Kelsey grabbed her keys from the hook.  “Mom, could you please take over the bakery while I make a delivery?”

                 “Sure.”  Her mom checked the wall clock.  “We have two hours before the lunch crowd comes in.”

                 “I’ll be back soon.”  Kelsey lifted three boxes filled with muffins and cookies.  “I’m just going up to the church.”

                 “That’s right.”  Her mom slapped her head.  “Marvin Braun and his crew started adding onto the Sunday School wing yesterday.”

                 “Yes, so Pastor Kellerman ordered some goodies for the workers.”  Kelsey laughed.

                 Travis emerged from the kitchen as Kelsey walked towards the door.  “I’ll get the door for you, sis.”

                 “Thanks.”

                 After placing the boxes on the floorboard on the passenger’s side, Kelsey drove to the church.  Hammering and sawing met her ears as she entered the back parking lot. Hefting the boxes into her arms, she glanced around.  Her eyes widened after spotting a black Jeep.

                 Wade is here.  Does he have another session with Pastor Kellerman?”

                 “Hey, Wade, hand me that nail gun!” a man yelled.

                 Turning to where they were building, she saw Wade in a sleeveless shirt, using a power saw.  Sweat glistened down his tanned arms, and his muscles flexed while he worked.

                 Kelsey licked her lips and swallowed hard.  Wade is hotter than firecrackers on July 4th.

                 Glancing at the cross on the steeple, she whispered, “Sorry, Father.”

                 Kelsey returned her attention to Wade, who was busy measuring and cutting wood.

                 Smiling, she recalled their conversation after she had won the mudding race the week before.

                 Kelsey hopped off the four-wheeler, laughing and smiling.  She turned to Jason and their high school classmate, Paul Holtkamp.  “I can’t believe I finally beat one of you.”

                 Paul clucked his tongue.  “Something is wrong with the gas clutch on my ATV.”

                 “And I missed a turn,” Jason said.

                  Kelsey shook her head.  “I can’t believe y’all are sore losers.”

                  “Be happy for her.” Abby put an arm around Kelsey.  “One of y’all always wins.  We were having fun, not trying to win an award.”

                   The two men grudgingly agreed.

                   Kelsey held back a laugh.  “Abby, they were always competitive, even when playing paper football.”

                   “I remember,” Abby said, brushing a strand of blonde hair from her forehead.  “They got into trouble a lot in Mrs. Wehmeyer’s third-grade class.”

                    Jason wiped his muddy face with a wet rag that one of the organizers of the game handed him.  “There’s nothing wrong with being competitive.  I’m going to that teach to our future kids.”

                   “I agree,” Wade said, coming up behind her.  “We’re coddling kids too much.  When they get in the real world, they can’t handle it.”

                    “I knew I liked you, doc,” Jason said.

                     Horrified, Kelsey shut her eyes and wished she could disappear.  Her blue jeans caked knee-high with mud, and her hair plastered on the sides of her face.  She grabbed the wet rag that someone placed on the handlebars of her uncle’s four-wheeler and quickly wiped her face and long sleeves.

                     “Hi, Kelsey.”

                      She turned and faced him.  “Hey, what are you doing here?”

                      “You said you would be here when we had supper together last week.”  He glanced around.  “I wanted to see you in action.  You were great, by the way.  I can see why people like it.”

                       Jason leaned against his four-wheeler.  “Maybe you could join us next time.”

                      “Yeah, the more, the merrier and muddier,” Paul chimed in.

                       “I think I’m more of a spectator.” Wade smiled at Kelsey.  “Though there are some beautiful women here.”

                        Kelsey felt her heart leap and noticed that her friends were giving each other knowing looks.

                        Abby whispered something to Jason, and he nodded.  “Let’s get our four-wheelers in the bed of the truck.”

                       “I got to go too.”  Paul got back on his ATV.  “Lauren wants me to barbecue tonight.  I need to buy charcoal and the kind of ground beef she likes.  A happy wife is a happy life.  Bye, y’all.”

