Page 49 of Stealing Kisses

Mr. Mitchell challenged the congregation to connect the two concepts to each individual’s personal life experiences. First, by listing three types of wealth present in one’s life. His examples included health, happiness, and success. Baylin had writtenthe farm, family legacy,andpersonal relationships.

The second step was to list the responsibilities that came with each type of wealth written on the paper. Duties and chores never strayed far from Baylin’s mind; she didn’t have to think long about her answer…caring for the animals, caring for the land, caring for my loved ones.

For the third and final step, Mr. Mitchell instructed everyone to think about how the three types of wealth were obtained and how prayer and faith played a role in receiving the blessings of that wealth.

I’d have nothing without God’s help; I’ve prayed for each of these gifts time and time again, and the Lord provided. I have faith that my prayers will come true.

Baylin circled what she’d written and drew a large star beside it.

Receiving Teddy’s love would be the richest of gifts. Possessing such a treasure meant accepting the great responsibility of having faith in his love, in their devotion to one another. That, in turn, required belief they would always find a way forward, a way in which theybothwon. Thus, winning and trusting Teddy with her heart were the same.

I love Teddy Gwenn.

“I’m ready to go,” Baylin said. Well, she mouthed it more than said it, since the fan club around Teddy and Max had increased rather than decreased.

He smiled, nodded, and waved in every direction, weaving his way through the masses and to Baylin’s side.

“I’m ready to go,” she repeated. “On that car ride.”

“What about your booth?”

“After church dismissed, I spoke to one of the high schoolers helping me this weekend. I gave him the key to the cargo trailer. After the kids load what’s left at the booth, he’ll pull it to the farm and leave the key in the barn. I’m free for the rest of the day.”

Had sheeversaid those words in her life?

“What about the farm?”

“I hired someone to feed, water, and check lines this evening. Everything else can wait until tomorrow.”

She’dneveruttered those words!

“But what about your quilt? I thought the final festival event was an assembly to announce the winners of all the competitions.”

“I’ve already won.”

“You won? That’s amazing. I knew?—”

“No, no, no.” Baylin waved her hands to get Teddy’s attention. “I didn’t win the contest—I mean, I don’t know who placed in all the different categories. It doesn’t matter.”

“It doesn’t?”

“No, I won a greater prize,” she said, sidling up to Teddy with a grin.

“Did you now?”

Baylin didn’t need a mirror to know her cheeks turned the color of a firetruck…just as they had when he’d said that same thing in that same way the night before, when she’d admitted to seeing him half-dressed in her barn.Hedidn’t need to know it had happened more than once. On purpose.

“Yes, I’ll tell you all about it,” she said in her best impression of someone who knew how to flirt. “When we’re on the road…with Boxy.”

That did it. Teddy hollered a generic farewell and grabbed Baylin’s hand to drag her to the truck.

Going all caveman turned out to be unnecessary; Baylin matched him stride for stride.

“Thisis the seatbelt? This harness…thingy? Good heavens, is it even legal?”

“Baylin, it’s a vintage race car,” Teddy pointed out with his signature boy-like charm. Unnecessarily, of course. After a week of Teddy’s endless Boxy talk, Baylin could’ve described every stitch of the tan vinyl basket-weave interior, listed every element of the aluminum 4-cylinder engine, and recited every part of the two sandcasted carburetors and dual ignition.

“Yes, I’m aware,” she muttered.

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