“Hey, you guys.”Skye laughed, her brow furrowed.“What gives?”
Tugging fiercely at Skye’s hand, Janey led the way around the back of the house.When Brad and Peggy followed, Skye glanced skeptically over her shoulder, thoroughly confused.
Once they rounded the corner, her gaze focused on a large brown doghouse.Built to resemble a miniature home, it contained white shutters beside two windows.sampsonwas painted in book hand above the door.Squatting down, Skye could see that plush carpeting covered the floor except for a small space of linoleum in the kitchen area that was used for the dog’s water and food dishes.
Sampson slumbered peacefully inside his new quarters.Skye petted the puppy with long, flowing strokes.
“Brad, it’s a darling house.Where did you ever find it?”she asked over her shoulder.
“I didn’t!”
Her eyes widened and swept his controlled expression, butBrad only smiled back.Janey was no help, either.Obviously primed for silence, she pinched her lips closed with her fingers.
“Peggy?”Skye turned her questioning eyes to her sister-in-law.
“Jordan had it delivered this morning,” Peggy said at last, recognizing Skye’s frustration.
“Jordan did?”A warm bubble of happiness surfaced.
“Take some friendly advice,” Brad said pensively.“Hold on to Jordan Kiley.He’s a keeper.”
Her smile was tremulous, but her eyes sparkled with a light of contentment and promise.“I think I will,” she said.
“Aren’t you going to tell Aunt Skye the best news of all?”Janey demanded from inside the doghouse.Sampson was cradled on her lap and looking disgruntled because his nap and his home had been invaded.
“What news?”Skye’s attention swiveled back to her brother.“You got a job!”She really didn’t need to guess further; nothing else could have removed the lines of doubt and worry that had furrowed his expression for weeks.He even seemed to stand taller, as if some heavy load had been lifted from him.
“I start Monday morning.”A grin lit up his boyish face.
“And more money than we dared dream,” Peggy interjected enthusiastically.
“The Lord works in mysterious ways.Funny, I never expected to get that job, let alone be asked to be the foreman.”Brad opened the back door leading to the kitchen.“Come inside and I’ll tell you all about it.”
The three adults entered the house, leaving Janey contentedly behind, sitting in the doghouse.
The bus was loaded with thirty-five laughing, teasing junior high students.The festive mood intensified as Skye and Jordan climbed aboard with the bus driver.
“All right, kids.”Skye stood in the front of the bus, calling them to attention.“Hold it down a minute while I go over the rules and introduce you to my friend.This is Mr.Kiley, and he’ll be accompanying us tonight.”
A chorus of hoots and welcomes came from the lively group.
Jordan acknowledged their acceptance with a casual wave of his hand.
“I see you had to twist his arm to come,” one of the boys from the back of the bus shouted, referring to Jordan’s broken arm.
Other jeers followed laughter.“Robert, be careful, I may have to twist your mouth as well,” Skye said, returning the banter easily.
After reviewing the rules, Skye sat beside Jordan in one of the front seats of the bus.The driver started the vehicle and pulled out of the parking lot, while the eager bunch sang songs accompanied by Skye on the guitar.What they lacked in talent was more than compensated for in volume.
The theater parking lot was packed with cars and several other church buses.Some discussion followed on how to locate their bus after the movie.
“Just remember ours is the yellow one,” Jordan offered.
“Cute, fellow.”
“Funny.”
“Who is this guy, Jeff Foxworthy?”came a sprinkling of wisecracks.
