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  Then there was the other man who so bewitched Shelby that she’d carried on an affair. As hard as it was to believe, it had to be someone within the TeamWork organization. Someone at the work camp. But which man? While she didn’t want to make any assumptions, Lexa kept a wary eye on everyone. Trying to figure out which man didn’t serve any good purpose, so she decided to let it go and give it over to the Lord’s capable watchcare.

  Lexa devoted her time to helping at the schoolroom and the canteen, and immersed herself in studying her Bible. If nothing else, Sam’s words gave her the gift of self-discovery. She prayed and spent time with the Lord like never before. Whenever she had a short break, Lexa walked with her Bible, the one Sam had given her. She’d sit beneath the tree, reading and meditating on God’s Word. It gave her a comfort nothing else or no one else could—not even Sam. Gave her hope for a future without him. But her heart ached almost unbearably.

  From the corner of her eye, Lexa sometimes glimpsed slight movements a short distance away. Someone might be watching as she sat beneath the tree. She suspected it might be Sam, but couldn’t be sure. If it was him, he never approached her. He’d tried several times to talk with her, but she wouldn’t let him close, and surrounded herself with the other ladies.

  Lexa’s heart was breaking, piece by little piece, every day when Sam rose to lead the group in prayer. No matter her personal feelings, Lexa acknowledged he was in his element as the TeamWork director. It suited him and his spiritual gifts. How could she not admire a man who followed his dream, followed God’s plan for his life? Sam told her he prayed he’d recognize God’s calling for his life. Was it his work for TeamWork, or was it something else? Lexa prayed the Lord would make his life’s purpose clear.

  Sometimes Lexa wondered why God put Sam in her path to tease her with love and romance. But God doesn’t tease. Meeting Sam proved she was capable of loving someone. Perhaps it was more important for her to learn she was capable of being loved. It filled her with a self-confidence that hadn’t been there a few short weeks ago. How her life had changed since joining the TeamWork mission and meeting Sam Lewis. She wasn’t as timid in approaching new situations, challenges and people. Even though things with Sam had gone terribly wrong, being a part of the TeamWork crew was special, a blessing like none other.

  She made slow but sure progress in befriending Sheila. One afternoon, as they worked side-by-side at the worksite refilling water bottles for the workers, Sheila confided Howard was the first man who paid her any attention. She claimed not to know anything about his unsavory background, and her family forced her to marry him when she became pregnant with his child. So, not only did Sheila have a husband, she also had a child.

  She hadn’t yet discovered where or with whom the child lived while Sheila served at the mission—or whether it was a boy or girl—but she figured it was only a matter of time. Sheila would tell her if and when she wanted.

  Most days, Lexa devoted her time assisting the children with their schoolwork. It was an avoidance tactic since Sam was usually at the worksite. At least Margarita thrived under Lexa’s special attention. She looked brighter and responded more to the other children. Her English improved every day, and she communicated better with Lexa and the other teachers.

  Sometimes when she caught Margarita in a moment unaware, she glimpsed the sadness in the little girl’s face. How could anyone neglect this precious child? Since Lexa didn’t hear anything further about the complaint against her and TeamWork filed by Mrs. Martinez, she assumed everything was all right. She couldn’t work up the nerve to ask Sam about it, but neither did he broach the subject. Lexa decided to leave well enough alone.

  ~~**~~

  After two weeks passed, Sam decided he’d suffered enough punishment. He’d beaten himself up mercilessly and figured Lexa should have cooled off enough to give him another chance. The ache in his heart was heavy and threatened to overwhelm his concentration on TeamWork matters. And nothing interfered with TeamWork. Enough was enough.

  Surely Lexa wouldn’t dismiss him from her life forever because of callous remarks in a moment of heated discussion. There was too much at stake between them, too much passion, too much everything. He wanted this woman with every fiber in his being. He’d make it up to her if it was the last thing he did.

