by Tanya Stowe
David dished out his famous ribs to Jaci and Justin. With full plates, they walked through the crowd. Justin laughed and joked. For all his talk about not liking people, he was amazingly friendly. He even hurried back to help a very pregnant Pia climb out of her low-slung chair. The kindness Jaci had seen behind his dark blue gaze hadn’t been all in her imagination.
They found a quiet table at the edge of the crowd and sat down.
As Jaci unfurled her napkin-wrapped plastic utensils, she glanced at Justin. “Something tells me you’re not quite as anti-human as you make out to be.”
A soft chuckle escaped Justin. “I’m not anti-human at all. I just understand animals much better. They don’t have hidden agendas or motives. Their actions are aboveboard and real.”
“What happened to give you such a negative outlook?”
He speared a chunk of potato salad with his fork. “Nothing tragic. My parents never intended to have children…probably shouldn’t have. I was a surprise—actually, a late-in-life shock is more like it. Their lives were set. My dad had his horses and my mom, her books. They didn’t quite know what to do with me. I grew up somewhat isolated, surrounded by animals—and those creatures, I understood completely. Humans took me a lot longer to figure out.”
“Where are your parents now?”
“Gone. My dad passed away about seven years ago in his eighties. After my mom passed a few years later, I inherited the house so I moved back to Angel Falls and opened the kennel.”
“Why move back? I understand you already had a good reputation in Houston.”
His grin lit a thousand tiny sparks inside Jaci.
“Do you even have to ask? There are fewer people in little Angel Falls than Houston.”
Jaci laughed. “Silly question, huh?”
“Your deductive powers are slipping, Meadows.”
It’s that smile. I feel like a hundred horses are galloping over my stomach when you smile like that.
“What about you? How did you end up in Angel Falls?” The smile lingered on his lips, giving them a lilt that teased Jaci and made her want to touch. She looked down, trying to ignore her wayward thoughts.
“Born and bred here. I went away to college and very quickly learned that I love small-town life so I came back. As a little girl, I used to pass by Heart’s Haven every day on my way to school. I wished I could live in one of these cute little cottages.”
“Were you the kind of little girl who dreamed about her wedding day and white picket fences?”
“No.” Jaci’s negative shake was very firm. “I always wanted to wear a business suit, sit at the head of a long table and give orders.”
Justin laughed. “And I’m sure you imagined yourself in very high, very fashionable heels with those business suits.”
Jaci’s laughter slipped out. His sense of humor had a way of sneaking in the back door and grabbing unexpectedly. “Well, now that you mention it…”
“And what about the sign above the gate? Have you found love since you’ve been at Heart’s Haven?”
There it was, the question she’d dreaded, and the one she just knew he would ask. “You said yourself, I don’t have time in my schedule for my dog. Where would I fit a boyfriend?”
He didn’t answer for a long while.
Jaci finally looked up.
“There’s something wrong with that picture, Jaci Meadows. A woman like you should have a fella in her life.”
“What does a woman like me have to offer?” Jaci gave a brittle laugh.
Justin’s gaze pierced her with a dark blue beam, spearing right through her heart. “A thousand dollar smile. Eyes that are open and honest and a heart bigger than Texas.”
The horses galloping across her stomach slowed to a trot and stopped completely. Everything seemed to go into slow motion. The chatter and laughter around them blurred into a low buzz, and her own breathing echoed in her ears. Was that distant drumbeat her pounding heart?
Dust motes danced in the air between them. Time stood still.
Jaci’s thoughts galvanized. This is him. This is the man I want to marry. She knew it, felt it. God even slowed down her crazy, whirling world for one second just to make her pay attention. Otherwise, she might have missed it.
Did Justin feel the same? Had God touched him in that moment, too?
If the steadiness with which he held her gaze could be an indication, he’d felt…something.
Slowly, the surrounding voices made themselves heard once more. Time started again. She became conscious of the roughly textured wooden picnic table beneath her hands. Jaci blinked as someone walked up beside her.
Madison Mallory. Madison and Viv’s brother, Lance, took care of the day-to-day operations at Hearts Haven. Madison stood on the edge of the cement, her gaze fixed on Baby.
Justin and Jaci turned.
The malamute faced the forest, her back to all of them, her posture tensed as she stared up into empty space. Her ears pricked and she cocked her head back and forth.
“What’s she doing?” Justin’s question marked the first time Jaci had ever known him not to know what a dog was thinking.
“Listening.” Madison spoke in a near whisper.
“To what?”
The woman turned to look at Justin, a surprised expression on her features. “Not what…who. The angels are talking to her. Don’t tell me you haven’t heard about our angels.”
For the first time ever—at least in Jaci’s presence, Justin seemed flustered. “Of course, I’ve heard the stories about angels surrounding this place but…”
“The stories are true.” Madison’s blunt statement appeared to throw Justin off. His mouth gaped open, and he stared at the slender lady. Without taking her gaze away from the dog, she asked, “Don’t you believe in angels?”
“I…I…”
Justin stumbled to answer. “I’m a Christian. Of course, I believe in God’s messengers. I’ve just never seen one or met anyone who has.”
