Lone Star Blessings. Bonnie K. Winn

up control easily. Normally, that was a trait he admired. But she’d been prickly since she’d wheeled into town.

      Though his stride was brisk, Kate kept up with him. “Really. I can take over now.”

      She was as pretty as he remembered, especially with the stubborn set of her chin. “No problem. We’re going the same way.”

      Kate muttered something beneath her breath.

      Tucker smiled. The morning was looking up. With Kate on one side, Alyssa next to her, they walked down the street, three abreast. “So, didn’t want to try driving again in town?”

      Gritting her teeth, Kate glanced at the girl. “It’s only a few blocks. Not much point in taking the car.”

      They passed an older couple strolling slowly down the sidewalk. Tucker bent forward. “Marvin, I bet you like getting out in the air.”

      “Yep.”

      Tucker glanced at Kate. She refrained from commenting, but her chin jutted out a fraction farther. So he probed a bit more. “You from the city?”

      Pursing her lips, she definitely looked irked. “Any particular one? Texas alone has three of the biggest in the country.”

      So her temper was still touchy. Matched the deep blaze of her hair. He couldn’t help thinking, if she looked this good angry, she must really be something when she smiled.

      Once they arrived at the church, Marvin was surrounded by welcoming members. Many of their faces were familiar to Kate—people who had visited Marvin at the hospital or at home. A man offered to take over the reins, and wheeled Marvin toward the Sunday school building. Her father waved jauntily, clearly happy to be back among friends. As he rolled away, Kate turned to speak with Tucker. Realizing she’d acted grouchy, she intended to thank him for his help…but couldn’t see him anywhere. Even his daughter had disappeared.

      Feeling ridiculously bereft, Kate wondered where her class was held. She was usually pretty organized, but she hadn’t thought to ask Emma. The Community Church was a good-size set of buildings. The lovely old chapel stretched upward toward equally aged trees, the sunlight reflecting off the tall, multicolored stained glass panes. She guessed the second structure was the Sunday school building, plenty large enough for her to wander in for a while without finding her class.

      “Kate!”

      Recognizing Emma’s voice, she turned to see the entire McAllister clan, including the infamous twins, who were as adorable as she’d imagined.

      “I just realized I didn’t tell you where your classroom is,” Emma began. “We have a short general meeting in the gym before we break into individual classes.” She turned to her husband. “Honey, can you take Logan and Everitt to the nursery so I can show Kate around?”

      “Sure.” Seth glanced at their older son. “As long as I get Toby to help.”

      As the guys left, Kate grinned at the image of this strapping man having difficulty wrangling two-year-olds.

      “Thanks for steering me in the right direction, Emma. I haven’t told you—but it’s, um…been a while since I’ve been to church. One more reason I’m nervous about teaching this class.”

      “The Lord will be with you.” Emma’s expression was encouraging. “Trust me, there won’t be any awkward silences. Twelve-year-old girls never run out of things to talk about.”

      “Good.” Kate clasped the teacher’s edition of the Sunday school lesson book. “I studied the materials, and at one time I was a regular at Sunday school, but I’ve never been a teacher.”

      “That’s okay. Just be yourself and the girls will love you.”

      “The last time I had anything to do with preteens, I was twelve myself.”

      Emma laughed. “You are a good sport. Your dad and I kind of bulldozed you into teaching.”

      “Agreed,” she replied with a wry smile, “but seeing Dad so happy…well, I’m grateful you and the other members are such good friends to him.”

      “Marvin’s great. I’ve always thought he ought to have a passel of grandkids.”

      Kate grimaced, remembering the abrupt end of her engagement. “Afraid that’s not going to happen. At least not in the foreseeable future.”

      “I didn’t mean to pry—”

      “You didn’t.” Kate cleared her throat, remembering how Emma had confided in her, trusting her, treating her as a friend, not an acquaintance. “My fiancé couldn’t cope with me coming here to help out Dad. So…”

      Emma linked her elbow with Kate’s. “I’m sorry. Maybe he’ll come around.”

      Kate shook her head. “Family’s not important to him—something I was way too late noticing. And it is to me—important, I mean.”

      “Marvin’s always talked about you,” Emma confided. “He’s so proud of you.”

      “You know I don’t have any siblings, so Dad and I have always been close…I don’t want that to ever change.”

      “In my book, you made the right decision. And, honestly, I try not to put my nose in anyone’s business, but maybe Marvin’s break was a lucky one for you. It’s not always easy to learn what a person’s all about before you marry.”

      “But you and Seth…”

      Emma grinned. “I’m the luckiest woman on the planet. Our marriage gets better every day. Just when I think it couldn’t possibly improve even a fraction, it does.”

      “Like I’ve said before, you guys are a living Norman Rockwell portrait.”

      “I believe you’re a true romantic, Kate Lambert. I keep hearing we’re a dying breed.”

      “Probably for good reason. Talk about embarrassing, I planned to marry the man and never even thought to ask about family.”

      Emma squeezed her arm. “When we love someone, we excuse a lot of things we wouldn’t otherwise.”

      “How’d you get to be so wise?”

      A shadow flickered in Emma’s eyes. “Not wise, observant.”

      “Oh, Emma!” Kate was stricken. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up—”

      “It’s okay. Really. They’re always in my heart, too. I’ve been so blessed. Not everyone gets a second chance…a second family.”

      Incredibly grateful that Emma was her first friend in Rosewood, Kate stayed by her side as they arrived at the general assembly. The opening prayer, announcements and one hymn passed too quickly.

      Emma walked with her to the girls’ classroom, then gave her a discreet thumbs up. Even more nervous, Kate gingerly stepped inside and took a chair. She watched the girls enter, bidding them hello. They all looked curious. Rosewood was a small town—one where almost everyone knew each other. And she stuck out like the proverbial sore thumb.

      Some of her uneasiness disappeared as she recognized the sheriff’s daughter. When all the chairs were filled, Kate addressed the small group. “Hi. My name’s Kate Lambert. I’m going to be in Rosewood for a while, taking care of my father. And I’ll be teaching your class for however long that is.”

      The girls stared at her. Silence.

      “Um, why don’t you tell me something about yourselves?” Kate smiled at the curious faces. “Let’s start with Alyssa.”

      Each of the girls gave her a few basic facts. They were all in the same grade and had known each other since nursery school days.

      “Miss Laroy let us have a slumber party at her house,” Sasha announced.

      “And we had our own booth at Harvest