By His Hand: Truly Yours Digital Edition by Jennifer Johnson Page A

in her mouth.
    “Nope. The Bible says that God will never give us more than
He
can handle. And, He can handle a whole lot more than we can.” Sondra scraped the bottom of the jar and popped the last bite of banana into Emily’s mouth.
    “So you think he can handle Chris?”
    Sondra laughed. “Chris is a wonderful Christian man. Just talk to him. You two can work something out.”
    Victoria stood and walked to the kitchen window. She believed with all her heart God could control everything, but He also gave everyone a free will. Chris’s will sure seemed bent on loathing Victoria Thankful. She peered outside and watched a hog wallow in the mud. She huffed.
Sure, Chris and I will work this out, when that pig grows wings and flies
.

six
     
    “Come here, Victoria. There’s someone I’d like you to meet.” Victoria scanned the crowded church lobby in the direction of Dylan’s voice. She found him standing beside another man.
    “Great,” she mumbled between clenched teeth as she made her way toward them. “I hope he’s not playing matchmaker.”
    “Victoria, this is Zack Bradshaw. He’s one of the loan officers at our bank.”
    Victoria sucked in her breath. She needed to find a way to pay back Chris, but she wasn’t ready to take out any loans. At this point, she didn’t even have a job. Forcing a smile, she extended her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
    “The pleasure is mine. I hope this doesn’t seem too forward …”
    Oh boy, here goes
.
    “Dylan was telling me that you’re looking for a job. One of our tellers is going on permanent maternity leave.” He laughed. “She’ll
need
to stay home since she’s having twins. But, anyway, I’d like to invite you to come by the bank and fill out an application.”
    Victoria could hardly believe what he said. A
job
. He was offering her a job.
    “I have it on good authority”—the banker leaned closer—“that you’d have a good chance of getting the position, seeing as I do the hiring and Dylan’s given you a gleaming recommendation.”
    Victoria stared up at Dylan, appreciating him more each moment she knew him. “Thanks, Dylan.”
    Glancing back at Zack, she took in his light blond hair sporting just the right length in a trendy hairstyle. His tailored gray suit spoke of the time he’d spent in the gym as well as being proof of his professional status. He wasn’t an overly big man like Chris and Dylan. In truth, he was just the right size for her to drink in the light gray flecks shimmering in his pale blue eyes. Maybe a little matchmaking wouldn’t be all that bad. She swallowed the excitement bubbling inside her and nodded. “I’ll be by first thing in the morning.”
    “I’ll be watching for you.” He winked, and Victoria thought her heart would melt. The man couldn’t have been much older than thirty, and who cared about an eight or ten year age difference anyway. She surely didn’t. It had to mean something that his size and coloring fit the faceless groom she’d dreamed of so many times after watching her favorite fairy-tale shows as a young girl. She could almost hear birds chirping their approval in the background. Biting the inside of her lip to squelch a giggle, she shook her head.
I have got to get a grip
.
    Maybe God had brought her to this small Oklahoma town. After all, He worked all things together for good for those who love Him. He could turn the bleakest situations into something beautiful. Maybe He wanted her to meet Zack Bradshaw.
And what a nice, solid name
.
    She lowered her gaze. “Well, I’d better find Sondra and tell her the good news.” She nodded and walked away on shaky legs toward the hall she hoped led to the nursery where she and Sondra had dropped off the children before Sunday school.
    Looking down at her light blue slacks and matching slip-on, heeled shoes, she smirked. “My wardrobe is definitely more fitting for a woman who works at a bank instead of a ranch.” Excitement mounted within