Page 31 of Bridles and Bribery

Two chattering women, whom Jillian had never laid eyes on before, glanced over their shoulders at her. Their gazes settled pointedly on her blooming midsection, resting there for an uncomfortable moment before flitting to Dave’s mother.

Whatever they saw in her expression made them hastily face forward again.

Gil leaned around Jillian to rasp, “I’m not the only one with fangs.”

Bliss elbowed him playfully. “Which are entirely unnecessary to use in church.”

“Ha!” Eloise pursed her lips as she settled more comfortably back in the pew. “Sometimes it’s where they’re needed the most!”

Jillian had bigger fish to fry, so she kept her thoughts on the subject to herself. She really just wanted to forget all thebad stuff happening in the world for one straight hour. Maybe something the minister said this morning would give her a glimmer of hope that her and Bliss’s babies were going to be born healthy. That Dave was going to be surrounded by Divine protection during the rest of his stay in Dallas. That the elusive Prophet would soon be caught and brought to justice.

The choir filed onto the platform, beckoned for the congregation to stand, and led them in a moving rendition of Holy, Holy, Holy. Emotion welled inside Jillian as she absorbed the lyrics. The words embodied a deep, soul-stirring reverence. No requests for favors. No begging to be rescued from the endless tide of trouble that constantly plagued humanity. They were simply an outpouring of praise for God’s awesomeness.

Because He’s worth it.

The heaviness in Jillian’s heart lifted and was replaced by the peace she’d been looking for. The message in the song was a reminder that God was bigger than everything she and Dave were going through — from her late maternal pregnancy to the string of threats issued by the coward or group of cowards hiding in the shadows of digital anonymity.

When the song ended, Eloise ducked her head closer to Jillian. “You have a lovely voice.”

“Thank you.” To Jillian’s surprise, there were tears glinting in her mother-in-law’s eyes. She impulsively slipped an arm around the woman and gave her a gentle hug.

Eloise leaned into it a little. Then they wordlessly took their seats again.

The message that followed was shorter than Jillian had been expecting. And simpler. It was about trust. The agingminister opened his Bible and read from the Book of Proverbs. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” Then he turned to the Book of Philippians and continued reading, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.”

He closed his Bible, sweeping the room with a gaze full of compassion. “That’s a tough one, isn’t it? We’re free-spirited Americans. Ambitious. Proud. Hardworking do-it-your-selfers. But there comes a time in our lives…in all of our lives…if you haven’t reached that point yet, you will…when we come face to face with things that are bigger than ourselves. Unexpected tragedies. Complicated relationships. Serious medical diagnoses. The kind of stuff we can’t fix on our own, no matter how educated or experienced we are. Or how much we have in our bank accounts. It’s in these moments that the Word of God instructs us to wait on the One who made us. The One who goes before us to fight our battles. The One who never fails.”

He stepped away from the pulpit. “If you’re floundering your way through a difficult situation this morning that feels bigger than you, I want you to leave the building with one thought. You don’t have to do it alone. Say it with me.”

In unison, the congregation repeated, “I don’t have to do it alone.”

“That’s right.” He spread his hands. “It’s that simple. There’s hope for those of us willing to wait on the Lord and trust that He will keep His promises. And He will.” He pointed upward. “Let’s pray.”

On their way out of the church, Eloise sniffed. “That was nice. Not what I was expecting, but nice.”

Gil drew alongside her in the parking lot and nudgedher with his shoulder. “You miss us Heart Lakers. Just admit it already.”

She gave him a dark look. “Unless you’re pressing charges for something, sheriff, this interrogation is over.” She stomped ahead of him to the Rezvani.

A group of teenage boys were walking around it, whistling in admiration.

“Cool wheels, sir.” One of the boys reached out to give Gil a fist bump. Then he jumped out of the way so Gil could open the front and back passenger doors for Bliss and Jillian.

Eloise cackled with humor as he made his way around the car to open her door next. “You’re not going to be able to give up this superhero-mobile, are you?” She dug her elbow into his side. “It’s starting to feel like I should ask for your autograph.”

He curled his upper lip at her as he assisted her into her seat. “Unless you’re pressing charges, Eloise, this interrogation is over.”

She pretended to converse with Jillian as he slid behind the wheel. In truth, she was still needling him. “Next stop is the furniture store,” she sang out. She cast a critical eye around the backseat. “If we lay the seats down, do you think we can fit a china cabinet in here?”

“The next stop,” Gil corrected, “is actually lunch. We have two lovely ladies present who are eating for more than one.” His gaze softened as it landed on his pregnant wife.

He drove them to the Longhorn Grill, which was located just inside the gates of the Comanche reservation that butted up to Heart Lake.

Eloise’s eyes were practically popping out of her head by the time they were seated at their booth. “A new steakhouse?” She sounded amazed. “Heart Lake is really movingup in the world.” The tables and padded benches were thick and rustic. Candles flickered from pine bough centerpieces, and muted country western music wafted from a jukebox against the wall.

“Glad the queen of Italy approves of at least one thing I’ve done today.” Gil’s voice floated above the enormous trifold menu he and Bliss were huddled behind with their heads together.

“You had one task,” Eloise retorted. “One measly task — to pick us up for church in a limo. Was that really asking too much?”

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