Megan's Hero (The Callahans of Texas Book #3): A Novel (11 page)

“And medical insurance,” Emily added.

Megan’s mouth fell open, but she quickly closed it. “Insurance too?”

Sue’s eyes held a gleam of triumph. “We have a group policy for all of us and everyone who works for us. I talked to the insurance company this morning and confirmed that we can cover you and the baby, including the pregnancy.”

“You must have some fantastic insurance.”

“We do, and everyone who works for us has the same coverage.”

She couldn’t believe everything they were offering her. Her choice of a place to live, a car, more money than the position was worth, and medical coverage.

This time the tears that burned her eyes had nothing to do with hormones and everything to do with gratitude. “I don’t know how to thank you.”

“You’re welcome. You’ll return the favor in two weeks when you wow the Rainy Day Quilters with one of your desserts.” Emily uncurled her legs and propped her feet up on the coffee table. “That alone will bring us more bookings.”

“Guess I’d better make sure it’s extra special.” Megan envied Emily’s bright pink toenails. She’d tried to paint hers last week, but she was no longer that flexible.

The guys came wandering in with Zach leading the way. “The Rangers are losing.” He waved his arms dramatically. “Really bad.”

“Ten to two in the ninth,” Will added, reclaiming his spot on the couch between his sister and Megan.

“I’m ready for some of that peach cobbler you wouldn’t let us eat at supper.” Dub looked at Sue. “You want me to dish it up?”

“I’ll do it.” Sue hopped up from the couch. “If I let you in there first, nobody else will get any.”

“Now, sugar, you know I always leave enough for everybody else.”

“Only if they use the itty-bitty bowls.”

Jenna and Emily followed Sue into the kitchen. Megan started to join them, but Will stopped her by lightly resting his hand on her arm.

“What do you think of their job offer?”

“It’s too good to pass up and far too generous. But I’m thankful for it.”

“Just don’t let them work you too hard.”

“Do you honestly think they would?”

“Not really. I have a feeling you might do it anyway.”

“A year ago, but not now.” Sweet Baby gave her a good kick in agreement. Megan flinched, then tipped her head, looking up at him. “Why didn’t you tell me about the car earlier?”

“I was afraid you’d pack up and leave before you knew what Mom and the girls had in mind.” He held her gaze. “This is a safe place for you, Megan.”

Staring into those intense dark brown eyes, her mouth went dry. She wasn’t so sure about that.

On Sunday morning, Megan attended church for the first time. The family took up a whole row, with Megan right in the middle. As often happened when they were all together, she wound up with Will beside her.

And people noticed. It didn’t seem to matter that she also sat next to Sue. Or maybe that made it worse. Some of the women were openly curious, their gazes flitting between the handsome cowboy and obviously pregnant her. Several of the younger ones watched them with a frown. She hoped a couple of them weren’t carrying guns.

Within seconds, the whispers began. She’d spent her life being the object of gossip, and she supposed Will had too, for different reasons. Over the years, she’d learned to ignore it. But she couldn’t this time. The speculation was obvious, and it made her heart ache to know that they were imagining the worst about him.

Women weren’t the only ones who stared. Several men did the old elbow nudge, but they weren’t looking at her with admiration. They were wondering if Will Callahan had gotten himself into trouble.

Just as she was about to ask him to take her home, he calmly reached over and curled his hand around hers. “Don’t worry about them.”

“I shouldn’t have come,” she murmured as a group walked up onto the wide platform at the front of the room. “Can’t you see what they’re thinking?”

“Sure. Some are putting two and two together and coming up with five. Their human nature is showing, which is a real shame. But there will be more who will welcome you with no questions asked and no assumptions made.” He leaned a little closer, and she got a pleasant whiff of subtle aftershave. “I don’t care what people say about me, good or bad.” When she looked up at him in disbelief, he gave her an encouraging smile. “I do care what they might say about you. So Pastor Brad is going to set the record straight in a few minutes.”

Megan fought down a wave of panic. What could the preacher know about her? How much would he reveal to the congregation? “What’s he going to say?”

“That God saved you from the tornado, and that you’re going to be staying at the ranch for a while. Now relax and let God take care of you.”

She took a deep breath. “Okay.”

He gave her hand a light squeeze and released it. “Time to make a joyful noise.” The night before, they’d sat outside on the porch for a while, enjoying the cool of the evening. She’d confessed that she’d never gone to church before, so he gave her an idea of what to expect.

