Faith, Love, and Fried Chicken: Seasons Boxed Set Bundle 1-4 Read online

  Kitty had mentioned that she and Colt had been talking, both by text and in person. It seems he’d taken her for ice cream the other night. And again, they were going to dinner that evening. How would that fit into the picture? Surely Colt would need to know soon.

  Jaycee drove home from the shopping mall. It was late. She’d stayed to go over the time cards, call in hours to payroll, and order some inventory for the small boutique. Her phone rang suddenly from the console between the two front seats.

  “Hello?”

  “Jaycee, it’s Nancy.”

  “How are you? I’m just leavin’ the store.”

  “Things okay there?”

  “Yes, just fine. No problems. How’s Rebecca.” She held her breath as she turned down a long road connecting Lincoln with Twain, slowing the car as she concentrated on Nancy’s words.

  “They believe it’s a benign tumor growing on Rebecca’s pituitary gland. They’re releasing us with some medicines to try and shrink it. We’ll be home tomorrow afternoon!”

  Jaycee let out a whoop. “Praise the Lord!”

  “We’ve been rejoicing too!” Jaycee could hear the relief in her voice. “Rebecca’s asleep. Tom and I are going to the cafeteria for a break. We’re sagging with relief. We just – just can’t thank you enough for the help with the store.”

  “My pleasure. So glad I could do somethin’. Payroll’s set and I ordered a few things that were low in stock from the supplier catalog using the account.” It was good to talk shop. She knew Nancy had had a rough couple of days. Jaycee used the next few minutes to catch her up on the store then they hung up with a promise Jaycee’d meet Nancy the next night at closing to go over some details and return her keys.

  Tomorrow would come soon enough. Jaycee still wasn’t a morning person, but Dash had said he had a surprise for her and he’d be at her house bright and early…a half-hour before sunrise.

  Sleep clung to her eyes, yet she dug higher to consciousness, shaking the dream state from her head as she sat up. Ting – Ting. It couldn’t be. Jaycee rushed to the window, glancing at her clock. Her alarm was due to go off in about ten minutes. Yet, there stood Dash. She pinched herself to make sure it wasn’t one of her fondest memories resurfacing. She jumped from the sting, realizing as she did that it was the making of a new memory.

  Dash had a flashlight and waved to her, the light swinging in the semi-darkness. He had a big grin on his face and motioned for her to come outside. She nodded and held up a hand to him. Throwing on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt, she slid her feet into her Ugg boots and made her way outside.

  “Boy, woman. Yer gettin’ that time down on meetin’ me in the yard.” He opened the passenger side door to his truck.

  “I’d say. You goin’ to do this my whole life?” She smiled softly at him, looking up into his face as the sky lightened slightly.

  He paused mid door slam and put his face close to hers. “I expect we’ll be seein’ our fair share of sunrises together.” He kissed her lips and gently tugged on a length of hair by her ear. “Speaking of which,” he straightened, “we’re goin’ to miss it if we don’t get movin’.

  Dash pulled the car out of the Hamilton’s driveway then took a turn down Rickett Lane.

  “Where we headed?” Jaycee asked.

  “Our land,” he said in hushed reverence, searching for Jaycee’s hand across the seat. She slid closer and he put his arm around her as he drove. “There’s a turn here, just a little dirt road. We can get in it a ways then it’s a short walk.”

  Jaycee nodded, anticipation making her heart beat loudly in her ears. Within a few moments they’d arrived. Dash grabbed a blanket from the bed of the truck then clasped Jaycee’s hand. They followed the path which got significantly narrower then widened some 300 feet in. There was a clearing as wide as half a football field before them.

  “Wow,” Jaycee breathed out.

  “I’ve come here a few times, walking the land. It’s beautiful, Jaycee. What do you think?”

  “I can’t believe it’s ours.”

  Dash spread the blanket on the ground and swooped Jaycee up into his arms, spinning her around. She threw back her head, tilting it up towards the sky and closing her eyes. He stopped suddenly and bent forward to kiss her neck. It was dizzying, Dash and the early morning smells of the trees and grass around them.

