Free Betting on Love by Jennifer Johnson Page A

so much, Lord. I’m so glad she moved to River Run. Thank You that she comes and eats lunch with Wyatt and me.”
    Melody had to clear her throat. Tears started to pool in her eyes. Gracie was thankful she came over for lunch? It was the highlight of Melody’s day to be able to see them.
    Gracie continued, “She’s been having headaches, Lord. A lot of them. And she looks tired, God. I don’t know what is causing all this, but I pray You will heal Melody. Draw her close to Yourself. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.”
    Melody had to swallow and blink several times to keep from crying outright in front of Gracie. She handed the baby to his mother and grabbed her coveralls off the chair. After slipping back into the grease-covered garment, she nodded to her friend. “Thanks, Gracie.”
    Before Gracie could wrap her in a hug, which Melody knew would be coming if she didn’t get out of that house fast enough, Melody left. A knife seemed to be stuck in her heart, and it twisted with every step she took. The pulsing in her head grew stronger, and either God wasn’t listening or He was saying no to Gracie’s request. Either way, Melody was sure of one thing: Gracie had something that she was beginning to realize she wanted. A relationship with God.

seven
    Melody rolled onto her back and stretched her arms as far as she could above her head. The sun peeked through the cracks of the closed blinds. Groggy, she gazed at the alarm clock on the nightstand.
Nine o’clock!
    She sat up in a hurry and flung her legs over the bed.
I’m late for work.
The sleep fuzzies in her brain began to clear, and she remembered she didn’t have to work today. She smiled just before a yawn took over her mouth.
    Hopping off the bed, she padded across the room and peered out her upstairs bedroom window. Her aunt’s car was gone. She’d probably already headed to the store for her weekly grocery trip.
    She drank in the beautiful countryside just across the road. Full, lush trees blanketed the hillside and seemed to roll like waves atop the ground and along the sky. She could see Nick and Addy’s house and barn just before the tree line. Endless rows of wooden fences spread out before her eyes with more cows than she could count grazing in the fields.
    Running her fingers through her matted hair, an overwhelming sense of refreshment welled within her. She’d slept the whole night without a nightmare. No would-be rapist threatening her. No father walking out. For the first time in weeks, she felt rested.
I wonder if Gracie’s prayer had anything to do with it.
She blinked as she pushed the thought aside.
    Normally she’d head straight to the shower and get ready for her day before heading to the kitchen for coffee and breakfast. But she loved to sit on the back deck and look out at her aunt’s full vegetable and herb garden. The flower garden was equally amazing, bursting in reds, yellows, whites, and purples. She’d grown to need the time she spent basking in the early morning’s slight breeze while she sipped her java. If she waited until after a shower, the sun would be too hot to enjoy the coffee on the deck. She grabbed the bright pink fuzzy robe her aunt had given her as a hand-me-down and slipped into it.
    Knowing her uncle was most likely watching one of the morning news shows or playing on his Wii, Melody traipsed down the stairs then hollered down the hall, “Uncle Roy, I can’t believe I slept this late.”
    She walked into the living room. He was sitting in his recliner watching a news show, just as she expected. But he was resting at an odd angle, slightly hunched to one side with his elbow resting on the arm of the chair and his hand cupping the side of his face.
    Her heartbeat quickened, and her stomach churned at the pensive expression on his face. “Uncle Roy, are you all right?”
    He tried to look up at her, but his eyes squinted, and he didn’t seem to have the strength to lift his chin. “My head…” His words slurred, and