aroma of grilled steak and burgers had Gabi’s stomach growling, reminding her that due to the wild day she’d had, she’d missed lunch. The scent of hot coffee pressed through the other unbelievably delicious scents and drew her gaze to the fresh pot of java sitting behind the counter.
“Gabi! Over here.” Esther Mae Wilcox, her bright red hair bobbing, waved enthusiastically from the back booth. Her neon lime blouse was a splash of color against the backdrop of rustic wooden walls and oak booths.
Gabi said hello to a couple cowboys sitting at a table as she passed them. She’d helped administer vaccines to some cattle for them the day before. One of them had asked her out, and though she was officially unattached after her recent breakup with her fiancé, she was quick to thank him for the offer but told him she wasn’t dating. He’d been cute when he’d proceeded to tease her that his heart was broken—it had been endearing actually, but nothing more. Where men were concerned she was a little numb, and she wasn’t prepared to go there just yet. She had her life to get in order and her priorities figured out. One thing was certain, when she did start dating again, this time she knew the kind of man she wanted was the complete opposite of the one she’d chosen before.
Her number one priority when she looked for a husband this time was finding a man who loved the Lord as much as she did.
But for now, she was happy being here in Mule Hollow with her grandmother and her friends. They were going to help her become the kind of woman she wanted to be. Reaching the booth, Gabi hugged her grandmother, Adela, and her two friends Norma Sue Jenkins and Esther Mae Wilcox, before sitting in the empty seat beside Esther Mae. The three ladies were a contrast to each other. Esther Mae was as vibrant as her colored red hair, bright clothes and personality. Her Gram was a dainty, elegant lady with wispy white hair and a serene, fine-boned face that was dominated by electric blue eyes. Norma Sue was robust with wiry gray hair and a beaming smile.
“Sit down and tell us about this exciting day you’ve had.”
Norma Sue’s words startled Gabi.
“Don’t look so surprised,” Norma Sue continued. “News in a small town travels faster than a greased pig down a water slide.”
“That’s the truth,” Esther Mae added. “We want all the details. Adela told us you got stuck this morning and that Jess Holden came to your rescue!”
Before Gabi could answer, the swinging doors of the kitchen opened and Sam came striding out, giving her a reprieve from further questions.
“Hey, Gabi girl,” he called, his weathered face lit with a grin. A small man, built like a jockey, he moved with brisk intent. Snagging the coffee pot from the burner, he grabbed a cup in the other hand and strode, with his bowlegged gait, to the table and poured her a cup. “What were you a doin’ out thar in the middle of a tornado anyway?” he asked, studying her sternly as he poured.
So much for a reprieve! Gabi realized she was in for it as all eyes zeroed in on her.
“It was tur-a-ble out thar. Jest tur-a-ble,” Sam continued, crossing his arms, letting the half-full coffee carafe dangle at his elbow.
“Terrible is the right word,” Esther Mae gushed, turning in the booth seat so she was facing Gabi. “I’m so glad Jess found you. I can just see that handsome hunk of cowboy rushing in to pull you out of the raging waters. This would make a wonderful story for Molly’s column.”
“What!” Gabi gasped. She’d called Adela after she’d gotten back to the clinic, wanting to make sure Adela had made it through the storm okay, too. How did they know about Jess pulling her from the flooded ditch?
“You all right, thar?” Sam asked, patting her gently on the back.
A vivid image of an overblown story about her and Jess meeting in a violent storm with a tornado bearing down upon them popped into her imagination. Molly was a local writer who did a syndicated newspaper article about the little town, the cowboys and the matchmakers. It was hugely popular and she was a fan herself. But… “No—no article,” she stuttered, choking on coffee. “Seriously—no.”
Norma Sue hooted, slapping the table with her hand. “We’re just having some fun with you.”
“That’s right,” Esther Mae chuckled. “No need to get all choked up. Who do you think we are?”
“The Matchmaking Posse, that’s who!” Gabi blurted out. Squinting her eyes she gave them all a teasing, but firm warning. “Gram, please tell them I’m off the market.”
“That’s totally understandable after what you’ve been through,” Adela said, her smile sympathetic.
“It sure is,” Esther Mae cut in. “I can’t believe that man broke up with you because of your faith.”
“Hmmph,” Norma Sue snorted. “You’re better off without him.”
“Unequally yoked isn’t a good thing,” Adela said. “God has plans for you with a good Christian man.”
The conversation was bouncing around more than a pair of wet sneakers in a hot dryer. Unwanted, a sense of loss for Phillip stabbed Gabi’s heart. Sadly though, Norma Sue was right. Six weeks ago she and her fiancé had called off their engagement after she’d given her life to the Lord. Looking back now, Gabi knew the relationship had been doomed in the first place. But still, she hadn’t expected the man she’d thought she loved to leave her because he didn’t care for her newfound faith. But then, she knew there was more to the story. More to it than the ladies or even her Gram knew.
A tight knot filled Gabi’s chest. Her gaze dropped to her empty ring finger and the slow boil of anger and embarrassment bubbled inside of her. “Come on, y’all. You know I’m not here looking to build a relationship with a man. I’m here to build my relationship with God. I’m going to make up for lost time and try to make a difference in someone’s life. I’m here to learn how to do that from y’all, not have y’all match me up with one of your cowboys.” And work on herself—the Lord only knew she had a lot of work to do on herself.
“And God will use you,” Adela assured her. “I’m so glad you’re safe and you’ve at last made the decision to let Him be the Lord of your life.”
“Me too,” Gabi agreed, understanding how close she’d come to disaster—both with the car accident and her life in general. “Every time I think about slamming into that telephone pole and how totaled my car was.” She paused, her heart catching. “I just can’t believe I walked away with minor injuries.”
It had been a horrible wreck…. Gabi pushed thoughts of it aside, not wanting to think on it.
“I agree,” Esther Mae said, her glass of sweet tea paused in midair before taking a sip. “God’s got a plan for you. He has a plan for everyone and I just love watching Him work.”
“God still wants you ta use yor head, though. The next time a tornado is coming, you need ta not head out with a load of cattle,” Sam continued admonishing her, not letting go of his role as her protector.
“Sam, I wasn’t expecting that storm to blow this way.”
“It wasn’t supposed to.” The frown deepened on his weathered face—Gabi was surprised that it could get any deeper. “Out here, you got ta remember that you jest never know. Like Jess said, ya need ta be more careful. And that means