  He placed her on the blanket gently and lay next to her. The sky above them clung to the remnants of night. The glow of the sun began to show its face. They stilled in anticipation, their shoulders touching .

  “Are you sure you want to settle here?” Dash asked quietly.

  “It’s home.” Jaycee said, turning her face towards him.

  “But your dreams.” He said, not altering his gaze.

  Jaycee sat up. “Were like the early stages of a pussy willow.”

  Dash looked at her then, a smile at the corners of his mouth. “A what?”

  “A pussy willow. That soft gray fur on the outside, that’s just the beginning of a long process in their growth. They bloom then the seeds come out and are blown away on the wind.” Jaycee paused, her gaze on the tree line before them. “I expect the dreams I had were all fluff. The wonderings of a girl who knew nothing of the world. ”

  “And now you do?”

  She nodded and faced him as he slowly sat up. “Dash, my dreams now are more substantial. The fluff has gone and fallen off and I’m all pollen and seeds, ready to put down roots and grow. This life matters. It’s us and looking after Momma and Daddy as they age.” She stood and moved forward, standing in the center of the open area. “Our children will roam this land, ride horses, go to the same schools we did. See that tree over there. It’s old. Does it wish it was a banister or a boat sailing the seas? No, it’s set its roots and they grow deep. They’ve been watered by God’s hand Himself. It’s content. As am I. I’ll follow God’s path before me here, even if it’s only a few steps at a time.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Dash entered his living room from the bedroom, straightening his shirt tails to tuck them in. Marcus stood in the center of the room, fooling with the tie at his neck.

  “Here, let me help.” Dash moved in front of the young man, turning the black tie at his neck into a neat cravat. “Whoo-wee, yer Momma is gonna be pleased as punch to see you dressed up like this.” He took a walk around the young man.

  Marcus strutted barefoot across the room in the black tux.

  Dash grinned widely. “I think the effect may be better with shoes.”

  “Sure enough,” Marcus said, sitting on the couch to examine the black socks and shoes from the rental store. Casper jumped up beside him wanting his ears scratched. Marcus complied, forgetting what he was about.

  “Casper, you are a nudge.” Dash scolded, sitting himself next to the two of them on the couch and rubbing the cats black belly as he flopped between them. “Glad I bought one of those lint brushes.”

  Out of the bathroom strolled Jeb, Jaycee’s father.

  “Hello, sir. You look dapper,” Dash called out.

  Jeb nodded, twirling his cane for effect. “Like three penguins going to an igloo open house.”

  The three of them laughed. Dash lost himself in thought, looking at Casper. “Gonna bring that momma home like I said I would, fella.”

  His eyes misted up, thinking back to the fire at his house and losing all of the tangible memories of his parents. He was glad Casper had made it out and that God had given them both another chance. He swallowed over the lump in his throat. His own mother and father sure would have loved Jaycee and her family.

  “It’ll be official soon,” Jeb said, sitting in a nearby chair. “And if I don’t get you two to the church on time, I’m in a heap of trouble.”

  “Except it’s the peach orchard.” They’d spent the day before setting up tables and chairs and the arch for the ceremony behind the Hamilton’s home. “No better place in the world.”

  Jeb nodded, a grin on his face. “And God’s
seen fit to give us perfect weather. No need to use those tents.”

  Butterflies hit Dash’s stomach, suddenly wondering how Jaycee was feeling at this very moment. It wouldn’t be long now and they would be man and wife.

  It must be a dream. Jaycee slid into the strapless light pink wedding gown. Her momma went around her and fluffed at the roses on the length of skirt as Kitty hooked and zipped the back. When they were finished, they both stood back. Jaycee looked from one to the other, unshed tears glistening in their eyes.

  “Now, don’t you go makin’ me cry,” she said tearily, her voice squeaking from her throat. She twirled in the dress, catching a vision of herself in the full length mirror in the corner. She heard the snap and pop of the camera. Tanya Cordley was their photographer for the day. She’d been taking shots since Jaycee had rolled out of bed at o-dark-thirty.

