Country Romance - Carolyne Aarsen Page 0,33

When her foster father had been out feeding the cows. He was late coming in, so Bonnie headed out to see what was taking him so long. She came running back to the house, calling out for Adele to call 911, then ran out again.

Adele had done so then ran out to join Bonnie. She found her kneeling beside Earl, who was pinned between a bale and the forks, praying, praying, too frightened to cry. He was still alive when the ambulance came.

Bonnie went with him in the ambulance, leaving Adele to move the tractor back into the barn.

And wait.

Two hours later someone from the church got her and took her to the hospital.

Earl Stefanski died that night.

She shook off the horrible memory, pushing it way down. That was years ago, and she wasn't that frightened young girl anymore, begging God to do the impossible.

Then her phone beeped. It was Wyatt. He was coming up in a few minutes. Start without me, he texted.

She was surprised at the flush of relief washing through her.

"We pray," Maya announced, as they all sat down.

They looked to her, expecting her to do the honors. "Umm, we can wait for your dad."

"You can pray," Maya said, frowning at her.

Adele knew it wasn't worth arguing with the girl. Once Maya set her mind to something, it either happened, or you started something you quickly wish you hadn’t.

Okay. Here goes. She bowed her head and took Dean and Maria's hands in hers. "Thank you, Lord, for the food. Thank you for Sunday. Help us to be good. Amen."

She looked up to catch Maya frowning at her. "That was short."

Adele hadn't expected a critique of her prayer and, despite the disapproval Maya was telegraphing, she had to smile. "Did you want to pray?" she asked.

"Nope. Already done."

Adele chuckled. Maya was worming her precocious way into Adele's heart. Along with Maria.

And Wyatt?

"Then let's eat."

They were just about finished when the back door opened and Wyatt stepped inside.

And just like that, Adele's heart did a silly little jump. She tried to keep her attention on the kids, but as soon as he came into the kitchen, her eyes leaped to his. And, to her dismay, he was watching her.

"We...we started without you," she said, startled at the breathless tone of her voice.

"I see that," he returned, smiling.

"It's good, Daddy," Maria called out. "You sit here." She patted the empty spot beside her.

"Just let me wash up and I'll be right back."

And as he passed her, Adele caught a whiff of cool outdoor air, hay, and the faintest scent of diesel.

Masculine and appealing.

He came back a few moments later. He had put on another shirt, a beige twill one, tucked into clean blue jeans. As he sat down, his eyes ticked over the girls, stopping on Dean, as if still trying to figure out who he was.

"This looks great, doesn't it, girls?" he said with a note of appreciation as he glanced over at Adele. Once again, for the tiniest of moments, their eyes held a fraction longer than necessary.

Once again, that unwelcome trill shivered down her spine.

That DNA test can't come fast enough, Adele thought.

"It delicious," Maria said, pushing a plate toward him. "You need sausages too."

"Thanks, sweetie," he said, stroking her hair, smiling down at her.

Wyatt's interactions with his daughters were so easy, so unrehearsed. So casual and loving. It wasn't hard to see how much he loved the girls.

Adele glanced over at Dean, but he was wiping up the syrup on his plate with the last of his French toast. Would Wyatt be able to love Dean the same?

"Are you and Dean coming to church with us?" Wyatt asked, looking up from his breakfast to Adele, who had gotten up and poured him a cup of coffee.

"Yes. They are," Maya announced, jumping off her chair and standing by Dean, tugging on his arm. "Hurry. We need to play."

"Like Maya said, we are," Adele said, picking up the kids' plates, avoiding looking at him. "I know Sally attended with Dean, and though I only took him occasionally...I'd like...I think he should go."

"I have to agree."

Adele was thankful for his comment. The closest he had come to making any kind of commitment to Dean. She brought the plates to the sink, rinsed them, and stacked them in the dishwasher. He brought his over as well and dropped it onto a rack. He hesitated as if he wanted to say more. Adele glanced his way, once again their eyes meeting,