Read Online Vows by Lavyrle Spencer - Free Book Online Page A

watching her. She snapped her mouth shut and stared at him for a full ten seconds.
      " …worship now our heav'nly king… "
      He sang without benefit of a hymnal, belting out the notes robustly, startling her. She had been prepared to see him as the Devil incarnate, but finding him singing hymns at her own church service cast him in quite the opposite light. She snapped her attention to the front and vowed not to give him so much as another glance.
      The hymn ended and they sat. Reverend Vasseler gave a short sermon on the Good Samaritan, then announced that J. D. Loucks had donated a lot on East Loucks Street for the building of a real church. Smiles and murmurs accompanied a general scanning of the room as members of the congregation picked out Loucks and beamed approval. The minister appealed to all the men to do their fair share. He outlined a building plan by which the structure would be up and roofed by midsummer, and totally completed by autumn. Joseph Zollinski had volunteered to organize the volunteer building crew, and Charles Bliss to oversee the work, and all the men present were to see either one of them after the service to volunteer at least a day of their time.
      When the service ended Charles stayed to organize volunteers while Emily left the hall on her father's arm. Halfway to the door, Emily was caught by Tarsy, who grabbed her arm and whispered breathlessly, "He's here!"
      "I know."
      "Introduce us."
      " I will not! "
      "Oh, Emily … pleeeeze!"
      "If you want to meet him go introduce yourself, but don't expect me to. Not after yesterday!"
      "But, Emily, he's absolutely the most luscious creature I've—"
      "Well, good morning, Tarsy," Edwin interrupted.
      "Oh, good morning, Mr. Walcott. I was just saying to Emily that the neighbourly thing to do is to welcome newcomers to the town, wouldn't you say?"
      Edwin smiled. "I would."
      "So would you mind introducing me to Mr. Jeffcoat?"
      Edwin was familiar with Tarsy's flighty ways and thought little of her suggestion. He was too congenial a person to snub anybody—even his competitor. Outside in the sunlight of the fair June morning Edwin guided Tarsy to Jeffcoat while Emily hung back, pretending disinterest in the entire episode, excusing herself by saying she'd wait near the door for Charles.
      But she kept one eye on the introductions.
      "Mr. Jeffcoat, hold up there!" called Edwin.
      Jeffcoat turned in mid-stride and smiled congenially. "Ah, good morning, Edwin."
      "You look like a man in a hurry."
      "I've got a building to put up. I'm afraid I can't waste a day like this, whether it's the Lord's day or not." He cocked his head at the faultless blue sky.
      Edwin did likewise. "Can't say I blame you. It is a fine day."
      "Yessir, it is."
      "I'd like you to meet my daughter's friend. Miss Tarsy Fields."
      Jeffcoat transferred his attention to the pretty blonde. "Miss Fields."
      "Mr. Jeffcoat." She bobbed and flashed her most dazzling smile. "I'm positively delighted to meet you."
      Jeffcoat had been around enough women to recognize eager interest when it stood pent up before him. She was curvier, prettier, and more polite than Emily Walcott, who stood by the door, feigning indifference. He extended his hand and, when Miss Fields's was in it, gave her face the lingering attention such beauty deserved, and her fingers enough pressure to suggest reciprocal interest.
      "I must confess," Tarsy admitted, "I asked Mr. Walcott to introduce us."
      Jeffcoat laughed and held her hand longer than strictly polite. "I'm glad you did. I believe we passed each other in front of the hotel yesterday, didn't we? You were wearing a peach-colored dress."
      Tarsy's pleasure doubled. She touched her collarbone and opened her lips in the beguiling way she often practiced in the mirror.
      Jeffcoat smiled down into her stunning brown eyes with stunners of his own and refrained from allowing them to pass lower. But he was