“I’ll tell her, and I’ll encourage her to start writing songs, if she hasn’t already.”

Cord tried calling her. No answer, so he left a message, then hurried out to the stables.

STILL IN BED, Carly received Cord’s message and almost burst into tears yet again. Had she ever cried more in her life? But for completely different reasons that had nothing to do with feelings of grief and rejection. It was the kindness of these people, their boundless generosity.

She pulled on her stretch jeans and a blue-and-green-plaid cotton shirt, one of the few pieces of clothing she had that used to belong to her mom. Then she flounced into the kitchen, self-conscious and at the same time ecstatic.

“Hey,” Mitch said, raising his cup. “You look happy as all get-out.”

“I am! Did you hear I’m going to be singing with The GateCrashers?” She didn’t mention Tina’s birthday, since she wasn’t sure if this was planned as a surprise.

Tina didn’t mention it, either, merely smiled as she poured her a coffee with, as usual, the perfect amount of cream. “Aaron told me. Plus, they want you to write a song or two of your own.”

“I know! And I want to!”

“Any ideas?” Mitch asked.

“I’ll get serious about it today. When we come back from cleaning the motel…”

Tina smiled again. “Good for you, kiddo! And I’ll lay odds that there’ll be something about animals in at least one of your songs.”

Cord-like, Carly rolled her eyes. “Gee, am I really that obvious?”

“Yep,” Mitch said cheerfully. “Sure are.”

“Don’t worry,” Tina threw in. “We like it!”

Carly’s phone buzzed. She put down her mug when she recognized the Lewises’ number. “Hello? Hi, Mary Jean! I heard about the concert today. I’m so excited. I’ll give Ted and Aaron a call this morning.”

“We’re all thrilled. And so, of course, is Holly. We’ll be bringing her to the concert. We’re looking forward to it. Ted’s going to confirm the precise date, and we’ll stay at his place for the weekend. We’ll get together for dinner with you guys, too. We’ll go to the center of your universe.”

Carly couldn’t help giggling. “Sounds good and see you then.”

Song topics. Animals, all kinds of them. Ranches. Western beauty, Western life, which she now felt she’d begun to understand. Mothers, one in particular. Fathers. Friends. Love…

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

SHALLIE CHECKED HER car rental information online. She’d had the car for more than three weeks now. She hadn’t honestly expected to be here that long—although she’d been willing to consider the possibility. Better return this thing to the rental agency, today if possible.