  It was time to take the first step toward reconciliation. Lexa didn’t have that much time left with the mission before she went back home to Houston. No way on earth was he going to let her leave the TeamWork camp without making it right between them. He resolved to talk with her, make her see how sorry he was for the remarks that had driven such a deep wedge between them. Sam believed she’d ultimately forgive him. He couldn’t face the alternative.

  Of more importance, he needed to show Lexa he trusted her. He loved her. Telling her was one thing, but proving it was another beast. Especially after letting her believe he didn’t trust her, he couldn’t start spouting words of love or she’d laugh in his face—or possibly spit on him like that ornery old goat the first day they’d met. Sam needed to be able to back up his words with action. He prayed for the Lord to show him the path back to Lexa’s heart.

  Getting time alone with Lexa might be harder than he thought. He could ask her to meet him in his office. She could refuse. He could have Rebekah bring her. Lexa might catch on and resent her. He could sit down beside her at the dinner table and force a confrontation, and then ask her to meet him later. But he didn’t want to embarrass her in front of her new friends.

  Then there was Josh Grant. Once Josh knew things had cooled between him and Lexa, he didn’t hesitate to make his move. He continued to sit next to her in the dining tent and made sure he was right beside her at the bonfire. It made Sam’s blood boil one night when Josh sat so close it looked like he wanted to pull Lexa onto his lap. Thank goodness, she had the presence of mind to resist Josh’s charms.

  The man was his own worst enemy, but couldn’t see it. That’s usually the way it worked. Since confiding in Lexa about Shelby, it weighed heavily on his mind that he needed to have a serious, heart-to-heart with Josh. He’d always pushed it aside because he’d been too close to the situation with Shelby. He’d been in prayer about it, and the Holy Spirit was prompting him to address the situation and do what he could to help Josh.

  Rapping out a fast rhythm with his pencil on the desktop, Sam’s frown deepened. Yes, he had to talk with Lexa, and he had to act now if he was going to have any chance at all with her. Time was not his friend. Once she left his TeamWork camp, his chance might be gone. Houston was a big city, but it would be lonely and tortuous without her in his life.

  Lexa was also his friend. He’d enjoyed their talks under the tree. He missed them. He missed her. He’d shared things with her he’d never told anyone else—not even his little sister Caty, his closest confidante in the world. He’d opened his heart to Lexa, and she’d opened her heart to him.

  “All the thinking in the world isn’t going to win her back, old man.” As the screen door of his office slammed behind him, Sam stormed outside. He was rewarded by a creak of protest as it came partially off its hinges. Looking back for a split-second, he spied it hanging cock-eyed, barely attached at the bottom. Shaking his head, he continued on his way with a mental note to reattach the door later.

  Several workers walking about the campsite stared as he passed by. He didn’t care. He couldn’t stop to make small-talk. Lightning streaked across the sky, and thunder boomed as he strode across the campsite. He had a one-track mind as he rapped on the door of the women’s dorm.

  Chapter 26

  “Come in. At least you knocked this time. Well, aren’t you a sight.” Rebekah shot Sam a wry grin after he barged inside.

  Stopping in his tracks, he grimaced, running a hand over his unruly hair. “I haven’t exactly been thinking about my appearance lately.”

  “That much is obvious. From the looks of you, you aren’t getting enough sleep, either.”

  “Gee, thanks. Sorry
I offended you. Tell me how you really feel, Beck. Give me a break.”

  “Sam, what’s gotten into you lately? The same thing that’s bothering Lexa, I assume?”

  “Seems like you answered your own question.” Hands on his hips, Sam stood in the center of the room, shaking his head and rubbing a hand over his rough jaw. Beck was right. He needed a good, close shave.

  “Care to tell me what happened?”

  It surprised him that Lexa hadn’t confided in Beck. But Lexa wasn’t like other women. For one thing, she apparently liked to suffer in silence. Just like her mother. It was hard for her to open up to others. The painful truth pierced his heart all over again that she’d opened up to him and he’d hurt her by betraying the trust she’d placed in him.

