Memories from Acorn Hill by Melody Carlson

Author:Melody Carlson [Carlson, Melody]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-8249-4945-7
Publisher: Guideposts
Published: 2011-09-19T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Two

She said what?” Alice asked as Jane slid a muffin tin out of the oven. She set the blueberry muffins aside to cool, then turned back to look at her sister. Alice still wore her nurse's uniform as she sat at the kitchen table, enjoying her afternoon cup of tea. Her hair, which was the shade of rusty driftwood, framed her face, and her expression as usual was sweet, although it was now laced with concern.

“Belle said God showed her all this through a dream,” Jane said, and then she repeated the strange story about relocating and finding a husband.

Alice chuckled as she refilled her teacup. “Hmm… I wonder who the lucky man might be.”

“I've been going through my mental list of available men,” said Jane as she sat across from Alice. “I don't think it could be Kenneth,” she said, referring to Rev. Kenneth Thompson, the pastor of Grace Chapel.

“You don't think our pastor is open to matrimony?” asked Alice as she put a modest dab of real butter on her blueberry muffin. The sisters had been watching their cholesterol, but Alice, sixty-two and fit, believed that a bit of butter wouldn't hurt.

“I just don't think that Belle Bannister is Kenneth's type,” said Jane. The truth was that Jane felt protective of the pastor, who was her good friend and a widower.

“There's Craig Tracy,” said Alice. “And Wilhelm Wood.”

“And Jeff Beckett,” added Jane.

“I thought you said Belle was youngish?”

“Well, older men have been known to marry younger women. And, for that matter, the other way around.”

“Yes, that's true. What about Joshua Bellwood? He's a nice young man.”

Jane nodded. “A possibility, I suppose, but Belle Bellwood? That just doesn't sound right. Besides, I don't see Belle as a farm wife.” Then she listed off several other unmarried males of varying ages and occupations.

“Goodness,” said Alice as Louise joined them in the kitchen. “I suppose I never thought of Acorn Hill as having such a broad selection of available men.”

Jane chuckled. “Maybe our Belle came to the right place after all.”

“Our Belle is completely worn out from driving,” said Louise as she poured herself a cup of tea. “Can you believe that she started out from Georgia yesterday, then drove almost nonstop to get here this morning?”

“Oh my,” said Alice. “She must be exhausted.”

“What was the big rush?” asked Jane as she slid the basket of muffins toward Louise.

“I can't imagine,” murmured Louise.

“Perhaps she was worried that her prospective husband would find someone else,” said Alice with a smile.

“Well, I convinced her to take a nap,” said Louise. “I told her that the men in Acorn Hill probably were not in any extreme hurry to get married this afternoon. I also invited her to join us for dinner. I hope you don't mind, Jane. I'll help you—”

“That's okay,” said Jane. “Although it won't be anything fancy.”

“I can help too,” offered Alice.

“Really,” said Jane. “It's fine. I already got out some ham-and-lentil soup from the freezer. I'll make a salad and some cornbread muffins to go with it.

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