The Preacher's New Family by Linda S. Glaz

Author:Linda S. Glaz
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

TJ finished the service in Tideville and paid his respects to all the folks in town. The Werners had him to dinner, and he had to admit, Mrs. Werner’s pot roast stood heads above the rest of the food he had eaten along his route, with perhaps the exception of Molly Redford’s stewed rabbit. Small peas, lettuce leaves sprinkled with apple cider vinegar, corn—ripe as heaven could make it—and thick slices of tomato with cream and sugar. He wiped his mouth and rose to help clear the dishes.

“Oh, my, no, Preacher. You sit right there and wait for a big piece of my apple walnut cake and sweet cream. More coffee?”

“Ma’am, you’ll have me so spoiled I won’t want to ride out of here.”

She smiled at his comment and pushed her daughter, Suzanna, forward with his cake and coffee. “Then maybe you should stay a spell longer.” The insinuating gaze over her glasses told him to scream no and get away as fast as he could. No different than Mrs. Loiller. From now on when asked to dinner, he would inquire whether or not the family had courting-age daughters.

Mrs. Werner’s daughter, an attractive girl, like all the others, held no special place in his heart. Oh, she had all the important things a young woman should have: laughing eyes, soft brown hair, a lively smile. But TJ didn’t want any of that. He didn’t want a woman in his life. Not at all, and if he did, she would have eyes darker than strong coffee, blond hair, a laughing smile, a... But he didn’t want her. Not Suzanna, not Sarah, not Jeanette Loiller. He wanted them all to leave him alone.

He could not bring himself to be rude, however. “Now, Mrs. Werner, you tempt me sorely, but I do have families waiting on me in Gullywash. And we can’t be selfish.” He accepted the plate of cake sprinkled liberally with white sugar and cinnamon. “Thank you, Suzanna. I appreciate this fine meal. Your family has made me feel right at home.”

Mrs. Werner didn’t wait for her daughter to respond. “Suzanna prepared most of it, I must say. She’s becoming quite the little homemaker. Make some lucky fellow a good wife one day.” Her voice took on a nervous quaking when she spoke Suzanna’s name and qualities. “And such a joy with the little ones. You remember how she plans their Sunday school lesson. She has a natural mother’s way with children.” She nudged Suzanna with her elbow. “Don’t you, Suzanna, dear?”

Her husband groaned and gobbled at his piece of cake. “Let the man eat, wife. He has to be on his way.” And then he mumbled something about “he’d better be if he knows what’s good for him,” but TJ didn’t ask him to repeat it for clarity.

TJ smiled his appreciation for Mr. Werner’s understanding, but Mrs. Werner’s speech had just started. “Yes, she sews, as well. Knits, too, don’t you, dear? My, last year she sewed Mr.

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