The Lewis Legacy Series Box Set: 4-in-1 Special Edition Page 5

  “Here, have a drink of water.”

  Lexa accepted the cold cup of ice water from Rebekah with a grateful smile. Tipping that cup over and letting it fall on her head sounded like a pretty good proposition, too, but thirst won out. She remembered Sam’s comment about getting used to the heat. Right now, that didn’t seem possible.

  “Thanks.” She drained half the glass before stopping. “I definitely needed that.”

  “Yeah,” Rebekah agreed, swinging her long, tanned legs around to sit beside Lexa on a stack of cement blocks. “You have to keep hydrating yourself in this heat, and you’d better get a hat or you’ll get a serious sunburn. We blondes have to stick together. Did you bring a hat?”

  Lexa shook her head. “No, as a matter of fact. Call it an unfortunate lack of foresight.” She frowned. It was pretty careless not to think of something so practical. Not to mention sunglasses. Served her right for not following the suggested packing list.

  “You can’t be expected to think of everything. I’ll check around and see if anyone has an extra. If they don’t, maybe we can get Sam to run us into town in the morning. Well, I’d better go see if anyone else needs a drink of water. See you later.” Rebekah tossed a wave over her shoulder as Lexa called out her thanks.

  “Lovely girl, isn’t she?”

  Squinting in the blinding afternoon sunlight, Lexa shielded her eyes with one hand while nodding in agreement. “Yes, she is.” She rose from her position to gain a better view of the blond man standing beside her. “Nice, too.”

  “I suppose she’s nice enough if you’re not related to her.” He extended his hand. “Josh Grant.” His smile deepened the color of his Oz-like emerald green eyes. A lot of women would follow that proverbial yellow brick road all the way home if it led to this man.

  “Rebekah’s brother.” One eyebrow raised. He did bear an uncanny resemblance to her statuesque, blonde roommate. “Twin brother, to be exact. Of course, I’m the better looking of the two of us.”

  “And certainly the most humble. Nice to meet you. I’m Lexa Clarke.”

  “I know. Beck pointed you out at lunch, but things were kind of hectic so I didn’t get over to meet you. My mistake.” His grin was playful. “Is this your first TeamWork mission?” Those green eyes looked at her with unabashed interest.

  “Is it that obvious?”

  “No, but I’m sure I’d remember if I’d met you at a TeamWork camp before.”

  Smooth operator, this one. Lexa handed him a hammer. “Here. Channel all that charm and make yourself useful. I need some help.” Josh laughed and winked. She explained the job of hammering thick strips of wood together. Together they made much quicker work of the assignment than she could have done by herself.

  An unsettled feeling came over her at one point. Glancing up from her work, Lexa spotted Sam standing about a hundred yards away. He’d changed into khaki shorts and brown, sturdy work boots. Caught staring, Sam raised his hand. Even so, the look on his face struck her as odd. Call it intuition, but Lexa wondered if it had something to do with the man working beside her. Returning Sam’s wave, she lowered her head and tried to focus on Josh’s latest story.

  Like his sister, Rebekah’s twin kept up a steady stream of conversation. He asked her questions about her work and life in Houston. Ambitious and forward-thinking, Josh already graduated college a year ahead of Rebekah and planned to begin law school the week after their TeamWork mission ended.

  Not wanting to lose her concentration, Lexa nodded as they worked to indicate she listened. As much as anything else, she wanted to prove her worth as a hard worker. To herself as much as to one extremely tall cowboy.

  ~~**~~

  “I’ve got to grab a quick shower before dinner.” Lexa walked alongside Rebekah as they returned to the dorm late in the afternoon. At least the sun wasn’t quite so high on the horizon, and a slight breeze broke the monotony of the heat.

  “We take about three showers a day around here.” Another girl jumped off her bed and moved forward. “Hi, Lexa. I’m Amy Jacobsen. We met in the canteen earlier, but I don’t expect you to remember my name.” Amy pushed a strand of shoulder-length, dark hair behind one ear and gave her a friendly smile.

  “It’s nice to meet you.” Lexa returned the other girl’s smile. “There’s so many names to learn, and forget about last names.” After all, she was better with numbers, not people.

