No Place Like Home (5 page)

In his old life, everyone was a suspect—he closed his eyes—but not anymore.

Dottie Hart was the real deal. He knew it and he refused to allow his fight with his past taint what he knew was true.

He opened his eyes. So why had he flirted with her?
Because you couldn't help it.
Something about her, the inner beauty that radiated from her reached out to him.

Leaning back in his chair, he stared up at the ceiling and refocused on the problem at hand. Cassie.

It was true there could be any assortment of horrible reasons that the girl had been hitchhiking yesterday. But there was still a small ray of hope that everything she'd told Dottie was true. That she'd really come to Mule Hollow because of Molly's articles.

He prayed that this was the case.

Not to mention how happy it would make the matchmaking posse of Mule Hollow.

T
he welcome committee had grown to include several other women by the time Lacy and Cassie came rolling back in the Caddy.

“We're not gonna let you girls leave here,” Esther Mae declared as Dottie set a pan of fresh fudge on the table that now had a rug beneath it and flowers in its center. “You two fit in with us like peas in a pod.”

“That's right,” Norma Sue agreed. “Why, the moment Sam told Adela you were here and Adela called me, I had a good feeling.”

Dottie laughed. “I thanked the Lord for letting me break down in such a nice place.” She was trying not to think about what was cooking in their one-track minds.

“I think that's so neat the way you followed Molly's stories, Cassie,” Lilly Wells said, giving the girl a thumbs-up. “You just might find yourself a cowboy, if you really want one.”

“I'm glad my articles are making an impact,” Molly Popp added, flipping her rust-colored hair over her shoulder before placing a piece of fudge on her napkin. “I'm having unbelievable fun writing those stories. And the response has been overwhelming.”

“The post office has never seen so much mail,” Esther Mae added. “Hon, this fudge is so good my hips are expanding just smelling the stuff. And I don't even give a hoot.”

Lacy's nail tech, Sheri Marsh, paused before shoving a huge piece of extra-dark fudge into her mouth. “Where did you learn to make this? You need to know that I might be skinny, but I'm training to be a professional eater. And I think I just discovered my competitive food category.” She laughed and finished off the hunk of candy.

Dottie was amazed. Lacy had introduced her as the only woman she could think of who would've dropped everything to drive five hundred miles for a cup of coffee and the chance to share an adventure with her.

Dottie had a vivid picture in her mind of the two of them riding cross-country in the Caddy. It wouldn't have been boring, of that she was certain. And for the life of her, she didn't know where all that fudge was going! Sheri was about the size of Olive Oyl and she'd put away at least six pieces of the rich stuff.

That in itself was a testament to her grandma Sylvia's candy-making talent. Dottie was embarrassed to accept all the praise the fudge was getting. She loved to cook, and had loved having her shop. Its reputation had grown
so that she'd been able to make a nice profit from its sale. The money was enough to get her set up in California, but she still felt like an impostor when people complimented her cooking abilities.

“My grandma and Mom passed their talent and love of cooking down to me. And their recipes,” she said, giving credit where it was due.

“Really,” Lacy said, tapping her tangerine fingernails on the tabletop. “You know, Mule Hollow could use a good restaurant. Have you thought about that possibility? Just don't do an all-you-can-eat buffet— Sheri'd bankrupt you.”

Dottie tugged at her earlobe, perplexed by their inability to hear any phrase resembling “no.” “Well, um, like I said, I have obligations to fulfill elsewhere. Though I dearly love Mule Hollow, I really do. I'm opening an old-fashioned candy store in California.”

Norma Sue was watching her. And Dottie saw her exchange a look with Esther Mae. They were at it again, despite what she'd just said. They hadn't heard the no again.

“Sam told me Brady was bragging on you this morning. Said you were an unusual woman to go out of your way to bring Cassie here.”

“She is,” Cassie blurted out. Plopping a hand over her fudge-filled mouth, she continued talking. “I never dreamed anyone would bring me all the way here. I think she's wonderful. I was afraid I was going to have to either walk all the way or endure a ride with a jerk or
two. I vote you stay here. With us.” She smiled and there was chocolate on her front teeth. It was not a pretty sight, but it touched Dottie's heart, and despite her discomfort she wanted to hug the kid.

