ARKANSAS WEDDINGS: THREE-IN-ONE COLLECTION

by Shannon Taylor Vannatter

  “Oh, you’re the new postmaster. My mother, Sam Welch, just transferred to Rose Bud.”

  “A very nice lady. She showed me around my first morning.”

  “I’m so sorry I haven’t been by yet.”

  Laken frowned. “Was I expecting you?”

  “I own the floral shop in Romance and usually bring all the newcomers a plant, sort of a welcome thing. Morning sickness put me behind.” Adrea pressed a hand to her stomach. “Some days it lasts all day, but today, I’m good.”

  “I’m glad you’re feeling better, but you don’t have to bring me anything.”

  “But I want to. Now, you’re Sylvie’s…”

  Resisting the urge to scream, Laken swallowed. “Daughter.”

  Adrea’s face reflected only sincere kindness. “I bet your mother is pleased you’re home.”

  “Yes.” A bitter taste rose in Laken’s throat. An ominous buzz neared, and she stiffened then relaxed as a red wasp flew past.

  “Adrea.” Grayson curled an arm around his wife’s slender waist. “You sure you’re feeling up to this?”

  “I’m fine.” Adrea kissed his cheek.

  In his late twenties now, Grayson hadn’t changed much.

  He stuck out his hand and blinked. “Laken! It’s been a long time. Grace mentioned you were in town, and I’m so glad you came.” He raised an eyebrow. “Are you here visiting?”

  “Actually, I recently moved to the area.”

  “She took Mom’s place at the post office.” Adrea waved a persistent fly away. “So, you grew up next door to Sara?”

  Laken managed a nod as her heart clenched, even after more than three years. She hadn’t come home for Grayson and Sara’s wedding. She should have at least come home for Sara’s funeral.

  “So what church do you attend?”

  Something inside her chest tightened, and she didn’t know what to say.

  “Listen to me rattling on.” Adrea smiled. “Excuse me, I think I’ll go in where it’s cool until time to go. We’re glad you’re here, Laken.”

  Laken turned to Grayson. “I’m sorry, I just came to ride horses.”

  “And that’s all we’re here for, but if you decide you’d like to come to church, that would be fine, too.”

  She searched the crowd for her friends. “I better catch up with Hayden. He brought the horse I’m supposed to ride.”

  “It was nice to see you again.”

  Someone squealed behind her. “Laken, I’m so glad you came.” Grace gave her a quick squeeze. “This is my husband, Mark.”

  The boyishly handsome man could barely take his brown eyes off of Grace to look at Laken. “Nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  An earsplitting whistle cut through the hum of numerous conversations.

  Everyone quieted and Grayson addressed them. “Welcome to our first Fourth of July trail ride and picnic. With this good of a turnout, it just may become an annual event. I’m Grayson Sterling, pastor here at Palisade. Most folks call me Pastor Grayson. We’re planning to have some fun. Let’s ask the Lord to bless our evening.” He bowed his head.

  “Dear heavenly Father, thank You for the lovely day You’ve blessed us with. Thank You for these who have come. Bless our fellowship and our safety. Remind us that all good things come from You. In Jesus’ precious name, amen.”

  Grayson scanned the group. “Now, I planned to make this event all about patriotism, but God impressed a verse on my heart this morning and a minisermon. I figure if He gave it to me, there’s a reason, so just bear with me.”

  Laken’s stomach lurched.

  “Philippians 4:7.” He opened his Bible. “ ‘And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.’ ” He looked up at the gathering. “Do you ever wonder how people deal with the hurts in this world?”

  A weight settled on Laken’s chest. She stepped backward, right onto someone’s foot, and turned to see Hayden. “Sorry,” she whispered.

  “You okay?” he mouthed.

  “Is that the horse?” She pointed to a gray mare with dark-ringed white specks splashed over her coat.

  He nodded.

  “I think I’ll go get familiar with her.”

  Grayson’s voice rang clear in the hush. “For the Christian, we lean on Jesus in rough times. We trust Him to give us that peace that ‘passeth all understanding,’ and He never fails to deliver on His promises. But I wonder about the folks who don’t know that peace. How do they survive the tragedies and torments of this life?”