  She started instructing them, asking for postures and poses. Jaycee’s momma handed her a pair of round rhinestone earrings which she put on in front of the mirror. Kitty slid the rhinestone bracelet onto her wrist.

  “It’s about that time,” Tanya stated, looking at her watch. “I’ll go see if the groom has arrived.”

  “I best get out there,” Jaycee’s momma exclaimed. “Make sure yer uncles are doing their jobs directing everyone on where to park and how to get to the orchard around back.”

  She hustled from the room after Tanya. Jaycee’s eyes flew about the room as they left. The night before had been her last under her parent’s roof. The last night in her bed. She suddenly wondered if Dash slept in socks or snored. Wow. She should have asked these questions days…months ago. Did he move his leg back and forth like she did to get to sleep? Would that bother him? Too late now, Hot Flash. Yer almost mine.

  Jaycee hugged her arms across her middle, tears tugging at her lashes. She refused them, blinking rapidly.

  “Hey, you okay?” Kitty asked, quiet up until then. She came up beside Jaycee and pulled her into a gentle hug.

  Jaycee sniffed. “All the yammerin’ I did at Dash about the wedding. I’ve been fussin’ and worryin’ and I should have been enjoying our days.” She shook her head regretfully.

  “It’s a bride thing, honey. I’m sure he understands.”

  “So many memories,” Jaycee said, remembering sleepovers with Kitty with kitchen raids at midnight and stealing out to ride the horses in the moonlight in their pajamas. “I’m not a little girl anymore.”

  “You sure aren’t.” Kitty said tilting her head in concentration, fingering Jaycee’s dress. “You’re the sugar plum fairy.”

  Jaycee let out a whoop, reaching behind her to grab a pillow and aim it at Kitty’s head.

  The pink blossoms on the peach trees hung fragrant in the air, blowing gentle in the cool spring breeze. The guests had arrived and were on white chairs flanking an aisle created from their configuration and decorated with the spring grasses and dusted with white rose petals.

  Kitty walked down the aisle on Marcus’ arm to the accompaniment of a piano tucked between two trees atop a fabric covered piece of thick plywood. She stood to the side of the archway, her gaze extending to the right, out over the aquamarine linen covered tables standing off to the right of the ceremony area. The caterer had made himself scarce, encamping in Jaycee’s momma’s kitchen with last minute food prep.

  Turning her head, Kitty couldn’t help but seek out Colt’s face in the crowd. He’d been there the day before to help Dash and the Hamilton’s set up . The guests spilled to the left and right of the aisle and behind the chairs, too many for the seating available. Grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, and friends came with kids in tow who were in fancy dress and being hushed in anticipation of the bride’s arrival.

  She found Colt standing off to the side. Her heart squeezed. He was so handsome, wearing a charcoal gray suit with crisp white shirt and matching dove-colored tie. He could surely rival any man in New York. He nodded at her, a slow grin coming onto his face. Her cheeks warmed under his gaze and she looked down at her knee length white dress. The irony. Kitty’s countenance collapsed.

  At that moment, the breeze blew and caught the fabric, pressing it against her swollen stomach. She looked up to see Colt’s face, his eyes widening. The messes you get yourself in, Kitty. It looked like she’d be having a conversation with him sooner than tomorrow when she’d planned.

  “And now, Dash and Jaycee would like to say a few words to one another.”

  A hush fell over the crowd. Dash’s gaze fell from Jaycee’s eyes to the ring in his right hand. He grasped her shaking left hand with his own. He cleared his throat nervously.

  “I’ve loved you since I can remember. God has blessed me with the sunshine that is Jaycee Cozetta Hamilton. I promise to care for you, love you, and protect you all the days of my life. May God bless our marriage.” He slid the gold and platinum band onto her finger, blinking back tears as she began to speak.

  “Dash, you’re my knight in shining armor, but better still because you’re real. You’ve wooed me with fried chicken,” she paused here to laugh softly, “and with your kind heart, intelligent mind, careful wit without injury, and love that can’t compare. May God bless our marriage. I promise to love, honor, and keep you all the days of our lives.” Jaycee’s slid the match to her own ring onto Dash’s finger.

