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very punctual when attending church—he told her one time that it impressed God—so they were often early and in a pew far to the front. Jackie would have preferred to sit a little farther back, but she was not given this option.
    Now today she wished she could think of some reason to leave. The Fontaine girls were expected to take care of their needs before church began, so that excuse would never work, but Jackie thought if she could look sick enough ...
    Her thoughts were cut off by a sudden itch on the bottom of her foot. Jackie wiggled her foot out of one shoe in order to scratch it with the toe of the other, but she never put the shoe back on because her mind was distracted by a woman moving toward the front to sing.
    Jackie steeled herself for an awful screech and clamor and was not disappointed. "All About Gods Love" was a song her mother liked to hum while she worked, but this woman was spoiling it. And the woman's hat looked like a windblown birds nest! Jackie rolled her eyes in disgust but looked over to catch her fathers stern gaze. His serious eyes were enough to make her alter her expression and sit up straight. At the same time, she remembered her shoe. With her stocking-clad foot she felt around on the floor but couldn't locate it. She began to move a little more, searching as far as she could reach, but Eddie suddenly leaned close.
    "Father said if you know what's good for you, you'll sit still."
    Again Jackie did as she was directed, but her mind was not on the sermon that was just beginning. Indeed, the next half hour was torturous. Where in the world had her shoe gone?
    "I would like to close with this verse," Jackie was relieved to hear Pastor Munroe finally say. "Joshua 1:8 says, 'This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein; for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.' "
    "I read this, dear friends, because I want you to understand that Sundays are not enough. You must be reading and studying your Bibles all through the week, and my prayer for you this day and always is that you will understand this truth and act upon it. Let us pray. "
    Jackie had never been so glad to hear the end of a sermon in her life. Her toes were sore from all the bumping around, and she still had not found her shoe. She was nearly bent double now, searching the area but finding nothing. She was bounced into by two of her sisters who moved past her to leave, but the shoe was nowhere to be found. The church was emptying fast when Jackie finally stood and turned around.
    Seated on the pew behind her, the shoe dangling from one finger, was Clayton.
    "Lose something?" he asked solicitously.
    Incensed, Jackie leaned to snatch it away. All Clayton did was grin.
    "You are insufferable," she told him between clenched teeth, her shoe finally in place. Clayton only stood, his movement lazy, and tried to look hurt by her words.
    "I take it you won't be heartsick when I leave town this next week."
    "Not in the least," the young beauty told him with flashing eyes. "I hope you never return."
    Again Clayton was not offended. He gave Jackie a lazy smile and nod before moving on his way, his hat held

loosely in one hand. Jackie was angry that he would go out ahead of a lady, but she was through talking to him. Indeed, she believed the man was impossible and vowed at that moment never to speak to him again.
    However, she watched as he walked all the way to the double church doors, put his hat firmly in place, and stepped out into the morning sunshine.
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5
    "Now, girls," Adaline gave instructions the next morning, "everyone is to come home right after school. We are invited to the Taggarts' for dinner."
    "What did you say?" Jackie questioned her mother. She hadn't been attending her words.
    "You should have been listening," was all Addy would say. "Now, whether or not Eddie