Thanksgiving Groom (11 page)

“How's the heiress?” Jake leaned to kiss Casey's cheek and she hurried away.

“Penelope is fine. Probably in more danger than she realizes, but her dad will take care of that.”

“So, any change of heart on your part?”

“I'm not interested in her dad's offer. He needs to let her find someone she loves, not someone he picks.”

“That's usually the way of it. Love, I mean.” Jake shot a glance over his shoulder to the other side of the room, where Casey was talking to a small group of people.

“Yeah, love.” His friend was acting like a lovesick teen. It was a little annoying.

“Hey, did you know that Gordon is thinking of retiring. He's looking for someone he can trust to take over his practice.”

Gordon Baker, one of the few lawyers in the area. Tucker smiled. “Nice, but I don't think I want to make that my career. Wills, divorces, land disputes. Isn't that about all he handles?”

“Not exciting enough for you?”

“I'm not going to lie and tell you that it sounds interesting.”

“Your practice is so much better?” Jake handed him a hammer. “Here, help me get this board in place.”

“I've built a name for myself in Seattle.”

Jake pulled a nail out of his mouth. “Yeah, I know you have.”

“You know, I've never wanted to hit you as bad as I do right now.”

“Not true. You knocked me on my can when we were juniors in high school. Remember, you liked Hannah Mahan.”

“You took her to homecoming.” He remembered
and rubbed his knuckles that had been skinned in the altercation. “Yeah, I remember.”

Jake laughed. “She married Ted Anderson, and they have six kids.”

“That's pretty amazing.”

“Yeah, but it doesn't have anything to do with you and Gordon's practice. I'm praying for you, Tucker.”

“Good,” he stepped back from the board. “I mean that. And now I'm going to take off. I have a lot to get done.”

“Talk to Gordon.”

“Probably not.” Time for a change of topic. “What's going on with the treasure? Anyone found the location?”

“No. Amy has the real map, and I think Reed is keeping a pretty close watch on her, trying to keep her and the map safe.”

“Yeah, I saw him keeping an eye on her today. The look I saw wasn't about a map.”

They both laughed, and for a minute it felt like old times. Yeah, a person could go back. They couldn't get a life back, but they could go back and find things they'd misplaced. Like friendships.

“Didn't Penelope go off looking for the treasure?” Jake pulled a few nails out of a nearby bag.

“Yeah, she did. Obviously, the only thing she found was a way to get lost and nearly get killed.”

“She's under your skin a little, isn't she?” Jake pushed, as if pushing was a good idea. Tucker would have warned him, but Jake didn't seem to care.

“No, she isn't under my skin. She's a thorn in my side.
She's a crazy female who doesn't know how to stay out of trouble.”

“Yeah, that's what she is.”

“I'm outta here.” Tucker walked away and Jake was still laughing. Maybe it was about time to hit the road and come back to Treasure Creek when all of this nonsense faded. He could finish his dad's estate when women like Delilah, Joleen and Penelope got tired of playing in a small town.

He wished it was that easy.

 

He bumped into Reed Truscott when he left a few minutes later. The cop looked bristly and a little distracted.

“Reed, what's up?”

“Someone broke into Amy's place.”

“Is she okay, and her kids?”

“Yeah, they're good. The map is gone. Someone saw a couple of men driving down the road.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Tucker caught sight of someone heading in their direction. He glanced that way and realized it was Penelope. She hurried along, limping only a little. When she got closer, her smile faded.

“What's wrong?” She stopped next to Tucker and shot Reed a look. “Is Amy okay?”

“Amy's fine.” Tucker explained. “The map is gone.”

“Gone?”

“Stolen.” Reed filled in the details and Tucker watched Penelope's eyes change.
Oh, great.
If he didn't know better, she was coming up with some kind of crazy plan.

And it wasn't his problem. He kind of liked that they were back in town and he could hand her off to the local police chief and her own father.

T
wo days later, Penelope was in a Range Rover heading north. She was still thinking about the map and wondering who had taken it. At least she had freedom. Her parents left that morning for Anchorage. Yesterday Penelope had met with the Johnsons for a few hours before they left.

It felt good to have her life back, and that meant not having watchdogs. Even if it did sometimes feel like she was being watched. She ignored the feeling. She knew her dad and knew that he'd probably hired someone to watch her. She was more concerned with drawing a replica of Amy's map and figuring out who had taken it from her home.

For now, Delilah was sitting next to her in the back of the Range Rover and Penelope had given her bodyguard the slip. They were on their way to a village where a group from the community church planned to hand out toys and school supplies to the children, while Dr. Alex took care of medical needs.

They were a cute couple, Alex and Maryann. They had climbed aboard the truck that followed behind the
Range Rover. The two were sitting in the front seat, side-by-side.

Penelope didn't feel at all jealous. Or that's what she kept telling herself. She wasn't jealous—not of Alex and Maryann. Instead, she felt a little empty. She wanted to know what it felt like, that kind of love that joined two people in a way that showed on their faces, in their eyes, the way they talked.

“Is Joleen in the other vehicle?” Delilah kept a steady gaze out the window when she asked the question.

