The Grand Scheme: Envy is a Deadly Poison. Faith the Antidote (Phantom Hollow Series, Band 3) - Softcover

Herman, Kathy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1590529235 ISBN 13: 9781590529232

Verlag: PRH Christian Publishing, 2008

Inhaltsangabe

Envy is a deadly poison. Faith is the antidote.

Things couldn’t be better for Rue Kessler. He just married the mother of his eight-year-old son, Montana, and finally has the family he’s always dreamed of. Not only that, his father-in-law hired him to be the new construction supervisor on a big condo project. He’s been sober for eighteen months. He’s finally plugged in at church. And he’s building his wife Ivy the house she’s always dreamed of. Life is good.

Then with no warning, Rue and his wife and son become the target of someone’s cruel and frightening attacks. What reason would anyone have to dash their hopes and dreams? What will it take to stop it? What defense is there against an enemy he can’t see?

While Rue’s head is still reeling, a man on his work crew is found half dead in Tanner Canyon. Are the attacks related? Is someone trying to put a stop to the condo project? Or is something more sinister afoot–something that will take all the faith he’s got to confront?

Über diesen Titel

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Kathy Herman is the best-selling author of thirteen novels, including the Baxter series, Poor Mrs. Rigsby, and the Seaport Suspense novels. Her thought-provoking stories are ordinary enough to be believable, and extraordinary enough to stick with the reader long after the cover is closed. Kathy and her husband, Paul, live in East Texas and have three grown children and five grandchildren. They enjoy world travel, deep sea fishing, and bird watching–sometimes incorporating all three into one big adventure!

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The drone of deep voices in Jewel’s Café turned to silence. Grayson Knolls lifted his gaze to the front door as Rue Kessler came inside and stomped the March snow off his boots.

Grayson fiddled with the bill of his cap and pasted on a bland expression. Too bad you didn’t get run over by a truck on the way over here. He found the thought amusing.

“There’s my future son-in-law.” Elam Griffith pushed back his chair and stood, a broad smile appearing just below his mustache.

Rue did a double take and seemed surprised to see the EG Construction crew sitting around several tables that had been pushed together.

Grayson figured it was an act.

Elam shook Rue’s hand and pulled him into a half bear hug. “I lured you here under false pretenses. I just got through telling the crew that you’ve agreed to be our project manager. It’s official. Congratulations.”

For what? Being handed a job he didn’t earn? I’m the one who deserves it.

The crew applauded, and then Joel Myers got up and shook Rue’s hand. “I’m looking forward to working with you.”

“Thanks, same here,” Rue said.

One by one the others got up and offered congratulations.

Grayson waited until last, then with his fabricated expression still intact, he stood and offered Rue a hearty handshake. “Congratulations. Guess there are fringe benefits to marrying the boss’s daughter.”

Rue laughed. “I never thought of it that way. You know she’s my son’s mother, and we’re finally gonna be a family, right?”

“Yeah, I heard.”

Elam patted Rue on the back. “I’m thrilled for Ivy. But I’m excited about having someone in the family as passionate about this business as I am.”

Grayson took his seat at the table, wrapped his hands around his mug, and imagined how good it would feel to slap the stupid grin off Kessler’s face.

“So when’s the wedding?” Joel asked. “I assume my dad’s going to perform the ceremony?”

“Yeah, Saturday morning, June 7. I told Pastor Myers that if I had my way, we’d elope. But Ivy has her heart set on Woodlands Community Church.”

“So is your kid going to be in it?” Grayson asked.

Rue nodded. “Ring bearer. We’re only having a best man and matron of honor stand up with us. The ceremony’s gonna be simple.”

“But the reception isn’t,” Elam said. “We’re having it out at our place, and Carolyn wants to do it up big. We only have one daughter and plan to marry her off in style. Rue, sit down. Have some coffee and decide what you want for breakfast. You’re the man.”

Still wearing that annoying toothy grin, Rue pulled out a chair across from Grayson. “Life’s pretty terrific right now.”

