Autumn's Awakening. Irene Brand

tell if Noel was among them. The house was partially hidden by the maple trees that were noticeably larger than they had been the last time she’d seen them. Autumn paused at the driveway, wanting desperately to go home, but after several minutes, she continued toward Greensboro.

      Not knowing what time Autumn would come to Woodbeck Farm, Nathan had left in early morning to work on the far side of Indian Creek. The ground was too wet for cultivating, so he spent the day repairing fence, a job he detested and normally put off as long as he could. Today, he looked forward to the tedious work as an excuse to be away from the farm buildings when Autumn came.

      Nathan had learned to live without Autumn, and he didn’t want her to disrupt his life again. He’d been convinced she would never return to Greensboro, or he wouldn’t have settled here. He could have sold Woodbeck Farm and bought a comparable farm in another location where the memory of Autumn wouldn’t eat at him like a canker. After he took possession of his uncle’s farm, he could never pass Indian Creek Farm without remembering Autumn. On those days, he had often wished he could see her again, believing that the person she’d become after eight years wouldn’t appeal to him at all. Now, he groaned at the thought. In spite of the sadness that marked her expression, the bewitching, impulsive teenager who’d captured his heart had turned into a stunning, enigmatic beauty. To his dismay, he’d learned he was still susceptible to her allure.

      To avoid recalling the things he admired about Autumn, he deliberately thought of the things he resented about her. She’d caused him to lose his job at Indian Creek Farm and his good standing in the community, for the neighbors had jumped to the wrong conclusions about why Landon Weaver had fired him. Now it annoyed him even more to realize that the resentment he’d harbored for years disappeared when he had looked up and saw her kneeling beside him in the muddy pasture field. He had to avoid her. He wouldn’t trust Autumn with his heart again.

      Chapter Five

      “I‘m taking Dolly to Sunday school tomorrow morning,” Trina said on Saturday evening as they lingered at the supper table, sipping iced tea. “Want to come with us?”

      “No, thanks,” Autumn said, “someone has to be on call, and I shouldn’t take my beeper to church.”

      “Miss Olive goes to eight o’clock service at her church,” Trina continued, “and she says she’ll be home in time to answer the phone. If an emergency comes up, she can reach us by telephone at the church.”

      “What church? Where are you going?”

      “Community Chapel. It’s a new congregation on the east side of town. Sandy Simpson told me about it and invited us to attend. She said it’s mostly younger couples who’ve moved into the region without any family ties here. I think you should go.”

      Autumn took her iced tea and sauntered out on the back porch and sat in a rocking chair. Trina followed and leaned against the porch railing.

      “What’s bothering you, Autumn? You were animated and happy when we first got here. What’s wrong?”

      “The same old thing that’s plagued me since you’ve known me. I wonder sometimes how you ever became my friend. You’re an upbeat person, always with an optimistic outlook on life. We’ve been here four days, and my parents haven’t made any overtures. And I’ve hoped that Nathan would telephone or stop by. He could have come in to pay his bill, but instead we got a check in the mail today for that vet call.”

      “The Bible has a lot to say about forgiveness. Sometimes it’s the person who’s been wronged that has to make the first move.”

      “I asked Nathan to forgive me, and he brushed my apology aside. And making the first move was what got me in wrong with Nathan and my parents before.”

      “I know you think you’re the one who was wrong, but your parents are as much to blame as you are. They had no reason to disown you and forbid you to come home.”

      “I disappointed them.”

      “What children haven’t disappointed their parents in some way?” Trina argued. “Did you disappoint Nathan, too?”

      “That’s a different matter. I pursued him when he tried to get me to stop. Right from the first, I think the attraction was mostly on my side,” Autumn reminisced. “I was never sure what he thought about me. So don’t blame Nathan. He didn’t promise me anything, I expected too much. It’s little wonder he’s avoiding me.”

      Autumn drained the rest of her tea and stretched her long legs. “Yes, I’ll go to church with you in the morning,” she said. “As weak as my faith is, I need some spiritual nurturing.”

      Trina laid an arm over Autumn’s shoulders. “I’m sorry, Autumn. I know it’s hard to give up a dream. I’ve prayed that you’d get to meet Nathan again, but perhaps that was the wrong thing to ask for.”

      Autumn shook her head. “No. I’m thankful I know where he is and how he’s getting along. That’s important to me, no matter how our association turns out.”

      Community Chapel stood near a new housing development. Autumn thought the congregation was mostly drawn from that area, for she didn’t recognize anyone as they walked into the crowded foyer of the metal building. An overweight, blondish, brown-eyed man came forward to greet them with a cordial smile and a warm handshake.

      “I’m Elwood Donahue, pastor of the church. Welcome to our fellowship.” He asked for their names and Dolly’s age.

      “Our classes are about to begin.” He called a child, and Autumn recognized the girl as the one who’d brought the wounded goat to the clinic. “Debbie, take Dolly to class with you, please. Autumn, if you and Trina will come with me, I’ll show you to the Berean classroom and introduce you to the teacher. Our worship service is at eleven,” he said as he walked beside them down the hallway.

      “An interesting name for the class,” Trina said, chatting with the pastor in the easy way she had.

      “The members organized the class for the specific purpose of searching the Scriptures to learn the way to abundant Christian living. We were fortunate to find a good teacher for the group.”

      He paused at a door displaying a poster, on which a Scripture verse was printed in calligraphy.

      “The purpose of the class is indicated in this biblical passage,” Elwood said, reading the words, “‘Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”’

      “This should be an interesting class,” Trina said. “I’m looking forward to it.”

      Elwood motioned them into a well-lit room where several people stood talking. “Let me have your attention, folks,” he said, “we have guests this morning. Make them welcome.” He tapped a man on the shoulder.

      “Nathan, Trina Jackson and Autumn Weaver have come to worship with us. They’ve taken over for Doc Wheeler while he’s abroad.” To Autumn and Trina, he explained, “Nathan will be your teacher.”

      Nathan wheeled around, and a sudden hush fell over the room as he and Autumn locked eyes, tense in their concentration on each other. Autumn was suddenly dizzy, and she closed her eyes. She’d never fainted in her life. These unexpected meetings with Nathan were tearing her apart. What if she dropped at Nathan’s feet?

      It hadn’t entered Nathan’s mind that he would see Autumn this morning. What had brought her to church today? To see him? His pulse quickened at the thought.

      But how could he teach a Bible lesson with her blue eyes watching his every move? After such a long time, why did the Weavers still intimidate him?

      A buzzer sounded in the hall, and Nathan shook his head as if to clear the fog away. “Won’t all of you be seated? It’s time to start. We’re pleased to have visitors this morning,” he added with an effort.

      Nathan’s