  Laken turned away and tried to tune him out, to concentrate on the choir of birdsong and the fragrant honeysuckle overtaking a nearby barbed-wire fence, but she couldn’t. Grayson’s words tugged at something deep inside as she stroked the horse’s silken muzzle.

  “I charge the members of this church to reach out with Christian love to those who are hurting—those who are believers, and especially those who don’t know our Jesus. If there’s anyone who doesn’t know Him, please make that decision. Today. All you have to do is ask.”

  The woods beckoned. Laken circled around until the horse was between her and the gathering. No one seemed to notice. Casually, she strolled under the plush, green denseness of the trees.

  “If you don’t know Jesus,” Grayson—Pastor Grayson—continued, “repeat this prayer. ‘Dear Lord, I know I’m a sinner. I come to You, with nowhere else to turn. I’ve tried living on my own steam, Lord, and it’s not going very well. I need Your help. Give me new purpose and Your precious peace.’ ”

  Even though Laken tried not to pay any attention, the words sank in. She darted farther into the woods. The sound of her breathing and last fall’s dead leaves crunching with each step muffled his voice. Acorns and pinecones rolled under her tennis shoes, and she almost lost her footing.

  Deep in the pine, cedar, and oak, Laken tried to erase Grayson’s words from her brain. Even when she could no longer hear him, she kept running, until she couldn’t remember which direction she’d come from. Her pulse raced from more than mere exertion.

  She stopped to catch her breath. Her bright orange T-shirt clung to sweaty skin. The humid air congested her lungs. Looking up, she caught only glimpses of the blue sky in the thick overgrowth. Though still a good hour before dusk, the forest was dark. The trees closed in.

  An eerie, bloodcurdling shriek erupted overhead.

  Chapter 3

  The barred owl’s catlike screech punctuated the close of Pastor Grayson’s prayer. Though Hayden had heard the creature before, the hair on the back of his neck stood on end.

  A human scream pierced the stillness.

  Hayden’s heart jolted as he turned to check on Laken and Pearl. The mare shivered, swishing her tail to ward off flies.

  Laken was gone.

  He frowned. Surely she hadn’t taken off in the woods on her own with only copperheads to keep her company. He scanned the crowd. “Carol, have you seen Laken?”

  “She was with Pearl the last time I saw her.” Carol shielded her eyes and looked around. “Grace, have you seen Laken?”

  “Last I saw, she walked over to the edge of the woods.”

  “Did she take the path?” Hayden scrubbed his palm across his stubbled cheek.

  “No.” Grace shook her head. “I figured she was looking for shade.”

  The owl shrieked again.

  Hayden cupped his hands around his mouth. “Laken!”

  “I’m sure she’s just fine.” Grace patted his shoulder. “And with this many people milling about, we’re sure to find her.”

  “Brady’s riding over with his Sunday school teacher after his riding lesson.” Hayden backed toward the trail. “Carol, can you wait for him?”

  “Sure.” With a nod, Carol turned toward the church.

  Hayden loped into the thick woods. Memories of getting lost as a kid assailed him with unseen terrors in the shape of tree limbs clawing at his back. Not to mention the very real copperheads. �
��Laken!”

  “I’m here.” Her faint voice sounded far in the distance and way off the path.

  Cupping his hands around his mouth again, he shouted, “Are you okay?”

  “So far.”

  The pressure in his chest eased. “Are you lost?”

  “Most definitely.”

  As he turned into the thick underbrush, briars tore at the ankles of his jeans. “Keep talking.”

  “What should I say?”

  Hayden grinned. “Anything. Just help me find you.”

  “Did the trail ride leave without us?” She sounded closer.

  “Not yet.” His side ached, but he kept running.

  “Guess I should have stayed with the group.”

  He caught a glimpse of orange to his left, about five hundred yards away. “I see you.”

  “You do?” He saw Laken turn and peer into the trees. Relief sounded in her voice.

  He reached her, stopped, and bent over. With his hands propped on his knees, he inhaled a lungful of humid air.

