At lunch, Shallie also suggested renovating the office and hallways. And the outside. Cord explained that he’d be willing to invest, and he thought J.P. would, too. They’d make some basic profit-sharing arrangement. Russ told them he was more than happy with everything; this was a whole new life for him. He said he was becoming part of the community in a way he’d never been before. And he thanked Shallie for her kindness, her encouragement.

Shallie was moved, knowing that her presence in Painted Pony Creek had made a difference.

CHAPTER TWENTY

ELI TALKED TO Katie Fairfield, originally Katie Dupree, a nurse and ex-girlfriend of Cord’s, about getting DNA tests done. She recommended using blood samples, which she said she’d be willing to take and submit to the lab situated in the county hospital. As sheriff, he was familiar with that lab, which was also used for criminal cases.

Katie agreed to meet them, together with her husband, Dr. Zach Fairfield, at Cord’s place for that purpose. She warned him the results would probably take at least a month, since medical and criminal cases had priority—a fact he was already well aware of.

They met at Cord’s late Friday afternoon; Katie collected the samples, and then she and Zach settled in for a relaxed hour or so. Well, sort of relaxed. It seemed to Eli that they were all determined to avoid talking about this important next step. Including Katie, whom he’d informed of the situation.

He hoped they’d get a response by mid-October…

He reflected that this evening was typical of the Fridays they often spent at Cord’s. Except that Shallie had become a regular participant—and more than that, the two of them appeared to be a couple now. A real couple, although Cord hadn’t confided in him or J.P. about that yet.

He saw their relationship as good news. It had made sense to him practically from the day of her arrival.

This was the first Friday in September, and so much had already changed. Obviously Carly’s arrival was a big part of that; she had a role in their lives and in their town, and now she was attending the same high school they had.

Once the DNA results were in, even more would change.

Eli knew he had to present a positive outlook. And he did. He believed his own declarations—and those of Cord and J.P. However things turned out, they’d be okay. They’d talked about it. And they’d talked with Carly, alone and as a group.

Cord’s place tonight offered the usual welcoming atmosphere; Eli enjoyed the time they spent with Katie and Zach, who stayed for a drink, then left before supper to get home to their kids.