equal partner in any serious relationship.
She opened the passenger door and stepped out as soon as Sam stopped his car in her driveway. “Thanks for the ride.”
He leaned across the seat. “Belinda?”
Pausing, she bent down to see what he wanted.
“Is it true?” he asked.
“Is what true?”
“You and Randall. I’d heard a few rumors but I didn’t pay much attention to them. I figured you’d never go for a guy like that. I mean, his father was a bum with a prison record, wasn’t he?”
Belinda’s stomach tightened, though not from hunger. “Paul’s father was an auto mechanic when we met. What the man may have done before he and Paul moved to Serenity is none of my business.” Or yours.
“And they lived in a shack out behind Butch’s gas station where the old man worked?”
“It was a trailer, not a shack,” she answered. “It was the best poor Mr. Randall could do, under the circumstances. Paul worked odd jobs to help out….” She paused, then added, “Until he went away to college.”
“I’ve heard all about the night he left,” Sam said, “but I won’t go into that because I don’t want to bring up memories that are painful for you.”
Oh, right, Belinda thought. As if you haven’t already. “Why are you asking me so much about Paul?”
“I’ve found it pays to know my enemies.”
“Paul’s not your enemy. Besides, there’s absolutely nothing between us. Not anymore.”
Sam began to smile at her. “I know that, honey. I just wanted to see if you were in a good position to help me out. I think you are.”
“Help you? How?”
“I need to find out what Randall’s plans are for the Whitaker place and how close we are to coming to terms during negotiations.” His grin grew. “If you and I work together, we’ll have a definite advantage.”
Belinda refused to believe he was asking her to become some kind of amateur spy. Sam would never do that. He might be overly practical but he wasn’t nefarious.
“What I have in mind is for the good of Serenity,” Sam added. “I promise. You’ll see. The whole town will benefit.”
“From what?”
Chuckling, Sam straightened, making her bend lower to look him in the eye. “Oh, no, you don’t. I’ll let you in on my plan when the time comes. Until then, it’s my little secret. All you have to do is be your charming self and report whatever Randall tells you about my project.”
“Didn’t you hear what I said to Paul this morning? I never intend to see him again, let alone talk to him.”
Sam looked triumphant. “On the contrary. You’re going to see Randall this coming Wednesday night.”
“I am? How? Where?” Her heart began to pound at the thought. The sticky afternoon air no longer seemed to contain enough oxygen, no matter how rapidly she breathed.
“At the business dinner I told you about last week. We’ll be representing the Chamber, remember?”
“Yes, but…”
“I guess I forgot to mention that it’s at the Whitaker house. That location wouldn’t have been my choice, but we’ll make the best of it. Now that I’ve seen what kind of man Randall is, I’m certain he’ll be there.” He paused and slipped the car into gear. “I know he said he liked that dress, but wear that simple black dress of yours instead, so he keeps his mind on the deal, will you? I’ll pick you up Wednesday at six-thirty sharp.”
As Belinda watched him drive away, she was surprised how aggravated she was. Sam’s attitude made her feel like blurting out a few colorful phrases that had never before passed her lips. She wouldn’t do it, of course. It was wrong to curse, even if what she said didn’t actually take the Lord’s name in vain.
But after the morning she’d just had, she certainly understood what drove people to say such things!
Boy, did she.
Chapter Three
Restless, Belinda immediately changed from the teal dress to shorts and a loose shirt, then walked over to her grandmother’s house rather than phoning to see why she hadn’t been in church that morning. Eloise had ventured into the garden in spite of her sore ankle and was carefully watering a bed of new seedlings. She smiled a greeting.
Belinda pushed her bangs off her forehead. “Whew. I can see why you’re out here watering. It’s sure hot today.”
“No kidding.”
“So, what’s new? How come you missed church?”
“I didn’t miss it.” Eloise shot her a brief glance, then squeezed the trigger of the sprayer again and went back to watching the spritzing water.
“You were there this morning? I didn’t see you.”
“I sat way in the back with Verleen and Miss Mercy. We get a much better view of all the goings-on from there. And now that the church has those hearing assistance doodads, we don’t have to be so close to the front to keep from missing the important stuff.”
Eyes twinkling, Belinda gibed, “You three never miss a thing, and you know it. I’m surprised you don’t sit up in the sound booth and train binoculars on the rest of the congregation through that little window.”
“Ooh, good idea!”
“I thought you’d like it.”
Eloise waited a moment, then said, “So, tell me all about your morning.”
“It was interesting, to say the least.” Belinda blew a noisy breath. “Paul Randall showed up in church, but I’m sure you know that already. I don’t understand why he didn’t just go to services with his aunts.”
“And have to choose whether to go to Patience’s big, fancy church over in East Serenity, or Pru’s little one? That’s a no-win situation. The boy’s not crazy.”
“He’s also not a boy anymore.” She pulled a face. “You were right about Sam getting jealous of him.”
“Aha! I knew it. Wonderful!”
“Not exactly,” Belinda said cynically. “I don’t think I like Sam as well when he’s acting so possessive.”
“Nonsense. That’s a man’s way of showing you he cares. They’re not very good at putting it into words, you know.”
Belinda shook her head. “No, I don’t know. Dad was always hugging Mom and telling her he loved her. He used to hug people in his congregation, too. I don’t remember him doing it much after Mom died, though.” She hesitated, then decided to go on. “At home,