  “Sorry to be so much trouble. I just wanted to get out of the sun.”

  “I believe you managed that.” He straightened as his breathing slowed. “You okay?”

  “I’m fine. I hope you know the way back.”

  “The path is over there.” He gestured toward his right.

  She fell into stride beside him. “Thanks.”

  “No problem.”

  The owl shrieked again.

  Laken jumped and grabbed his arm, her nails digging into his bicep. “What is that?” Her voice quivered.

  “An owl.” He caught a whiff of coconut shampoo from her caramel-colored lengths. She felt nice on his arm, despite her taloned grip. How long had it been since he’d felt like a protector instead of the destroyer?

  “I appreciate you trying to make me feel better, but I prefer the truth.”

  “It’s a barred owl, I promise. He sounds close. Maybe we can find him.” Hayden stopped and searched the trees overhead. “Some folks call them screech owls, for obvious reasons.”

  Laken didn’t release his arm, but her nails let up.

  Scanning the limbs, he spotted the unblinking creature. “There.” He pointed. “See him in that big pine? He’s white and brown mottled and streaked. Kind of blends in with the bark.”

  “He’s so big.” A smile sounded in her voice. “I’ve never seen a real, live owl. I mean, away from the zoo. He’s so beautiful.”

  “God created amazing creatures.”

  Her hand dropped to her side.

  Not ready to let her go, Hayden entwined his fingers with hers in the guise of leading her back toward the path. Rotting leaves from last fall swished and crunched with each step. “Didn’t you grow up around here?”

  “We lived in Searcy and started coming here for church when I was eleven.”

  “Come to think of it, I’ve lived in a few rural areas and only heard a barred owl a few times.”

  As they moved away from the owl, it screeched again.

  “That’s the creepiest thing I’ve ever heard.” Laken shivered. “Aren’t owls nocturnal?”

  “It’s dark enough in here; he probably thinks it’s dusk.” Hayden pushed a branch out of the way and held it until she stepped through the opening. “Reminds me of when I was a kid on a road trip to visit relatives. We were somewhere in Mississippi at a motel with a pool so packed my sister and I couldn’t get in.”

  He kept his eyes trained on the ground, making sure nothing moved among the bed of leaves in front of them. “It wasn’t a very developed area, with lots of woods around. Katie and I sat on the deck, mad, until a barred owl cut loose. Apparently, no one else had heard one before. Within minutes, we had the pool to ourselves.”

  Laken laughed. “I can’t say I blame them.”

  “What you should worry about in these woods are snakes, tarantulas, and scorpions. Especially snakes. Copperheads love to den up in dead leaves to escape from the heat.”

  Her hand shook in his grasp.

  Oops, he’d really scared her. He softened his tone. “I just want you to understand, straying off the path isn’t such a good idea.”

  “Mother never would let us near the woods growing up, so I don’t have much experience.”

  They reached the trail, but he didn’t let go of her hand. A comfortable silence surrounded them, until he saw a few riders in the distance.

  She stiffened and pulled her hand loose.

  Laken followed Hayden as he stepped to the side of the path. They met horse after horse.

  “Oh good, you found her.” Adrea rode behind Grayson on a large russet-colored horse. “We decided to start the ride so we could help. I’m already dreaming of the air conditioner at the end of this tunnel.”

  Several other riders greeted them, glad for her safety.

  “Great,” Laken whispered. “Everyone’s laughing because the greenhorn got lost.”

  “No one’s laughing. They’re glad you’re safe, and we won’t miss the ride.”

  Laken wiped sweat from her brow and imagined her frizzy hair and melting makeup. “Didn’t Adrea say something about air-conditioning?”

  “Jack Phillips owns this property. He’s a deacon and the adult Sunday school teacher. The trail comes out at his barn. We’ll leave the horses there then head back to the church’s Family Life Center. Besides being cooler there, people who don’t ride can come, too.”

  The urge to jump up and down fluttered through Laken’s brain, but the heat sapped her energy. “I was wondering why y’all picked July to have a trail ride.”