When she looked back at the front, the musicians had taken their places. There were four men, three with guitars and one on the drums. One young woman was seated at the keyboard. Two other women, plus one of the guitar players, were the vocalists.

The song leader strummed his guitar and called out, “Good morning!”

At least fifty people shouted a greeting in return.

“Everybody stand up and worship the Lord.”

As everyone got to their feet, the band struck up a lively tune, and Megan blinked in surprise. She had assumed that the music and the congregation would be somber, like she’d seen in a few movies. But these people clapped their hands or tapped a foot, their faces alight with joy. She didn’t know the song, but the words were up on a big screen behind the musicians so she followed along. By the time they repeated the chorus for the third time, she had the music figured out and joined in.

They sang another peppy song, but the rest were slower, more worshipful. On the last one, she closed her eyes and let the beautiful music and thankful praise to a holy God seep into her soul. When it was finished, she felt Will’s hand rest gently at the small of her back.

“Are you all right?” he whispered.

She nodded as they took their seats. “Better than all right,” she whispered back.

His smile warmed her heart even more.

A man stepped up in front of the podium, and Will leaned close again. “That’s Pastor Brad.”

The minister had a relaxed, easy manner. He read a passage of Scripture, said a short prayer, mentioned a few announcements in the church bulletin, and welcomed the visitors in a general way.

Then he looked at Megan and smiled. Her heart jumped to her throat, and heat flooded her face. “We’d like especially to welcome Megan Smith, who is sitting back there with the Callahans.” Even more heads turned this time as people stared at her. She hoped her smile didn’t appear as weak as it felt.

“I expect most of you heard about the tornado that ripped through the ranch country south of here on Thursday and turned over a semi, injuring the driver. Megan was caught in that storm too, and rode out the tornado by lying in the bar ditch.”

Hushed murmurs went around the room.

“Her van was demolished by the hail and tornado. She was soaking wet and pretty beat up, but she took off up the road walking. I expect she was hoping there was a house nearby and somebody to help her.” His voice gentled even more. “You see, Megan is pregnant, so she not only had her own welfare to consider, but her baby’s too.

“Instead of finding a house, she found the injured and trapped truck driver. She did what she could for him, then took off again to look for help. According to Will, she was really hoofin’ it up the road when he spotted her. She told him about the trucker, and they went back and stayed with him until the EMTs arrived. Only then did she let Will take her to the hospital to see about her own injuries and health.”

Though she was embarrassed to be the center of attention and undeserving of his kind praise, she was relieved to see approval on the faces of many who twenty minutes earlier had been ready to condemn her because they jumped to conclusions.

“But that’s not all of the story. You see, God worked a miracle to bring Megan to us.” He nodded, and someone dimmed the lights to more clearly reveal the picture up on the big screen—a clear spot on the highway surrounded by debris.

Megan gasped softly.

“Chance took these pictures when he and Nate checked on her van. The indentation beside the road is where she was when the tornado passed right over her. That’s where Chance stood when he took the rest of the pictures, one in each direction.” The pastor slowly clicked through the remaining photos to show the destruction all around her.

She was awed all over again.

When he clicked back to a blank screen, the lights came up, and the minister bowed his head. Megan lowered her head since everyone else did too. “Father God, thank you for your mercy in saving both Megan and the truck driver. We ask that you bring complete healing to Mr. Bentley and allow him to go home to his family soon. Please continue to guide and bless Megan. Thank you for the opportunity to show her your love. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Will leaned close to her ear and murmured, “Feel better now?”

She nodded, whispering back, “Thank you.”

During the sermon, she jotted down Scripture verses and what seemed to be important points on the blank space in the bulletin designated for notes. When she ran out of room and started writing in the margins on the inside, Will handed her his bulletin. She filled up the notes section on that one too.

After the service, a crowd formed around them, with folks wanting to meet and welcome her. Even the two younger women who had been so obvious in their instant dislike changed their tune and joined in. They acted all sweet and concerned for a few minutes, until the tall, platinum blonde slyly asked the question on everyone’s mind. “Your husband must be so relieved that you and the baby are all right.”

Megan felt Will tense beside her.
Might as well get it out in the open.
“I’m not married.” She glanced around the group, noting blinks of surprise, brows wrinkling in disapproval, and an unexpected number of concerned expressions.

The bottle-blonde’s heavily made-up brown eyes narrowed. “That’s what I thought.”

“Zip it, Kim.” Will shifted slightly closer to Megan, a move she figured just about everybody noticed.

“My, my, aren’t you being protective of your new little friend. Or maybe your relationship isn’t all that new?”

