.” With a backward wave over her shoulder, she headed into the crowd of shoppers.

  For a moment, Penny envied Tess. She had one of those sparkling, charismatic personalities and never seemed afraid to plunge into a new social situation. She took meeting new people in stride, and men fell for her with hardly a glance. Of course, Tess’s personality hadn’t guaranteed her happiness. She’d fallen in love and married at twenty-three but had been divorced by her twenty-sixth birthday. She’d returned to her hometown to, as she put it, lick her wounds.

  It must have worked. She looks fabulous.

  Before Penny could mull over that thought for long, she was summoned to another booth and presented with another problem to solve. Both Tess and Trevor were soon forgotten.

  Trevor bought twenty raffle tickets at the leather goods booth. He didn’t need to win a custom-made saddle, as he hadn’t owned a horse in over five years. But the money was going for a good cause. After writing his name and his landlord’s phone number on half of each ticket, he dropped them into the large glass fishbowl and stuck his half into his pocket. As he turned toward the next booth, he nearly collided with a young woman.

  “Sorry,” he said, taking a short step backward.

  She laughed. “My fault. I was intent on that gorgeous saddle.” She tilted her head slightly to one side. “I don’t think I know you. I’m Tess Carter.” She offered her hand.

  “Trevor Reynolds.” He gave a nod as he spoke, then shook her hand.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Trevor. Have you been in Kings Meadow long?”

  “No. Not long.”

  Tess Carter had a pretty smile, and something in her manner said she knew how to use it to her advantage. “I’m dying to know what brought you to our little town. It’s off the beaten path, you know.”

  “I needed a change of scenery,” he answered.

  Her dark eyes widened, inviting him to say more.

  He gave her one of his own smiles instead. He knew how to use them too.

  After a few moments of silence, she asked, “Are you shopping for anyone in particular?”

  “My mom.”

  “You’re sure to find something for her. Would you like me to show you around? I know pretty much everyone here.”

  Not exactly subtle. But why not agree? It couldn’t hurt anything, and he’d always appreciated the company of women. Especially a woman as vivacious and attractive as Tess Carter.

  The next hour proved more successful on the Christmas shopping front than he’d expected when he entered the church hall. Tess’s company was more delightful than he’d anticipated as well. As she’d stated, she knew almost everybody, and she made a lot of introductions as they worked their way from booth to booth. By the time Trevor was ready to pay for his purchases, he no longer felt a complete stranger in town.

  A pleasant-looking, heavyset woman in her fifties added up his items, then ran his credit card through a charge gizmo on an iPad. Another woman put everything into bags. Within no time at all, he was ready to leave.

  He looked at Tess, who had waited at the end of the table. “Thanks, Tess. It was a real pleasure.”

  “For me too.” She held out a slip of paper. “Here’s my phone number, in case you ever want some friendly company. It isn’t like there are a lot of entertainment options in Kings Meadow. Especially this time of year.”

  He took the paper and stuffed it into his shirt pocket. Then he bid her a good day and walked out through the doors marked Exit. He was halfway down the hallway when he saw Rodney Cartwright and his daughter standing beside a coatrack, deep in conversation. Penny’s shoulder almost touched Trevor’s coat that hung nearby. He’d bet good money she would move if she knew it belonged to him.

  As Trevor approached, Rodney glanced up and smiled a genuine welcome. Penny turned. Her smile had
gone AWOL.

  Rodney said, “Looks like you had a successful morning.”

  “Yes, sir. I did. My Christmas shopping is pretty much done.” Trevor looked at Penny again. “I heard you’re in charge of this bazaar. Great job.”

  “Thanks.”

  Could she have sounded any less pleased by the compliment? He doubted it.

  “I’d better go back in, Dad.” With a silent nod in Trevor’s direction, Penny walked away. He watched until she disappeared into the fellowship hall, then his gaze returned to her father.

  Rodney said, “This isn’t easy for her.”

  “I understand that, sir.”

  “She misses her brother a lot. We both do.”

  So do I. But even as that thought crossed his mind, he knew he didn’t feel the same loss as Brad’s father and sister. Trevor had lost a friend he’d known well for only a matter of months. The Cartwrights had lost a young man they’d loved all his life.

