Searching for Anna, Jenifer Carll-Tong [cheapest way to read ebooks TXT] 📗

'Wouldn't Ma be proud of her?' he thought as he sang along, and while thoughts of his recently departed mother typically added to his pensiveness, Will's heart filled to bursting with unexpected joy as a renewed knowledge of his mother's eternal rest in glory fell upon him. A double blessing, Will considered, that the first hymn of the morning was one of his mother's favorites, "And Can It Be, That I Should Gain."

The second song was just beginning when the door opened, and a stranger walked in. He wore fine clothes, finer than Will had ever seen in this town, and Will's curiosity was piqued.

The man took off his hat and winked at Phoebe and Will's eyes shot to her. Although she tried hard to hide it, her reaction was unmistakable to Will… a slight smile played at the corner of her lips. The hair on the back of Will's neck stood on end.

Phoebe began preaching. Will didn't miss a word, but his eyes never left the back of the stranger's head. Something wasn't right about him, and Will didn't like the fact that he was so openly casual with Phoebe.

But what if they knew each other? Could this be a suitor of hers? Perhaps a man from Bible College? Will doubted it. If there were a man in her life, he would know about it.

Wouldn't he? After all, Phoebe would certainly have told her family, and wouldn't Esther have told him immediately?

Once the service ended, Will waited until the church had emptied before leaving. Unfortunately, the stranger had the same idea.

"After you, Sarge," he said, sweeping his arm toward the door.

Will shook his head. "You first. I insist."

The man smiled and again the hair on the back of Will's neck stood at attention. It was the same feeling that had woken him in the trenches the night he'd found a snake slithering across his chest.

He'd shot that snake.

Will and the stranger exited the church and stood with Phoebe at the top of the stairs.

"Why, Miss Albright, I thought my memories were exaggerating your beauty, but you are even lovelier than my dreams have depicted you." He grabbed her hand and placed a far too long kiss upon her knuckles.

Will had a strong urge to shoot this snake.

Phoebe withdrew her hand. "This is quite the surprise, Mr. Parker. Other evangelists I know seldom get a Sunday off to visit friends."

"I'm not like most evangelists."

He stood far too close to her, in Will's opinion. Will cleared his throat and both the man named Parker and Phoebe turned, as if neither had noticed him before that moment.

Phoebe scowled. "Mr. Parker, have you met Officer Caffey? He is one of the State Troopers here in Iron Falls."

Parker smiled a sugary sweet smile back to Phoebe. "Not officially, but by his proximity to our conversation, can it be that he is more than just a police officer to you?"

Phoebe's eyes grew as large as saucers. "You are mistaken, sir! Will, I mean, Constable Caffey and I are nothing more than - than –"

"Friends," Will said, extending his hand to the stranger. "Friends since childhood."

The other man shook Will's hand. "Pleased to meet..." He turned his attention back to Phoebe, "a friend of Miss Albright's."

"I didn't catch your name," Will said.

"Parker."

"Do you have a first name?" Will was having difficulty disguising his annoyance.

"Sure do."

"Mind sharing it?"

Parker's eyes rotated in Will's direction, but he kept himself facing Phoebe. "What for, Sarge? You going to investigate me?"

"If I have to," Will answered honestly.

Parker's eyes flicked back to Phoebe and the sticky sweet expression returned. "I didn't realize you brought your own personal bodyguard to the Upper Peninsula. But I assure you, the only crime I'll be arrested for is stealing your affections. Shall I pose for my mugshot now?"

"He is not my bodyguard." She placed her hands on her hips. "And he has no right to harass anyone I associate with."

"Now, settle down Miss Albright. Nothing to get yourself worked up over. A little good-natured competition never hurt any man." He turned to face Will. "Gregory. That is my first name."

Will just nodded, silently memorizing as much as he could about the man's appearance. Maybe he would do a little investigating.

"I was hoping you would do me the honor of accompanying me for a stroll through town. I have an evangelism meeting this evening in Richmond, but I really would like to catch up with you before then if possible." He looked at Will. "Unless, of course, you have other plans."

"That sounds lovely," Phoebe said, placing her hand on the arm Gregory Parker offered her.

Will never knew the sting of jealousy until this moment. He didn't like this man, but even more, he didn't like that Phoebe didn't share his distaste for the fellow.

As he watched the pair walk away, Wendell Jackson climbed the stairs of the church and stood next to him.

"Do you know that man?" Will asked.

"He looks kind of familiar. Why?"

"No reason. Just curious."

Maybe it was just jealousy. Maybe it wasn't. Either way, the uneasy feeling growing in the pit of his stomach meant that Will was going to keep a very close eye on Gregory Parker.