Read Donovan’s Angel for Free Online

warmly. “It’s about time he got out of that study
and had some fun.”
    “Don’t let Bob fool you, Martie,” Jolene
warned, laughing. “His idea of having fun is staying in the field
two more hours to plow the back forty.”
    Bob shrugged his shoulders and grinned. “What
can I say? I’m guilty. But I’m not without my social graces. I
grill a mean hamburger.” He paused. “Hey! Why don’t you two come
over next Wednesday? After we eat we’ll play cards.”
    “That’s a great idea!” Jolene said.
    Martie’s eyes widened as she looked at Paul.
How could she tell these two sincere people that this was just an
interlude, that after today the Reverend Paul Donovan would be out
of her life?
    “Paul?”
    “Give us a raincheck on that,” Paul said
smoothly. “Martie’s still moving in.”
    Jolene sensed that there was more to the
interchange between her beloved pastor and the delightful woman at
his side than met the eye. She took Martie’s elbow.
    “Here,” she said. “Let me show you where to
put this picnic basket, and then I’ll introduce you to my Thursday
morning sewing circle.” She gave her husband an affectionate pat on
the cheek. “Keep Mark occupied, darling, while I show Martie
around.”
    Taking command of the situation, she led
Martie to a chattering group of young women. “I hope you can do
English smocking. We’ve been dying for somebody to join our group
who can teach us how.”
    “I hardly know which end of the needle to
thread.”
    “That’s all right. You can join us anyhow and
tell us how you got that perfectly fabulous figure. I might even
give up chocolate for a figure like that.”
    Martie was delighted with Jolene. If she
hadn’t come to the picnic, she would have missed the opportunity of
making this new friend. “I’m starting a Jazzercise class next week.
Perhaps you’d like to join.”
    “Can you promise that I’ll discover my
waistline?” Jolene asked wistfully.
    “Only if you lay off the chocolate.”
    Jolene led her into a lively group of young
women, some with young children, some newlyweds, and some still
looking. “Let me introduce you to six more aspiring goddesses who
haven’t seen their waistlines in fifteen years.”
    “Speak for yourself, Jolene,” a boisterous
redhead called Sam piped up. To Martie she said, “You’ll have to
watch out for Jolene. First she’ll get you into the sewing circle
and then before you know it she’ll have you roped into five
different jobs at the church. She’s director of the youth
department.”
    Jolene’s brown eyes sparkled as she looked at
Martie. “Do you sing?”
    “Some,” Martie replied cautiously.
    “I thought so. We’ve been searching to high
heaven for a director of our youth choir. I’m so glad you came
today.”
    Paul appeared behind Martie and casually
draped his arm across her shoulder. “I see Jolene’s already drafted
you.”
    The heat of his arm on her shoulder combined
with the warm rays of the sun made Martie feel flushed.
    “Oh, dear. I didn’t say yes, did I?” Her eyes
were wide with appeal as she looked around the circle of women.
    “With Jolene, you don’t have to say yes,” Sam
told her. “If you’re breathing, she takes it as an affirmative
answer.”
    Paul laughed. “That’s right. We’re trying not
to let Uncle Sam get wind of her. Just think what she could do for
the draft, let alone detente.” Playfully he flicked Martie’s
shining braid. “The baseball game is getting ready to start.”
    “Good.” Martie clapped her hands with
delight. “I want to play first base.”
    Sam and Jolene exchanged glances. “Didn’t you
tell her, Reverend Donovan?” Sam asked.
    “Tell me what?” demanded Martie.
    “The women are always the spectators,” Sam
said dryly.
    “Why?” Martie put her hands on her hips and
looked from Paul to the circle of women.
    “Tradition, I suppose,” Paul explained.
“That’s the way it’s been since I moved here five years