“She isn't. She stayed behind. You know you should just be honest. Tell her you're not really interested in Harry.”

“What if I am?” Delilah shot her a look and then turned back to the window.

“You're not. I heard you on the phone the other day. It wasn't Harry you were talking to.”

Delilah shrugged and then she turned back around, smiling. “That was my best friend. We've known each other forever and always been there for one another. We have always said we'd marry each other if neither of us got married by the time we were thirty. And here we are, still single with the big birthday right around the corner. But honestly, he's not it for me. He's my best friend.”

“I think friendship with the person you love would be the best way to start a marriage.”

Delilah's laugh was loud. “You would think that.”

“I've seen a lot of marriages that didn't include friendship.”

“Why haven't you done something about that gor
geous he-man lawyer you spent the week in the woods with?”

“He isn't a friend. He thinks he has to take care of me. That isn't romantic.”

“No, of course not.” Delilah sighed. “I'm starting to think love and marriage aren't in God's plan for my life. I mean, the more I trust Him and try to have faith, the more it seems that everyone is finding love but me.”

“Give it time and see what happens.”

“This from the woman who has hooked the single most handsome man in town and doesn't know it. You don't even talk to him and he doesn't seem to care. I'm nicer than I've ever been, and no one wants to talk to me.”

“Delilah, you're wonderful. You're beautiful and fun. There are men who notice. You just have to give them time.”

Delilah peered around the head of the driver in front of her. “There's the village. This is so exciting. I've never done anything like this.”

Penelope remembered that feeling. She remembered the first time she landed in Africa. The first time she saw children waiting in line for food. These children weren't as destitute, but the needs were real. She remembered her heart filling up with love.

The village was small, with square buildings sided with plain wood siding. Smoke poured from chimneys. The main street through town bounced the Range Rover, as it hit potholes and bumps. Children ran out of a church building. The one thing that made it a church, that set it apart from the other buildings, was a simple cross next to the windowless door.

The vehicle stopped and Penelope reached for the door. She grabbed the box on the seat next to her as she climbed out. Cold air hit her, taking her breath. She shivered inside the heavy coat she'd bought at Harry's and hurried toward the church. Packed snow turned to ice made the going a little slick. She slid a little as she approached the door.

“Don't go down.” Delilah shrieked from behind her.

“Thanks. Same to you.” Penelope opened the door and hurried into the building, stomping her feet on the rug just inside the door.

Warm wood heat welcomed her. A grizzly bear of a man, with a heavy beard and a stocking cap pulled tight on his head, took the box from her. His brown eyes twinkled and a smile split the heavy whiskers.

“Welcome, my friends, I'm Pastor Johnny.”

“Oh, well thank you for having us.” Penelope pulled off her gloves and shoved them into her pocket. Children circled around her—tiny things with beautiful smiles and dark eyes. A few hugged her waist.

She couldn't imagine any love ever comparing to this. Her heart tightened and tears burned her eyes. She could do this forever. She could work in a mission somewhere. Maybe Delilah was right about giving up on marriage.

Behind her Delilah was talking to Pastor Johnny about the cold, about California and about the children. Penelope walked with the children to the front of the church. A piano sat in a corner. She pulled candy canes out of her pockets and handed them out. The
children thanked her in bright little voices, their smiles widening.

“Do you want to sing a song?” It had been ages since she'd sat down at a piano, but she could manage a few songs. She opened the song book.

There was a rapid nodding of tiny heads, but their mouths were busy with candy. Penelope sat down at the piano and played “Silent Night.” The children gathered close. Delilah walked down the aisle and joined her, singing words that weren't even close, and in a key that didn't exist. Penelope smiled at the other woman.

This was friendship. Penelope closed her eyes and played another song. “Away in a Manger.” One of the children crawled onto the bench next to her.

“Will you sing with me?”

The little girl nodded.

“Okay, here we go. Everyone gather around and we'll sing a few songs before we go look at what is in those boxes.”

“Shots.” One little boy grimaced. “We don't want those.”

“Oh, honey, the boxes don't have shots in them. Dr. Havens did bring medicine for you. You might have to get an immunization. But remember, it only stings for a second, but it keeps you from getting sick. And sometimes you could be sick for days. A little sting is better than that.”

“Or going to the hospital like my brother had to do when he had pneumonia.” A little girl with dark hair and clear blue eyes informed the group, in a voice that was mature beyond her years.

“Exactly.” Penelope started with “Jesus Loves Me.” The kids sang loudly.

When they finished, she played “Jesus Loves the Little Children.” At the back of the church the door opened again, letting in a large crowd of people. She didn't look up. The children were singing softly, with sweet voices. If this kept them from thinking of immunizations, she was glad to help.

 

So this is where she slipped off to.
Tucker stood at the back of the church and watched as Penelope Lear entertained a dozen children. It didn't even matter that Delilah was singing off-key next to her, throwing the whole thing off. As a matter of fact, Delilah's over-the-top singing almost made it more cheery.

“Coffee?” The man who had introduced himself as Pastor Johnny held a paper cup with steaming liquid.

