Texas Weddings 3 & 4 Read Online Free Page A

connected the old-fashioned way.
    I guess that’s
all for now. I’m going to go to bed tonight thinking of you. Are you thinking
of me? Love and kisses, Shauna.

    She saved the document, and then reached up to print the
letter. Leaning back, she let herself begin to think about Joey. He was two
years older and working on his master’s degree in psychology. His dark brown
eyes were usually serious, but she didn’t mind that. He was pretty nearly
perfect in every other way. They shared similar values and aspirations. Their
relationship had been as much academic as romantic, but she hadn’t really
minded. Too much.
    Shauna looked at the
printer suddenly, realizing the document hadn’t begun to print. “What in the
world is taking so long?” She immediately checked the printer folder on the PC,
but was unable to find the appropriate driver listed. “What do those crazy people
think they’re doing?” Her frustration continued to mount.
    Why in the world had she paid them before checking their
work?
    ***
    Kent turned on the computer, anxious to get busy on his
sermon notes. It would take weeks—maybe months—to feel at ease in
front of the congregation. The past several Sundays he had faced them with fear
and trembling, anxious to hear from God and then share the appropriate message,
but terrified he might not be able to speak a single sentence.
    The computer seemed to boot up considerably faster than
usual. “Wow. Looks like I really got my money’s worth.” The front screen
appeared—a soft blue sky with white billowy clouds. “What’s this?”
Someone had messed with his wallpaper.
    Well, no big deal; probably just some young technician with
too much time on his hands. Kent opened the word-processing program and looked
around for the familiar folder titled Sermon Notes . Missing.
    “Come on now.”
Agitation set in. Tampering with something that valuable was no joking matter.
Kent began a frantic search of the computer’s programs, looking for his notes.
They weren’t here. But lots of other things were. File after file of
unidentifiable stuff. Love letters, college papers, personal notes, and . . .
    “Ah-ha!” Letterhead. “Shauna J. Alexander.”
    Bingo.

 
    four

 
    As Shauna stood out on the back deck of her parents’ home,
she sipped a cup of hot coffee and spent a few minutes in prayer. The morning
sun beamed high in the sky, causing a bit of a glare. Pinks and purples from the
morning’s sunrise had long since been replaced with a bright blue cloudless
expanse. Shauna reveled in it a moment longer before picking up the portable
phone to make the necessary call. She punched in the now-familiar number,
prepared to do battle.
    “Hello. Computers
Unlimited.” The voice on the other end sounded cheery. A rehearsed cheery.
    Undeterred by the
fellow’s jovial attitude, she forged ahead. “This is Shauna Alexander,” she
started. “ I’m. . .”
    “Oh, Ms. Alexander,”
the friendly voice interrupted. “Say no more. We just heard from Mr. Chapman.
He’s got your computer.”
    She let out a sigh of relief, happy to know she wouldn’t have to come out
swinging. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
    “We’re so sorry about
the mix-up.” Genuine empathy filled his voice. “The technician apparently
confused the tags on the two machines. An unusual mistake, at least for us. In
fact, I can’t recall when it’s ever happened before.”
    “Hmm, well. . .”
    “He’s terribly sorry,” the man continued. “At
any rate, Mr. Chapman’s coming at ten thirty to drop off your PC. Any
chance you could come at the same time? Save him another trip?”
    “Ten thirty?” Shauna
glanced down at her watch. It was already nine forty-five. For a moment, she
thought about saying no, but then remembered Kent Chapman’s deep green eyes.
She didn’t want to be the source of agitation to those kind eyes. “I’ll be
there.” Shauna groaned as she hung up the phone. With a bit of frustration