She thanked God once more for placing her on that road at the right time to pick Cassie up.

Adela patted Cassie's hand, a serene smile lighting her expression, her eyes so full of wisdom it radiated from her. “God has a way of putting people exactly where He wants them. Although, your hitchhiking disturbs me greatly, young woman, I'm glad you're here.”

“No offense, Miss Adela,” Cassie said, “but I'm not real sure about the God stuff.”

Dottie looked around at the lovely women—
pushy deaf women, true,
but she knew that if any group of women could help Cassie understand that
the God stuff
was
the good stuff
it would be this group.

This was a group of women who could truly have an impact upon women in need. The thought dug into her heart and started to germinate.

“Dottie, why don't you tell us about this mission you're on,” Lacy said.

Dottie met her gaze. This was a woman who knew about missions. Her coming to Mule Hollow had been a complete stepping out on faith, her own mission. Suddenly Dottie couldn't help herself.

“God has opened doors for me in California. No Place Like Home is the shelter for women in crisis, and it's struggling financially. My brother needs me.” Dottie
frowned thinking about it. Glancing around at the interest she saw on everyone's faces, she continued, actually relieved to talk about it with someone. “They've lost funding, you see, due to cutbacks, and unless they find a way to gain that income back, the shelter could fold. And it can't. It just can't. You should see the women who live there. Stacy, for one. She's the sweetest woman, has a baby, and because of her child, she left behind a chronic history of abuse. She had been abused all her childhood, then married a man who did the same. She found the courage to seek help after she gave birth.”

“Bless her heart,” Norma Sue said, shaking her head.

Dottie nodded. “She has no skills, she rarely speaks, but she's hanging on. The shelter cannot close. God has given me a reason for having lived…” She paused, not wanting to go into detail about herself. This was not about her, but her friends in California. “Anyway, much is riding on my plan. If all goes well, the income from the candy store we open could support the house. Make it self-sufficient.” Helping them achieve a better life would be a wonderful defining moment in her life. What could be better than taking a woman with a broken spirit and no hope and helping her find a new life path?

“Dottie, it sounds fantastic! My blood gets fired up thinking about ministry.”

“Oh, girl,
pul-ease
do believe her when she says that,” Sheri said.

Lacy slapped Sheri's knee. “Like you aren't. Ministry, any kind of ministry, here, there, it doesn't matter where,
or what kind, as long as you're sharing God's love with others. There isn't a more rewarding calling.”

“Of course, there are other factors working against us also,” Dottie said. “The lease is coming up for renewal in three weeks and we're praying that the rent doesn't skyrocket. Or worse, get pulled. On top of that, my brother, Todd, has just learned that the owner has been made an offer he can't refuse by an investment group who wants to open a shopping center on the location.” Dottie fought the anger that tried to overcome her every time she thought about it.

“I'm trying not to get too worried. I know God wouldn't allow this to happen,” Dottie said. “No Place Like Home is a wonderful place. Rose, another resident, she's a single mom with a thirteen-year-old son…they lived in their car for two weeks before Todd found them. They were scared—” Dottie met the gazes of the ladies of Mule Hollow. Looking into their eyes, she saw the flame of compassion.

She was glad she'd come here. Mule Hollow was a perfect example of how the world could be if more people united in a common goal. It was an inspiration from the Lord; this place was a utopia she could try and recreate once she moved in with Rose and the others, and set her plan into action. She refused to worry. She would put her faith to action and know that God had a plan.

By the time the evening was rolling in on her first official day in Mule Hollow, Dottie had met so many people, so many new
friends,
she felt as if she'd lived
in Mule Hollow all her life. The town was addictive. How could anyone come here and want to leave?

 

Dottie rose with the chickens on her second day in Mule Hollow.
Really,
the chickens were wandering around outside her trailer pecking at the grass like bobble-headed dolls. They were all colors. She'd never thought about a chicken, except when she was about to eat it. But chickens were very colorful, very different individuals.

She prepared her coffee and watched the funky fowl systematically peck and dash around looking for the bugs that would make their next treat. They were fun to watch and kind of pretty, as chickens go, with all of their various colors. It occurred to her that she might be turning into a redneck sitting there watching chickens. It also occurred to her that she was happy.

