the briefest nod before squeezing Mattie’s shoulders in a supportive manner. Mattie turned, and Brook saw the way her face lit up to find her lifelong neighbor sitting behind her. After Harry’s parents had died and he’d inherited the farm adjoining the Mitchell land, he and Mattie had become like mother and son. Mattie and her husband, Edgar, had been good friends with Harry’s parents. In fact, Edgar and Harry’s father, Jacob, had been the best of friends. They might as well have been blood family for the way they took care of each other. And in the same way, Brook knew that Harry had come here to support Mattie in her hour of need. Mindless of how it might affect anyone else.
Taking a deep breath, Brook turned back around. “Don’t look now,” she whispered to Ashley, “but Harry’s here.”
Her sister’s stoic expression never changed. “Where?”
“Right behind you.”
Brook glanced at Ashley, wondering if it still hurt her to see him. Ashley and Harry had been a certainty that Brook would have put money on. They seemed perfect together and yet . . . Rachelle. That was the reason Ashley and Harry didn’t work out. Rachelle stood in their way. Ashley, too, had had to make a different life for herself. A life her mother might take notice of and be intimidated by.
Ashley might have been happy with Harry , Brook couldn’t help but think. And I might have been happy too—happy and content to live in Kansas and marry a sweet farmer like Harry rather than getting entangled with the fast-paced life I live now.
Brook glanced back at him and found him studying the funeral agenda. Ruggedly handsome in well-defined features, Harry wore the years well. Only five years older than she and Ashley, Harry maintained a boyish charm that had captivated most of the girls when they’d been growing up. Brook couldn’t help but wonder if Harry felt nervous about being here. After all, he had loved Ashley quitedeeply. Her rejection of him nearly ten years ago had stunned everyone in the family. Brook could only imagine how much it had stunned Harry. Since that time, Brook knew her sister had gone out of her way to avoid seeing Harry—even when she returned to the farm to see Mattie. Brook looked over to Ashley and squeezed her hand. The day promised to be quite trying.
The pastor, a lean man in his fifties with piercing blue eyes and wavy brown hair, stepped up to the podium. Brook drew a deep breath and forced herself to look forward. She felt her stomach churn nervously. I only have to get through the next few hours and then all of this will be behind me , she promised herself. But would it really be behind her? Could she honestly relegate Rachelle to the past?
“I’m pleased to have the Mitchell girls back in our congregation, but sad that it should have to be on an occasion such as this,” Pastor Paul Wallace said. “I know this is a difficult day for all of you. I know, too, that you face many mixed emotions in dealing with Rachelle’s death. For this reason, I will open us in prayer and then proceed in the manner outlined for me by Mattie.”
The girls bowed their heads and Brook was only slightly surprised when Ashley reached for her hand. It seemed only natural that Brook reach for Deirdre’s, and she felt a sense of completion when Deirdre reached for Erica’s and Erica did likewise with Connie.
“Father, this day is among the most difficult for any person to endure. A loved one has passed away and the loss that is felt comes to us in different ways. We ask that you would oversee this day and the days to come. We thank you for your mercy and honor you this day as the all-knowing God who directs our steps. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Brook felt her sisters release their hold and instantly wished that she could somehow get it back.
“Rachelle Mitchell Gable, better known as Rachelle Barrister, was born right here in Council Grove, Kansas. She lived her childhood here and later married and moved
Taking a deep breath, Brook turned back around. “Don’t look now,” she whispered to Ashley, “but Harry’s here.”
Her sister’s stoic expression never changed. “Where?”
“Right behind you.”
Brook glanced at Ashley, wondering if it still hurt her to see him. Ashley and Harry had been a certainty that Brook would have put money on. They seemed perfect together and yet . . . Rachelle. That was the reason Ashley and Harry didn’t work out. Rachelle stood in their way. Ashley, too, had had to make a different life for herself. A life her mother might take notice of and be intimidated by.
Ashley might have been happy with Harry , Brook couldn’t help but think. And I might have been happy too—happy and content to live in Kansas and marry a sweet farmer like Harry rather than getting entangled with the fast-paced life I live now.
Brook glanced back at him and found him studying the funeral agenda. Ruggedly handsome in well-defined features, Harry wore the years well. Only five years older than she and Ashley, Harry maintained a boyish charm that had captivated most of the girls when they’d been growing up. Brook couldn’t help but wonder if Harry felt nervous about being here. After all, he had loved Ashley quitedeeply. Her rejection of him nearly ten years ago had stunned everyone in the family. Brook could only imagine how much it had stunned Harry. Since that time, Brook knew her sister had gone out of her way to avoid seeing Harry—even when she returned to the farm to see Mattie. Brook looked over to Ashley and squeezed her hand. The day promised to be quite trying.
The pastor, a lean man in his fifties with piercing blue eyes and wavy brown hair, stepped up to the podium. Brook drew a deep breath and forced herself to look forward. She felt her stomach churn nervously. I only have to get through the next few hours and then all of this will be behind me , she promised herself. But would it really be behind her? Could she honestly relegate Rachelle to the past?
“I’m pleased to have the Mitchell girls back in our congregation, but sad that it should have to be on an occasion such as this,” Pastor Paul Wallace said. “I know this is a difficult day for all of you. I know, too, that you face many mixed emotions in dealing with Rachelle’s death. For this reason, I will open us in prayer and then proceed in the manner outlined for me by Mattie.”
The girls bowed their heads and Brook was only slightly surprised when Ashley reached for her hand. It seemed only natural that Brook reach for Deirdre’s, and she felt a sense of completion when Deirdre reached for Erica’s and Erica did likewise with Connie.
“Father, this day is among the most difficult for any person to endure. A loved one has passed away and the loss that is felt comes to us in different ways. We ask that you would oversee this day and the days to come. We thank you for your mercy and honor you this day as the all-knowing God who directs our steps. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Brook felt her sisters release their hold and instantly wished that she could somehow get it back.
“Rachelle Mitchell Gable, better known as Rachelle Barrister, was born right here in Council Grove, Kansas. She lived her childhood here and later married and moved