Rock and A Hard Place (Cascade Brides Series) Read Online Free Page B

Merle had
mentioned when describing the town.
    Shane wondered what it would be like to have a sense of roots. His
own family life had been transient, moving from one town to another,
from one rental to the next. Even his job had taken him to three
different states. Then again, he'd been the one applying for those
transfers when they'd opened up. Maybe eastern Oregon would give him
a reason to finally settle. Faith's image came to mind, making him
smile ruefully. A few days in town and he was already jumping the
gun. Ridiculous considering Miss Conrad hadn't seemed so keen on
him.
    When the music started, Shane put thoughts of the pretty girl aside
and focused on the words of the hymn, Just As I Am ,
played softly by an acoustic guitarist. As he sang the
lyrics, he thought about where he'd been spiritually the first time
he'd heard this song. Not in
such a great place.
    It might have been a decade in real time, but it didn't feel like it
was all that long ago when he'd been a juvenile delinquent, ignored
by his father despite getting into trouble all the time. It had been
a visit by Merle after his dad had left town that brought a change.
Merle had dragged Shane to church, ignoring the sullen contempt, and
had spelled out the consequences of his choices.
    Shane never knew he had an uncle until that point, and from the
moment he'd met Merle, he'd wanted to impress him. Especially when
Merle had offered to pay for college if he stayed out of trouble and
kept up his grades. Shane had taken the opportunity—it wasn't hard
to see the alternatives—and graduated high school with honors.
    In the end, he'd paid for his own degree in Forest Management and
found his own employment the last several years, but it had been
Merle's encouragement that got him on the right path. When the job
opened up in John Day near his only remaining relative, Shane had
jumped at it—not only to be close to family, but he was also
hoping for a sense of permanence along with it.
    As the worship service came to an end, he offered a prayer of
thankfulness for second-chances. Shane wondered if Faith would grant him another chance.
    After the service, he couldn't help but look for Merle's sole
employee in the crowd. But he didn't see her. As his uncle
introduced him to friends and associates, Shane tried not to crane
his neck in hopes of catching a glimpse of Faith. Maybe she hadn't
come. Maybe her ankle hurt too bad. He wondered if she'd received
proper medical attention.
    “Ah, there she is.”
    Shane twisted around to see Faith walking down the hall toward them
with only the slightest hint of a limp. She wore black slacks and a
silk blouse that matched the green flecks of her eyes. Her hair,
gleaming under the recessed lighting of the foyer, bounced and slid
over her shoulders as she moved. But his pleasure at seeing her
faded when he caught the gimlet look in her eye.
    “Where were you?” Merle asked amiably. “We missed you in the
service.”
    “I was a couple of minutes late and they ended up needing help in
the nursery.” She shifted her attention to Shane. “Mr. Zadopec.”
    “Just call me Shane,” he said, wondering what she was thinking
about as she surveyed him. He knew it wasn't appreciative. No, he
was being weighed and measured. Did she see him as a threat? A
hindrance? Was there any hope she found him as attractive as he
found her?
    “Then call me Faith,” she said.
    “So,” Merle said, apparently unaware of the chilly vibe Faith
was sending out, “would you join Shane and I for lunch? I want to
take him on a tour of the town after that.”
    She caught her bottom lip with her teeth. “I have some work to
do—”
    “I understand,” Shane interrupted, realizing a chance to spend
time with her was slipping away. He decided to play dirty. “You
won't want to overtax your ank—”
    “—but of course, I'd love to come,” she said, sending a
dark look his way.
    Shane figured she'd kick him if she could managed it with