Free Always Tried and Proven by Nancy Hopper Page B

shorts and a matching, strapless top that was bare over the midriff.  She was still shaking her hair out when she walked into the living room. 
          “Sadie, are those cookies done?” she asked wistfully.  “Don’t tell me they’re for a special occasion or something.  You’ve got to let me have one.”  She begged.
          “I think that she made them because she invited us to lunch.”  A man’s voice answered her.
          Callie turned and stared in shock at Sam and his friend, Clyde.  “Hi, Sam.” She said woodenly.  She felt ridiculous for appearing in her skimpy attire.
          “Hi,” he answered, his dimples creasing his cheeks.  “This is Clyde Lawson, our tent master.”
          “Hi, Clyde.”  Callie greeted him.  “Please forgive me for my dress.  I wasn’t expecting company.  I’ll just go change.”
          “Callie, I hope you don’t mind.”  Sadie called from the kitchen.  “I didn’t want to wake you, and there is some tent business that needs to be taken care of.”
         “No problem.  Just let me get into something decent and I’ll be out of the way…”
           “No.  Join us.”  Sam insisted.  “As we intended.”
          Callie gave him a withering look, but he just smiled.  “It’s what I want, and I generally get my way.”
         “Tell me about it.”  Callie grumbled. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”  She returned wearing a sun dress that covered more of her slim, tan body, but was still cool, and looked fine without nylons.  It showed off her tan very nicely.  With feet bare, she looked cool and comfortable when she joined Sadie in the kitchen.  She was chagrined to find the men there too, in the breakfast nook.
          “So what is for lunch?” she asked lightly.
        Sadie grinned.  “Grilled chicken Caesar salad with artichoke hearts, fresh tomatoes, avocado and croutons.  And iced tea to drink.  It’s about ready, so go on out to the patio.”
         Callie and the men didn’t argue.  They found a beautiful garden table set on the lanai.  Sadie had transformed Callie’s white, wrought iron garden set with a floral print umbrella, matching chair pads, place mats and napkins.  Combined with Callie’s potted garden of Nasturtiums and Morning Glories, Roses and Petunias, it was like a festival.  Sadie had plugged in the corner fountain, and turned on the music.
          “What is all this?”  Callie demanded in awe.
         “This is just my way of saying thank you for letting me stay here with you; and for singing at the tent.”  Sadie answered soothingly.  “Huh, uh.  Don’t you even dare.”  She shushed Callie, who opened her mouth to object.  She pushed Callie into a chair and breezed inside to get the food.
         Sam sat down on Callie’s left, and gave her a teasing look.  “Well, perhaps there’s hope, yet.  I see that you know better than to argue with Sadie.  Perhaps you’ll soon learn better than to argue with me.”
         Callie gave him a scathing smile.  “Don’t you hold your breath, preacher.”  She warned.  But her smile softened to ease the words, and her eyes teased him.
          The food came immediately and it looked divine, served up on Callie’s clear, bottle green glass tableware.  Sam offered Callie his hand and smiled a challenge at her.  “Is it all right for me to say a blessing?” he asked.
          “Sure.”  Callie agreed, feeling as if it could be a big mistake to join hands with these people.  But, Sam behaved himself admirably when he prayed, and moments later, they were all digging in hungrily.  Instead of making her uncomfortable, Callie found that the joining of hands and simple prayer somehow made her feel warm and comforted, and happy.  It eased and then melted away the last shreds of tension she’d been feeling about her lunch companions.
         Afterward, Sadie produced a