Read Online Canyon Walls by Julie Jarnagin - Free Book Online

come to you if you had called me.”
    Pastor George’s eyes were the bluest eyes Cassie had ever seen. Barbara, who played the piano for the three-person choir, had once told her they got brighter every year.
    â€œI haven’t been down here in almost a year. I wanted to see it,” he spoke slowly. “You may not know this, but I met my late wife, Susan, here when I was seventeen and she was fifteen.”
    â€œYou never told me that.”
    He folded his hands over his Bible. “She was from a couple towns over. The town doesn’t even exist anymore, but I knew the second I saw her that God meant for us to be together.”
    Cassie propped her elbow on the back of the pew and rested her head on her hand. “And you were together from that day on?”
    Pastor George closed his eyes when he laughed. “Child, I said I knew in that moment. God didn’t let her in on the secret until many years later after she graduated from college.”
    â€œGod sure takes His time sometimes,” Cassie said.
    He nodded. “But He always has a good reason for it, whether or not we understand it.”
    Pastor George moved over where the yellow light coming through the window could shine on his face. “Cassie, I have another reason for coming to see you today.”
    She sat straighter.
    Pastor George placed his cool hand on hers. “I’m having surgery tomorrow.”
    Cassie’s stomach tightened.
    He patted her hand. “Now don’t worry.”
    She couldn’t bear to think of anything happening to Pastor George. She had never expected him to become like family. Maybe it was because he reminded her of her own grandfather, solid and dependable.
    â€œIt’s not serious, but I won’t be at the church to deliver the sermon on Sunday.”
    Cassie loved Pastor George’s sermons. He preached straight from the Bible. He could make an Old Testament story she had known since she was a teenager feel new again. “I don’t understand,” Cassie said. “Someone is going to fill in until you recover?”
    Pastor George’s eyes were moist. “It’s time, Cassie. It’s time for us to close the doors of the church so God can do new things.”
    Cassie locked her hands together to keep them from trembling. “But I love our church.”
    â€œThis has been trying for me, too, but God will provide for you.”
    â€œI don’t want to find another church,” she whispered.
    â€œIt’s time,” he repeated, patting her arm.
    He moved to the front of the chapel, and she helped him into one of the pews. When he bowed his head to pray, she needed to escape from the hot air and the walls that were closing in on her. The thought of losing her home church as she faced losing the camp she loved was too much for Cassie to bear.
    â§
    From the moment Will saw Cassie plodding down the gravel drive, he knew something had upset her. He pulled the silver sports car up beside her and rolled down the window.
    Streaks of tears ran down Cassie’s face. He jerked the car into Park and climbed out of the car as fast as he could. “Cassie, what’s wrong?”
    She looked away from him and rubbed both hands across her cheeks. “I’m fine. It’s nothing.”
    He ducked down where he could see her face. “You’re not fine. What happened?”
    She laughed nervously. “It’s no big deal. Just some disappointing news.”
    Will waited for more.
    Hesitantly, Cassie said, “Pastor George is having surgery. I’m worried about him, and it looks like our little church will be closing. Must sound like a silly thing to cry about.”
    Will hadn’t realized the little country church was still meeting. He reached out and squeezed her shoulder. “It’s not silly at all.”
    Cassie fanned her face with her hands, drying her wet cheeks. “What are you still doing here?”
    Will could