Read Online Canyon Walls by Julie Jarnagin - Free Book Online Page A

see the pain through her forced smile. He wanted to fix it, but if she didn’t want to talk about it anymore, he wouldn’t try to force her. “Actually, I was looking for you.”
    Cassie shifted her weight from one leg to the other. “Oh. . .okay.”
    Will considered his words. Before he met with his father, he needed to find out if Cassie would even be open to what he had in mind. “I wanted to tell you that if you ever need any advice on the business side of the camp that I would love to help.”
    Cassie pushed back a strand of hair that blew across her eyes. “What do you mean?”
    â€œI’ve heard this place is struggling, and I have a lot of experience in the real-estate business, and this is a real-estate problem, more or less.”
    Her slumped shoulders straightened. “Who told you the camp was struggling?”
    It was pretty much common knowledge around Wyatt Bend. Surely she knew that. “I guess I shouldn’t have said ‘struggling.’ I heard finances are tight. I’m just offering to help you.”
    â€œHow could you help?” Cassie asked.
    It sounded more like a challenge than a question. “I could take a look at the finances. We could go over the business plan.”
    In an instant, the vulnerable woman he had just witnessed had rebuilt the walls around herself. “Thank you,” she said through her clenched jaw. “But I don’t need any help. I do perfectly fine here on my own.”

Seven
    When Beth pulled the car up to the pink brick building with large glass doors, Cassie pursed her lips in an attempt to hide the dread. She could think of a million reasons to ask Beth to turn around and skip church altogether.
    Cassie’s church was closed, she still had a lot to do before Mr. Hartley arrived, and she could use a day to relax after a crazy week of campers. Somehow she had managed to get out of bed and put on a cotton dress and sandals before Beth had arrived.
    â€œTell me again why you chose this church,” Cassie said.
    Beth had been attending Pastor George’s church with Cassie. When they were left without a service to attend, Cassie asked Beth to choose the church they would try. She never thought Beth would pick out the one Will attended. A couple of days ago, Cassie had been relieved that Will was out of her life for good. She hoped to keep it that way.
    â€œWell, a lot of people love it here,” Beth said. “And it’s the biggest church in town. You shouldn’t have any trouble avoiding Will if he’s here.”
    The only experience Cassie had with a larger congregation had been in high school, and it hadn’t been a positive one. The girls in the Sunday school class hadn’t accepted the new girl full of questions. She had always felt safer in a tiny church. Cassie took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves.
    They made their way into a sanctuary ten times larger than what she was used to. The twenty choir members wore robes, and the sound system was nicer than the one she had in the tabernacle. They found seats on the back row. Cassie opened the glossy bulletin. The first announcement on the page was for the upcoming men’s retreat at Sunset Camp. Cassie made a mental note to check on all the details for the retreat when she returned to the office. It hadn’t occurred to her until now that Will might be part of the retreat. Suddenly feeling warm, she fanned herself with the bulletin.
    When the music started, she couldn’t deny that the voices of all those people singing a hymn together moved her. She loved and missed the distinct voices of her old church, but this was beautiful in a different way. Strong and powerful, the notes and words seeped into every pore.
    The words to the hymn caught in her throat when she saw Will near the front of the sanctuary singing with his eyes closed. What was she doing here?
    Cassie gripped the hymnal more tightly. Will knew the