Tucker took it. “Thanks.”

He wasn't sure how cold it was outside, but he doubted the temperature registered above zero. He wasn't even taking off his coat yet. As good as the wood fire felt, it was going to take a while to thaw out after unloading a truck of supplies.

Penelope was singing another song, and all of a sudden, he found himself really wanting to believe again to have faith. Something about the song, and the way she sang it like she meant it, made him want to rethink his anger, to rethink his doubts. Why?

He watched her, an heiress who could have been soaking up the sun on a warm beach. Instead, she was playing the piano in a tiny church in an Alaskan village,
surrounded by children who wanted to touch her and hug her. Man, he wanted to be one of those kids.

He was as enthralled with the silky, blond hair of hers as was the child who was running tiny fingers through the long strands.

Why?
His mind took him back to that question. What was it about her that made him rethink everything? It had to be because she was here. The last place in the world that most women in her position would pick to spend their holidays, and she had picked it. She was here because of her love for people. She was here because of her faith.

“Tucker, could you help me set up the table for the immunizations?” asked Dr. Havens, a man who now had the look of a guy in love. His nurse and fiancé, Maryann, pretty and full of energy, was lugging boxes to a corner.

“Sure can.” It wasn't why he'd come here. He'd followed the caravan out of town because when Penelope's dad left, he asked Tucker to keep an eye on her. They'd both known she'd give them the slip at the first opportunity.

She had tried.

He picked up one end of the folding table and Alex picked up the other. They carried it to a corner of the room and set it up. One of the other men carried a folding partition to enclose the little area.

“Anything else?” Tucker shoved his gloves in his coat pocket and pulled off his coat.

“You can help the others pass out the Christmas stockings that we brought.” Maryann nodded in the
direction of boxes that were being opened. “And we have boxes of food for Thanksgiving.”

“I can do that.”

The piano stopped playing. The children were moving away from it, and from the woman standing up, now that the music was over. She spotted him, freezing for a moment and then heading his way.

Her frown was a pretty obvious warning.

“What are you doing here?” She stopped in front of him.

“Same thing you are, helping.”

“I don't believe that. I believe you're here to keep an eye on me.”

“Right, that's what I do in my spare time. I follow heiresses who can't seem to stay out of trouble.”

“I can stay out of trouble.”

He couldn't stop the laughter. “For how long. Give me an amount of time you can go without getting yourself into some kind of scrape.”

“That's mean.” She walked away and he followed.

“I'm sorry.”

She turned and walked backward, nearly tripping over a box. He grabbed her hand and pulled her away from it. She glanced back and lost her balance. Her grip on his hand tightened and they both laughed.

“I can stay out of trouble for at least five minutes.” She admitted with a sweet smile.

“Your dad did ask me to keep an eye on you.” The truth slipped out and he watched her smile fade.

“Thanks. And here I thought we were actually friends. Instead, you're just another person assigned to keep me out of trouble.”

“I don't do your father's bidding, Penelope. I am your friend, that's why I told you the truth. I'm here because I'm your friend, not because your dad asked me to be here.”

Her eyes widened and her mouth parted. She was as shocked by that as he was.

He hadn't planned on friendship with her. He had planned to get her back to town and be done with the little nuisance. Instead, here he was. He was out in the freezing cold because she couldn't stay in town and out of trouble.

Instead, she stood in front of him in jeans, a sweatshirt from Harry's and insulated boots.

“We need to get busy.” She touched his arm and walked away, joining Delilah, Maryann and others who were busy pulling stockings from boxes.

Tucker watched and then he went in search of something else to do, something that would give him a few minutes to get his good sense back.

 

Tucker caught up with her as everyone was getting ready to head back to town. “Ride back to town with me?”

Delilah slipped away and left Penelope to face Tucker. He took the box she held and left her with nothing to do but stare at him. She pushed her hands into her pockets and just stood there like some silly, addled schoolgirl who didn't know what to do when the captain of the football team carried her books.

Not that she'd ever been to a school where there was a captain of a football team. She'd gone to private schools, and none had been big on sports.

But that was her mind wandering. She blinked and refocused on the man in front of her, and he was anything but a lanky teen. He was definitely a grown man, with grown man shoulders and a grown man voice that was husky and strong.

“I have a ride. I came with a group from the church.”

“I'm aware of that.”

“So why are you asking me to ride back with you?” She thought she knew why, but she wanted something else from him, some other reason.

Expecting him to say he wanted to spend time with her was ridiculous. He was taking over for her father.

“We both know why I'm asking you to ride with me. It would make everyone feel a little better if you were with me.”

“It would make my dad and the police chief feel better if I rode with you.”

“Exactly. Do you have everything you need?”

“Of course. Let me tell Delilah that I won't be riding back with her.”

“I'll walk over there with you.”

She muttered under her breath but didn't bother arguing with him. She'd been dealing with men like him her entire life. He was just another alpha male in her world. What she wouldn't give for a nice, friendly beta male. She wanted a guy who would take off his tie in the evening and go for a walk. A man who didn't leave a birthday party to rush off to the office where some important paper couldn't wait until the next day for his signature.