She hadn't had a nightmare, which greatly relieved her. Yesterday had been a weird and wonderful day. Yet when she'd planted her head on her pillow last night, she'd feared the nightmares would return—but no, God had been great and given her instead a peaceful night. Waking up to the chickens had been icing on the cake.

Reluctantly, she pulled herself away from the sight and prepared for the day of massive cooking. She had two days to cook; she figured she could get the candy all made up and then simply sell it during the festivities. But before she did anything, she sat down at her laptop computer, once again thankful for the satellite
connection she'd invested in, and wrote her daily e-mail to Todd, which he would pass along to Rose and the others at the house.

She'd been sending them e-mails about her cross-country trip all the way. They loved it. None of them had ever been out of the city, most had lived within the same ten-mile radius all their lives. It was a given that they'd especially enjoyed hearing about Mule Hollow. The chickens were sure to be a hit, as were Lacy Matlock and Norma Sue and Esther Mae; they'd love everything. And though she'd only e-mailed a few times, some of the women were looking up Molly's back stories.

She might have to bring them all out to the tiny town for a visit.

Now,
there
was a thought.

Even if it was for just a couple of days, it would give them a different perspective on life.

The thought sent a warm fuzzy straight to her heart. She could just see them visiting here. The mental image she had of them being literally embraced by the people of this lovable town was so vivid, so real, it stunned her.

Immediately she dashed off a new e-mail to Todd and told him her thoughts. One day they might make it happen.

E-mail sent, she moved to start her candy assembly. According to Lacy, they were expecting a crowd of hundreds. So Dottie was thinking big. She was going to prepare more fudge, a herd of brownies with nuts and without, her favorite coconut balls with nuts…she'd love to make peanut brittle because it was always
a great seller, but there was no way the RV could handle such a job. She'd have to settle on the basic moneymakers. And maybe she could get some Gummi Bunnies in, too.

Out of nowhere, Sheriff Brady stepped into her thoughts and started winking and waving. She mentally pushed the good-looking lawman away. No matter how much he waved, the big hunk of a man could jump up and down, even stand on his head, she was not getting sidetracked thinking about how nice he was. Or how nice his smile was, or how… Okay, that was enough of that. Enough!

“What time is it?” Cassie moaned.

“It's five-thirty, sleepyhead,” she laughed, glancing at the groggy-eyed, hairy monster leering down at her from the bunk. Glad to have something else to think about.

“Why are you up so early?” Cassie mumbled into her pillow.

“Because we've got candy to make! Jump into the shower and then you can help me.”

An eye blinked at Dottie from beneath the pillow.

“Up, me?”

“Well, yea-
ah.
”

Cassie pushed the pillow off her head and crawled down off the bunk, squeezed past Dottie and disappeared into the compact shower. No complaints. Dottie was impressed.

The girl's parents had to be going crazy missing her. Surely Brady had found something out; she'd forgive
him for the winks if he'd learned anything, anything at all about Cassie.

Moving quickly, she organized the ingredients for her first batch of goodies, then prepared the table with the cellophane paper and ribbon that she would have Cassie cut for wrapping the candy. All the while, her mind kept looping back to thoughts of Brady, like an eight-second video feed that refused to rest. Drat the man.

He'd said she had a good heart. That pleased her. She did want people to notice that God had placed within her a changed heart. That He had made a difference in her. But the human side of her was pleased that Brady had noticed and liked what he saw. That was the part that kept bugging her. Why did his noticing please her so much?

Carefully she began measuring sugar into a large mixing bowl and then went on autopilot as she continued her task, a task she'd done many times over her lifetime. Memories of baking with her mother and grandmother always brought a smile to her lips.

“Hey, that water felt
goood!
” Cassie squealed, bursting from the shower wrapped in a towel.

Dottie laughed. “You must be feeling better.”

“Oh, yes. Let me put my clothes on and then you can put me to work.”

Dottie watched her disappear into the back bedroom where she'd stored her clothes. She said a prayer of thanksgiving once again and prayed Brady had gotten a hit on her background.

 

They'd been working for three straight hours when nine o'clock rolled around and Cassie popped from her chair. “Hey! A jumping jungle!”