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chuckled quietly. “Can you imagine the reaction I’d get if I showed up at the hospital looking like this?”
    “I don’t know,” Jane said, grinning. “You might catch the attention of one of your available male patients. Maybe you could get yourself engaged by tomorrow and then tie the knot in a week or two. Why, you could beat Belle to the altar.”
    “Oh, Jane.” Alice shook her finger at her. “Don’t be such a cynic.”
    “Well, you have to admit that getting engaged and married in less than three weeks sounds pretty far-fetched.”
    Alice shrugged. “But don’t forget, Jane: God does work in mysterious ways.”
    Jane felt guilty as she rinsed the china teapot. Maybe Alice was right. She supposed it could be possible that God gave Belle that peculiar dream. Still, it seemed strange. Then again, Jane realized it wasn’t her place to second-guess God’s ways or to cast judgments on guests.

Chapter Four
    F or the first time in ages, Jane decided to get up early Thursday morning, lace up her jogging shoes, and take a short run before starting breakfast. Going running was a real test of her will, because it was still gloomy and chilly out. But she suspected that part of her recent slump was as much a result of a lack of exercise as a lack of sunshine. Still, it was hard to force herself out into the dull gray dawn. Once again, although the temperature seemed warmer, it looked like rain. She was just finishing her run, only a block away from the inn, when she noticed a familiar figure strolling up ahead. Tall and slender, with short dark hair and dressed in casual gray slacks and a navy pullover sweater, the man was easily discernable to Jane as the pastor of Grace Chapel.
    “Hello, Kenneth,” she called as she slowed her pace to walk beside him.
    “Morning, Jane,” he said, a smile crinkling his hazel eyes. “Did you have a good run?”
    “Yes, thanks,” she said breathlessly. “I’m afraid I’ve gotten out of shape. I haven’t run in weeks.”
    “Well, congratulations to you for getting back to it. That takes discipline.”
    “What are you doing out this early?”
    “Last night, Henry Ley called me. My faithful associate pastor was worried that there might be some water seepage going on at the church.” Kenneth chuckled. “Consequently, I woke up in the middle of the night after a bad dream in which I was wearing my hip waders to make my way up to the pulpit to preach on Sunday. The sanctuary was like an indoor swimming pool, and I found myself thigh high in murky water where there were actually a couple of fish swimming around. I should’ve had my rod handy.”
    Jane laughed.
    “It bothered me enough that I decided to take an early morning walk to investigate.”
    “I hope it’s nothing too serious.” Jane glanced toward the chapel, which appeared high and dry to her. “It has been an awfully wet spring.”
    “Wet and cold,” said Kenneth, “but I heard that’s going to change soon.”
    “I sure hope so.”
    “I also heard this foul weather has hurt your business.” They paused in front of the inn. “Louise told me she’d had more cancellations and that it’s pretty quiet this week.” Then he smiled. “But maybe you ladies need a little break.And I suppose that means you’re off the hook for cooking one of your big, delightful breakfasts this morning.”
    “Not completely off the hook. We got an unexpected guest yesterday. In fact, if you feel hungry after checking out the church—which, I hope, has not converted itself into a swimming pool—stop in and join us.”
    He grinned. “That’s an offer that’s hard to resist.”
    “Good,” she called as she jogged up to the house. Then she went upstairs, took a quick shower, dressed and went down to her kitchen to put together a breakfast that was probably more for Kenneth than Belle. She knew how their pastor, being single, appreciated good home cooking. She also knew that if the church was in need of any serious