LITMIR.BIZ

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Jasmine, Shaun unloaded the pickup bed and stowed the leftover wire and fence posts in the storage room. As he finished, his sister’s car pulled up outside the barn. He strode out to meet her and was nearly bowled over when Avery, his seven-year-old niece, plowed into him.

      “Uncle Shaun, look! I lost another tooth.” Avery tipped her head back and opened her mouth.

      “Whoa, you sure did. Hope the tooth fairy was generous.” He dropped to one knee to inspect the newly vacant spot on her upper gum. The shiny serrated edge of a new tooth already peeked through.

      Avery cupped her hand around Shaun’s ear. “It’s okay. I know Mom’s really the tooth fairy. And she gave me two whole quarters.”

      “Cool. Don’t spend it all in one place.” Tousling his niece’s mop of pale red curls, Shaun pushed to his feet. “Hey, Erin. Back for more wedding planning?”

      “If I can tear my cowboy away from his cows. Looks like y’all have been working hard today.” Erin wrinkled her nose as she came closer. “Smells like it, too. Watch out, or Kent will make a rancher of you yet.”

      “Don’t hold your breath.” Then Shaun got a whiff of himself. “On second thought, maybe you should, at least until I get cleaned up.”

      They all entered the farmhouse, and Shaun made quick work of going to his room, discarding his soiled clothes and washing up.

      By the time Shaun came downstairs in a fresh polo shirt and jeans, Kent had already cleaned up, too. He and Erin had just sat down at the kitchen table with glasses of iced tea and their wedding planning notebook.

      Kent motioned Shaun over. “Pour yourself some tea and join us. I’m supposed to be picking a groom’s cake and I need another male’s perspective.”

      “Afraid I wouldn’t be much help in the cake department. Think I’ll see what Avery’s watching on TV.” Shaun started for the living room.

      “Uh-uh, big brother.” Erin patted the chair next to her. “Sit down a minute. There’s something else we’ve been meaning to ask you.”

      Erin’s elfin smile belied the hint of something more serious in her tone. Figuring this didn’t involve cake selections, Shaun cautiously lowered himself into the chair. “I’m not the guy to give advice about tuxes or flowers either, in case you were wondering.”

      “Actually...” Erin reached for her fiancé’s hand, and Kent scooted closer. They both looked slightly nervous. “What we wanted to ask—I mean, with you being an ordained minister—”

      Palms outward, he leaned back in the chair. “I think I know where this is going, and the answer is no.”

      “But it would mean so much to have my brother officiate at our wedding. Please, Shaun, would you at least think about it?”

      “I’m honored and touched that you would ask, but I’m not ready to—” His mouth went dry. He couldn’t meet his sister’s gaze. “Sorry, I just can’t do it.” He shoved up from the table and marched upstairs.

      Alone in the guest room, he sank onto the bed and dropped his head into his hands. Didn’t they understand how messed up he was? When he couldn’t even discern God’s will for his own life, what made them think he could bestow a proper blessing on their marriage? After all his sister had been through with her abusive first husband and starting over after their divorce, she deserved only the best.

      It was Greg, the eldest of the O’Grady siblings, who’d had the bright idea Shaun should spend some time in Juniper Bluff after returning from his most recent—and most discouraging—missionary assignment. This was supposed to be a kind of sabbatical, reconnecting with himself and with God. So far, all he had to show for it was more confusion, along with several new calluses from the hard labor of ranch work.

      He wished he had the sense of direction of the woman he’d met this morning—Brooke Willoughby. An image of her crept into his thoughts. There was a woman who knew where she was going. She might display a few nervous twinges about settling into her new job, but underneath it all she exuded professionalism and self-assurance. True, he couldn’t deny the irrational spark of attraction he’d felt, but besides the fact that they were both new in town, what could they possibly have in common?

      Not that it mattered, since their paths weren’t likely to cross again anytime soon.

      Then why, absurdly, did he wish somehow they would?

       Chapter Two

      Leaving the sanctuary with Kent, Erin and Avery after worship on Sunday morning, Shaun glimpsed a familiar cascade of honey-brown curls. So much for discounting his chances of running into Brooke Willoughby. This was small-town Juniper Bluff, after all. Engaged in a spirited conversation with Diana from the doughnut shop and another woman, she didn’t notice him as he walked past.

      “That’s the new communications manager for the chamber,” Erin said. “I met her in the women’s Bible study this morning. She’s really on the ball.”

      “Yeah, I know.” As they continued toward the exit, Shaun couldn’t keep his head from swiveling in Brooke’s direction.

      Erin looked at him askance. “You know?”

      Shaun should have kept his mouth shut. He faced forward and walked faster. “Diana’s Donuts was packed yesterday, so we shared a table.”

      A mischievous chuckle erupted from Erin’s throat. “Kent needs to send you to town more often.”

      “Speaking of which,” Kent said, tapping his church bulletin against his palm, “I’ve been working on getting more connected here at church, and the service committee looks interesting. They’re meeting tomorrow night to discuss plans for this year’s Christmas charity project. Why don’t you tag along with me?”

      Shaun gave his head a brisk shake. “I don’t think so.”

      “Come on, it’ll do you good to get out and meet more people.” They’d reached Erin’s car, and Kent helped Avery buckle into the back seat. Blocking Shaun from proceeding on toward the pickup, he glowered. “How long have you been staying with me at the ranch now—a month? Six weeks? About all you come to town for is to pick up something for me at the ranch supply store or to visit Erin at her place.”

      “I’ve been attending church with you nearly every Sunday,” Shaun shot back. “And didn’t I just say I met Brooke at the doughnut shop? So I get out plenty. I’ve got all the acquaintances I need.”

      Kent shared a meaningful look with Erin, and then both of them pinned him with concerned frowns. “I spent years holding things in,” Kent said quietly, “isolating myself when I could have been sharing my problems with people who cared. So I know avoidance when I see it.”

      Hands on hips, Shaun exhaled sharply through his nose. Erin and Kent had been more than patient with him as he worked through his issues with God. He knew they were only trying to help. “Okay, you could have a point. But these past few years trying to make a difference in Ethiopia... I can’t begin to describe the frustration and disappointment.”

      “We know, Shaun.” Erin touched his arm. “And we understand why you needed to get away and decompress. But getting involved in something on a smaller scale—a project where you can readily see the results of your efforts—might turn out to be just what you need.”

      Shaun didn’t want to admit it, but his sister could be right. “All right,” he said, hands raised. “No promises, but I’ll attend the meeting with you and see what it’s all about.”

      Kent clapped him on the shoulder. “Good man. Now, let’s go see what Erin’s got cookin’ for dinner.”

      One thing Shaun had learned upon his arrival in Juniper Bluff was that his little sister had become not only a

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