by Pamela Tracy
Oh, how true the words were. Annie looked across at Joe, at his dark eyes that were saying what he couldn’t—since he wouldn’t interrupt his dad: I love you.
Annie smiled and giggled. This was her wedding. She needed to savor it.
I love you, too.
Finally, they exchanged rings.
That’s when Jacko suddenly decided to interfere. He’d been sitting patiently, close to Kyle. The first sign of trouble was a low rumble in the retriever’s throat. Then his nose went to the wooden flooring and he started moving.
There were a few snickers from the audience. Billy tried to gently nudge Jacko back to his previous position.
Joe snapped his fingers. Jacko looked up, acknowledged Joe with a But I’m busy look, and then followed his nose to the back corner of the porch and barked.
A barking dog during a wedding is not peaceful. The first few barks ended the actual “You may kiss the bride” kiss, but not the taste or lingering sensation on Annie’s lips.
I’m Mrs. Kelly, she thought. Annie Kelly.
Then Jacko went ballistic, digging at something. Billy had followed Jacko and now was on his hands and knees. “I’ll calm him down,” he promised. “Something’s got him all worked up.”
“Jacko,” Joe scolded under his breath.
Annie only laughed and pulled Joe closer to steal another kiss while the audience wasn’t looking.
“Hey!” said Billy as a blue sunflower tumbled down, pretty much on his head.
The audience stood, not looking at Annie and Joe but back at Billy, who pulled up a loose floorboard and then reached his hand into the opening. “There’s something down here.”
“Maybe this is not the time,” Max suggested. The audience heard him and nodded.
But Billy wasn’t listening. The look on his face said he felt exactly like Jacko and wouldn’t be happy until he had whatever he was going for.
“Maybe it will be of more interest after the newly married couple walks down the aisle,” Max said.
Billy pulled a tangle of leaves and dirt and other things from the flooring. “It’s a packrat nest!” He sorted through it, froze, and then stood. “Go ahead,” Billy suggested, “announce them as Mr. and Mrs. Joe Kelly and then come here. I’ve got a surprise.” He returned to his place by Joe’s side, grinning the whole time.
“You know this is on film,” Joe said. “For eternity, you’ll be known as the groomsman who ditched part of his good friend’s wedding to look for hidden treasure.”
“There are worse things,” Billy returned.
“I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Joe Kelly.” Max wasn’t done. Before anyone could move, and it looked like plenty wanted to, he added, “Please pray with me.” Every time he said the word “help” or “please,” Annie felt the pressure of Joe’s hands squeezing hers. They were one…, Annie thought.
When he said amen, the audience applauded. Annie tucked her hand under Joe’s arm, but instead of walking down the porch steps, both she and Joe held up just-a-minute pointer fingers at their audience—an audience that was crowding forward—and followed Billy to the corner of the porch. Kyle and Annie’s sisters were right behind.
Billy went down to his knees and started showing off his finds. Annie had to laugh when she saw the treasures—the treasures he’d interrupted her wedding for. He held up some yellow plastic trash bag ties, a tiny piece of a tire, and a bunch of soda lids, the old-fashioned kind from the glass bottles, among other things.
“Dad, did you know you had a packrat?” Joe asked his father as Annie’s mother and Margaret came closer to see what was going on.
“No, I’d have chased him out.”
“I think he’s long gone, but he left a few things behind.” Billy’s eyes were wide as he opened his right hand.
Three gold coins.
“I don’t believe it,” Margaret murmured loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Wow, oh wow,” Kyle said. He turned, pushed through the crowd on the porch, and scanned the audience until he found his parents. “Mom, Mom. They found the coins.” Max didn’t hesitate, merely shouted, “Rejoice, for what was lost is found.”
Joe looked deep into Annie’s eyes. His eyes weren’t on the coins, and his body language said that he didn’t even notice they were in the middle of a crowd. He leaned close, so close she could feel the heat of his body, and said, “I’ve already found what I’ve been looking for.”
“Me, too,” she whispered in his ear and instigated a third helping of the “you may kiss the bride” portion of the wedding.
About the Author
PAMELA TRACY is an award-winning author who lives with her husband (who claims to be the inspiration for most of her heroes) and son (who claims to be the interference for most of her writing time). She was raised in Omaha, Nebraska, and started writing at a very young age. While earning a BA in journalism at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, she picked up the pen again—only this time, it was an electric typewriter—with which she wrote a very bad science fiction novel. Pamela has written contemporary, historical, and suspenseful fiction, all in the romance genre. In 2009, she won the ACFW Book of the Year award for short romantic suspense. She has also been a Holt Medallion winner and a RITA Finalist.
