Always Tried and Proven Read online

"They'll listen to you, Callie. They'll know that you're real, and not some stuffy thing. It won’t be all that different than what you did at Chapel, back in school. No one would ever have dreamed that you weren’t completely devout, the way that you sing! I think it’s because you have such a fine voice and presentation, and such a gift for interpretation. You seem to mean, deeply, whatever you are singing. It’s just how you are. What do you say? Will you give it a whirl?"

  Callie gave another deep sigh. "Oh, for heaven's sake. You aren't going to take no for an answer, are you?"

  "No." Sadie replied sweetly.

  Callie rolled her eyes. "I will come tomorrow. And I will help you kick things off tomorrow night. After that, we will have to see. I make no promises, we'll just have to see how things go."

  "Oh, Callie! Wonderful, I am so thrilled! Thank you so much!"

  "Sure. I can't argue about the great exposure."

  "That's what makes it ideal for both of us. Callie, you won't be sorry!"

  "I'll remind you that you said that." Callie answered dryly. "Especially, if your dear people figure out you've got a 'bar fly' singing in your 'sweet by and by' tent."

  "Oh, Callie, it won't be like that." Sadie promised.

  Callie snorted. "Sadie, I think perhaps I know some of your religious friends from a perspective you've never imagined. There's a whole bunch of people who think that if you set foot in a bar, especially every day, that you're a bad woman. No better than a whore, because if you aren't one when you go in, you're going to become one if you stay there very long. My mama always used to say, 'if you lay down with dogs, you're going to get fleas'. And that's the way people see it. They figure that the bar has surely 'tainted' me and I must not be any good."

  Sadie shook her head. "Callie, are people really so cruel to you?" she asked worriedly.

  Callie took a sip of her soda. "They can be, on occasion. I can only imagine the uproar you're going to face, if your religious community figures out who and what I am."

  Sadie sighed. "Well, darn it, Callie, I don't care what they say or think. I'll risk it, if you will."

  Callie shook her head ruefully. "I'll do it for you, but I wouldn't for anybody else, Sadie. We've been friends a long time."

  "Thank you, Callie. I'll do all I can to ensure that it's wonderful. And, very comfortable for you, too."

  "That would be great. But right now, I'm headed for bed. You just make yourself at home, and yell if you need anything. And, thanks for a great day."

  "Thanks, Callie. It was great! I'm very much enjoying being here with you. I’m very grateful to be staying with you this month, and catching up with you."

  Callie smiled and waved a light-hearted goodnight with her fingers.

  The sound of the doorbell woke Callie from a deep sleep. She groaned and looked at her clock. "Nine-thirty in the morning?" she snapped groggily. "Ugh! Now who in the world could that be?" She groaned, as the sound of the shower accompanied the doorbell's second round.

  Growling, Callie rolled out of bed and shrugged into her short, terry robe. "Coming!" she yawned, trying with fumbling fingers to fasten her robe and push her hair back as she stumbled to the front door. She opened the door as far as the safety chain would allow, and looked out sleepily through locks of long, brown hair.

  "Yes?" she asked the strange man, a bit suspiciously.

  “Are you ... Callie Wilson?"

  "Yes."

  "My name is Sam. I’m here to pick up Sadie."

  "Oh. I'm sorry, just a minute." She mumbled. She unhooked the chain, and swung the door open to let him in. She looked up at him inquiringly, and waved him in. "Please come in," she offered, her voice sounding husky with sleep.

  He thanked her, and looked at her with perplexed amusement as she closed the door. He reached for her hand, and she let him take it. He just held it, and looked at her. His eyes crinkled into a smile that warmed her clear through.

  "I'm very happy to meet you, Callie." He said with his interesting accent. "Sadie seems to be very fond of you, so you must be delightful."

  Callie looked up at him sharply. "No, not really." She denied with a chuckle. “Especially, this time of the morning. Please excuse me for sleepwalking.” she bantered.

  The man was ... arresting. She couldn't seem to take her eyes from his, and then, she finally noticed that he was still holding onto her hand.

  He was beautiful. Nothing but purely male, yet beautiful just the same. He was well over six feet, and very broad. He had very shiny golden hair, full but nicely layered and smooth. It lay against his shoulders, like a mane. His eyes were blue and green. Both. Literally, she could see both colors and could not decide which they were. There were flecks of green, yet just as many of ocean blue.