                       “Bye, Kelse.”  Abby hugged her.  “See you tomorrow.”   She started toward her four-wheeler but then turned around.                              “Do we have choir practice before church?”

                        “No, the band is playing tomorrow.  Next week the choir is singing.”

                        “Great.” Abby smiled. 

                        Wade looked at the four-wheeler.  “I can help you get it out of this mud pit.”

                        “Oh, you don’t have to.” Kelsey eyeballed him.  He wore a yellow polo shirt and a nice pair of blue jeans; however, he did have on hiking boots like her.  “I don’t want you to get your clothes dirty.”

                        “It’s no matter.  I can wash them.”    

                        “I can manage, but you can meet me at the truck.  It’s the black Chevy with the “Texan born and bred” bumper sticker.”

                        When Kelsey got to the truck, Wade had put the metal ramp down.

                        “Thanks.” She drove the four-wheeler onto the truck bed, and then hopped down and put up the tailgate.  “So, would you reconsider joining us next time?”

                        He rubbed his chin.  “Maybe.”

                       “You could borrow a truck from Nick, and my Uncle Sam has many four-wheelers.”   She looked down at her hands, hoping he would take up mudding, so they could have something to do together.

                       “I’d better not.  Your cousin still doesn’t like me.”

                        Kelsey popped her head up.  “He just needs time to get to know you.”

                        “Maybe,” Wade said.  “Hey, Hannah told me she got the part of the first pilgrim woman in the Thanksgiving play and asked me to go through her lines with her.”

                         Kelsey chuckled.  “She’s very excited.  Thanks for agreeing to help her.”

                         “It’ll be my pleasure.”

                          Noticing it was getting late, she said, “I’d better get home and shower.  I’m a mess.”

                         He tucked back a piece of hair that escaped from her ponytail behind her ear.  “But a beautiful one.”

                         Her breath hitched and licked her lips.  “T-thank you.”

                         Pastor Kellerman emerged from the church and said, “Hi, Kelsey,” bringing her back. 

                         “Hey.”

                         “I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner, but I just saw you from my office window.”

                         “I wasn’t here long.”  She gestured her head to the construction site.   “They’re doing a good job.”

                         The pastor nodded.  “It was almost delayed again.”

                         “Why?”

                         “A few of Marvin’s workers called in sick.”  He pointed to Wade.   “Luckily, Wade was there when Marvin called me and volunteered.   He suggested maybe some of the unemployed parishioners might want to pitch in, and he was right.  They jumped at the opportunity to work.”  He smiled.  “It has been a blessing because Marvin hired them for good.  He loves how they are hard workers.  I know a couple of them applied for work at his company, but he wasn’t hiring.  Now that people are moving here from the city, he’s busier than ever.”  Chuckling, the pastor said, “The funny thing is, Marvin was going to put an ad in the paper.  It goes to show you God does provide.  Even before we ask.”

                         “Yes, He does.”                                       

                         Scanning the men, she noted three of those newest employees were her classmates.  They’d had a hard time finding steady work in Kirchville because there weren’t enough blue-collar jobs.  She knew they wanted to stay and raise their children there.   Now, due to Wade’s idea, they were gainfully employed.

                         Admiration and respect for him grew in her eyes.  Wade had proven again that he wasn’t Parker.  He thought of others and tried to help whenever he can, and helping a church he wasn’t a member of yet.  Kelsey doubted Parker would think of helping a stranger.

                         “Kelsey?”

                         She turned to the pastor.   “I’m sorry.  What did you say?”

                         “I asked how much I owe you.”

                         Remembering the three boxes on the hood, she shook her head.   “Fifty dollars, but you’re not paying.  It’s my contribution to give the workers a little incentive to keep working.”

                         He waved his hand.  “Nonsense.  I insist.”  Pulling out his wallet, he gave her fifty dollars.  “Please take the money.   I won’t take “no” for an answer.  Besides, I’ll probably order more muffins and cookies in the days and weeks to come.”

