Read Online Heaven Sent Rain by Lauraine Snelling - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lauraine Snelling
Ads: Link
not.”
Having his arms crossed over his chest kept Garret from slithering into a puddle on the floor. Just get through this. You don’t ever have to come back here, you know.
Where had that come from? How dare he even consider that?
“But God never gives us a command without giving us the tools to carry it out.”
Study the hymnal, the collar of the man in front of you, the floor, the scuff on your loafers.
Time must have passed, because he heard Pastor Hagen say, “Let us pray.”
He prayed, they sang a hymn, and then came the benediction. “The Lord bless and keep thee.”
Right.
A silence stretched for an hour before the organ and the musicians broke into the exit music. Garret stood, sure he was shaking. Were others reeling, or was he the only one?
A woman he’d known for years greeted him in the aisle. “Oh Dr. G, I am so glad to see you. I want to introduce you to my niece, who is visiting.” She turned to the woman beside her, who wore the same embarrassed expression he was trying to make sure did not show on his face. How many relatives did this matchmaker have to trot out?
“Hello, Miss Grayson, glad to meet you.”
“Dr. G is our resident veterinarian. The two of you have so much in common. Elizabeth just loves animals, too—don’t you dear?” She gushed on.
Garret nodded, smiled, acted nice, and wanted to run screaming. “How long will you be in Eastbrook?”
Was that a spark of devilment dancing in her eyes? “I’m thinking of moving here. Auntie Jane has been on a job search for me, and her efforts just might be panning out.”
Her gaze skittered away, so he used the opportunity to excuse himself and introduce her to the couple behind him, hoping and praying they would step up. They did. Someone else called his name, he smiled an apology or excuse, and turned away. But not before he caught a glimmer of relief in her gaze, or had he? He continued down the aisle, asking the correct questions and answering others as they moved toward the front door.
Maybe he might call her after all. She seemed personable enough. Did she really love all kinds of animals, or just loveable animals? What if he said he raised snakes and spiders?
Burky called, “Hey, Garret, going to join us for lunch? The Bunch is adjourning to the Cuppa.”
Ask her along. Whatever for? Good Lord, what is happening to me? The Bunch usually did go out for lunch, so what was the big deal? “I need to drop something off at the clinic first.”
If Susan catches you there, she will order you drawn and quartered. If Dinah Taylor was there, he would order it himself.
“On second thought, sure.” He’d deliver the drawing later. “Anyone need a ride?”
“You might ask that new person over there; she’s coming along. I saw you talking with her. Give me a minute.” Burky motioned to Garret to wait and went to Elizabeth, who nodded, glanced over at him, and only paused a moment before nodding again.
Once they were in the car, she turned to him. “I’m sorry. Aunt Jane has a tendency to manipulate, but she really has a great heart and wants the best for everyone concerned. I can’t convince her that I already have a boyfriend, and—”
Garret busted out laughing. “And we play along to satisfy Auntie and heave a huge sigh of relief that we got her off our backs?”
She chuckled. “Thank you for being so observant. I do hope to move here. Artie is looking for a job here, too, and, God willing, we’ll finally be able to get married. Nothing is final yet, but then what in life really is?”
They enjoyed the conversation, and she fit well into the Bunch, made up of an assortment of singles, marrieds, good friends, and acquaintances. The Bunch had a good time no matter who showed. Today when they were gathered in their usual room at the Cuppa, someone commented, “If that wasn’t the most powerful sermon he has ever preached, I don’t know what is.”
“Powerful, right, but he sure raked us over the
Having his arms crossed over his chest kept Garret from slithering into a puddle on the floor. Just get through this. You don’t ever have to come back here, you know.
Where had that come from? How dare he even consider that?
“But God never gives us a command without giving us the tools to carry it out.”
Study the hymnal, the collar of the man in front of you, the floor, the scuff on your loafers.
Time must have passed, because he heard Pastor Hagen say, “Let us pray.”
He prayed, they sang a hymn, and then came the benediction. “The Lord bless and keep thee.”
Right.
A silence stretched for an hour before the organ and the musicians broke into the exit music. Garret stood, sure he was shaking. Were others reeling, or was he the only one?
A woman he’d known for years greeted him in the aisle. “Oh Dr. G, I am so glad to see you. I want to introduce you to my niece, who is visiting.” She turned to the woman beside her, who wore the same embarrassed expression he was trying to make sure did not show on his face. How many relatives did this matchmaker have to trot out?
“Hello, Miss Grayson, glad to meet you.”
“Dr. G is our resident veterinarian. The two of you have so much in common. Elizabeth just loves animals, too—don’t you dear?” She gushed on.
Garret nodded, smiled, acted nice, and wanted to run screaming. “How long will you be in Eastbrook?”
Was that a spark of devilment dancing in her eyes? “I’m thinking of moving here. Auntie Jane has been on a job search for me, and her efforts just might be panning out.”
Her gaze skittered away, so he used the opportunity to excuse himself and introduce her to the couple behind him, hoping and praying they would step up. They did. Someone else called his name, he smiled an apology or excuse, and turned away. But not before he caught a glimmer of relief in her gaze, or had he? He continued down the aisle, asking the correct questions and answering others as they moved toward the front door.
Maybe he might call her after all. She seemed personable enough. Did she really love all kinds of animals, or just loveable animals? What if he said he raised snakes and spiders?
Burky called, “Hey, Garret, going to join us for lunch? The Bunch is adjourning to the Cuppa.”
Ask her along. Whatever for? Good Lord, what is happening to me? The Bunch usually did go out for lunch, so what was the big deal? “I need to drop something off at the clinic first.”
If Susan catches you there, she will order you drawn and quartered. If Dinah Taylor was there, he would order it himself.
“On second thought, sure.” He’d deliver the drawing later. “Anyone need a ride?”
“You might ask that new person over there; she’s coming along. I saw you talking with her. Give me a minute.” Burky motioned to Garret to wait and went to Elizabeth, who nodded, glanced over at him, and only paused a moment before nodding again.
Once they were in the car, she turned to him. “I’m sorry. Aunt Jane has a tendency to manipulate, but she really has a great heart and wants the best for everyone concerned. I can’t convince her that I already have a boyfriend, and—”
Garret busted out laughing. “And we play along to satisfy Auntie and heave a huge sigh of relief that we got her off our backs?”
She chuckled. “Thank you for being so observant. I do hope to move here. Artie is looking for a job here, too, and, God willing, we’ll finally be able to get married. Nothing is final yet, but then what in life really is?”
They enjoyed the conversation, and she fit well into the Bunch, made up of an assortment of singles, marrieds, good friends, and acquaintances. The Bunch had a good time no matter who showed. Today when they were gathered in their usual room at the Cuppa, someone commented, “If that wasn’t the most powerful sermon he has ever preached, I don’t know what is.”
“Powerful, right, but he sure raked us over the
Similar Books
