Love Finds You in Poetry, Texas by Janice Hanna Page B

paper and began to scribble something on it. Another of his many poems, no doubt. He seemed to come up with at least one a day, if not more. With so many incoming brides, his verses were mostly romantic in nature these days.
    “That Sarah Jo’s a mighty strong woman,” Peter continued, looking up from his work. “Probably too strong to be the reverend’s wife. She’d be calling all the shots.”
    “Wearing the pants in the family, that’s for sure,” Charlie added.
    “I don’t think we need to be speculating about who is or isn’t suited for someone else,” Georg said, trying to focus on his work. “That is the Lord’s doing. We are merely...observers.”
    “Might be,” Charlie said with a shrug. “But you can’t tell me you haven’t played a role in this, too.”
    “Me? Well, I—” Georg looked at the roomful of men, stunned. “What are you getting at, Charlie? Speak your mind and make it plain.”
    “Belinda told me weeks ago that you were the one to match up Sarah Jo and the reverend. That you found the advertisement and made the suggestion.”
    His heart suddenly felt like a lead weight. “Oh, I—I suppose I did. But I was just...” Just what? Playing along with Belinda in something that had felt like a game at the time. Sure, on paper Sarah Jo Cummings had seemed perfect for Reverend Billingsley. But things weren’t always as they appeared on paper, now were they?
    Unfortunately not. And—also unfortunately—this was no game. It was very real. And now a very real Sarah Jo Cummings resided at the hotel, courting every man in town...except the reverend.
    “What do you think of Bucky and Katie Sue’s upcoming wedding?” Charlie asked.
    Georg stopped trimming Charlie’s hair to think about that. Seemed like a lot of folks were making impulsive decisions without taking the time to think—and pray—things through. Still, how could he fault a man like Bucky Williams for wanting to marry a girl with a smile like Katie Sue’s? The young woman had won the hearts of nearly everyone she’d met. Why, the joy of the Lord shone through in everything she did. Who wouldn’t fall in love with that?
    “Cat got your tongue, Georg?” Peter asked with a laugh.
    “Sorry.” He startled back to attention. “Just preoccupied today.”
    “So am I,” Charlie responded. “Gotta head over to Terrell to pick up a ring for a certain young women named Prissy.”
    “Really?” Georg asked, as he began to trim Charlie’s unruly locks. “You’re going to ask her to marry you? Don’t you think you should wait awhile?”
    “I’ll give it another few days,” Charlie said. “Got to clean up a few things first. She seems like the kind of woman who likes things tidy. And my house, well...let’s just say it needs a woman’s touch.”
    “Everything about you needs a woman’s touch, Charlie.” Peter erupted in laughter. “But I daresay this will shake out the cobwebs.”
    “Speak for yourself,” Charlie said as he turned to examine himself in the mirror. “I am a man transformed. Just watch and see.”
    “Mm-hmm.” Peter reached for a newspaper, slapped it open, and grew silent.
    Georg paused, trying to think of a way to join the conversation. Prissy was definitely the sort to like things tidy. Looked like she had a lot of work on her hands, whipping both Charlie Grundy and his house into shape.
    Still, as Georg stared at the man with shorter hair and a clean-shaven face, he had to admit...the possibilities were there. And stranger things had happened, after all.
    At once, he thought of Belinda. How she planned to change the town by bringing in these women. With all the trouble brewing between Sarah Jo and the reverend...and with the obvious ill feelings between Marta and Myles...there was sure to be a mess to clean up.
    Might take a lot of elbow grease on Belinda’s part to clean things up. He couldn’t help but think she was up to the task.

Chapter Eleven

    Bucky and Katie Sue were married the