“You’ve got to be kidding me.” He ran both hands through his hair and kicked at the pavement leading up to Mrs. Clementine’s wrap-around porch.

“I wouldn’t kid about something like this,” she shot back. “I left and got as far as I could as quick as I could for a reason.”

“Did he hurt you? Before you left? Was he…?” Nolan shook with rage so much so that she now felt the need to place a calming hand on his arm.

“Yes,” Harmony told him. “Yes, he did hurt me, and I’m pretty sure he’d do it again if he got the chance. I’m not sure he meant to but—”

“But nothing!” Nolan exploded, causing Harmony to take a step back. “It’s never okay. Never.”

Pancake stood to his full height and let out a low growl. Inside the house, Muffin barked manically, begging to be let out to join whatever fight was unfolding.

“I have to get him before he goes nuts,” she said to Nolan. “Try to calm down some. I don’t want Muffin thinking he has to protect me from you.”

The little dog squeezed through the doorway before Harmony could even open the door wider than a few inches. Once outside, he raced in a big loop, searching for the source of the agitation. When he deemed Nolan and Pancake to be of no danger, he trotted back to Harmony and stood on his hind legs, asking to be picked up.

“It’s okay, Muffs.” She scratched the little dog between his ears. He looked so proud of his guard-dogging efforts that she couldn’t help but smile.

“I won’t let him hurt you,” Nolan said in a flat, eerie voice. “If I have to stakeout this place every night just to make sure you’re safe, I will.”

She blinked hard. “What are you going to do, Nolan? Park your car down the street and watch for suspicious characters?”

“If that’s what it takes.” He crossed his arms, and the gesture made him seem impossibly large, just like his oversized dog.

“Look, I appreciate the support, I do. But why don’t you just come inside for a bit to calm down? Virginia usually has supper on the table by now, and I’m sure she’d be happy to have you join us.”

He let out a frustrated sigh. “But Harmony—”

“But nothing. I’ve survived all these twenty-seven years. Surely I can survive the night. Unless you’re saying I’m not strong enough to look after myself.”

“It’s not that.”

“Then what is it?”

He took a deep breath, then let his shoulders fall. A moment later, he pulled out a small smile and said, “What do you suppose Mrs. Clementine has cooked tonight?”

“Let’s go find out.” Harmony opened the door and waited for him and Pancake to pass inside, then took one last look toward the street. When she saw that no strange or familiar cars idled nearby, she shut the door firmly behind her and, with it, her fears.