“No kidding,” Grayson said. “You’ve got your entire future nailed down. Not bad for a guy who arrived here seven months ago–fresh out of rehab on a temporary work program.”

Grayson knew the instant he said it that he shouldn’t have. Heat scalded his cheeks in the awkwardness that followed, and he took a sip of cold coffee, waiting for Rue to put him in his place.

“I can hardly believe it myself.” Rue’s tone was surprisingly nondefensive. “I just thank the Lord for it.”

Elam’s eyes narrowed as he homed in on Grayson. “I asked Rue to manage the retirement village project because he has more experience than anyone here. But both of you are important players, and it’s going to take you two working together to get the first phase done before September. Are we on the same page?”

Grayson bobbed his head, hoping to move past the clumsiness of the moment. “It doesn’t matter to me who I call boss as long as we get the work done right.”

Jewel Sadler appeared at the table, her white hair flattened by a hairnet, a green pad in her hand. “Are you fellas ready to order?”

“We all decided on the skillet scramble,” Elam said. “Rue, what about you?”

“Sounds great.”

“All righty.” Jewel winked at Rue and mouthed the word congratulations. “Rita will bring you fruit muffins and a fresh coffee. We’ll get your order out to you as fast as we can.”

Grayson picked up the plastic carafe and emptied the last of the coffee into Rue’s mug. “So how long have you been in construction?”

“Since the day I got my first set of Tinker Toys. Actually, my granddad was a builder, and I worked for him every summer from middle school through college. In the twelve years since, I’ve worked for several builders on a variety of projects, usually as foreman. I was supervisor on the last one.”

“I’m surprised. I mean, considering your drinking problem and all.”

“Fortunately, I was a functioning alcoholic–till just before I entered rehab, anyway.”

“The point is: He kicked it,” Elam said. “Let’s move on.”

Rue rubbed a coffee ring off the table with his index finger. “If I were Grayson, I’d probably wonder if you would’ve hired an ex-drunk to manage this project if he wasn’t about to become your son-in-law.”

“Well, the nice thing about owning the company is I don’t have to explain my decisions.” Elam glanced across the table at Grayson. “But in case anyone is wondering, I didn’t just pin a title on Rue, I checked out his references. His work history’s broad and impressive. He’s an experienced foreman and supervisor, and he was being groomed for a management role on his last project. Plus he’s got a bachelor’s degree in construction management and civil engineering.”

Elam patted Rue on the back. “He’s exactly what we need. This project is too involved for me to handle by myself, and having someone with his experience to juggle the details solves a big headache for me and for all of us. And it positions us to be on a fast track as soon as the weather warms up. Am I making myself clear?”

“Crystal clear,” Grayson said. “I’m one hundred percent onboard.” But what I plan to do when your back’s turned is another story.

Rue Kessler gripped the wheel of his new Chevy Silverado and felt almost as if he were riding on air. Or was it just his mood? He spotted the entrance to Three Peaks Christian Camp and Conference Center and turned left just shy of it onto the private road that led to his in-laws’ log house.

He scanned the panorama of wide-open range and was awed by the brilliant kaleidoscope of wild flowers that had overtaken the valley floor. In the distance, the blue-gray peaks of the San Juan Mountains formed a backdrop worthy of a travel magazine. Rue let his mind wander, his heart basking in the pristine beauty.

“What’s so funny?”

“Sorry, what?” He turned to Ivy, her face radiant, her intriguing gray eyes animated and exuding joy. He mentally snapped a picture of her expression, determined to keep her that happy for the rest of his life.
“You laughed out loud. I wondered what was so funny.”

Rue picked up her hand and pressed it to his lips, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “I must be really happy because when we turned back there and started driving straight for those majestic peaks, I had...

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: PRH Christian Publishing
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2008
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 1590529235
• ISBN 13: 9781590529232
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Anzahl der Seiten: 336
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: preigu; mail@preigu.de; ; Lengericher Landstr. 19; Osnabrück; 49078; Deutschland