Always Tried and Proven (10 page)

     She just glowered up at him.   He shook his head, and looked down at her as if to scold her.  “No
wife
.  No
children
.  No
girlfriends
.  No
lovers
.  Nobody but the tent crew, and a couple fathers in the faith.  Although, there is a beautiful woman that I’ve been trying to get close to.  Perhaps you could tell me; what’s the way to this beautiful woman’s heart?”

     Callie shook her head.  “You’re incorrigible, Sam.”  She accused.  “I’m not sure that I have a heart, anymore.”

     Sam tipped her chin up with a finger, so that she had to look into his eyes.  “Yes, my dear, you have a heart.  And I intend to find it.  And when I find it, I intend to possess it.  So why don’t you cooperate, and just let me get close enough to touch it?  It could be over and done with that fast, Callie.”

     The song ended, and Callie pulled quickly out of Sam’s arms.  She turned and began to walk quickly back to the table, without a backward glance.  Sam followed her, with raised eyebrows and an exhale that would have been a whistle of wonder, if he’d dared to make a noise. 

     He’d just hit a nerve somehow in her,  and he was frankly amazed that he was still standing.  She certainly looked as though she’d like to deck him.  He watched Callie thoughtfully.  She’d been hurt.  Badly.  By someone, God alone knew who.

     Callie sat down at the table, and allowed Sam to push in her chair.  She directed her attention toward Sadie, and smiled.  Tension built at the table, and Sam did nothing to further or to dissipate it.  He simply sat and watched Callie desperately trying to retreat, and pretend that he did not exist.

      Sadie watched the two of them with wide, appraising eyes as Callie lightly  chattered, and Sam just watched her like a hawk.  Finally, Callie couldn’t stand it anymore, and she excused herself to go to the Ladies’ room.

     Sadie gave Sam a look of chagrin, and followed her.  “Callie?  Callie, where are you?”  She demanded, looking under the stalls.  “Callie, whatever is the matter?”

     “Nothing.”  Callie denied.  Her nerves were showing in the very sound of her voice.

      “Nothing, my foot.  You come out here, and talk to me.”  Sadie insisted.

    Callie came out of a stall, and looked at Sadie wearily, as she washed her hands.  “Perhaps you ought to tell me a bit more about your Mr. Sam.  What, pray tell, does he want from me?”

     Sadie made a noise of frustration, and put her hands on her hips.  “I have no idea what he wants with you, although I have to admit he’s behaving very much out of character.  The way he looks at you, I’d swear he’s on the prowl.  And now, he’s even dancing with you!  I’ve been tempted to ask you what you’ve done to bewitch him!  Callie, is he making passes at you?”

     Callie growled in her throat.  “No.  Yes.  No.  I don’t know!  He is showing a certain interest, but I … I don’t know!  I don’t trust him!”

    “Callie, I can tell you this:  I’d trust Samuel Stringer with my life.  If he’s interested in you, you are a blessed lady.  I shouldn’t be so surprised.  You are a very unique woman, not to mention beautiful.  But Sam has never seemed to be interested in anybody.  He just does not express interest in beautiful, single women.  Never, never, never!”

     “I don’t know what to think of him.  It’s just that … here he is, and I’m a mess.”  Callie gasped.

    Sadie soothed her with a gentle hand.  “Callie, relax.  If Sam is seriously interested in you, he will let you know.  Give it a little time, and just enjoy his company.  He’s not the kind to play with a woman’s affections – you know that.  So, come on.  Don’t panic, and don’t run.  Just let him do his thing.  He will, without much ado.  I know he’s bigger than life, but he’s just a man.  He is bound to want a wife and have a family of his own.  Just because he’s a man of God doesn’t mean he’s sexless, for heaven’s sake.”

     “You can say that again.”  Callie growled.  “I can't even use that word in the same sentence.”

      Sadie laughed.  “Callie, honey.  Don’t be afraid to let him in.  Just get to know him.  He’s not the hurting kind.”

     Callie closed her eyes.  “Ugh!”  she snarled.  “Why does he have to be so darn drop-dead
gorgeous
, and sexy, and sweet?  Why can’t he be some sexless, anemic, mild, tasteless excuse for a man, like the rest of them?” she railed with wild eyes.

      Sadie tried to hide her smile.  “Not on your life, darling.  Now.  We’ve left him sitting alone out there.  Let’s go back.”

   Callie sighed and nodded.  “I’ll be there in just a sec.”  She promised nervously.  Sadie nodded silently, and left her alone.

     Sam raised his eyebrows as Sadie sat down.  “Well, is she all right?” he asked worriedly.

       “Oh.  I think she’ll be fine.”  Sadie evaded tensely.

       “She seemed very upset.”  He insisted tightly.

       “She
is
upset, Sam.”  Sadie agreed significantly.

       Sam sighed. “Why?  What in the world did I do wrong?”  he asked in a voice that told Sadie it was of great consequence to him.

       Sadie wagged a finger at him.  “Samuel, I can’t keep quiet anymore.  You’ve been turning on the charm!  I am very concerned about what is going on, here.  You
have
!  You’ve been turning on the charm with my friend!”

    Sam nodded, and raised his hands as though surrendering to Sadie’s charges.  “Perhaps, a bit.”  He admitted.   “She’s a very attractive lady.”

     Sadie gave him an incredulous look.  “And are you aware of the effect it’s having?” she scolded soundly.  “She’s about to the point of breaking!”

       Sam looked at Sadie keenly.  “Did she say that?”

       “She may as well have.”  Sadie assured him worriedly.

       “What exactly
did
she say?” he , with very pointed interest.

    Sadie looked at him and would not have dreamed of withholding any information. “She actually said that she wished you were some sexless, anemic, mild, tasteless excuse for a man...er,
preacher,
I think she meant to say
,
like the
rest of them
.”

