Leave a Candle Burning (42 page)

“No, it’s just recent.”

“What do you do?”

“Sometimes I worry and fret, and sometimes I go ahead and put a light on so I can read and pray.”

“Are there verses that are a particular comfort just now?”

“Not specific verses. I’m studying in Genesis, marveling over Joseph’s willingness to trust God in the most awful situations. He’s been such an example to me. He says openly that he fears God, and then when his brothers fear his retribution, Joseph’s answer to them in Genesis 50 is such a peaceful one about God intending only good for him.”

“That’s amazing, isn’t it?” Douglas agreed. “So many years had passed in a place of spiritual desolation, and yet he feared God.”

“I can’t claim anything so horrendous as what Joseph went through,” Scottie said with a small shake of her head. “Yet sometimes I feel sorry for myself in such a way that you would think I had been cast out.”

“I’ll remember that when I’m praying for you, Scottie, but I must tell you what an encouragement you’ve been to me through all of this.”

“How is that?” Scottie asked, confused because they hadn’t spoken recently.

“Your presence on Sundays, and the fact that you stay now and visit with everyone. I think it would be easy to dash home and be on your own, but you don’t do that, and that lifts my heart.

“And now your hospitality to us. You are a blessing to us in so many ways, Scottie. Eli never had anything but praises for you, and I can see why.”

“Oh, my,” Scottie whispered, her heart working to take it in. “It never occurred to me that you and Eli would have discussed me.”

“He loved you and wanted to take such good care of you. Your welfare was everything to him.”

“Thank you for telling me,” Scottie said sincerely. “I can’t describe to you what it means.”

Douglas didn’t linger but left the women to visit. Scottie didn’t stay overly long either—she had work to do—but Douglas’ words had been a comfort to her heart. Scottie thought about their conversation all the way home.

“She’s had a little bit to drink and even a small piece of bread,” Reese explained when Dannan returned.

Fever-bright eyes, glazed and miserable, stared at Dannan’s face, and Dannan had to smile at her.

“She’s certainly not herself,” he agreed with a small laugh, even as he pressed a tender kiss to her small, warm cheek. “I think we’ll head home and hope we can stay there. Thanks so much, Reese.”

“My pleasure. Bye, Corina. I hope you feel better.”

Corina’s small hand lifted in a wave, and Reese’s heart melted a little.

“How’s Scottie, by the way?” Dannan asked as he walked toward the door.

“She’s asking good questions and doing lots of thinking.”

Dannan nodded, knowing that he couldn’t ask but oh-so-curious to know what the women had talked about. Dannan took Corina home and settled her back into bed. She fell instantly asleep, and Dannan was glad. It was the best thing for her right now, and maybe if the house was quiet, he could figure out his next move with the Widow Peterson.

Scottie heard the knock on the door Sunday morning but dismissed it. No one ever came to the house this early in the day. Not until it sounded a second time did she head that way.

“Hillary!” Scottie said in surprise. “What brings you out so early?”

“My family is sick,” she told Scottie. “Mother, Josh, and Marty all have come down.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that, Hillary. Tell them we’ll do this another time.”

“All right.”

“Wait a minute, Hillary,” the older woman added, stopping her. “I’m going to send food with you.”

Hillary tried to protest, but Scottie would have none of it. Taking a few minutes to package everything up, Scottie walked back to the Muldoon house with Hillary to deliver the meal. It certainly wouldn’t be the same as having company, but Scottie was delighted to do this. She walked home with a light heart and sweet knowledge that she had helped in a small way.

Sunday was the first day Corina seemed to be feeling completely herself. Dannan had kept a close eye on her for a few days, and she was now her chipper little self. She was even a bit wiggly during the sermon, and twice Dannan had to tell her to sit still. He wasn’t at all surprised to see her on her feet as soon as the service ended, heading over to see Jeffrey Muldoon—one of her favorite people—who was seated on Hillary’s lap.

Dannan kept an eye on her but also came to his feet. He spotted Scottie in the back pew, eyes on her Bible, and went that way.

“How are you?” he asked, sitting down right next to her.

