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Predictably, Harriet started to complain. “That’ll cost more money!”

“You don’t have to do it,” Patience clarified. “It’s just a suggestion. We need to make the festival so fun and memorable that word will spread. If we do it right, we can build it bigger each year. Think of what it could do for our motels, gas stations and restaurants even if it doesn’t help our downtown stores—although it should help them, too. It should help everyone.”

Kathy said she already had bookmarks, so that relieved some of the financial burden on her and her husband. Several others promised they’d think of something. Patience guessed she’d get about 50 percent participation, but half was better than nothing.

As soon as the meeting ended, Patience expected everyone to hurry out. They had businesses to get back to. But when she turned from apologizing to Demin for the argument she’d had with Glenda at his coffee shop yesterday, she found that there was one person left—Kanon still lounging in his pew.

Demin’s gaze flicked to Kanon once—then again—before he caught himself and headed out. Patience knew he loved Nick and was a loyal husband, but it was tough not to admire Kanon. Kanon wasn’t only good-looking; there was something magnetic about him.

Kanon didn’t let on that he noticed Demin’s interest, but Patience had a feeling he didn’t miss much.

“Hanging around to pray?” she asked when he didn’t get up.

He slung one arm over the back of the pew as he looked at the cavernous space created by the vaulted ceiling and around at the elaborate stained-glass windows. The mine owner had been generous to the church. He’d wanted God’s blessings on his silver haul. “First time inside a church.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Nope. Figured it was time to see what the big attraction was.”

She moved down the walkway closer to his pew. “Well? Do you get it now?”

He came to his feet. “No. As far as I’m concerned, religion is highly overrated,” he said, but a grin suggested he was joking. Mostly. She didn’t think he’d ever become a convert or anything.

“Yeah, well, I’ve spent a lot of time here.” Now that they were alone, there wasn’t any other noise to cover their voices, so she spoke softly. She didn’t want her father to overhear them. “The way I grew up, I didn’t have a choice.”

The smile disappeared from his face. “Why are you doing all of this?”

She blinked in surprise. “All of what?”

“The Christmas festival. Do you make a salary or something?”

“No!” she said. “Who would pay me? And with what money?”

“You mentioned a budget…”

Their voices fell into the hush and still came back to them off the vaulted ceiling. She spoke more quietly to avoid that. “That’s just a small amount of money I raised with a crab feed here at the church to cover things like advertising and…and cookies. Those funds didn’t come easy, and I don’t have a lot left, but I’m trying to cover what I can.”

“So you’re working for free to help out the business owners in this town?”

She arched her eyebrows. “Is it that tough to believe? Hard Luck’s going to die if we don’t do something. And I’m not fighting alone. A lot of people have contributed.”

“But you don’t even own a business.”

She smiled. “You’re saying running a church isn’t a business?”

His smile widened. “I never dreamed you’d be so self-aware.”

“You don’t really know me,” she reminded him.

He rubbed his chin as he studied her. “I guess I don’t. But I know where you’ll be over the next ten days—working your ass off to bring this baby home.”

“It’ll come back to me.”

“Are you talking about blessings from heaven?” he quipped.

“Karma.” She shot him a grin. “Kelsey couldn’t make it today?”

“She got a bite on her dating profile.”