Madison nodded toward the sky. “Well, now you have. Almost all of us here at Heart’s Haven have had some sort of angel encounter.” She nodded toward the dog. “Even Baby.”
Justin turned to Jaci. “Is this what you meant when you said Baby knows things, like someone tells her exactly what to do?”
Jaci nodded toward the canine. “She does this all the time. Afterwards, she performs the most incredible feats…like someone’s coached her.”
Justin’s skeptical look almost wilted Jaci with its intensity. “If angels are coaching Baby, why did she chew up every precious article you possess?”
“You said yourself she wanted to get my attention. She was lonely and needed exercise. What better way to get me to stop? Baby is very smart.”
“She even picked you out as her trainer.” Laughter lay low in Madison’s tone. “There I sat, quietly reading your ad in the newspaper when Baby broke loose. She ran straight to my chair and hunkered down beside me. When Jaci caught up, she was at her wit’s end and I told her about you.”
Justin folded his arms and leaned back. “So you’re telling me angels orchestrated our meeting.”
The truth in his words hit Jaci like a splash of cold water. God had sent the angels to arrange her meeting with Justin. Time did another stutter step. Realization filtered through her mind. Justin really was her intended. Unable to speak with her spinning thoughts, Jaci nodded in answer.
He studied her, his blue eyes dark and unreadable.
Madison placed a hand on his shoulder. “It’s OK to doubt, Justin. We all do at first. But I can tell you one thing. If anyone deserves a guardian angel, it’s our Jaci.”
His gaze never wavered. “Now with that, I agree completely.”
5
Lance Mallory threw a large log on the fire pit. Sparks flashed and drifted up into the night sky. After the warm day, an evening chill settled over the gathering and the warm flames were a welcome addition to Jaci.
The group seemed loathe to return to their
own cottages. Most of the residents gathered around the fire, speaking in low tones.
Madison brought out a tray and addressed the gathering.
“We don’t have any children here…”
“At least not now.” Lance added with a wink in his wife’s direction.
“A little excited are you…Grandpa?” Madison teased.
Lance stood behind Pia in her low-slung chair. Bending, he grasped the very pregnant woman’s shoulders and kissed the top of her head. “Aren’t we all?”
Everyone laughed as Pia rubbed her tummy. “Well, I agree with this little one’s honorary grandpa. The way I feel today, it can’t happen soon enough.”
Madison lifted the tray. “Well, I suggest we jump into the spirit of future gatherings and make s’mores.”
Laughter followed Madison’s announcement. She passed around telescoping-marshmallow-roasting handles and a paper-lined tray stacked with marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers.
Justin selected some offerings from the tray. With precise care that made Jaci smile, he placed a marshmallow on the end of a handle. His five o’clock shadow had darkened. Instead of making him look scruffy, it added to his striking looks. A black lock fell over his head. She wished she could reach over and smooth it back…just so she could touch that shiny dark hair.
She took a deep breath and looked up at a million bright stars. Three weeks ago, she would never have believed she’d be sitting beneath a starlit sky with the handsome dog whisperer. If she’d created a wish list of eligible bachelors, she couldn’t have come up with a more perfect example of manhood. Strong, sensitive…and he knew how to roast the perfect, golden brown marshmallow.
She couldn’t have picked a more perfect first date. But it wasn’t a first date. In fact, it was supposed to be a business meeting. She’d intended to tell him about her grand idea. “I can’t believe I forgot.”
Justin paused. “Forgot what?”
“I told you I was excited to discuss something with you.”
“That sort of slipped both our minds. What is your idea?”
“Your organization that supports veterans is a non-profit, right?”
“Of course.”
“And like most non-profits, it’s always looking for support and exposure.”
“Very true.”
“I think I may have the perfect venue. Every year my company plans a three-day-conference for Heartline Medical Group.”
“That’s a big organization.”
“It is. And their conference is massive. They always choose a main theme and build some spectacular presentations around it. This year, they’re having trouble coming up with something they haven’t done before. I think I have a great new arena to explore. Military families and veterans.”
Justin’s eyebrows rose. “With our dogs as the main event.”
“Exactly. But with the overall theme of military families and veterans they can explore good health, mental stability, and rehabilitation for injured veterans. The possibilities are endless.”
“And our group will get some phenomenal exposure.”
“So you like the idea?”
“I think it has great potential. There’d be a lot of details to work out, of course.”
“Yes. I have a meeting with the Heartline folks first thing tomorrow. If they are as excited about this theme as I am, you and I can talk details. Are you available tomorrow night?”
“For this, I’ll make myself available.”
“Let’s shake on it.” She offered him her hand in mock seriousness.
“I have a better idea. Let’s split a s’more.” He broke the cracker concoction in half. The stringy marshmallow created an unbroken line between them. When it finally snapped in two, it wrapped gooey tendrils around both their fingers.
They may as well have been around Jaci’s heart.
Sensitive. Strong and playful. Justin Blakely was everything she wanted. Now, if only Justin felt the same way.