  As she studied his eyes, she discovered that he was staring at her, every bit as intently. He seemed to look through her, causing her to feel very exposed. Very vulnerable. His eyes were honest, but they cut and probed. She knew without wondering for a second that you just wouldn't try to lie to this man. He was extremely discerning.

  He had round cheekbones, and a firm chin. He was lean, but very powerfully built. He emanated strength and power in a quiet, calm way. His lips were finely shaped, his teeth were very white and even. He was simply the most beautiful human being she'd ever seen.

  She realized she'd been staring shamelessly, and blushed brilliantly. She pulled her hand out of his, and turned away.

  "I think I hear the shower running, which explains why Sadie didn't come to the door. I'll see if she put on a pot of coffee, and then I'll find out how she's doing." She said tightly. She didn't wait for his reply. She hurried into the kitchen, and poured him a cup of hot coffee.

  "Cream, if you have it." A voice said, from just behind her shoulder. Callie’s heart turned over, and she jumped.

  "I'm sorry, Callie. First I wake you up, and then I startle you out of your skin. Please forgive me." His hands on her arms, steadying her, made her whirl around to escape his touch.

  "Oh, that's all right.” she chuckled. “I'm just used to being here alone." She explained quickly.

  He smiled at her so warmly; and she found herself simply staring again, as though mesmerized. Then, she was acutely embarrassed all over again.

  "There's some Half and Half in the 'fridge. Please help yourself, while I see about Sadie." She tumbled the words out over her shoulder, put her head down, and darted out of the kitchen. She didn't look up again until she was safe in her room, with the door closed.

  This was simply bizarre! Her hands were trembling, and she was breathing hard. The man upset her composure, terribly. She hadn’t thought that she might be greeting a male when she’d gone out there in her short, terry robe. She’d felt absolutely naked with so much leg showing; and also, far too much cleavage. Her skimpy, pink lace negligee had been very little help. She calmed herself, and then tapped on the guest room door.

  "Sadie?" she whispered.

  The door opened, and Sadie smiled at her, happily. "Good morning, honey. Did I wake you? I'm so sorry."

  "No. Actually, your ride did. He's out there, getting coffee."

  Sadie's face lit up like a Christmas tree. "Oh, Sam is here? Wonderful! Callie, do you like him?"

  Callie stiffened up immediately. "He seems nice enough, but I'm still half asleep. Excuse me, I really need to get some clothes on."

  "Be sure to come out, and see us off." Sadie pleaded. "I do want Sam to get to know you a little bit, he's just wonderful. I know you'll like him. And, he will love having you sing in the tent."

  "Fine. I'll just be a minute." Callie mumbled. She put on a long, cobalt blue silk tunic with matching pants, and combed out her long hair. Then, reluctantly, she walked out to her living room to find Sam sitting on the patio with his coffee.

  He watched her walk toward him with unmasked interest – and what certainly appeared to be a good measure of male appreciation. Callie found it difficult to equate this man with the one that Sadie had described. He wa
sn’t preacher-like or stand-offish toward her in any way, shape or form. And that was quite unusual for a preacher, in Callie’s experience.

  "Sadie's about ready. She should be with you in just a sec." She informed him stiffly. She simply couldn't help it, she couldn't relax. For some reason, this man unnerved her terribly.

  "Can I get you some coffee?" he asked teasingly. "You look as if you're still fighting off sleep."

  "Don't worry about it. Most people would be up by this time. I didn't work last night, but sleeping in late is a deeply ingrained habit." She explained.

  "What do you do?" he asked lightly.

  "I'm an entertainer." She answered coolly.

  "Really? Tell me more." He asked quietly.

  "I'm just a good old, Country singer. I work in bars." She answered simply, but her eyes offered a chilly challenge. Her words were like a gauntlet, thrown at his feet.

  "Don't you buy it, Sam. She can sing anything, and make you weep. Nothing is too high, too low or too challenging for this lady." Sadie praised as she joined them. “She’s got the sweetest tone you could imagine, and yet at the same time, she can conjure the sexiest growl and purr you ever heard.”

