This Time(35)

He had no choice. He hopped into the bachelor chair just as the music faded and the camera lights flashed.

Dave set the scene for everyone. Football's most eligible bachelor could not retire without giving the ladies a final chance to win his heart. So, the David Dubois Show had arranged a little match.

David shoved a stack of cards in Burke's hand and instructed him to quiz the contestants.

He said a quick prayer while Dave egged on the audience.

Lord, let the words of my mouth be pleasing to you. Give me wisdom.

He read the first question, blushed and tossed it aside. The next question he found presentable and proceeded to question the mystery women behind the wall.

Right away he recognized the disguised voice of contestant number one as the woman who did his makeup.

Contestant number two sounded like the comedienne scheduled to entertain after him.

But the sublime voice of contestant number three caused his pulse to quicken.

Grace.

A rush of anticipation forced him to bobble his words, and David heckled him mercilessly.

He regained his composure and fired the rest of the questions at Grace. He drew in the audience, getting them to play along, ignoring the other contestants as they launched mock complaints about being left out of the game. The studio rocked with laughter.

Finally, Dave made him choose. Smug and confidant, Burke picked. "Number three."

Grace stepped around the wall, slender and tanned from the Australian sun, her perfect, diamond-like smile lighting her face.

As she stepped into Burke's embrace, the makeshift stage slid behind the curtain.

Dave hollered over the cheer of the crowd. "We'll be right back after this."

***

Belle sat curled on the sofa hugging a pillow, nervous as Burke stepped before the camera, dashing and confident, wearing charcoal color slacks with a white oxford shirt that accentuated his Oklahoma tan, and a light gray suede jacket.

A thrill shot through her as she watched him on the small screen for the very first time. It seemed hard to comprehend that the man smartly exchanging quips with David Dubois had worked side by side with her on the Bar J half the summer.

"Well, don't he look like a million bucks?" Duke commented, winking at his daughter. The bowl of popcorn propped in his lap perfumed the room. "I'm gonna have to get me some duds like that."

A warm flush flowed from her cheeks to the bottom of her neck. "Yes, he looks very nice, Daddy."

Burke sat in the guest chair, impressing Belle, and probably the rest of the world, as he bantered with the famous David Dubois, renowned for his caustic sarcasm. At the first commercial, the phone rang.

"I'm in awe. I've never seen him like this," Gates bubbled over the phone.

"He's clever," Belle said, her face sore from smiling.

Gates babbled on and on. Belle listened and nodded. Yes, it was hard to believe he was one of Haskell's own. And so down to earth.

"Show's back. Bye." Belle hung up.

She listened as he announced his retirement, her eyes misting as he testified of his faith and commitment to Jesus.

Duke nodded approvingly. "He's doin' all right. I'll have to phone Reese and tell him we raised that boy right."

Belle hid her face in the pillow, dabbing away her tears with the tips of her finger, hope swelling in her heart. Perhaps she and Burke could mend the tear in the tapestry of their lives and create a future together.

Gates called again at the next commercial. "Girl, if you don't give him a second chance, I'll, I'll--"

"You'll what?" Belle wondered, laughing, warmed by her friend's sentiments.

"Give him a second chance," Gates demanded.

"Gates, he hasn't asked for one."

"He will, Belle, he will."

"How do you know so much?"

"Call it a gut feeling. I just think he will."

A thousand tiny butterflies flitted in Belle's stomach. Burke had been gone five days, and it suddenly seemed like five weeks. When did he say he'd be home?

"Commercials are over," Gates said, clicking off the phone.

But the next segment of the David Dubois Show doused any hope that might ignite her heart.

A hot, burning embarrassment tingled over her scalp and down her back the moment Burke recognized Grace as contestant number three. The television camera caught and revealed his excitement at seeing the lovely actress again.

What crazy assumptions had she let herself believe? Belle kicked herself mentally for letting girlish dreams replace sound reasoning. She'd think twice about listening to Mary Beth or Gate's lofty musings. Why would he choose her over Grace? Their relationship was obviously special and close.

Look at them. How can I compete with her?

One by one, she replaced each brick she'd taken from the wall around her heart.

She could feel Duke's eyes on her. "Isn't Grace something, Daddy? Burke is a lucky man."

"Don't look like he's all that keen on her."

She laughed cynically. "Please, Daddy. What man wouldn't give his eyeteeth to be with someone like Grace Peterson? She's beautiful, talented, has a heart of gold."

"She is all those things, but that don't mean Burke's set on her. I seen the way he's been a lookin' your way this summer. Got that old glint in his eye."