“I’m…from this town. We met while I was in high school.” Cord saw that Shallie still seemed to be in shock at the girl’s revelation. “I…hadn’t heard. I’m so sorry.” He knew that for a matter of months back in her late teens, Reba had been a crucial—and probably confusing—part of her life. And then, like Shallie’s own mother, she’d disappeared…

“What about you?” she asked the girl. “Why are you here? Just visiting?”

“I’m trying to…sort things out.”

Cord caught Shallie’s eye and shook his head slightly; she didn’t pursue the question. “Uh, Carly,” he said. “This is Shallie Fletcher. And, Shallie—” he pointed at his housekeeper “—meet Tina Robbins.”

Tina held out her hand. Shallie clasped it, murmuring a vague greeting.

“Okay,” Tina said. “Let’s plan on lunch for around noon. Would grilled cheese sandwiches be all right? With some leftover coleslaw.”

Everyone agreed and then Cord gave Shallie a tour of the property, accompanied by his dogs. An hour or so later, they returned to the house for the promised lunch. Carly helped, while Shallie set the table and Cord checked his schedule for the next week. Then, once they’d eaten, Carly loaded the dishwasher; she was fitting right in, he thought. He explained that he was hosting a barbecue on the back deck for his friends Eli and J.P. that evening, a frequent Friday-night event. The girls were more than welcome but might prefer to have dinner on the porch. Up to them.

“Actually,” Shallie said, “I’d like to take advantage of this chance to get to know Carly. I’m sure there’ll be other opportunities to see Eli and J.P.”

Carly nodded vigorously. “Yeah, we should talk, you and me.”

Tina immediately offered to prepare something. “Any dietary restrictions?” she asked Shallie.

“Well, I’m mostly vegetarian.”

“No problem.”

And Cord—although a rancher—didn’t find it a problem, either, even if he did eat meat. Tonight’s guys’ meal was going to be chicken and burgers… Just as well the girls were going to be dining on the porch…

He announced that he and Shallie would have their introductory session at two and suggested she might want to rest for a while, after her travel the day before.

“Thanks. That’s a good idea.” Yawning, she hurried up the stairs.

SHALLIE STRETCHED OUT on the bed and closed her eyes. Still hard to believe she was here—back in the old hometown. Well, not that much of a home, but all she’d had. And despite Della and Norm’s inadequacies, she supposed they’d done their best.

There was definitely more to the story of Reba’s sudden appearance at the motel almost twenty years ago—and her equally sudden disappearance. Shallie wondered if she actually wanted to find out. She’d have to think about that…