  “Are you sorry you came to Kings Meadow?” Rodney asked, intruding on Trevor’s thoughts.

  “No.” He said the polite thing and then realized he’d spoken the truth. He was glad to be here. Despite arriving less than a week ago, he’d already discovered a certain charm about this small town tucked away in the mountains. No doubt part of the reason was the affection Brad had felt for it. When Trevor and his band were on the road, scarcely a day had passed that the youngest member of their group hadn’t shared a story about his dad or his sister or an old schoolteacher or the woman who ran the bed-and-breakfast or one of his lifelong friends.

  “You’ll see for yourself when you go with me for Thanksgiving,” Brad’s voice whispered in Trevor’s memory. “You’re going to love it there.”

  Trevor hadn’t held out much hope he would take to a place. Any place. He didn’t have a lot of good memories of the place where he’d grown up. It was just another city on the map, his boyhood home just another house on the block. He knew that was because of his father, a man incapable of giving or receiving love.

  Rodney cleared his throat.

  Jerked back to the present again, he said, “Sorry. What did you say?”

  “I heard you’ve been hired on part time with Public Works.”

  “How’d you hear that? I haven’t even had my first day on the job yet.”

  Rodney chuckled. “It’s a small town, Trevor. News travels fast.”

  “I guess.” Brad had warned him of that, but it still surprised him.

  “The mayor’s a good friend of mine,” Rodney added.

  “Ah.”

  “He took a liking to you. I could tell.”

  Trevor couldn’t help but grin. “He’s a colorful character, isn’t he?”

  “That he is. Ollie is one of a kind. One of a kind.” Rodney glanced beyond Trevor’s shoulder. “I think I’d better get in there before everything is picked over. One of the ladies makes the world’s best fudge, and I still hope to get some.”

  “Good luck.” Trevor reached for his coat.

  Rodney took a couple of steps away, stopped, and turned. “Why don’t you come for dinner tomorrow?”

  Trevor almost agreed, but thought better of it. “Maybe you should talk to Penny about that first. We both know she’s not crazy to have me around.”

  “I suppose you’re right.” Rodney didn’t smile, but there was something warm in his expression regardless. “Come after dinner, then. Say around two o’clock. I’ll show you around our place.”

  “Okay. I’ll be there.”

  Rodney nodded and turned a second time.

  As Trevor watched the older man walk away, he realized how much he wanted to get Penny Cartwright to accept him—or at least not to hate him. If her father didn’t blame him for Brad’s death, maybe Penny could learn to feel the same. Of course, it might help if Trevor didn’t sometimes still blame himself.

  “They’re gonna . . . need your help.”

  Trevor held his breath, resisting the memory, not wanting to think about those last minutes of Brad’s life. Both of them had known he was dying, but Brad had spent those minutes thinking about others.

  “Promise you’ll go . . . Not just for . . . Thanksgiving. Go and . . . stay awhile. God will . . . show you what to . . . do. Just . . . ask Him.”

  With a shake of his head, Trevor strode toward the exit.

  Before entering the fellowship hall, Rodney paused to look behind him. Something stirred inside his chest as he watched Trevor leave the church. Because his son had liked the singer so much, he was prepared to like him too.

  Help me care for him as You care for him, Lord. Show me all the reasons You brought him to us. Help me honor my son’s friendship with him.

  He released a breath and continued through the entry door. A quick sweep of his gaze located the candy booth, and he set off in that direction. He hoped he wasn’t too late for some of Edna Franklin’s fudge. His disappointment would be acute if he was.

  He’d almost reached the booth when his daughter moved into his path, forcing him to stop. “Dad, you know the doctor said you need to cut back on sweets.”

  “Cut back, not cut out altogether. There are limits, dear girl, to what I’m willing to give up this side of heaven.”

  “Dad . . .”

  He frowned. “I’m not in my dotage, Penny. Please don’t treat me as if I am. And I don’t need you to act like my mother either.” The look in her eyes said he’d hurt her feelings, and he regretted his words, even though he’d spoken the truth. “Sorry, honey, but I can still think for myself.” He leaned forward and kissed her forehead, hoping the gesture might soften his added comment.

