by Amanda Cabot
He nodded slowly as he chewed the cookie. “That’s what I thought. That’s why I’m considering accepting for a year.”
“Why put a time limit on it?” When it came to jobs, most people sought permanence and the security it brought.
Though his posture remained relaxed, when TJ pushed his sunglasses on top of his head, Gillian could see the tension in his eyes. “That’s the main thing I wanted to talk to you about. I know my limitations. I’m a good but not a great teacher. I never really felt the calling to teach.”
The admission didn’t surprise Gillian. He’d told her teaching had been Deb’s dream and passion, not his. Now that Deb was gone, it was logical that TJ would question whether it was the right future for him.
“But you do feel called to do something else.” She made it a statement, based on his inflection when he’d said he hadn’t felt called to teach. It had sounded as if he were about to say, “But I . . .”
“Yeah.” Brushing crumbs from his hands, he leaned forward. “I want to become an ordained minister, and another year of teaching would give me the money I need to attend seminary. What do you think? Am I crazy?”
TJ sounded almost as vulnerable as Brianna had a day earlier. Though on the surface the rebellious teenager and the still-grieving widower had little in common, they were both at a crossroads in their lives. A shopping trip wouldn’t help TJ, but perhaps some words would.
“You’re not crazy,” Gillian assured him. “If you believe ordination is what God wants you to do, you should do it.” For the man who’d been called the RV Reverend, it wouldn’t be a change of direction but simply formalizing what he had already been doing.
TJ popped the last piece of cookie into his mouth, brushing the crumbs from his hands as he chewed.
“I do believe it’s God’s plan for me,” he said a minute later. “When I was in church on Sunday, I felt as if that was where I belonged, and not just as a member of the congregation. I could picture myself in Pastor Bill’s shoes.”
Gillian was glad she could see TJ’s eyes, because she saw more enthusiasm in them than ever before. “You should do it,” she said, infusing her words with every bit of certainty she possessed. “I think you’ll be a great minister.”
“I hope so. Even though there were times when I felt called, I never really considered the possibility before. Deb and I had a comfortable life as teachers. We had the same interests, the same schedule. Everything would have changed if I’d become a full-time minister. I didn’t want that to happen to us.”
TJ stared into the distance for a moment before continuing. “It’s ironic, isn’t it? I was trying so hard to avoid change, and then everything changed, even though I didn’t pursue my dream. Suddenly there was no ‘us’ anymore. In my grief and anger, I turned my back on God and the thought of sharing his Word with others. I was sure that was nothing more than part of my past, but it feels right now.”
“Then you should do it.”
And Gillian should decide whether what she felt for Mike was love. Despite what Sally had said about Gillian marrying a minister, it was clear TJ was not the man for her. He might be planning to become a minister. He might be changing his life, but he wasn’t ready to marry again. Not once had he hinted that his future might include another person. Instead, he’d asked about what he should do, not what they should do.
Here they were in what both Kate and Marisa claimed was the most romantic spot in the area, and they might as well have been in a conference room somewhere. Not once had TJ done or said anything even remotely romantic. Though her heart ached at the thought, Gillian knew it was time to face reality. She had been deluding herself by thinking TJ regarded her as someone special. Today had proven that. To TJ, she was a friend, someone he could ask for advice. Nothing more.
44
Love. It seemed that was all anyone could talk about. Three times this morning a woman had come into Hill Country Pages asking for a romance novel. “The sappier, the better,” one had told Gillian. “I want to cry my eyes out when the hero and heroine finally find true love.”
As if that weren’t enough, the Matchers had come in, ostensibly looking for a cookbook, though their pointed glances at Gillian’s ringless left hand and the less-than-subtle questions about why Mike’s Ferrari hadn’t been seen in Dupree for two days told a different story.