Knowing he wouldn’t give up, she accepted the money.  “Thanks.  The muffins are in the top two boxes, and the cookies are in the bottom one.”

                         As he walked away, she glanced in Wade’s direction.

                         Seeing him wave at her, she smiled and waved back before opening the door and hopped in the van.  Her cell phone beeped.  She fished for it in her purse and read her mom’s text.  Tracey called with terrible news.  She needs you.

                         Kelsey’s heart sped up, wondering if anything happened to Scott or the twins.  She tossed her phone on the passenger’s seat and started the van.  She drove a little faster than she should. 

 

 

***

                         “I think we should leave Holland and find a place where we can worship God in our way and keep our traditions,” Wade said in his best English accent as he read the script.  “Our children are beginning to act Dutch rather than English.”

                          Hannah laughed.  “You sound funny.”

                          “I was trying to talk like an Englishman.”  Wade shrugged.  “I guess my Texan accent is too strong to do it justice.”

                          Gwen came over with their cherry cream pie.  “How’s it going?”

                          “Great.”  Hannah smiled.  “Wade’s helping me with my lines.”

                          “I would think you’d have them down cold by now.”  Gwen stroked her hair.  “Hey, your mama called, saying she was on her way.”

                          Hannah’s smile fell.  “Thanks, Meemaw.  Is Brie spending the night at our house?”

                          “I think so.”

                          Wade furrowed his brow, wondering what had happened.  All day, he’d heard people saying things like, “He was too young,” “What will his wife and his kids do now? Or “It isn’t safe to be a cop anymore.”  “But he was in civilian clothes, not in uniform.”

                          He knew it wasn’t Scott because he’d seen him an hour ago leaving the police station, looking gloomy.  Then who’d died?

                          “Why did he die?” Hannah asked.  “He was nice to me whenever he came here.”

                          Gwen frowned.  “I know, but some people are greedy.”

                           Kelsey emerged from the back room.  She shook off her coat and leaned against the booth and buried her head in her hands.

                           Wade’s heart clenched, seeing her so down.

                           Wade followed as Gwen and Hannah headed to Kelsey.

                           “Sweetie, are you okay?”  Gwen placed a hand on her shoulder.  “You were with Tracey all night.  You must be tired.”

                           “I’m fine.  Just need coffee.”  Kelsey looked at Hannah.  “Brie is in there.  Why don’t you find a movie to watch?  Only watch DVDs, no satellite.  Do you understand? ”
                           “’Kay, Mama.”

                           They went to the counter, and Gwen poured Kelsey some coffee.

                           Kelsey ran a hand through her hair and sighed.  “I still can’t believe this happened, and to Cole.  Oh, poor Grace, Ryder, and Aaron.  I don’t know what they will do now.”

                           “I don’t mean to pry, but what happened?” Wade asked, sitting on a stool.

                           Kelsey exhaled.  “Tracey’s older brother, Cole Ackerman, was killed in a bank robbery yesterday.”  She looked at her coffee mug.  “It’s so awful.”

                           His eyes widened.  “The off-duty cop in Hope City, Utah, who tried to convince them to let the other hostages go?”

                           “Yeah.”  Kelsey took a sip.  “Maybe if they hadn’t caught him signaling to the police through the window to come in, he might still be alive.”

                           “I’m sorry,” Wade said.  “He seemed to be a great man from what I heard on the news.”

                           “He was.”  The corners of her mouth turned up.  “Cole would have helped anyone.  You would have liked him.”  Then her expression darkened.  “If him dying wasn’t enough, some sick person recorded the shooting on their cell phone and gave it to the media outlets.”

                           Gwen sighed.  “I know.  It's everywhere.  I understand they want to show people what happened, but don’t they ever think about the victims’ families’ and friends’ feelings?  Especially right after they are murdered?”