  Sam stood up and welcomed Sadie with a big hug. "Hello, Sadie. My, it's good to see you." He said with conviction.

  "I can certainly say the same to you." Sadie purred, hugging him soundly. "You've been gone too long! How was your trip?"

  "Eh, a bit rough, but I'll be all right." He dismissed it. "We got the job done, anyway."

  "You can tell me all about it while we drive." Sadie suggested. "We are running a bit late, Sam. I'm sorry."

  "No problem." He assured her, finishing the coffee quickly. He stood up and turned his eyes to Callie. "Callie, thank you. You've been very gracious to me. I hope that we'll see you at the tent?"

  "Oh; you will, Sam.” Sadie intercepted. I haven't had a chance to tell you, but Callie is going to sing at the tent tonight. And perhaps every night this month. I'll fill you in as we go.” She hinted.

  But Sam's eyes never left Callie's face, so Sadie’s hint was all but lost on him. "All right, already." He said with good-natured irritation. He picked up Callie's hand and squeezed it gently, examining her slim fingers and her shining, clear painted nails. Then he looked up into her eyes; and he seemed to look through to her deepest place, her private core. He somehow managed in that instant, to get inside her skin. He touched her there, in her deepest heart.

  She felt almost as though someone had punched her quickly in the stomach, knocked the wind from her, suddenly. Except that there was a sweet excitement that sped through her , and flooded her with tingling warmth.

  "Tonight then, Callie." He said quietly. Then he turned, and followed Sadie out the front door.

  Callie couldn't help gaping after him. She gasped, suddenly close to panic as he closed the door behind him. This preacher had found a way to get to her, and she was extremely uncomfortable with that! She didn’t want any religious experiences or romantic overtures either, for that matter. Not with someone like this guy. He was dangerous in both arenas.

  And, Sadie had made it clear he wasn’t in the market for a woman, so to let the male in him affect her was pure foolishness! She wasn’t sure what had happened, or just how he’d managed to get to her, or what it all might mean.

  He was extremely handsome in his black, collarless suit and turquoise shirt. He wore black Snake skin boots with an undercut heel. She liked the way his hair curled over his collar onto his shoulders. His legs were muscular; one could see the muscles rippling under the crisp, sharply creased slacks. He was altogether, a very dashing package.

  She was mystified. This man's very presence packed a wallop. She couldn't quite figure out why. Was it his eyes? His personality? His Australian accent? His formidable build? It was all of those things, she supposed, but it was more than that. When he was in the room, you just didn't pay any attention to anything or anyone, else. He simply commanded attention and created excitement wherever he was. Callie knew it, instinctively.

  And, the way he'd looked at her; she grabbed her throat just thinking about it. He was ... very unsettling. She knew that word kept coming into her mind, but she just couldn't find another one.

  She felt as if he'd looked into the depths of her soul and examined it carefully. It felt as though he had looked, and then deposited something inside her; something that would make her respond to him, whenever he wished. She felt almost violated.

  Yet, it was not in a way that she could say there was anything wrong. It had just been pervasive, and thorough; but not evil. Rather, it was kind of a lovely, breathless feeling. But it still frightened her.

  Callie sighed heavily, and went to take a long, hot bath.

  Sadie came back around four o'clock that afternoon. "Callie?" she called eagerly.

  "In here." Callie answered from her bedroom.

  Sadie burst in, all smiles. "How soon can you be dressed?" she demanded.

  "Oh; half an hour, maybe. Why, may I ask?" she answered uneasily.

  "Because, Sam is taking us to dinner." Sadie explained exuberantly.

  "Oh! Sadie, no. I don't think so." Callie protested. She discovered that her heart was hammering against her ribs. "Sadie, I can’t. He's not ... you know. He seems nice, but he really makes me extremely uncomfortable."

  Sadie shook her head. "You'll get used to him. He's wonderful. And it's a very big honor, at least for me, to have him ask. Come on, now! Please, will you do this for me? I've never been asked to dinner by Sam. Now, if you won't go, it might mess things up for me.”

  “You've just got to come along, Callie! Please? He's my boss, you know. Please do this, for me. You know how it is; he’s single, I’m single. He couldn’t take just me to dinner; it would look really bad. Please, please, please!"