Gillian had seen no reason to inform them that Mike had been in Dallas on business but was scheduled to stop by the store on his way home. Though this was the first Friday they could have gone on a date without impacting Gillian’s time in Firefly Valley, the combination of Mike’s business trip and Gillian’s agreement to help Brianna dress for the end-of-school party had caused them to cancel their plans for a movie night. Instead, they were scheduled to have dinner tomorrow at a private club outside San Antonio. When Marisa had heard about the club, she’d practically squealed with delight, telling Gillian it was reputed to be one of the most romantic spots in this part of Texas.
“He’s going to propose,” Marisa declared.
No one—not even Kate—knew he already had. It had been eleven days since Mike had asked Gillian to marry him, eleven days when she had thought of little other than love and marriage.
“Do you have a book about the language of flowers?”
Gillian looked up, surprised to see Sally. “I thought you were at the senior center.”
Sally shrugged. “I was, and I’ll go back, but in the meantime, I need that book.” When Gillian lifted an eyebrow, as if to ask why that particular book was so important, Sally continued. “It’s for Roy. The only flowers he gives me are roses. He thinks they’re the only ones that speak of love. Now, don’t get me wrong. I like roses. Who doesn’t? But I also like variety, so I’m going to give him a few hints.”
Gillian couldn’t help smiling at the image of Roy poring over the book. “Do you think he’ll read it?”
“Of course he will. Just like I’ve been watching those golf videos he gave me. We’re both trying to learn more about each other.” Sally winked. “Marriage is a lot of work, but it’s also a lot of fun. You ought to try it.”
Gillian would. Soon. She had thought about it. She’d prayed about it. And while she hadn’t heard any voices from a cloud or even a talking donkey doling out advice, whenever she thought about marrying Mike, she felt comfortable.
There were so many things about Mike to like—so many things to love, she corrected herself. He was a good man, a man of deep principles. She found his company stimulating, and when he spoke of his future, she could picture herself sharing it. Most of all, when she was with him, Gillian was content. They had a firm foundation on which to build a life together.
When Mike arrived bearing a box of chocolates from what he told her was an up-and-coming candy maker, Gillian gave him a warm smile. The next time he proposed, she would accept.
Where was the girl? Gillian glanced at her watch and frowned for what seemed like the dozenth time in as many minutes. School had been out for over an hour, and while they hadn’t arranged an exact time, Brianna had said she’d come as soon as the van dropped her off at Firefly Valley. She’d insisted that she needed Gillian to help with her hair as well as lend her the dress she wanted to wear to tonight’s end-of-school party.
Thinking Brianna might have gone home to drop off her backpack, Gillian called the RV, grateful that although there was no cell service in Firefly Valley, Greg had arranged for landlines to be extended to the RVs. No answer. Though it had been over a week since their shopping excursion and Brianna’s sleepover, Gillian had seen her only a couple times, most recently last night when she’d chosen the dress for the party.
Gillian had to give Brianna credit for good taste. She’d picked one of Gillian’s favorites, an apricot silk trimmed with a slightly deeper shade of satin. It was probably too fancy for Dupree High School’s party, but Gillian refused to say that, nor
did she mention that she’d considered wearing it for her date with Mike tomorrow night. There’d be more dates with Mike. If tomorrow went the way Gillian expected, there would be a whole lifetime with Mike, but Brianna had only one last day of school.
Where was she?
Gillian punched the redial button. Still no answer. Perhaps Brianna was outside talking to one of her friends and didn’t hear the phone. Determined to find her, Gillian headed for the RVs. She’d crossed the road and entered the RV park when she saw Todd in earnest conversation with another of the boys.
“I was looking for Brianna,” Gillian said as she approached them. “Have you seen her?”
The other boy punched Todd in the arm, then sprinted off as if to distance himself from any discussion of Brianna.
“You’re asking me?” Todd’s voice rose with sarcasm. “She hasn’t said a word to me in weeks. All I hear her saying is ‘Pete did this’ and ‘Pete did that.’ Can’t she see that he’s all wrong for her?” Todd scuffed the ground, refusing to meet Gillian’s gaze. “I guess love really is blind.”