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Love Finds You in Miracle, Kentucky
by Andrea Boeshaar
ISBN: 978-1-934770-37-5
Love Finds You in Snowball, Arkansas
by Sandra D. Bricker
ISBN: 978-1-934770-45-0
Love Finds You in Romeo, Colorado
by Gwen Ford Faulkenberry
ISBN: 978-1-934770-46-7
Love Finds You in Valentine, Nebraska
by Irene Brand
ISBN: 978-1-934770-38-2
Love Finds You in Humble, Texas
by Anita Higman
ISBN: 978-1-934770-61-0
Love Finds You in Last Chance, California
by Miralee Ferrell
ISBN: 978-1-934770-39-9
Love Finds You in Maiden, North Carolina
by Tamela Hancock Murray
ISBN: 978-1-934770-65-8
Love Finds You in Paradise, Pennsylvania
by Loree Lough
ISBN: 978-1-934770-66-5
Love Finds You in Treasure Island, Florida
by Debby Mayne
ISBN: 978-1-934770-80-1
Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana
by Melanie Dobson
ISBN: 978-1-934770-74-0
Love Finds You in Revenge, Ohio
by Lisa Harris
ISBN: 978-1-934770-81-8
Love Finds You in Poetry, Texas
by Janice Hanna
ISBN: 978-1-935416-16-6
Love Finds You in Sisters, Oregon
by Melody Carlson
ISBN: 978-1-935416-18-0
Love Finds You in Charm, Ohio
by Annalisa Daughety
ISBN: 978-1-935416-17-3
Love Finds You in Bethlehem, New Hampshire
by Lauralee Bliss
ISBN: 978-1-935416-20-3
Love Finds You in North Pole, Alaska
by Loree Lough
ISBN: 978-1-935416-19-7
Love Finds You in Holiday, Florida
by Sandra D. Bricker
ISBN: 978-1-93541
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Love Finds You in Lonesome Prairie, Montana
by Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss
ISBN: 978-1-935416-29-6
Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon
by Miralee Ferrell
ISBN: 978-1-935416-63-0
Love Finds You in Hershey, Pennsylvania
by Cerella D. Sechrist
ISBN: 978-1-935416-64-7
Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa
by Melanie Dobson
ISBN: 978-1-935416-66-1
Love Finds You in Pendleton, Oregon
by Melody Carlson
ISBN: 978-1-935416-84-5
Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico
by Lena Nelson Dooley
ISBN: 978-1-935416-74-6
Love Finds You in Lahaina, Hawaii
by Bodie Thoene
ISBN: 978-1-935416-78-4
Love Finds You in Victory Heights, Washington
by Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss
ISBN: 978-1-60936-000-9
Love Finds You in Calico, California
by Elizabeth Ludwig
ISBN: 978-1-60936-001-6
Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio
by Serena B. Miller
ISBN: 978-1-60936-002-3
Love Finds You in Deadwood, South Dakota
by Tracey Cross
ISBN: 978-1-60936-003-0
Love Finds You in Silver City, Idaho
by Janelle Mowery
ISBN: 978-1-60936-005-4
Love Finds You in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
by Sandra D. Bricker
ISBN: 978-1-60936-027-6
Love Finds You Under the Mistletoe
by Irene Brand and Anita Higman
ISBN: 978-1-60936-004-7
Love Finds You in Hope, Kansas
by Pamela Griffin
ISBN: 978-1-60936-007-8
Love Finds You in Sun Valley, Idaho
by Angela Ruth
ISBN: 978-1-60936-008-5
Love Finds You in Camelot, Tennessee
by Janice Hanna
ISBN: 978-1-935416-65-4
Love Finds You in Tombstone, Arizona
by Miralee Ferrell
ISBN: 978-1-60936-104-4
Love Finds You in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
by Melody Carlson
ISBN: 978-1-60936-110-5
Love Finds You in Prince Edward Island, Canada
by Susan Page Davis
ISBN: 978-1-60936-109-9
Love Finds You in Groom, Texas
by Janice Hanna
ISBN: 978-1-60936-006-1
Love Finds You in Amana, Iowa
by Melanie Dobson
ISBN: 978-1-60936-135-8
Love Finds You in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
by Annalisa Daughety
ISBN: 97-8-160936-212-6
Love Finds You in Branson, Missouri
by Gwen Ford Faulkenberry
ISBN: 978-1-60936-191-4
Love Finds You in Sundance, Wyoming
by Miralee Ferrell
ISBN: 978-1-60936-277-5
Love Finds You on Christmas Morning
by Debby Mayne and Trish Perry
ISBN: 978-1-60936-193-8
Love Finds You in Sunset Beach, Hawaii
by Robin Jones Gunn
ISBN: 978-1-60936-028-3
Love Finds You in Nazareth, Pennsylvania
by Melanie Dobson
ISBN: 97-8-160936-194-5
Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland
by Roseanna M. White
ISBN: 978-1-60936-313-0
Love Finds You in Folly Beach, South Carolina
by Loree Lough
ISBN: 97-8-160936-214-0
Love Finds You in New Orleans, Louisiana
by Christa Allan
ISBN: 978-1-60936-591-2
Love Finds You in Wildrose, North Dakota
by Tracey Bateman
ISBN: 978-1-60936-592-9
Love Finds You in Daisy, Oklahoma
by Janice Hanna
ISBN: 978-1-60936-593-6
COMING SOON
Love Finds You in Mackinac Island, Michigan
by Melanie Dobson
ISBN: 978-1-60936-640-7
Love Finds You at Home for Christmas
by Annalisa Daughety and Gwen Ford Faulkenberry
ISBN: 978-1-60936-687-2