He licked the sticky marshmallow off his fingers. “I’m sorry to say this, but I need to get home. I have a kennel full of hungry dogs.”
“Oh my! I never even thought about that. Those poor things.” She popped up from her chair so fast, Justin chuckled and grabbed her wrist.
“Don’t worry, each kennel has automatic feeders and water. They’re probably not hungry at all. But I don’t like leaving them for too long.”
“I’ll take you right home.”
They said goodbye to the group amidst much laughter and ribbing.
“We’ll be seeing you soon, Justin.” David grinned at them.
His tone held a teasing tone that implied Jaci and Justin already had a romantic connection. That was fine with Jaci but she needed to make sure Justin was on board before he was subjected to more Heart’s Haven kindhearted teasing. Thank God darkness had fallen so Justin couldn’t see her blushing cheeks. She didn’t dare glance back to see his reaction.
She hurried to the car and opened the door for Baby. Justin climbed in the other side. As they pulled out onto the main road, a thought occurred to Jaci. “Your job is a lot like mine. You’re on call twenty-four hours.”
“We both have constant duties, I agree. But I think our jobs are very different.”
“How do you mean?”
“Jaci, I’ve heard your phone conversations with your employer. I listen to those talks, and I’m very glad I’m my own boss. No one in my life talks to me the way she talks to you. When you get off the phone with her, you look like a whipped puppy.”
Jaci’s stomach sank to the pit of her stomach. “I know it sounds awful, but Deedee’s not usually like this. She’s going through incredible turmoil right now.”
“And you’re trying to be a good employee and a friend. I get that.”
“And a good Christian.”
Justin heaved a sigh. “I’ve learned the hard way that there’s a difference between being a good Christian and just not knowing how to say no. That’s why the scripture I gave you earlier is my favorite.”
She pulled onto the dirt road leading to Justin’s property and slowed down for the ruts. She needed the time to process Justin’s advice. “I…I’m not sure I know the difference. When is it good for a Christian to say no?”
“When they’re stretched so thin they start making mistakes…like you did with Baby. You took responsibility for a dog you couldn’t handle. Or the way you’re letting Deedee speak to you. Are you really doing her a favor by allowing her to disrespect you? No matter how stressed she is, she should treat people with courtesy. What if she turns that attitude on someone who doesn’t know her situation? She could do some real damage.”
Jaci stopped the car in front of Justin’s house. She turned off the lights and ignition and turned to face him. Moonlight spilled in the car window, highlighting one side of his handsome face. “Do you mind me asking how you learned this hard lesson?”
Sighing, he leaned back in the seat and stared straight ahead. “I was engaged for two years. I tried so hard to please her…I almost put my business into bankruptcy trying to make her happy. One day I was reading the Bible, and I saw that scripture in Proverbs. A light bulb went on, and I realized the only person I really needed to please was God. When I did that, everything else fell into perspective, and I realized I needed to end our engagement.”
“Wow. That must have been hard.”
“Toughest thing I’ve ever done.”
“How did you find the courage?”
He leaned closer and touched her nose. “I told you. Next time before you jump in with both feet, put it in God’s hands and let Him decide what’s right. He’ll give you the guidance and strength to follow the right course.”
A solitary dog yowled from the direction of the kennel and started a racket of yelping animals.
“That’s my cue. I’ve gotta run. See you tomorrow.” Flipping open the door, he jumped out and started to jog toward the kennels.
Jaci faced the front of the car. S
he could still feel that gentle touch on her nose, smell the slight woodsy scent of after shave. The car seemed empty without the low tones of Justin’s words echoing back and forth. That’s it. That’s all? His abrupt departure left her feeling bereft. Abandoned. She sagged against the steering wheel.
A banging on the glass made her jump.
Justin signaled for her to roll down her window. He put his elbows on the edge and leaned in. “Hey, I just wanted to say…I had a great time today. You are one interesting lady, Jaci Meadows.”
A slow smile slipped over her lips. “Thanks…I think.”
He leaned a little closer. “Even if the Heartline folks don’t buy into your theme, I’d still like to see you. Can we make our meeting a dinner date?”
“I’d love it!” Did she sound too anxious? Too eager?
Apparently not, because he leaned in, touched her lips with a light kiss and then backed away. “See you tomorrow.”
****
Justin pulled into Jaci’s parking spot at Heart’s Haven precisely at 7:00 PM. Glancing in his rear view mirror, he tightened his tie and ran a hand through his hair one last time.
Jaci had texted him earlier saying she had good news with details to follow. So he’d dressed with meticulous care and left early for their date…excited to hear Jaci’s news, but even more excited to see her. The petite blonde had wriggled her way right past his protective walls.
After spending a few days with her, he’d reevaluated his harsh opinion. She’d managed to find a place in his heart right next to kittens and puppies. She seemed to have the same effect the helpless animals had, making him feel mushy and protective all at once.
Not surprisingly, after his last relationship, Jaci’s kindness and concern was a balm to his soul. She had the goofy sense of humor of a child and a great work ethic, too. She was amazing.
