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a vintage shop in New Orleans and an online shopping site. Vanessa’s Vintage.”
    â€œThen you do know what you’re doing. We’re planning a rummage sale at the church in a few weeks, and one of our members used to be an estate-sale manager. She offered her services free to us. But we could coordinate things with your sale. Maybe hold them on the same day since we’re neighbors.” He stopped, waited a couple of beats. When she didn’t scowl at him, he added, “That is, if you’re okay with that idea.”
    She glanced at the church, and then she looked down at the old wheelbarrow. “I don’t know. I hope I’ll be gone in a few weeks.”
    â€œForget I suggested it,” Rory said. “You have too much on your mind to add a church rummage sale to the mix.”
    â€œIt’s okay,” she replied, pushing at her shoulder-length wavy bob. “I don’t know what I’m doing, really. I mean, I know vintage and collectibles, but I’ve never done this before. But I always managed to figure things out on my own.”
    He picked up the princess cup. “Well, now you’re not on your own. You have help. Starting with me.”
    She stared over at him, her gaze moving from his face to the pile of broken dishes. “And what’s in it for you, Preacher?”

Chapter Four
    â€œW hat do you mean?”
    Rory tried the tactic he used whenever someone asked him a disconcerting question. And prayed it would work on Vanessa.
    She gave him a surprised glance, her brow furrowing. “It’s a simple question. You’re offering to help me. You must have a reason.”
    â€œWow. Does there have to be a reason?” Not sure how to handle this kind of skepticism, he leaned his head down and gave her a smile. “Part of my job is to help others. Part of my nature is to be sincere about it.”
    She actually blushed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I’ve had a trying day and I have trust issues.”
    He widened the smile. “You think?”
    She shook her head and shot him a wry grin. “I guess I should loosen up, right?”
    â€œNo. Don’t do anything on my account. This ain’t my first rodeo.”
    She laughed at that. “You look too young and carefree to be a preacher.”
    He thought of the man who’d obviously hurt her. “Ministers come in all shapes and sizes. And personalities.”
    â€œYeah, you can say that again.”
    He stuffed the cup inside one of the deep pockets of his baggy work shorts and started picking up the broken dishes in an effort to distract her. “Hey, if you find me a broom and a dustpan, I can get this done a lot quicker. And then I’ll be happy to buy you a cup of coffee or a cold drink.”
    â€œSo you can work me over?”
    That skeptical imp again, hiding serious pain. “Work you over?”
    She started walking backward toward the big shed beyond the open gate to the backyard. “You know, telling me that God loves me and that He can make things better for me?”
    â€œOf course,” Rory said, stooping to pick up the bigger pieces of shattered porcelain. “That’s part of my job, too.”
    She turned and hurried. “At least you’re not trying to slip it under the radar.”
    â€œNope. I’m not that kind of guy,” he called after her. When she kept walking, he called louder. “What you see is what you get with me. It’s pretty much the same with God, too.”
    He glanced up to find an older couple across the street with their dog watching him with a curious regard.
    â€œOh, hi,” Rory called. “Nice day, don’t you think?”
    They nodded, waved and hurried away. The little dog, however, woofed a quick reply.
    No wonder they’d moved on. He seemed to be talking to himself.
    Worried that Vanessa had run off in the other direction, he stood and checked the