  Sam looked at Rebekah long and hard, trying to decide whether or not to confide in her. “Let’s just say I blew it by saying something infinitely stupid.” She didn’t answer, and waited for more information. “Basically, I foolishly misled Lexa to think I didn’t trust her.”

  “Well, that is a tough one.” Rebekah whistled under her breath.

  “So, tell me what to do, Beck,” Sam pleaded, his eyes searching hers. Desperation flooded his thoughts, his posture, his expression–a reflection of his inner torment. He was a man in love with a woman who didn’t return his love. Deep down, Sam knew Lexa cared. Did he dare believe she could love him? The only man she’d ever truly loved—her father—couldn’t show his love. Spurred on by that thought, Sam was willing to do whatever it took to win her back.

  “Have you tried telling her the truth, asking for her forgiveness?”

  Rebekah’s words stirred him back to reality. “Sort of. I mean I tried a few times, but she’s avoiding me like the plague. I can’t seem to get within ten feet of her. For one thing,” he plundered on, regardless of the consequences, “that brother of yours seems to be monopolizing her company. A guy can’t get a word in edgewise.”

  “Well, then, talk to Josh. Tell him to lay off.”

  “Since when has Josh backed off from a woman he really wants?” Sam snarled, looking down at the floor, his mind racing.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Rebekah crossed her arms as she glared at him.

  “Nothing,” Sam muttered, shaking his head.

  “Sounds like pure jealousy to me.” Rebekah sniffed, turning away.

  Forcing himself to hold his tongue so he wouldn’t say anything further about Josh, Sam turned to go. “Sorry. I just have to work this out in my own mind.” And then he had to convince Lexa.

  “Lexa’s really grown a lot since she’s been here. In a lot of ways.” The words were spoken so softly that Sam had to turn back to hear them. “I like her a lot. She’s come out of that shell she had around her when she first came to the camp.”

  Sam nodded, the beginnings of a small smile playing about his lips. “Yes, she has.”

  “In the beginning, she was sort of like that old armadillo she bonded with out at the worksite.” Rebekah smiled a little. “But, like I said, Lexa’s crawled out from beneath her own shell. And I think,” she said, pausing to make sure she had Sam’s attention, “a certain TeamWork director has something to do with that.”

  Sam grinned. “You think so?”

  Rebekah nodded. “I know so. You love her, don’t you?”

  Sam nodded, his eyes full. “You know me too well.”

  “I can tell it’s different than with Shelby, too. I think you’ve met your match with Lexa.”

  Sam pulled Rebekah to him in a tight hug. “I love you, too, you know.”

  Rebekah kissed his cheek. “I know, my friend, but we’re talking about an entirely different kind of love here. Go get her, Sam. And don’t let her go. Ever. Know I’ll be praying.”

  “Thanks, Beck. I need it.” With a parting grin and salute, Sam waved and left the dorm. Standing just outside the door, he glanced up at the dark, menacing sky. Even the stillness in the air was ominous. Another streak of lightning followed by a clap of thunder confirmed his suspicions.

  Dark clouds loomed overhead and a few large raindrops started to fall as he hurried in the direction of his office. There was no doubt they needed rain. Unfortunately, the rain usually made conditions more humid and muggy instead of cooling the temperatures down.

  Somewhere in the distance, a cracking, splintering sound pierced the eerie silence. A tree going down, hit by lightning, no doubt. Quickening his steps, Sam entered his quarters and closed the screen door, securing it as best he could considering the broken hinges, hoping it wouldn’t bang or fly off altogether if there was much wind with this particular storm.

  Outside, he glimpsed a few of the workers running around the camp, scurrying for shelter. Standing in the doorway of his office, Sam watched Lexa run back to her dorm with Natalie and Winnie. His heart quickened at the mere sight of her. The rain was heavier now, her long hair plastered to her head. Her clothes were soaked through to her skin and clung to Lexa, revealing more than she could possibly ever know, but confirming what he already knew.

  Sam released the light groan trapped in his throat and forced himself to tear his eyes away. Half-praying that Josh Grant didn’t see Lexa before she reached the women’s dorm, he trudged across the wooden floorboards to his desk. He crossed his elbows behind his head and leaned back in the creaky chair, closing his weary eyes. One of these days, that old chair was going to collapse under all his weight.

