The Troublesome Angel. Valerie Hansen

dog’s a doofus.”

      Judy chuckled. “He’s not the only one. I couldn’t believe it when you asked the poor man if he’d been hit by lightning!”

      “I did?” Stacy thought for a moment, trying to sort out the muddle her mind had been in ever since Graydon Payne had walked through the door. “Oh, boy. I did, didn’t I?”

      “Uh-huh. But he took it pretty well. I’ll bet he really is a Christian.”

      “His family’s always been big on church-going. Mark took me with him several times when we were dating.”

      “That’s not what I mean and you know it.”

      Stacy did know. People didn’t turn into cars when they stepped into a garage any more than they became Christians just by going to church. Warming a pew on Sunday morning might be good for your psyche, but it didn’t make you a believer. Neither did living an exemplary life. She ought to know. She’d done both as a child, and been miserable until she’d given up one day and turned her future over to Jesus. But could Graydon Payne have done the same thing?

      She sighed. “Oh, dear.”

      “What’s the matter?” Judy was rhythmically stroking Clark’s broad head.

      “I just realized something.”

      “From the scrunched-up face you’re making, I’d guess you aren’t thrilled.”

      “No kidding.”

      “Well? Give. What’s got you so dithered?”

      “If that man really is a Christian, we’re part of the same family—God’s family.”

      “So?”

      “So I’m supposed to love him. Accept him. I don’t even like him!”

      Laughing softly, Judy shook her head. “You sure could have fooled me.”

      “I don’t know what to do with her,” Mark said, pacing his spacious, sunken living room. “Ever since Melissa met Stacy and saw those dogs, that’s all she’s talked about. Candace is getting really steamed about it.”

      Graydon nodded. “I can understand that. She wants Missy to love her like a mother. But it’s not going to happen overnight. Kids need time to adjust.”

      “That’s what the social workers said when I called them. I just wish I could do what they’ve suggested.” Mark cast a sidelong glance up the spiral staircase. “But Candace would kill me.”

      “What did they tell you to do?”

      Mark fidgeted and managed to smile at his older brother in spite of his obvious apprehension. “It’s not a big thing. It’d only take an afternoon. Just long enough to run down to Cave City and back.”

      Raising an eyebrow, Graydon studied him. Ever since they were kids he’d been bailing Mark out of trouble, and it sounded like his baby brother wanted him to do it again. He decided to make him actually ask before he volunteered anything. The guy had to grow up sometime.

      Mark cleared his throat. “You busy next week?”

      “Boy, no kidding. I’ve been snowed under getting the city council in Conway to approve the plans for the consolidated mall project. I’ll probably have to fly to Saint Louis next week, too. If I’d known how much work this development consultant job was going to be, I might have accepted Dad’s offer of a vice presidency, like you.”

      “You did the right thing,” Mark said, scowling. “Working for our father is no picnic. If it wasn’t for Candace I’d probably have quit by now, cashed in my shares in the company and sailed off into the sunset.” His arm swept in an arc that took in the sumptuous furnishings and open expanse of the expensive town house. “Sometimes I think I’m going to drown in all this responsibility.”

      “I’ve told you what you need,” Graydon said sincerely.

      “Yeah, yeah, I know. But religion isn’t for me.”

      “I’m not talking about religion. I’m talking about a personal relationship with Jesus. Once you have that, all the other stuff falls into place.”

      Mark perked up. “So you don’t have any trouble with tough challenges?”

      “I didn’t say that. I have as many problems as the next guy. The difference is I don’t have to face them alone anymore.” His eyes narrowed. He thrust his hands into the pockets of his slacks and regarded his brother with suspicion. “Okay, get to the point. What is it you want me to do for you?”

      “I thought you’d never ask.” Mark was grinning in triumph. “The social workers said they think Melissa will get over her obsession if we can provide closure. They suggested I take her to see Stacy and the dogs so she can thank them for finding her.”

      “And you don’t dare do it because you have a jealous wife. You’re afraid she wouldn’t understand.”

      “Bingo. That’s why you need to do it for me.”

      Graydon took a deep breath and released it with a noisy whoosh. “I don’t know….”

      “Hey, you’re the one preaching about your faith all the time. I’d think you’d be happy to put it to the test.”

      There was no way to refuse without negating everything he’d just said to Mark. Either he trusted the Lord to handle things or he didn’t. But another meeting with Stacy Lucas? He had enough to do already thanks to his busy career. The last thing he needed was another complication.

      Especially one as pretty and intriguing as the woman he’d encountered in the Ozark Mountains.

      “Are we there yet?”

      Melissa had asked the same question so many times Graydon had lost count. “Almost.”

      “That’s what you said before.” She wrinkled up her little face in a pout. “I don’t believe you.”

      “Okay. We can always turn around and go home if that’s what you want.”

      “No!”

      “Then I suggest you settle down and behave yourself. I’ve never told you a fib and I’m not telling one now.” He pointed to the digital clock on the dashboard of the BMW. “See this? When the hour changes to the number two, we should be getting close.”

      Subdued, she muttered a sullen, “Okay.”

      “That’s better.” Determined to distract her, he glanced at the crumpled, white paper bag in her lap. “Why don’t you have a piece of the candy we bought.”

      The child’s small fingers closed in tight fists around the opening of the bag. “No. This is for the rescue lady and the dogs. We can’t eat it!”

      “Oh, I see. Sorry.”

      “It’s okay, Uncle Gray. You didn’t know.” Her voice grew thready. “I wanted to bring her one of my new dolls but Candace wouldn’t let me.”

      “That’s because she bought them for you to play with.”

      “Uh-uh. She put them on a shelf in my room. All I get to do is look at them, ’cause they’re so ’spensive.”

      “Well, I’ll see if I can’t talk her into letting you play with one or two. Would you like that?”

      “I guess so,” Melissa said quietly. She brightened, grinned over at him. “I’d rather have a puppy.”

      Graydon laughed to himself. He’d walked right into that one, hadn’t he? The child might be only six but she was already becoming an accomplished negotiator. “Let me guess. I’ll bet you want a dog just like the ones Ms. Lucas has.”

      “Uh-huh.”

      He was about to caution her to wait awhile before