Mountain Sanctuary by Lenora Worth Page B

A series of tiny chirping sounds. “Are those birds?”
    Adam nodded, then pointed to one of the ancient honeysuckle vines. “Look right inside that big branch there.”
    Stella leaned forward, then put a hand to her mouth. “Baby doves?”
    “Sure is,” he said, grinning. “I’ve been watching the mama for days now. She comes and goes. The daddy, too, I think. They’ve been watching over their little ones. If you listen real early in the morning, you can hear them cooing to each other, calling out.”
    Stella couldn’t stop the tears forming in her eyes. “That’s so sweet.”
    “And that’s why I haven’t cleared this part of the yard yet,” he explained. “I’m giving them time to find their wings.”
    Stella sniffed, then inhaled a breath of sweet honeysuckle. “That is very considerate of you, but what’s this got to do with religion?”
    He tugged her away from the bushes. “This isn’t about religion, Stella. This is about God. This is about life. You want to protect your little one, same as the doves. God is trying to do the same thing for you.”
    “Yeah, sure,” she said, turning to stomp back toward the house, afraid she’d burst into tears if she actually bought into his way of thinking. “And right now, I’ve got things to take care of. But thanks for the Bible lesson, Callahan.”
    He caught up with her in the middle of the yard, spinning her around, a look of frustration in his silvery-blue eyes. “You are sure one stubborn woman, do you know that?”
    Because she was confused, she mimicked him. “This has nothing to do with stubborn, Adam. This is about having to be responsible, having to keep going. This is about knowing you can only depend on yourself.”
    His hands on her arms, he asked, “What got you so all-fired cynical and bitter?”
    Stella looked up at him, wishing she had his faith and his courage. But she was too tired to even try and find any strength. “Look around,” she said. “My father is old and ill. My son is confused and way to smart for his age. He’s seen too much in his short life, too much pain and chaos. And me, I’ve seen the way human beings can hurt each other. I don’t see God in that picture. I’m sorry, Adam, but I don’t.”
    “Then you’re looking in all the wrong places,” he retorted. “You saw that little nest. Those birds don’t think about things. They just trust in God. He has His eyes on the sparrow.”
    “Yeah, well, what if a big old hungry cat comes along and eats their babies?” It was mean, she knew, but it was also realistic.
    “They’ll still have each other,” he said, his hand stroking her bare arm. “And they’ll still have God.”
    “And that’s supposed to bring them comfort? That’s supposed to bring me comfort, Adam? I don’t think so.”
    She watched as he hesitated for a few pulse beats, then pulled her close, so that she was forced to look into his eyes. “Listen to me, Stella. I think God puts us in certain places for a reason. And maybe…maybe he put me here in this place to help you.”
    Confusion and a solid fear rattled her system. “So you rode in on your white horse to rescue the damsel in distress? And throw in a Bible lesson, too? You really are too good to be true, you know that?”
    He shook his head, but held her steady. “No, I’m not as good as you seem to think. I walked up, tired and beaten, looking for a room in the inn. And I found you. I’m saying maybe we can help each other. Comfort each other.”
    Stella saw a raw hope, coupled with a deep need, in his beautiful eyes. But she wasn’t ready to fall for a pretty man with pretty words again just yet. “You are helping me, Adam. You work for me. And we’re burning daylight, standing here having a heavy discussion about the true meaning of life. I get it—I need to look at the bright side. Except so far, I haven’t seen one.”
    He pushed away, throwing her a defiant look. “Okay, then. Just be that way. Be all negative and