ever know what she’d done. Never, never again would she waste time dwelling on Father Kendall. This was the end, the absolute end of her fixation on him. As of this second, IT WAS FINISHED!
Two hours later she followed her father through the back door of the house into the kitchen. After riding horses with him for a little while, she needed a shower.
“Lunch is ready,” her mother announced.
“I’ll be with you in five minutes,” Sydney promised.
She made it back to the table in four, wearing a clean pair of jeans and a blouse. The only difference between her outfit and her parents’ was that her top wasn’t plaid.
“Pot roast. My favorite. Thanks, Mom.”
Old customs died hard on the plains of North Dakota. Sydney’s grandparents and great-grandparents had always served the big meal at midday. Her parents were no different. Beef was usually on the menu.
“What do you think of the North Forty now?” Her mother’s question jerked Sydney from her perilous thoughts. The disastrous detour to Cannon had left her shaken and filled with more questions. What if Jarod was seriously ill? She couldn’t bear it if that were true.
“I noticed you’ve gotten rid of a lot of the leafy spurge since June,” Sydney murmured before taking another bite of corn on the cob.
Her mother smiled. “Your father decided to try those beetles instead of spraying.”
“That was a smart move, Dad.”
“They haven’t gotten rid of all of the weeds, but they’ve reduced a fair amount. It didn’t cost me as much.”
He reached for another helping of roast. “That fellow from the fish and game department knew what he was talking about.”
“I’m glad you listened to him.”
Her mother passed her the bowl of salad. “After we eat, Lydia wants us to come over for dessert.”
“Sounds good.” It had been a while since Sydney had seen her aunt and uncle. “How’s Jenny?” Her cousin was about ready to have her first baby. Sydney had bought her a present while she’d been in California.
“Blossoming.”
“Have they thought of a name yet?”
“Joe.” Her father said with a smile.
Sydney nodded. “Can’t go wrong with a name like that.” Jenny’s husband was named Joe. Obviously she’d gone along with the decision. Whatever Joe wanted was fine with her. They had a good marriage. So did Sydney’s parents.
On the whole, her mother went along with her dad, but there’d been moments in the past when she’d put her foot down. Very few of them however.
“Did I tell you our ladies group gave Jenny a new car seat and a stroller at her baby shower?”
“That’s nice, Mom.”
“Some of them are still working on a quilt for her.”
“What a lucky baby.”
While her parents enjoyed a second cup of coffee, Sydney got up and started clearing the table.
Her mother brought their empty coffee mugs to the sink. “Someday you’ll be married and have a husband and children of your own, too.”
Sydney had to tamp down her frustration. After taking several deep breaths, she swung around. “Maybe I won’t, Mom. Don’t count on it.”
Don’t count on my ever falling in love with anyone else.
Her father joined them at the sink. “Tell us what happened with that fellow Chip from Idaho. We thought he was the one.”
“I was never in love with him. That’s why it didn’t work.”
“All along there’s been someone else, hasn’t there?”
She couldn’t lie to her parents. “Yes.”
“Is he still in Cannon?” her mother questioned.
Sydney’s heart plunged to the floor. Her emotions were in too much chaos after driving there. Anything that involved Father Kendall made her almost physically ill. That’s how she felt right now. Especially not knowing how serious his condition was.
How many more years had to pass before the mere thought of him held no power over her? What if his illness was fatal?
Dear God.
“Honey?”
Sydney bowed her head. “Can we please change the subject?”
“You’ll feel better if you talk about it,” her father persisted. “Until you started teaching in Cannon, you were our happy girl.”
Her mother eyed her with concern. “Since you can’t discuss it with us, I think you ought to call Pastor Gregson and have a chat with him while you’re here.”
Sydney let out a frustrated cry. “I’m twenty-six, Mom, hardly a little girl anymore. Pastor Gregson is a stranger to me. In any event, he’d be the last person to understand.” Sydney could just imagine their conversation.
I’m in love with a priest, Pastor Gregson.
Then you must do everything to put that devil out of your mind, Sydney.
“Now, Sydney—”
“You know how I feel about church.” As far as Sydney was concerned, organized religion seemed to cause a lot more pain than it alleviated. But for it, she and Father Kendall—
No! She’d promised herself she wouldn’t go there.
Taking another deep breath, she turned to her mother. “I realize church helps you two deal with the crises in your lives. That’s fine. But I have to handle my problems in my own way.”
“The pastor has a wonderful reputation.” Her father kept it up.
Once her parents dug in their heels, that was it. The church community was their answer for everything.
“If I feel the need for help, I’ll arrange to see a psychiatrist.”
Sydney had just said the wrong thing again. Her parents didn’t believe in psychiatry.
“Is this man already married?”
Yes, he’s married. But not in the way you mean.
“No!” Sydney cried in agony. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll change into something dressier to wear over to Aunt Lydia’s.”
Before driving into Yellowstone National Park from the North Entrance at Gardiner, Jarod bought a map at a convenience store and ate breakfast in the rental car while he studied it.
His