  Amy nodded. “It seems impossible, but you’ll surprise yourself at how quickly you’ll learn. Don’t give up. Here you go.” Grabbing a piece of paper tacked by the front door, she thrust it in Lexa’s hand. “This is a list of everyone here in the camp. It’ll help you. Do you need soap for the shower or anything?”

  “I think I have everything I need, thanks.” Lexa glanced down at the long list of names, knowing they wouldn’t mean anything until she could associate them with faces. She unzipped her suitcase and retrieved a bath towel. That shower was going to feel so good, and the hot water would soothe her tired, aching muscles. Nonetheless, it was true—hard, honest labor was incredibly satisfying.

  “I understand you met my notorious twin brother.” Finished with their showers a short time later, Rebekah scooped her long hair into a pony tail as Lexa braided her damp hair in front of the small square mirror mounted on the wall.

  “Josh is very nice.”

  “Watch him, Lexa. He makes people laugh and they end up smashing their fingers with hammers and stuff like that. In other words, he’s a work hazard, dangerous to be around when you’re working.” Rebekah hastily threw everything into a bag and shoved it underneath her bed.

  “Thanks. I’ll take it under advisement.”

  “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” With a parting wave, Rebekah headed out of the building with Amy.

  “Do I have time for a quick nap before dinner?” Lexa asked the other girl sitting alone on another single bed in the otherwise empty women’s dorm.

  She nodded her short-cropped, dark head. “Ye–ye–yes bu–but only a–a sh–sh–short one.” Her voice was quiet and accompanied by a shy, but very sweet, smile.

  Dropping down onto her bed, Lexa sighed. “Maybe I’ll read then,” she commented, more to herself than the other girl. If she didn’t nap long enough, she’d get grumpy. She wanted to be as agreeable as possible for this summer assignment. As it was, the high humidity wasn’t doing any favors for her disposition.

  It wasn’t long before the dinner gong sounded. Her roommate closed her Bible and put it on her pillow. Her bed was incredibly neat, the sheets and lightweight blanket tucked in at the corners with near-military precision.

  “I’m Lexa. What’s your name?” They walked out of the building together in the direction of the dining tent.

  “Sh–Sh–heila,” came the soft reply.

  Lexa looked over at her and smiled. “Are you from Texas, too?”

  Sheila’s dark eyes widened and she shook her head, but it was hard to determine her response. She met Lexa’s eyes for a split second before turning away, avoiding her gaze. But not before Lexa caught the look of fear in her deep brown eyes. It was only there for a fleeting second, but there was no mistaking it. What’s this girl afraid of? Even the way Sheila walked, with her shoulders hunched and her head down, she looked afraid of her own shadow.

  Entering the large dining tent, Lexa heard her name being called. Josh waved an arm in her direction. It was like being invited to sit at the popular kids’ table in school. Intending to invite Sheila to join her as she threaded her way among the long tables, Lexa watched her head off in another direction.

  “Ah, Miss Clarke. I’m so glad you’ve decided to join us this evening. I trust you feel refreshed?” Josh grinned, Rebekah rolled her eyes, and the others within range laughed. “Here, sit by me.” He moved over on the bench and patted the seat beside him.

  “Thanks.” Lexa glanced around the table at the other smiling faces. As she waited for the blessing, Lexa’s focus settled on the person she’d unconsciou
sly been seeking. Sam. Sitting a few tables away, he faced her, engaged in conversation with a man she recognized as another new volunteer. A shock of wavy dark hair fell across Sam’s forehead beneath the ever-present cowboy hat.

  Watching him, Lexa wished she could tuck his hair out of the way of those piercing blue eyes. Stop it, Lexa. She’d never had the desire to run her fingers through a man’s hair before. Why now? Why here? It made no sense.

  She drew in a quick breath when his eyes met hers. He nodded and gave her a small salute, sending her pulse into overdrive. This, too, was getting ridiculous. Besides his obvious good looks, what was it about this man that intrigued her? Shaking her head and trying to regain her concentration, Lexa listened to the various conversations around the table.