  ~~**~~

  It was still raining quite hard when the dinner bell sounded a short time later. Standing in the doorway of the dorm and peering outside, Lexa shook her head. “I suppose the bonfire devotionals are canceled with rain like this,” she observed to no one in particular.

  “Yes.” Natalie joined her. “Not to mention the building at the worksite if everything’s all muddy, although some of the guys can be die-hards.”

  A great commotion outside startled them. Several men ran toward Sam’s office, hollering at the top of their lungs.

  “What’s going on?” Winnie stood behind Lexa and Natalie, peering over their shoulders.

  “I’m not sure.” Lexa pushed open the screen door and strained to hear.

  “Fire at the worksite! Fire at the worksite!” Josh ran into the center of the camp in the direction of Sam’s office. Sam flung open the door and came running out to meet Josh and the other men. This time, the screen door flew completely off its hinges, landing on the ground a few feet away, forgotten and abandoned.

  Running outside, with Rebekah and her other roommates close behind, Lexa approached the men huddled together outside Sam’s office. “How can we help?” A number of the other women joined them, and they stood behind the men, watching Sam for direction.

  “Call 9-1-1,” Sam instructed. “Tell them we don’t have access to the hydrants near the worksite and need help. Tell them to hurry.” One of the other girls ran back into the dorm to call.

  “How can there be a fire with all this rain coming down?” one of the guys yelled above the rest of the voices.

  “Because everything was so dry in the first place. It might not be raining as hard at the worksite as it is here. The rain, not to mention the weather, is very fickle here in this area.” Turning to some of the other men, Sam called out commands. In circumstances like this, it was good he was so tall, his voice resonant and commanding.

  Lexa listened, wondering how else she could help. As soon as the men began to scatter to their various posts, she quickly caught up to Sam as he headed for the station wagon. “What can we do?” She reached out her hand to touch his arm, but then dropped it to her side.

  Sam fixed her with a grim look through the pelting rain as she hurried to keep pace. But those blue eyes were kind. “Pray. Pray hard, Lexa.”

  She nodded as he jumped inside the car and slammed the door. Drenched with rain, Lexa watched helplessly as the station wagon rambled down the road, muddy from all the rain. She prayed until she could no longer see the car. Raising her face to the sky, sh
e let the rain intermingle with her tears. “Lord, help them. Don’t let the houses burn. Please, no.” She slowly headed back in the direction of the dorm, her shoulders slumping, not caring that she was getting soaked all over again. It barely even registered.

  “So, what happens now?” After drying off and changing into more dry clothes, Lexa dropped down onto Rebekah’s bed beside her. Great sadness washed over her. It was similar to what she felt when she learned her mother had died. She hadn’t been there, holding her hand when she left this world, and it still haunted her.

  At this very moment, Sam and the other TeamWork men were at the worksite battling the forces of nature, trying to save the homes they’d labored over all summer. But houses could be rebuilt. That’s why they were there in San Antonio, after all. Those houses were so important to Sam. As much as constructing homes, they were rebuilding lives. Lexa hurt for Sam, knowing how much he poured his heart into this mission.

  “After we pray, we wait.” Rebekah draped one arm around Lexa’s shoulders. They looked at each other, wide-eyed, as they heard the distant sounds of emergency fire sirens.

  “Where’s a hammer?”

  “What?” Rebekah’s lips upturned. “Are you planning on doing some repairs, Miss Fix-It?”

  “As soon as this rain lets up, I’m going over to Sam’s office.” Lexa walked over to the door. The rain was easing a bit. “It looks like there’s a screen door calling my name.” She felt proficient enough with a hammer and nails to do this. She had to try.

  Walking across the room, Rebekah glanced over Lexa’s shoulder. “Well, that’s one way to do something to help. Sam’s stronger than he realizes. That poor old door didn’t stand much of a chance against the wrath of the mighty Sam.”