  Callie growled, and rolled her eyes. "Okay, okay. Just give me a few minutes. And don't you dare tell him I'm not like you. The last thing I need is that steamroller of a man trying to 'save me'." She dramatized.

  "Oh, Callie, he's not like that at all, I promise you. But thank you, thank you! I won't forget this!"

  Callie pressed her lips together, and turned to her wardrobe. "Neither, I fear, will I." She agreed dryly.

  She went through her wardrobe with a critical eye. What did one wear to sing in a revival tent meeting? She wondered. "Something modest. Very nice, but not too flashy. Don't want to be over dressed." She muttered.

  She chose a crisp, white sun dress, with a long denim duster over. Then, she selected a pair of white Western boots with tall, undercut heels. She looked at herself critically in the mirror, and sighed. She decided she'd best pull her hair up, and fashioned it into a chignon, fastened with jeweled combs that complimented her outfit. She added light, tasteful makeup, a silver and turquoise belt, bracelet and earrings. Then, she joined Sadie in the living room.

  Sadie gaped at her in astonishment. "Oh, my!" she said lightly. "You look smashing! Callie, you're incredible. I don't think I've ever seen such a beautiful woman."

  "Get real." Callie drawled, picking up her purse and two garment bags.

  When Sadie protested that she was gorgeous, she shot her a dark look. "Thanks." She added almost sourly.

  Sadie’s gushing made her want to turn around, and change into something less “smashing”. She wasn’t used to thinking about the clothes she wore; she was an entertainer and as such, she was always looking sharp. But if it was going to draw any extra attention to her from this man … she would certainly change!

  Sadie widened her eyes, and shrugged. "Just my opinion. And I mean it sincerely."

  Callie sighed. "I know you did. I'm sorry." She grumbled. "You know, I think I should drive myself, in case I run short on time."

  "All right." Sadie agreed. "I'll ride to the restaurant with you, and Sam can follow us. Drive around to the street and I'll meet you there, after I check to see if Sam's arrived. He should be here by now."

  Callie nodded. When sh
e pulled out of the drive, she saw that Mr. Stringer had indeed arrived, in a sparkling, new, white Cadillac Seville. She tried not to look at him, but it was somehow very difficult. She continued to be acutely aware of him, as he followed them to the restaurant that Sadie had decided on. Once, her gaze met his in the rear view mirror; and she quickly darted her eyes away.

  When she had parked and locked her truck, Sam came up between the two ladies and put an arm around each of them. Callie literally jumped when she felt his warm hand settle around her waist.

  “Callie, I'm glad you could come. You two look lovely this evening. I'll bet I'm the envy of every man on the Eastern Seaboard, tonight."

  Callie tried to smile, but it was a stiff and completely insincere attempt to be polite. She only just wanted to run out from under his arm! His closeness upset her balance, horribly. She kept her lip buttoned and her eyes on the floor until they were seated in a booth.

  She suddenly stopped breathing, when Sam sat down in the booth beside her. She just could not believe it! Every nerve in her body was screaming with anxiety. To make matters worse, he stretched his arm along the back of the booth behind her. She felt absolutely miserable. She shot Sadie a stunned look, as her friend sat down in the only seat left, but Sadie seemed totally unperturbed that Sam had chosen to cozy up to Cal.

  "So, Callie. Where are you working tonight?" he asked, seeming unaware of her discomfort.

  She shot him a nervous look, and then stared at her hands. "It's a place called the West Valley Saloon." She answered tightly.

  "Is it a nice place? Or, not so pleasant?" he continued.

  She gave him a bold look, taking obvious offense. "It is very nice. I don't knowingly play any other kind." She told him in a chilly voice.

  "I am quite certain of that. But asking got you to look at me, didn't it?" he asked lightly. A teasing smile played around the corners of his mouth, and Callie stiffened her neck. She wanted to be angry, but all she could feel was confusion. His blue-green eyes probed hers playfully. He looked almost boyish and yet, very sexy, when he looked at her in that teasing way.

  Callie bit her lip and averted her eyes. Tonight, he was wearing a crisp, white linen shirt and he had a silk handkerchief in his coat pocket, that matched. "I suppose it did." She agreed superficially.