A sense of urgency she could not explain filled Gillian. “I need to find her. When was the last time you saw her?”
“In the van. She came back from school with the rest of us.” He glanced at his watch. “Sixty-three minutes ago.” Of course Todd was precise. That was part of who he was.
“And she didn’t say anything?”
“I told you she doesn’t talk to me.”
Gillian nodded and headed toward the RV Brianna shared with her mother, not surprised when Todd accompanied her. The boy might be only fifteen, but his emotions were deeply engaged.
“Brianna,” Gillian called out as she knocked on the door. There was no answer. She waited a few seconds, repeated the call and knock, then turned the knob. The door was unlocked. Weighing the propriety of entering the RV without an invitation against her growing concern over the teenager, Gillian pushed the door open and entered. When Todd moved to follow her, she shook her head. “One of us is enough.”
The interior of the RV was in its normal state of disarray with everything from discarded fast food containers to magazines covering the flat surfaces. Gillian looked around, hoping for a clue. And then she saw the bright orange sheet of paper on the coffee table. Brianna had been carrying a pad of the same color paper the day they’d spent together.
Gillian took a step closer and picked up the paper.
Mom—
By the time you read this, Pete and I will be married. I love you, but I love him even more.
Brianna
The note was short, succinct, and sent a shiver down Gillian’s spine. She’d been right to be concerned.
“What is it?” Todd demanded as Gillian left the RV.
“Brianna’s gone.” She wouldn’t tell him that the girl of his dreams was eloping with Pete. That would only hurt him. “I’ve got to find her.”
“I’ll help.”
Gillian could see nothing good coming from that. “The best thing you can do is stay here in case she comes back.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Find TJ.” As the words came out, Gillian was filled with certainty. Certainty that TJ was the only one who could help and certainty that she had been prevented from making a serious mistake. The Bible was filled with stories of people receiving messages in unexpected ways and places—Jonah in the whale’s belly, Saul on the road to Damascus. For Gillian, the revelation had come as she headed toward Lone Star Trail.
She ran across the street, her heart pounding as fear for Brianna mingled with the realization that she’d received the answer she sought. Gillian had prayed for guidance, to know whether Mike was the man God intended for her. There’d been no answer, no clear sign, but with each day she’d come closer to accepting his proposal. Today she’d thought she’d seen her path clearly, not understanding that that had been the wrong path.
Mike would have been a wonderful husband and father, and Cal and Stacy would have been loving grandparents. It wouldn’t have been a one-sided arrangement. Gillian admired Mike’s principles and knew she could have been the helpmeet he needed if he was to run for office beyond mayor of Blytheville.
She cared for him. Yes, she loved him. But in the moment of crisis, she’d seen the truth. The love she felt for Mike was for a friend or a brother, not a husband. If she married him, both of them would be cheated of the opportunity for true love.
It was TJ who filled Gillian’s heart and thoughts, TJ to whom she turned instinctively, TJ whom she trusted to help her. She loved him with every fiber of her being, with a love as deep as the ocean, as pure as a mountain stream. Whether or not he returned that love, Gillian knew she could not marry Mike. He was not the man for her, and painful though it would be, she needed to tell him that.
But that would have to wait. What she needed now was to find Brianna before she made her own mistake. As she raced up the drive toward Rainbow’s End, Gillian felt relief wash over her at the sight of TJ’s motorcycle. He was somewhere at Rainbow’s End.
“Have you seen TJ?” she demanded as she flung open the door to the office. If TJ had borrowed a boat, he would have told whoever was on duty.
Kevin shook his head. “I haven’t seen him, but I heard his bike come in around five minutes ago. He’s probably in his cabin.”
“Thanks.” Gillian ran outside, trying to ignore the stitch in her side. Within seconds, she was pounding on TJ’s door.