                           “Unfortunately not, Mom.”   Kelsey wiped away a tear.  “Tracey, Scott, and I watched the video after Grace called crying, warning us about it.  I wish we didn’t.  It’s bad enough to know that your husband, father, brother, and friend is dead, but to watch it as it happened is heartwrenching.  Tracey was beside herself, I mean, all three of us were, but Scott and I knew she needed us more.”

                           Wade wanted nothing more than to hold Kelsey as she cried harder, but he didn’t know if she would welcome him comforting her.   He ground his teeth, silently cursing the person who recorded the murder and the news networks who were showing it.  Wade had seen the video, and it was hard to watch another human being killed.  It's always is, but it's a hundred times harder on the victims' loved ones.

                           “Oh, honey.”  Gwen pulled Kelsey into her embrace.

                           She pulled back when she’d calmed down.  “When Tracey stopped crying, we gave her something to help her sleep.  She was up for over twenty-four hours comforting Grace and the boys and trying to plan to leave for Hope City tomorrow.  That’s why I took Brianna, and Landen went next door to spend the night with his friend so that Scott could pack for all of them.  I wanted to stay and help, but he said that I did enough.”

                           “You did,” Gwen said.  “But you need to rest, too.  Your dad and I can watch the girls.  We decided to close after lunch.”

                           Kelsey shook her head, and she stifled a yawn.  “I’ll be fine.  You and Dad kept Hannah last night and today.   I know y’all have to pay bills and buy supplies, and Travis has two papers to write for his classes.  I’ll take them home, and maybe take a nap after they’re settled.”

                           “I can keep an eye on Brianna and Hannah,” Wade said, wanting to be useful.

                           “I couldn’t ask you to do that.”

                           “You’re not, I’m offering.”

                           Kelsey chewed on her bottom lip, and after a moment, she agreed.  “But only for a few hours.  I don’t want to take up your time.”

                           “I’ll go and get them.”  Gwen squeezed her shoulder.
                           “Thanks, Mom.”

                           When she left, Wade asked, “Do you want me to order pizza for them?”

                           Checking the time, Kelsey moaned and rubbed her neck.  “Yes, in an hour, it’ll be supper time, and I’m too tired to cook.”

                           “Of course.”

                           Kelsey gave him a weak smile.  “Thanks.”

                           “How are Tracey’s parents holding up?”

                           “What?”  She knitted her eyebrows together, and then her mouth formed an “o.”  "Mr. and Mrs. Ackerman died in a plane crash five years ago.  Tracey told Scott and me at least Cole was with them in Heaven now.”

                   "Is Cole's wife from Utah?" Wade asked.

                            Kelsey shook her head.  "Grace's mom, Miranda was, and after Cole and Grace married, she moved back to Hope City.  Sadly, Miranda was diagnosed with stage-three breast cancer eight years ago, and since Grace was the only family she had left, Cole and Grace decided to move there with their two-year-old son, Ryder."  Kelsey sighed.  "Since Miranda struggled with extreme bouts of depression, she wasn't always the best of mothers, but Grace was a good daughter.  She took her mom to every doctor's appointments, chemo treatments, and nursed her.  When Miranda died two years later, Cole and Grace decided to stay."

                           "Do you think Grace and her boys are going to stay there or will they move here?"

                           "Cole is going to be buried there so that I'm thinking that they'll be staying in Hope City.  I don't see Grace uprooting her sons.  Especially now."  

                           Gwen, Brianna, and Hannah came back in. 

                           Kelsey hopped down from the stool.  “Come on, girls, let’s go.”

                           “Can we do something else than watching funny movies?” Brianna asked.  “I don’t feel like laughing.”

                           Wade leaned down, putting his hands on his thighs.  “We could play a board game, or we can talk.”

                           “Can we play The Game of Life?”

                           “Sure.”  His heart squeezed again as he looked into Brianna’s teary brown eyes.

                           Hannah touched her best friend’s hand.  “You’re the guest.  We can do anything you want.”