“I’m fine. Is Corina feeling better?”

“Yes. I think she’s completely back on her feet.”

“Alison, Josh, and Marty have it now,” Scottie told him, a little disappointed that they had to cancel their dinner with her.

“I might stop in and check on them,” Dannan said, even as he studied Scottie’s face, looking for some sign that she was aware of him.

Scottie looked into his eyes just then, and Dannan looked right back. He didn’t want to draw attention from others in the room, so he turned and looked toward the front. Nevertheless, he spoke to Scottie.

“Tell me something, Scottie. Did you ever think about that first kiss?”

Dannan could feel her eyes on him but didn’t turn his head.

“What first kiss?” she finally asked.

“Adam and Eve’s.”

“What made you think of that?”

That was a good question. “I don’t know,” Dannan admitted. “I was just thinking. I mean, God created lips, so He must have created kissing.”

Scottie smiled a little at his casual tone.

“What are you thinking?” Dannan asked, eyes still front.

“I’m still wondering what got
you
to thinking about Adam and Eve kissing.”

“I guess I might have kissing on my mind lately.”

This time Dannan turned his head. He looked straight into Scottie’s eyes and smiled. It took a moment for Scottie to catch his meaning. Her eyes grew a bit and her mouth opened, but no words came out.

“What do you think their first kiss might have been like?” Dannan asked.

“I don’t know,” Scottie admitted, her face growing pink.

“I think it must have been sweet and wonderful.”

Scottie would have been forced to agree, but Corina chose that moment to call her name.

“Hi, Sottie.” The little girl was standing next to her legs. Scottie looked down at her but didn’t really focus.

Thankfully Corina didn’t notice. That little person gabbed away about something, and although Scottie looked at her, she was really seeing Dannan.

Dannan, on the other hand, had eyes only for Scottie. He watched her expression, knowing that he’d thrown her into a whole new world and feeling inordinately glad about it.

“We’d better get going, Corina,” Dannan finally announced.

“Bye, Sottie.”

“Bye, Corina. Bye, Dannan. Enjoy your day,” she managed in an afterthought.

Dannan waited until she looked up at him and said, “After talking to you? Always.”

Scottie couldn’t say another word. She didn’t leave the meetinghouse immediately, but she also didn’t comprehend another word that was spoken to her.

“You can’t do that!” Scottie was on the attack first thing Monday morning. Iris had just taken Corina to the kitchen, and she and Dannan were alone in the parlor.

“Do what?” Dannan asked.

“Talk to me about kissing in the meetinghouse. After you left I didn’t hear a thing anyone said to me!”

Dannan smiled.

“Don’t you smile about this, Dannan MacKay. I’m serious!”

“I’m sorry.” He worked to school his features, but his gleaming eyes betrayed him.

Scottie’s own eyes narrowed a bit. Dannan worked harder not to look pleased, but he was failing.

“Whatever possessed you?”

“I don’t know.”

“You must know,” Scottie argued. “Do you think about kissing me?”

“Of course I think about kissing you.”

This blunt, honest answer completely threw her. Scottie stared at him for a moment before finding her voice.

“Since when?”

“Since you became a widow.”

“You never told me this.”

“How was I to do that?” he asked, and then his voice changed.
“Oh, here’s my daughter, Iris, and by the way, Scottie, I’m thinking about kissing you.”

Scottie thought about this, and Dannan watched her. The wheels in her mind were turning, and he wondered what would come next.

“Well,” Scottie began, “I guess I’m glad you told me, but I don’t want you to bring it up at the meetinghouse.”

“Fair enough. Where can I bring it up?”

The question stopped Scottie again. She cast around for something to say but came up with nothing.

“I think I know what you want to say,” Dannan put in.

“What?”

“Why talk about it, let’s just go ahead and kiss.”

Scottie’s hand came to her mouth to keep from laughing. Dannan’s brows had risen to an impossible height, and his eyes were huge with teasing. Scottie had to look away to gather her thoughts.

“Are we settled on this?” she asked.

“Yes. I will not discuss kissing you in the meetinghouse, but I can bring it up other places.”