Idle Hours by Kathleen Y'Barbo Page A

should have made him feel silly. The knowledge that they were being heard made him feel good.
    Real good.
    Climbing to his feet, Ben tucked the lure back into the Bible and headed for his apartment over the bait shop with Skipper at his heels. Tomorrow he would begin planning this summer’s fishing tournament. Tonight, however, he had some questions that had been pestering him and there seemed no better place to turn for an answer than to the Lord.  
    Skipper nudged him once more then headed for the kitchen, returning with his supper dish in his teeth. Setting the red plastic bowl at Ben’s feet, the dog looked up at him with woeful eyes.  
    “All right then, let’s find us some supper. Guess you go first.”  
    Ben took the bowl to the kitchen and scooped out a measure full of food then set it on the floor. The dog went at the familiar kibble with the gusto of a starving man at an all-you-can-eat buffet.
      “Enjoy yourself with that now. Once you and me get to travelin’ light, you might not be so well fed.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

    Their fishing trip had been postponed twice, so it was nearly two weeks later when Ben finally set off toward Lia’s place with a grin and a gift. He doubted she had a fishing pole of her own that would be up to standard, so he decided he would bring one. The canoe went in the back along with a pair of oars and two life vests. He also threw a cooler filled with water, bait, and a roll of garbage bags in case Lia wanted a dry place to sit. The last thing he did was throw his lucky fishing hat in for good measure.
    Perfect.  
    “What’s that smile for, Ben?”
    “You,” he said to the pretty gal sitting beside him.  
    At her grin, he groaned and turned his attention to easing the truck over the rutted road without jostling the canoe. In no time they’d reached the dock and unloaded their supplies. As Lia adjusted her life jacket, Ben put in the canoe then set the cooler in the center.
    Time could have stood still right then and Ben wouldn’t have complained a bit. Instead, Lia spied a fish jumping in the shallows.
    “I brought you a little something.” Ben lifted the rod and reel up to hand it to Lia. “Thought you might want one of your own if you’re gonna learn to fish.”
    She looked up at him as if he’d just given her the Hope diamond. “Thank you. Now let’s see if I can catch anything with this.”
    He helped her get the line cast then settled to his spot. A glint of gold caught his eye and he looked up. “Say, that’s a pretty cross you got there.”
    She met his gaze. “Thank you. It was my grandmother’s.”  
    “So do you go to church around here?” It was a bold question but one that mattered to him a great deal. While he was learning what it was to give a life to Jesus and walk His way, he knew enough to realize anyone he was interested in ought to at least be treading the same path.
    And to his surprise, he was definitely interested.
    “Actually, I do.”
    Pretty as a picture and a Christian to boot. Well, how about that?  
    When Lia said the name of the church, he frowned. “Well now, that’s where I go. How come I haven’t seen you there?”
    “I’m somewhat of a morning person,” she said. “Mother and I have been attending the contemporary sunrise service. What time do you go?”
    Well he did feel sheepish admitting he liked to sleep as long as he could on Sunday mornings, that being his only real day off. “Eleven,” he said slowly.  
    “The traditional service.” Her grin broadened as she curled her index finger around the little gold chain. “I’ve been thinking of trying that one.”
    “You let me know and I’ll save you a seat.”
    Lia looked away with the cutest pink color in her cheeks. “I just might do that.”
    “See that you do,” he said as her bobber disappeared beneath the water. “But first let’s see if you can land that trout you got on the line.”
    Lia did catch that trout along with a few other things: four