      Sam closed his eyes and ran his hand over his face, in attempt to suppress his laughter.  “And is there anything else I should know?” he asked lightly.

       Sadie closed her eyes and shook her head.

      “
Sadie
,” he growled.  He took her hand, and waited until she looked up into his eagle eyes.  He looked like a predator about to strike.  Sadie wilted.

      “She said … she wished you weren’t so ‘drop-dead gorgeous’, and sexy, and sweet.”  Sadie admitted quickly.  “Sam, she’s going to fall, and fall hard for you, if you don’t stop. 
Please
, be careful.  She’s very frightened.”

      Sam sat back, and absorbed the words quietly.  He was shocked.  So, she was not immune to him, then!  He felt a stab of ecstasy, and sheer relief.  He nodded and smiled slightly at Sadie.  “All right, Sadie.  Thanks.”  He gave her a boyish grin.  “And don’t worry about her, I won’t hurt her.  I promise you.”

     Callie joined them again, and they left the restaurant without further ado.  Callie was relieved to get to her truck, but Sam was there to mess with her before she could get inside. 

      “Callie.”  He asked gently.  “Callie, honey, will you ride with me?  Please?  I just want to talk to you a little bit.”  He spoke calmly and gently.

      “All right.”  She agreed shakily.  She handed her keys to Sadie and gave her an owlish look.  She was on the brink, there was no doubt about it.

    Sam opened the passenger door to his Seville, and saw Callie seated comfortably.  He got in the car and then, waited until Sadie had gone, before he turned to Callie and took her hand.

      “Callie, honey.  I’m sorry.” He said gently.  “Whatever I did, I’m sorry.  I never meant to upset you.”

      Callie looked at Sam, and found his eyes tender and soft.  They cut her to the quick.  She felt tears rush to her eyes, and blinked them back in terror.  She didn’t want to cry in front of this man.  If she showed any weakness, he’d completely shred her armor.  She knew this.

       “Will you please forgive me?” he asked.

    “For what, Sam?  You haven’t done anything but be nice to me.”  She objected.

     “Then, let me in.”  he whispered persuasively.  He took her hand, and kissed the palm.  He let his thumb caress her wrist, and with his other arm, he pulled her close, across the seat.  His lips touched her cheek, and found their way to her jaw.  He wrapped his arms around her, and cradled her in his arms.

      “Let me love you, Callie.  I won’t hurt you.”  He murmured in her ear.  His lips found hers and he kissed her carefully.  She didn’t object, but she didn’t respond.  She was frozen with terror.

      Sam felt tears splash out of her eyes, and down her cheeks.  He could taste them on his lips.  Something was wrong. Something was very wrong.  She was afraid.  She’d been wounded, more deeply than he’d ever dreamed.

    She didn’t want to let him get close.  And it wasn’t because he was a preacher.  Though it didn’t please her, it was far from the reason she held out.  He closed his eyes and just held her to himself.  Then, he kissed her again.  She was more yielded, more receptive.  He smiled and kissed her cheek.

     “All right, Callie.  I’m not going to push you any more, today.  But I won’t go away.  Don’t even ask.  I can’t.”

      Callie let her head fall against his chest, and she bit her lip.  “We need to get to the tent.”  She said in a husky voice.

      Sam looked at her with perplexed eyes.  Then he started the car, and drove.  She didn’t say a word.  When he parked at the tent, she opened the door and got out before he could open it for her.  She would have jetted away, but he caught her and held her hand.  “Callie.  Come on, now. 
Please
.  Don't run away, darling.”

      He turned her into his arms, and she looked up at him with haunted eyes.  “All right, Sam.  It’s just that I need a little time to pull myself together, before I have to sing. ”  She explained in a shaky voice.

      “Can I see you tomorrow, then?” he asked carefully.  “Alone.  We need to talk a bit more.  Callie, I can’t stand it that I frighten you.”

      She reached up onto her toes, and kissed his cheek gently.  “Sure.”  She agreed, without meeting his eyes.  Then she turned, and walked away.  Sam just watched her go.  Her kiss had touched his heart.

CHAPTER THREE

      Callie began to slowly unwind after they arrived at the tent. She found a quiet place and just sat there, alone.  She pondered what she could sing, and kept coming back to ‘Great is Thy Faithfulness’. 

     She shuddered at the idea, feeling totally unworthy of singing it.  Yet, she reasoned, her personal state of being had absolutely nothing to do with God’s faithfulness.  She went to Jeremy and went over it softly with him before the meeting got started.

    Sam called the crew together on the stage, as they were finishing up.  “Tonight, I want to do things a little bit differently.”  He said.  “Callie, how late could you possibly stay?”

       Avoiding his eyes, Callie answered.  “Eight would be the latest.”

      “All right, then.  I want Callie to sing at ten ‘til eight.  She’s got an anointing to open hearts, so I want the worship to come first.  But please make sure you’re wrapping it up by 7:45.  After Callie’s done singing, I want the worship team to be ready again.  Ministry team, be ready for
anything
.”  He instructed with a steely gaze.

     Callie went behind the curtains and found a place to sit, out of the way of things.  Sam saw her sitting there alone, and made his way over to her.  “Are you all right?” he asked gently.

       “Sure.”  She assured him.

       “Would you let me pray for you?” he asked gently.

     “I suppose.”  She agreed hesitantly.  She didn’t have the guts to meet his eyes, tonight.

       Sam took her by the hand, and lifted her to her feet.  He took her other hand then, and just stood there silently, with his eyes closed.  After praying for her silently for a time, Sam covered the crown of her head, very softly, with one hand. The other hand held the back of her head gently.   She felt a heaviness like warm, thick honey pour over her head.