He sat beside her and took her hand. “I’ll drive back into town and get something that might help settle your stomach. And some 7-Up, too. My mother swore by it.”

She struggled to focus her gaze on him. “Don’t want to bother you.”

Blackie brushed a lock hair back from her cheek. “Don’t be silly. I have little else to do, so bother me all you like.”

She smiled wanly and then drifted back to sleep. Blackie took a quick tour of the home to make sure all the exterior doors were locked. Then he fished in her purse to find her house keys. A moment later, he roused her from sleep again.

“I’ve got to take care of a couple of things at my shop. Then I’ll be back. If you feel dizzy, don’t get up while I’m gone unless you have to. Is there anything you need before I go?”

She shook her head no. Then he heard a text notification come in on her phone. He fished in her purse again to find the device. When the screen lighted up, he saw that Erin De Laney had messaged her. Normally Blackie wouldn’t have read the note, but a part of the first line showed on the screen, reading: I’m worried. Are U OK? That prompted him to swipe the screen so he could write back to Julie’s friend.

This is Blackie. I just came to check on Julie, and she’s feeling pretty bad. I’m going to stay the night. Don’t want to leave her alone. But don’t be worried. I’ll get in touch if she gets any worse.

Erin texted right back. I can take off from work and come if she needs me. No problem. Really.

Blackie typed: I closed my shop early. I’ll let you know if I need backup. It’s only a virus, I think, a 24-hour bug.

After returning Julie’s phone to her purse, Blackie locked the front door as he left the house. Then he drove back to his shop to put a notice on the door that he would be closed for an undetermined period of time. Then he went to Flagg’s Market to pick up a few items. He wasn’t sure what foods appealed to Julie when she wasn’t feeling well, so he got her his favorite sick-day stuff. He also bought a remedy for nausea. He didn’t like seeing her sick. It made him feel off-balance.

As Blackie drove back to Julie’s home, one thought took up residence in his mind and refused to be evicted: I’m in love with her. Blackie had tried his damnedest to control his feelings for her in case it didn’t work out between them. She was too young for him, and he’d known from the start that he needed to guard his heart. But somehow he’d taken the leap, anyway.

* * *

The following day Erin once again spent the morning with the abused mare. Because the equine was so wary and shrank from Erin’s touch, Erin started calling her Violet, short for Shrinking Violet.