  I know, she mouthed as he stepped back again. Then she gave him a fleeting smile before walking away.

  His daughter was worried about him. And not just about him. Penny seemed to worry about everything. She tried her best to command the events around her, fighting hard to never lose control. Rodney had seen signs of the trait after the death of her mother, but it had worsened in recent years. And after Brad died . . .

  He gave his head a shake, driving off the thought. If he wasn’t careful, he would find himself doing exactly what Penny did. Instead of worrying, he chose to say another silent prayer, this one for his daughter, asking God to heal her heart.

  “Merry Christmas, Rodney.”

  He looked to his right and watched Joe Dodson, the contractor he’d worked for off and on for many years, close the final steps between them. “Same to you, Joe. Haven’t seen you around much. How are you?”

  “Good, thanks. And you?” The man’s eyes said it was more than a casual question, more than an inquiry about the state of his health.

  “I’m all right, Joe. Some days are better than others, but I’m doing all right.”

  “Glad to hear it.” Joe looked away at the sound of someone calling his name. “Looks like Sue’s done shopping.” His gaze returned to Rodney. “I’m wrapping up a job down in Boise. When it’s done, I’ll give you a call.”

  Rodney nodded before his friend hurried after his wife. Then, resolute, he faced the candy booth once again. It wouldn’t be the Christmas season without at least one square of Edna’s fudge, and he sure hoped he wasn’t too late to get it.

  Hours later, Penny dropped onto a folding chair, exhausted. “Over for another year,” she said to herself, then groaned.

  “Everything ran like clockwork, Penny.” Janet Dunn sat on another folding chair nearby. “You have amazing organizational skills.”

  “Must be the librarian in me.” Penny was too tired to laugh at her own comment.

  “You could be right about that.” Janet looked toward the opposite end of the fellowship hall. A tender smile curved her mouth and her face shone with love.

  Penny didn’t have to look to know the cause. The Reverend Tom Butler and Janet—both of them in their forties and never married—had recently become engaged. About time too. They had been dating for around two years, and anybody with eyes had known, long before this, that the
y belonged together.

  “Have you and Tom decided on a wedding date?”

  Janet looked at her again, smiling. “Am I that obvious?”

  Penny managed to laugh this time. “Yes.”

  “Well, to answer your question, no.” Janet shook her head. “We haven’t decided yet. But we’re considering Valentine’s Day.”

  “Romantic. Can you plan a wedding that fast?”

  “We can. It won’t be anything fancy. Just family and a few close friends.”

  Penny nodded. That’s what she would want, when she found the right guy. I hope it doesn’t take me until I’m forty.

  She was immediately ashamed of herself for the thought.

  Janet rose. “I’d better go see if Tom needs any help.”

  Forty wasn’t old, Penny reminded herself. And even if it was, it would be better to wait until forty than to rush into marriage with the wrong person.

  That made her think again of Tess Carter’s hasty, ill-fated marriage. Which—against her will—brought her thoughts back around to Trevor. Had he and Tess hit it off? They must have. Tess had stayed beside him the entire time he shopped. Not that Penny had paid attention to that particular detail. But as she’d moved about the room, she couldn’t help but notice them together, both of them tall, both of them smiling, both of them attractive.

  Attractive? Trevor Reynolds?

  Well, yes. She had to admit—again against her will—that he was a handsome man. Even more so than in the photograph on his album cover, Stetson covering his dark hair, a Western scene behind him, that smile of his—

  “Give him a chance,” Brad had said to her the last time they spoke on the phone. “Once you meet him in person you’re gonna understand why I love working with him. He already likes you, I’ve talked about you so much.”

  Her heart pinched at the memory.

  And that was Trevor’s fault too. If he hadn’t come to Kings Meadow, if he would have stayed far, far away from her brother to begin with . . .

  Just leave. Just go away. Please go away.

  Chapter 5

  TREVOR CONSIDERED ATTENDING THE METHODIST service his first Sunday in Kings Meadow. He’d learned Rodney and Penny were members there. It would have guaranteed his seeing them at least once each week. But at the last minute he chose to attend Meadow Fellowship, a nondenominational church on the west side of town. Something inside of him said his Sundays needed to be more about him and God and less about him and the Cartwrights.