  “We wanted to move the Fourth of July to a cooler season, but…” Hayden’s lips quivered with an almost smile.

  She laughed. “I guess that wouldn’t work very well. Where’s your nephew?”

  “He hadn’t arrived yet, when I left to find you. Carol’s waiting for him.”

  At the end of the trail, a man sat astride a horse, addressing a group of kids on horseback. Pearl and three riderless horses waited with Carol and Jim near the church.

  “There’s Brady,” Hayden whispered. “The one on the paint.”

  “Paint?”

  “The pinto—brown-and white-splotched.”

  “Oh.” Laken spotted the horse with the boy astride intently listening to the man speaking. The child had some of Hayden’s features. “That’s their Sunday school teacher, Bob Reynolds.”

  Not a wheelchair in sight. The child looked perfectly capable. “How did he get on the horse?” As soon as the question passed her lips, she bit her tongue, remembering her mother’s nosiness and Hayden’s reaction. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”

  “It’s okay.” Hayden swallowed. “Bob built a special ramp he keeps at his place since we board our horses there. He retired from a therapeutic riding ranch in Bentonville, and he gives Brady lessons.”

  The teacher finished speaking and turned his horse toward the path. The kids followed single file.

  “Come on, I’ll introduce you.” Hayden jogged over to the brown-spotted horse. Its platinum mane and dark-tipped tail bounced with each stride. “Brady, this is Laken.”

  “Whoa, Spot.” The boy slowed his horse and smiled, revealing a gap where his front tooth should have been. “Hi, Laken.”

  Hayden cleared his throat. “Have fun and—”

  “Be careful. If I fall off, it won’t hurt my legs.” The boy giggled. “See you.”

  The muscle in Hayden’s jaw began a rhythmic tic.

  “He certainly has a good attitude about his…” Handicap didn’t fit the unflappable child.

  “He’s handled it better than any of us.” He strode toward the church. Laken almost had to jog to keep up with his long strides.

  “Relax.” Hayden trailed behind Laken as she bounced on her saddle like a dribbling basketball. He’d hate to see what happened if the horse did more than walk.

  “I’m trying.”

  Her attempt to play it cool, despite obvious discomfor
t, threatened to tug a chuckle out of him. “Let your body move with Pearl’s rhythm. I promise she won’t throw you. She barely shivered when the owl cut loose earlier.”

  Despite his instructions, her posture never relaxed. At the end of the trail, Hayden followed her into direct sunlight.

  “Are we almost there?”

  “See that metal building?”

  “Way over there?” Her question came out in a moan.

  Her backside probably ached by now. “I can help you down if you’d rather lead Pearl.”

  “No.”

  She had to be the most stubborn, determined woman he’d ever met. He liked that in a pretty girl.

  Hayden closed his eyes. But strength alone couldn’t get her through this life. Laken didn’t know Jesus, which meant Hayden needed to introduce the two.

  “Why are you so quiet back there? You better not be laughing at me.”

  “I’m not. Head for the gate up there.” All amusement drained from Hayden’s soul, leaving behind a void. If she wouldn’t accept the introduction to his best friend, he and Laken could have no future.

  Where did that come from? He didn’t want a future with any woman. After Jan, he’d vowed to never trust another woman.

  The last several yards of the ride passed in silence.

  As they neared, Jack opened the metal gate for them.

  “Give a light tug on the reins.”

  Laken followed Hayden’s command and Pearl stopped near the barn, where numerous horses stood around several large water troughs in the edge of the woods.

  “I can’t wait to feel the air-conditioning.” Laken dismounted, wobbly but without help.

  Hayden helped take the saddles off the eagerly drinking horses. “I guess that means you’d like a ride back to the church instead of walk?”

  “Your truck’s here?”

  “Several folks drove here and rode the horses to the church.”

  “A ride in an air-conditioned vehicle. Utopia.”

  Cars lined the center’s parking lot. Cool air met them as Hayden opened the door for Laken and followed her inside. A momentary chill crawled over his heated skin.

  “Oh, this is heavenly.” Laken took a deep breath. “This wasn’t here when I attended.”