Hosea's Bride. Dorothy Clark

filled Angela’s eyes. Things had been going so well. Was she to be punished all her life for her past sin? She crossed her arms over the Bible and hid her face against them, consumed by shame.

      “Lord, I know I deserve whatever happens. But I’m so sorry for the things I’ve done. And I know I’ve asked You many times before, but I ask You again to forgive me. Oh, Lord, please forgive me. And help me, Lord. Help me to trust You for the answer to this situation. I ask it in Your precious, holy name. Amen.”

      Angela drew a deep breath and rose to her feet. There was a scripture in the book of James that said something about faith without works being dead—she didn’t want to be guilty of that. She was going to have to do something tangible to prove she trusted the Lord.

      With a sigh that came all the way from her toes, Angela closed her Bible, picked up her cup of tea, and, against all her own instinct and desire, headed for the bedroom to select the outfit she would wear to church tomorrow.

      “Wow! He looks like a dream, and preaches like a house afire.” Leigh clapped her hand over her heart and rolled her eyes toward heaven. “I think I’m in love!”

      Nervous as she was, Angela couldn’t help but smile at her friend’s outrageous enthusiasm. “Better not let your fiancé hear you say that.” She glanced over her shoulder at them both as she filed out of the row.

      Leigh laughed and followed her. “Phil understands. Don’t you, Phil?” She grinned at the exaggerated growl of agreement from her intended, put her hand on Angela’s shoulder and tugged. “Hey, what’s the big rush? I’m knocking into people here.” She smiled down at the older woman beside her. “Sorry, Mrs. Boyer.”

      Angela slowed her steps, then had to stop entirely for a toddler that escaped his mother’s grasp and darted in front of her. People closed in around her. She’d never seen the church so crowded. Had the entire membership turned out to hear the new pastor preach his first sermon?

      She raised up on tiptoe to scan the crowd for a less congested pathway to the door and her heart sank. There was no reason to hurry now—Hosea Stevens was already at the front doors shaking hands. How had he made it through the press of people so quickly?

      Angela frowned, and darted a glance toward the side exits. Maybe she could avoid him that way. An elbow jabbed into her ribs. She sighed. It was no use—she would never be able to reach those doors through the crush of people. She took a firmer grip on her Bible and inched her way forward with the crowd.

      “Miss Warren!” Hosea Stevens smiled and reached for her hand. “I’m so pleased you are feeling well enough to attend this morning’s service. Are you fully recovered?”

      “Not fully, Pastor Stevens, but with the Lord’s help I will be.”

      “Amen to that. The Lord never fails. And you, Leigh—” Hosea released her hand and turned toward her friend. “I’m happy to see you….”

      Their voices faded away as Angela stepped through the open door and almost danced her way down the stairs to the sidewalk. He didn’t recognize her! She had been worrying over nothing.

      “Angela. Wait a minute!” Leigh dodged around an elderly couple on the sidewalk and hurried toward her. “Phil and I are going to Romans for lunch with Patty and Doug and we want you to come.”

      Angela looked over at the people waiting for Leigh by Phil’s car. “I don’t think so, Leigh. I’d be a fifth wheel and—”

      “Angela Warren, you know none of us feel like that! Now, come on, it’ll be fun.” Leigh linked her arm through Angela’s and started back toward the others. “But…if you’re serious about that fifth wheel thing, I could invite Phil’s brother Bob.”

      Angela dug in her heels and Leigh almost tripped. She heaved a sigh. “Oh, all right—no men for you.”

      “Promise?”

      “I promise. But I still don’t see what you have against them.” Leigh brushed a long lock of red hair back out of her eyes and started walking again. “Every single man in this church between the ages of—no, just make that every single man in this church—is crazy about you, Angela. And you won’t give any of them a chance. I don’t get it.” She gave her a sidelong look. “Some of them are really nice.”

      “I know they are, Leigh.” Angela met Leigh’s gaze. “We’ve been over this before. I just don’t want any romantic involvement with anyone. I like my life the way it is. Okay?”

      “Okay.” Leigh lifted her mouth in a roguish grin. “But you may not have any say in the matter.”

      Angela stopped walking and stared up at her. “What does that mean? What are you talking about?”

      Leigh’s grin grew wider. “I’ve been praying for you. That’s what I’m talking about. Now come on.” She linked her arm through Angela’s and tugged. “Phil made reservations for one o’clock and I don’t want to lose our table—I’m starving!”

      Chapter Two

      “Ball one!”

      “Way to go, Angela! That’s the way to read ’em.”

      Angela swept off her ball cap, bowed to Leigh who was taking a long lead off first base, then replaced her cap and tugged it low to hide her face. Her gaze lifted to the man on the pitcher’s mound. So much for hiding in the crowd at the church picnic. She should never have come. Four weeks since his arrival, and she was still a nervous wreck. She tugged the cap lower and lifted the bat into position.

      Hosea Stevens wound up and pitched the ball.

      “Strrrike one!”

      Leigh scurried back to first as Phil caught the pitch and threw it to Seth Pickard.

      “You’ve got to be faster than that, Phil, this woman of yours runs like a deer!” Leigh waggled her eyebrows at him. Seth laughed, and threw the ball to Hosea.

      Leigh inched off base again.

      Hosea wound up and pitched it right down the middle.

      Crack!

      Leigh let out a whoop, and took off running as Angela dropped the bat and dashed for first base.

      The ball whizzed out to center field. Bill Stoner scooped it up and threw to Lou Harris at third base. Leigh skidded to a halt, spun around, dashed back to second base, grinned and gave Angela, who had returned to first, a thumbs-up. “Good hit!”

      “Thanks.” Angela drew a deep breath and glanced toward home plate. “Come on, Debby, hit us in!” Please hit us in, she begged silently. I want out of here! Her gaze shifted to Hosea Stevens as he began his windup. She pulled her thoughts back to the business at hand and inched her way off base.

      Hosea pitched another perfect strike.

      Crack!

      Debby popped it up, and Angela took off for second base.

      Hosea faded back, leaped into the air, caught the ball for out number one, threw it to Lou Harris at third, who tagged a laughing, dodging Leigh for out number two, and threw it to Bart Williams at second.

      Angela skidded to a halt, let out a squeal, and spun around to head back to first. She froze in place. Hosea Stevens was standing not ten feet away between her and first base. He caught the ball Bart lobbed to him, grinned, and started a slow advance toward her. She backed up. Hosea’s grin widened. He locked his gaze on hers and took another step toward her. Her stomach jittered.

      Not him, Lord. Please, not him!

      Angela shoved her hands out toward Hosea, palms foremost, took another step backward, then spun about and almost crashed into Bart who had sneaked up be hind her.

      Bart laughed, caught the ball Hosea tossed him and tapped Angela lightly on her shoulder. “Whooeee…triple play! That’s the game, folks! Let’s