  “Where’s Sam?” Josh looked around the tent. “He’d better pray soon, or I’m going to have to do it. We can’t sit around starving all night, waiting for him to finish his conversation.” He motioned to Sam. “Hey Sam, pray for this meal already, will you?” Spontaneous laughter and a smattering of applause broke out as everyone turned in Sam’s direction.

  Rising to the occasion, their leader rose to his feet. The smile lines were very much in evidence as he removed his hat, clasped it in front of him, and bowed his head. “Let’s pray.”

  Glancing around as everyone around her bowed, Lexa admired the respect Sam commanded from his crew of volunteers. It was as though he was their leader in an army. It was an army of sorts, kind of like God’s army. A snippet of a song from childhood Sunday school class floated into her mind. Maybe some things you don’t forget. They just get pushed back a bit in the mind. It was something about being in the Lord’s army . . . shoot the artillery . . . fight in the cavalry . . . Closing her eyes, Lexa bowed her head and concentrated on Sam’s words.

  “We thank you for bringing these wonderful people here to help us out in our work this summer. We thank you for bringing our newest volunteers to us today. We pray for your watchcare over us, and we thank you for this food that’s been prepared. Most of all, Father, we pray for the salvation of those we’re here to help. Help us to impress upon them the need for the Savior in their lives so that they might see your mighty power and the glory of your name.”

  A rousing chorus of amens echoed throughout the group in the tent as Sam sat back down and the meal began.

  Looking around the group of about sixty workers, Lexa spied Amy pouring drinks. Three other girls and two guys served the barbecued beef sandwiches. It was only a matter of time before she’d be expected to pitch in and do her part. Good. Being on a list would help her feel included, a part of the group. She’d look forward to it.

  “Those sandwiches smell great,” Rebekah commented as one of the servers brought the plate of steaming food to their table. Lexa didn’t realize how hungry she was until she took her first bite of the sandwich. Soon, she ate with relish, marveling at her own voracious appetite.

  “It’s something about the heat and hard work.” Rebekah nodded at Lexa’s empty plate. “People either lose their appetite or find themselves incredibly hungry. It seems to have the latter effect on you.”

  “I’m going to have to watch it or I’ll gain weight this summer.” Lexa chose an apple from the bowl of fruit on the table.

  “That’s doubtful.” Amy rejoined their group after finishing her serving duties, at least for the moment. “With all the work we do around here, you’re going to need the food for sustenance. Believe me, you’ll work it off, so my advice is to eat up.”

  Lexa shot her a grateful glance. Without a doubt, this bubbly girl had been a cheerleader. Her enthusiasm was infectious. At the worksite earlier in the afternoon, Amy kept the group in stitches with her anecdotes, from what little snippets Lexa’s overheard in-between Josh’s stories.

  “Coming to the bonfire tonight, Lexa?” Josh took a long, slow sip of his iced tea. Those green eyes were too good to be true. He needed to stop looking at her like that. And the winking thing even more so. Besides, he was too young for her. Still, he entertained her with humorous stories, and she liked being around Josh and his sister. Both were so nice and made her feel welcome in the TeamWork camp. Everyone had, as a matter of fact.

  “I don’t know,” Lexa began, shooting Rebekah a question with her eyes. For the first time, Lexa noticed Josh’s twin’s eyes were every bit as deep green with little flecks of amber dancing around in those orbs. “I didn’t know we were having a bonfire.” What in the world would they do there? For starters, Lexa imagined they’d sing and pray.

  “We have one every night,” Josh told her. “You’ll love it. It’s a chance to kick back, relax, sing, share a testimony, get to know each other better, and grow closer to the Lord.”

  It sounded pretty good until the last part about growing closer to the Lord. What had she gotten herself into here? What in the world was a testimony? Suddenly, the truth washed over her—she was a phony. An imposter. She didn’t know anything about being a Christian, and here she was with this wonderful group of people who accepted her without question and believed she belonged to their group.

  Lexa stood on the outside looking in. Sam Lewis already had her number, and it wouldn’t take long for the rest of his volunteers to surmise the same. Lexa silently absorbed the lively banter around her, aware that Rebekah eyed her with a curious expression.

