Free Engaging the Competition by Melissa Jagears Page B

disintegrated into nothing.
    Harrison was the only person who seemed to care right now, and he’d be the world’s worst witness for her wedding. Not only was he a man who’d flippantly kiss a woman, but once Lonnie told August what happened today, Harrison’s signature would be the last one her husband would want on their license.
    And how long until Lonnie shared what he’d seen? If he told August before the ceremony, there wouldn’t be one. But if he toldhim afterward . . . She didn’t know August well enough to even guess his reaction.
    She’d pray Lonnie kept things to himself.
    â€œMomma!” She searched the house until she found her mother staring out her bedroom window toward the barn. “Do the Whitakers attend First Lutheran with you?”
    Momma twisted her lip between her teeth. “Maybe some of their relations, but none with that last name that I know of.”
    â€œGood. Do you mind if I go with you Sunday?” No matter what she chose concerning August—and she had to decide soon—she needed to leave the church she attended with Harrison.
    â€œI’d love that.” Momma’s smile lasted a second, then flickered out. “If only I could convince your father to come. I’m worried for him. It’s not like him to skip worship as much as he has lately.”
    She put her arms around Momma and laid her head on her mother’s shoulder, looking out over the land they both loved. The lay of the fields, the color of the barn, and the line of pear trees all bore Daddy’s fingerprint. “You don’t have to worry about that, Momma. I think he’s found himself a good spot to worship, even if it’s not where we’d prefer him to be.”

    â€œYou wanted to talk to me?”
    Harrison stopped pacing at the front of the sanctuary and faced Reverend McCabe. With a glance, he made sure everyone had exited before marching back toward the reverend. Such a simple thing to be able to do, to see everything around him in a moment. Something he’d never take for granted, especially after the last two weeks.
    â€œIs it about Charlie? I didn’t see her in the congregation this morning.”
    â€œYes, this is about Charlie.” He stopped in front of the reverend, his hands firmly clasped behind his back. “Why’d you send me after her on that stormy Sunday?”
    â€œWhy?” The man scratched his chin. “I figured you could talk some sense into her. Considering they postponed the wedding, I figured you had.”
    â€œBut why’d you choose me?”
    The man shrugged but didn’t quite look at him. “I had a feeling you two needed to talk.”
    â€œIf only all we did was talk.” Harrison shoved both hands through his hair. “Do you know how much of a mess you got me into?”
    â€œMe?” The man straightened. “You need to fill me in on what happened if you’re going to start blaming things on me.”
    â€œI kissed her.”
    The man’s mouth twitched and his eyes lit.
    Just what he’d feared. “How did you know I liked her?” Most everyone in town probably thought he hated her as much as she had.
    The man smiled. “Sometimes people forget I’m up front when I’m preaching. I can see what you’re doing or who you’re looking at.” His amused expression tried to turn stern, but the tilt of his brows gave him away. “I’d wager your spiritual life might improve if you paid more attention to my sermons than to Charlie, but at least you don’t sleep.” He winked.
    Harrison glanced at the third pew on the left where Charlie normally sat. “Even if I couldn’t keep my eyes off her, I’m still entirely wrong for her. I couldn’t help her in cattle drives because of my glasses and the possibility of rain, let alone dealing with horses flicking them off and stomping them.” He pushed his