  “Now by the authority given to me by the state of Georgia and by Almighty God, as his servant, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

  His world became smaller, mere inches from him was everything he cared about. The love of his life, the woman he treasured above everything but the good Lord Himself. He let out a shout and drew Jaycee gently to him. His lips met hers with firm urgency. He pressed her body to him, clasping his arms around her in a warm hug. She responded, kissing him in glee. Triumphant and grinning, they parted and turned to face the residents of Twain, Georgia who were clapping and cheering, ready to join in with the celebration.

  EPILOGUE

  Jaycee placed her phone in the holder on the counter and turned on the wireless speaker. The smooth tones of Sarah McLachlan drifted on the air across the kitchen. On bare feet, she hurried over to the oven door, turning on the light to check the lasagna. Twenty minutes more and it would be perfection. She’d let it rest while she popped in the bread and finished the salad.

  Dash was expected in from building a fence on the north side of their land, hopefully in enough time to shower before dinner. Jaycee heard a bang at the back door and peeked out. Bella had gotten free again and was butting her head against the screen door. Maybe she liked the music?

  Jaycee grabbed a salt lick from the kitchen cabinet and squeezed outside through a small space in the door as she opened it. From experience, she knew it was near impossible to get a sheep out of the house once it found its way in. They caused havoc, knocking things over and scaring themselves half to death.

  She urged Bella forward holding the salt lick aloft, not affording her a taste until she neared the sheep pen. She peered around their pen, all tucked in for the night as they were, to see a gap the sheep must’ve squeezed through. Another repair. She opened the latch and led the wayward sheep back inside. She took one of the twist ties she kept tied high on the pen and secured the salt lick low for them to feast on.

  “There ya go, Bella. Don’t be thinkin’ I’m gonna reward your wandering again.” She patted the sheep’s wool gently. The melody from the music wound its way out the screen door and into the back yard. Jaycee hummed the tune to the sheep as she checked on them one by one. There were five altogether. She was anticipating getting a ram a month from now. They’d have milk aplenty then to drink and extra to make cheeses. Just in time too.

  Jaycee forgot herself, wandering over to the barn and pulling out the pliers. She returned to the pen to twist the metal back into shape. Sticking them into her jeans back pocket, she ran back into the house to finish dinner.

  Dash must’ve gone in through the front door, for Jaycee heard the show
er running over the music. She finished the salad and slid the bread into the oven. She washed her hands and headed back to the bedroom. Dash met her near the door, freshly dressed and showered. He put his arms around her waist and nuzzled her neck. She laughed. “Well, I had made dinner.”

  “Aww, man,” he said, jokingly. He sniffed appreciatively, “It does smell good though.” He caught her lips with his own briefly before she entangled herself to make her way to her bureau.

  “I need to change. I’m a mess.”

  Dash plopped himself on the bed, clearly waiting for something. Jaycee grabbed a shirt from the drawer and turned to face him. “This is not dinner and a show.”

  “How about just the show,” he said, laughing and waggling his eyebrows.

  Jaycee contemplated him in all seriousness. “I guess you could go grab the bread out of the oven. It’ll keep.”

  Dash took off like a shot, heading towards the kitchen whistling to himself. While he was there, he must’ve changed the music because soft jazz echoed through the rooms.

  Jaycee went into the bathroom and turned on the shower, her jammies now in hand. She poked her head around the bathroom door. “Get yer jammies on, we’ll eat in style.”

  He nodded at her from the bed. “Sounds like a plan.”

  “I’ve got something to tell you,” she called, leaving the bathroom door open several inches. She stood facing the mirror, staring at her image. She still hadn’t undressed yet.

  Dash came to the bathroom door and peeked around. “What is it, my little shepherdess.”

  She turned and faced him, her eyes misting. “We’re going to have a baby!”

  His eyes grew wide along with his grin. “Not a baby sheep, right? A real baby?”