  As she left the dining tent a short time later, Lexa stared at the ground and kicked up dust with her boots as she shuffled along. She made a conscious effort to pick them up and not stumble. Even though they were important for the work she was there to do, she felt ridiculous wearing them. It was called forsaking vanity for practicality.

  “Coming to the bonfire tonight, Miss Clarke?”

  She tried to control the wild fluttering inside. Just keep walking, Lexa.

  Chapter 6

  Lexa stumbled for a split second before catching herself. All she needed was to fall on her face, in the dirt at the TeamWork director’s boot-covered feet. That would pretty much complete her humiliation. For whatever reason, Sam liked seeking her out. While flattering, it was unnerving. That blue-eyed gaze traveled down to her feet, and the already familiar grin surfaced.

  “I’m not sure. I’m kind of tired.” It was only a half-truth, but Lexa didn’t know what might be expected. If she had to say anything—or was expected to share her feelings with the others—she preferred the option of being able to slip away unnoticed. So, it was better not to go. End of story. She’d pretend to be exhausted at the end of a long first day and then go to bed early. She didn’t know what her excuse would be after tonight, but she was creative and would come up with something.

  Lexa looked around at the barren landscape of the camp. “There’s not much to look at, is there?” She avoided looking at Sam, but it was tempting. That question sounded leading, and she shouldn’t have asked it.

  “Oh, I wouldn’t say that, exactly.” She heard the smile in his voice. “And whenever you have an answer to the home in your heart question, I’m waiting to hear it.”

  Here we go again. “You’re like an elephant and never forget anything, do you?”

  “I try not to.” Sam laughed. “There’s always something that helps me remember. Take you, for instance.”

  Her brows shot up. “Me? What do you mean?”

  “Braid. Numbers. People. Something about you that’s different, what you’re about, and what you’re afraid of.”

  “That’s pretty simplistic. And I didn’t say I’m afraid of people. I only said numbers are easier and safer . . . than people,” Lexa stammered. “Numbers are finite, although they can certainly change. But I can always depend on them.”

  “Ah-ha. Bingo!” His tone sounded triumphant.

  Her curiosity got the best of her. “Okay, Mr. Freud. What does that say about me?”

  “Numbers don’t disappoint the way people can.” Compassion resonated in that deep, masculine voice.

  Lexa shrugged. “Disappointment’s a big part
of life. I’m a big girl. I can handle it.”

  “You don’t always have to be so defensive, Lexa. You’re among friends here.” His eyes met hers, holding them steady.

  Her breathing grew shallow. He had her pegged. Biting her lower lip, Lexa resolved not to reveal her vulnerability to this man. Sam was unusually perceptive, not to mention intuitive. Had he tipped Rebekah and Josh off about her, asked them to befriend her? Were they only acting like her friends as a favor to him? She didn’t want to think things like that, but her mind was clouded, confused. Struggling for an answer, she gave him a helpless shrug.

  “From what I’ve seen so far, you’re getting to know the volunteers and fitting in. Feel free to join us at the bonfire tonight. I think you’d have a good time.” Sam turned to go.

  “Sam?” Lexa hated the slight tremor in her voice. It betrayed her every time.

  “Yes?” Those baby blues looked kind, drawing her in.

  “Thanks.” It sounded inadequate, but she wanted him to know she appreciated his efforts to make her feel comfortable in the camp.

  “For what?” He sounded genuinely puzzled.

  “Thanks for taking an interest and making me feel welcome.” A question came to her mind. What did she have to lose? “Sam?”

  “Yes?” A grin of amusement upturned his lips.

  “Tell me something. Do you personally pick up all the camp volunteers at the bus station when they arrive for duty?” Goodness, she made it sound like boot camp. She might as well embroider Private Clarke on her blouse, salute the leader and march back to her barracks.

  He pulled the Stetson low on his head and ran anchoring fingers around its rim. “Nah. Only the spicy girls. It’s inherent in my position as director.” The smile lines deepened, and the faint lines around his eyes crinkled as Sam gave her a respectful tip of the hat and pivoted on his boot.