Favorite Wife Read Free Page A

scattered around on missions, or in Baja, or somewhere taking care of the Lord’s business. It was a special day indeed for us here in Colonia LeBaron.
    After the second hymn I returned to my seat. “Whew,” Francisca whispered as she relinquished a squirming Thelma to my care. “She is such a handful! I can’t keep her quiet—how do you do it?”
    I reached for Thelma’s arm and squeezed hard. With my meanest look, I glared into her black pupils. She stared back at me, her will as strong as my own, but finally her eyes watered and she blinked. She relaxed with a sigh and sat in a dejected heap. I shot Franny a triumphant look and settled back for Joel’s message. As an up-and-coming young woman of the church, I really needed to pay attention.
    â€œMy dear brothers and sisters,” the prophet began, then hesitated as Apostle Hector Spencer translated his words into Spanish. “It’s so good to be back among you again,” Joel paused and waited for Hector to echo his words. “Although most of my families are in Los Molinos, my heart reminds me Colonia LeBaron is still home.” He searched the congregation for his first wife, Magdalena, smiling into her dark eyes. Magdalena’s features softened in appreciation at the compliment that her husband, a man with four other wives, had given her in front of the congregation. She looked steadily back at him as he continued. “I’m pleased to tell you that Los Molinos is progressing beautifully. We have two fine adobe buildings up. The largest one we’re using for a combination church-schoolhouse, the other one for a tool storage building. Meanwhile our people there are getting by in tents and a few trailers. All ten families are working steadily to erect homes so that the living conditions will be more comfortable. They send their love and prayers to you.” Joel cleared his throat and opened his Bible.
    â€œWill you all turn with me to the Book of Revelation . . .”
    I listened to the latter-day prophecies, but the talk soon bored me, and I craned my neck for another look at Lane. He and his wife had an aisle seat a few benches back, his straight, longish blond hair in sharp contrast to Estela’s raven mane. I grinned at him and he gave me a wink, but before I could turn around, Estela’s angry glare caught mine and made me shiver.
    I instantly stared at the prophet behind the pulpit, but his long, dry speech could not penetrate my mind. Obviously Estela still refused to willingly share Lane. She’d even left him and gone home to her parents for a few weeks when he first started paying attention to me. But she’d come back, and if I were to spend any more time with him, it would be with the knowledge that Estela was on the warpath. Well, there was plenty of time for her to get used to the idea. I wasn’t ready for marriage yet, although I had thoughts of it. A few of the girls my age were already engaged, but I planned to finish school and to have some fun before I settled down to have my family.
    â€œHey, Sue,” Francisca whispered in my ear. “Guess who keeps staring at you? Verlan LeBaron! He’s been ogling you for the past two minutes.” She smirked, her green eyes shining wickedly. “I wish I could read his mind, don’t you? What would an old man like him be thinking?” She boldly looked him up and down.
    Startled, I glanced up. Oh, there was no doubt that Brother Verlan’s questioning gaze was fastened on my face. A slow, intimate grin softened his lips as I stared back at him, and I hastily glanced away. My cheeks burned. I’d seen that look before, that hungry, devouring look in the eyes of the eldest LeBaron brother, Alma, the church bishop. My sister Rose Ann’s husband had also smiled and eyed at me with that suggestive, almost physical familiarity.
    As a young woman of the church I had the privilege of selecting my husband. It was my