Megan automatically curled her hand into a fist, a plan of defense—or attack—racing through her mind.
Punch in the stomach. Purse to the head. Run like mad.

“You’re way out of line,” growled Will.

“And making a fool of yourself.” Peg Renfro wiggled her way through to Kim’s side. “Put your claws away and go have a dish of milk.”

“Huh?”

Peg rolled her eyes. “Please tell me you aren’t that dense. Quit being catty and go home. Everybody knows you’ve been chasin’ after Will forever. They also know he’s not interested. No man will be if you keep acting like this.” She shook her head. “You know I love you, but sometimes you make me ashamed to be your aunt.”

Peg’s gaze skimmed those around them, finally settling on her niece. Her voice was clear, calm, and just loud enough for all of them to hear. “When Will brought Megan into the hospital on Thursday, it was evident that they had just met. Subject closed.”

“Not hardly,” muttered Kim, bumping Will’s arm as she pushed past him, her red-faced friend trailing along behind her.

“I’m sorry.” Peg sighed heavily.

Sue gave her a hug. “It’s not your fault.”

“No, but it’s still awfully embarrassing. For me and for y’all.”

“Better here than at the Boot Stop.” A tiny elderly woman with white hair and twinkling eyes smiled kindly at Megan. “We’re glad you came this morning, dear.”

“Yes, we are.”

“You’re always welcome.”

“Hope you visit with us again.”

“I will. Thank you.” Megan was relieved when folks moved away.

She and Will waited a few minutes before following them. Will stopped at the door and shook Pastor Brad’s hand.

The minister focused on Megan, his eyes filled with concern. “I hear I missed a little fireworks. Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. Thank you for telling them what happened with the tornado. I hadn’t seen those pictures.”

“Yours is an amazing story of God’s love.”

“Yes, sir, it is.”

“I hope you won’t let Kim and her theatrics keep you away. Like most any church, we have some who are strong in their faith and wise in their walk, some who are just starting out and stumble a lot, and a few troublemakers.” He smiled kindly. “If you ever want to chat, give me a call.”

“Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind.”

As she and Will walked toward the car, he rested his hand lightly against her back. She glanced up at his troubled expression. “What’s up?”

“Kim. I always figured she filed her nails on a whetstone, but I can’t believe she made a scene like that in church.”

“Hey, at least I didn’t punch her.”

He looked down, a hint of amusement crinkling the corners of his eyes. “She’s bigger than you.”

“Doesn’t matter. I could’ve taken her.”

“You think so?”

“I know so. Words are her weapons.”

“And what are yours?”

She held up her purse and her fist.

He burst out laughing. “The purse I can understand. But that little hand? Naw, don’t think so.”

“I’ll have you know I have a good right hook. But I figured with her, a punch in the stomach would do it. If not, whop her with my purse. She’d be down in thirty seconds or less.”

They had reached the car ahead of his parents. He opened the back door, and she slid onto the seat. He walked around to the other side and got in beside her. His troubled frown was back. “How many times have you had to defend yourself?”

Uh-oh. She should have kept her big mouth shut. “A few.” She shrugged lightly, hoping he’d think it was no big deal. But it had been. And it had happened more than a few times. “I’ve been on my own since I was sixteen, so I had to learn to take care of myself. I would have used words with Kim, honest. No fisticuffs in church, right?”
Drop it, please.

He studied her face, then nodded. “Right. Pastor Brad is pretty easygoing, but that would be a bit much.”

His parents got in the car and buckled up. “The other kids are going to the Boot Stop for dinner,” Sue said. “Shall we join them?”

“Fine by me.” Will turned toward Megan. “Are you too tired to go out to eat?”

“Not at all. I’m starving.”

Dub chuckled and started the car. “Then Irene’s is the place to go. Best food in town.”

“Irene wanted to build a truck stop,” explained Will. “But she couldn’t afford enough land out by the highway, so she opened a restaurant downtown. The way she tells it, she wanted a place big enough for the cowboys and cowgirls to park their boots and stay a while. So she called it the Boot Stop.”

“Clever idea. I expect they get a lot of the church crowd.” When she’d worked in restaurants, Sunday around noon had been one of their busiest times.

“They do.” Sue flipped down the sun visor. “Chance and Emily scooted out right after the service to save us seats. You’ll see some folks from Grace Community.” She pulled a tube of lipstick from her purse. “And meet some other folks too. Overall, Callahan Crossing is a friendly place.”

Megan tried to stifle a twinge of anxiety. She hoped all the Will-rejects stayed at home.