“Where’s the fire?” he asked, sounding slightly amused as he opened the door. Instantly, his expression sobered. “What’s wrong?”
As quickly as she could, Gillian explained. “We’ve got to stop her. We can’t let her marry Pete.” Gillian took a deep breath, trying to slow her pulse. She wasn’t alone anymore. TJ would help her.
He nodded briskly. “We need a plan.” As if he knew that her legs would barely support her, TJ led Gillian to one of the Adirondack chairs on his deck, then settled in the other one. “We need to talk to her mom and see if she wants to get the police involved. From what you told me about her reaction to talking to the police, I suspect she’d rather not, but it’s her choice.”
Gillian nodded. If she were in Natalie’s shoes, she would try to find her daughter by herself. Hadn’t she heard there was a twenty-four-hour waiting period before a person was considered missing and that there was a lot of paperwork? “Do you have any idea where they could have gone?”
“I can’t say for sure, but my guess is Pete’s taken Brianna to the love nest.”
Trying to tamp down the images the term raised, Gillian said, “I don’t like the sound of that. Where is it, and how do you know about it?”
“It’s a cabin in the woods about half an hour from here. I heard some of the other construction workers talking about it one day when I was at the site. Apparently a distant relative of one of them owns it and doesn’t care who uses it.” TJ reached over and clasped Gillian’s hand, the warmth of his palm and the strength of his fingers reassuring her.
“Before you ask, I’ve been spending a fair amount of time at the site. Since warning Pete didn’t seem to keep him away from Brianna, I wanted to see what I could learn about him.”
Gillian had been right. Not only could she trust TJ to help her today, but he’d been helping her all along, doing more than she’d asked. “What did you learn?”
“Not much, other than that the place in the woods is the most likely spot. Unless you can think of anywhere else, that’s where we’ll go.” TJ disengaged his hand from hers and went into his cabin, returning with a motorcycle helmet. “You’ll need this.”
As frissons of fear made their way down Gillian’s spine, she shook her head. She wanted to find Brianna—she needed to find her—but there had to be another way. “No!” she cried as blood drained from her face. “Not your motorcycle. We’ll take my car.”
>
TJ shook his head. Keeping his voice as calm as if he were trying to coax a frightened animal out of a trap, he said, “Your car will never make it. I’ve heard about the roads out there. They’re like those wagon train ruts I saw in Wyoming. We need a high-clearance vehicle or a motorcycle. Kate and Greg have gone out in their SUV and Eric’s taken the truck, so that leaves my bike. I’m sorry, Gillian, but I don’t see any alternatives. If you don’t ride with me, your choice is to stay here.”
And that was no choice at all. “I can’t do that. I don’t know what Brianna will do if she sees you. She trusts me. At least I think she does.”
His eyes serious, TJ laid his hand on Gillian’s and squeezed it. “I guess the question is whether you trust me. I can’t make any promises other than to do my best to keep you safe.”
There was no alternative. Gillian knew that. She stared at the helmet for a moment, then reached for it. “I trust you, TJ.” With her heart as well as her safety. “Let’s go.”
45
After her helmet straps were secured, TJ led Gillian to his motorcycle. Once she climbed onto the passenger’s seat, he said, “You can lean back, or if you prefer, you can wrap your arms around my waist. You might feel more secure that way.”
She did. Feeling as if she’d somehow landed in the middle of a nightmare, Gillian hugged TJ’s waist and leaned her face against his back, not wanting to see where they were going. But as TJ rode slowly out of Rainbow’s End and up Ranger Hill, talking all the while, Gillian began to relax.
She’d told TJ she trusted him, and she did. He’d ridden thousands of miles without an accident before the day she’d met him, and that crash, he’d explained, had been the result of hydroplaning in the rain. There was no rain today, no reason to believe they’d have an accident. Instead, Brianna was in danger of making a serious mistake, and TJ was doing his best to help prevent that.
