Becca looked down at Liz as if she was nothing more than something she had tracked in after walking through a cow pasture.

“Who’s this?” Becca asked.

“I’m sorry,” Raylen said. “This is my neighbor, Haskell’s niece, Liz. She’s moved into his place.”

“Well, well, well,” Becca said. “Has Raylen offered you market price on the place?”

“It’s nice to meet you, and my place isn’t for sale at any price,” Liz answered and went back to eating her dinner.

Becca leaned down and put her other hand, the one that wasn’t on Raylen’s shoulder, on the table in front of Liz. “I’ll give you three times what the going price is for that land.”

“Why? Is there gold or oil under the topsoil?” Liz asked.

Becca stood up straight and laughed aloud. “It’s not what’s under the dirt or even on top of the dirt that I’m interested in. It’s what lives next door. See you around, Raylen.” She blew a kiss toward Raylen as she left with her hips swaying.

Liz looked across the table at Raylen.

“What?” Raylen asked.

Liz shrugged. “Guess I’m sitting on a gold mine since you live next door. If I sold, would I owe you a commission?”

Raylen’s face registered shock. “Me?”

“Who else lives next door?” Liz could hear the chill in her own voice.

“Dewar,” Raylen said.

“So, is Becca interested in Dewar? Does Jasmine know?” Liz asked.

Raylen threw both hands up. “Jasmine isn’t Dewar’s girlfriend. Becca has been my friend since grade school. She’s a handful and speaks her mind, but she’s just my friend.”

“So then it’s not a love triangle?”

Raylen stuttered and stammered. “A what?”

“Never mind. So why does she want my land?”

“She lives down close to Stoneburg on a cattle ranch. And since we’re friends, I guess she wants to live close to my family. I didn’t even know she was interested in buying land in Ringgold. Her daddy owns three-fourths of Stoneburg,” he said.

“A friend who wants more from you—maybe benefits,” Liz said. “It’s none of my business who you like, date, or love, but honey, you’ve got rocks for brains if you think that woman isn’t interested in you.”

“Becca is my friend and she never likes any of my…” He swallowed. “…other girl-type friends. Tell me about you.” He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “So, you grew up in a travel trailer. Why?”

Liz figured she might as well ’fess up. She was actually surprised that he didn’t already know about Haskell and his carnival background, but then her uncle hadn’t ever been proud of that part of his life—not like his sisters were. “I was born a carnie. My grandparents were carnies. My mother and her sister are carnies even yet. Didn’t Uncle Haskell tell you?”

“Carnie? That a family name?”

Liz laughed. “Carnie as in carnival. Did you ever go to the carnival when it was in Bowie?”

Raylen cocked his head to one side. “Are you serious?”