“Not for a few months.” She was frowning. “Call Kelly. She can take care of the animals. I think she’d like a break from textbooks and baked goods. The women want her to taste everything. Mrs. Carl—”

“I’m not going to call your sister.” He glared at her. “You’re dressed up. Where are you going?”

“To work. How long do you think you’ll be in this bad mood?”

“Until I get out of here.”

She started backing away from him. “I’m going out of town for the weekend. Do you mind?”

“Mind that you have a good weekend? Why would I begrudge you that? I hope everyone has great weekends. And weekdays. I’ll be fine here by myself. Just me and my little brother, who believes I was put on earth to make his life miserable.”

Vera had reached her car. “Uh, okay. I’ll see you on Monday.”

“Sure.” He brushed the horse so hard that the animal turned and nipped at his shoulder.

“You really should let Kelly do that. She—” Vera broke off at the look Adam gave her. “I’ll see you in...” She didn’t finish, but got in her car and drove away. At home, she stayed only minutes before she drove on back roads to the cellar where Miguel was meeting her. Usually she walked, but she couldn’t leave her car at home while she was supposed to be gone.

Vera was thinking so hard about Adam that she didn’t look at Miguel when he came down the steps. When he pulled the door down into place, she turned to him.

“What happened?” he asked as soon as he saw her face.

“Nothing.”

He just stared at her.

“Okay. I sort of had a fight with Adam. I don’t know what’s going on with him. All week long he’s been angry.”

“And we can’t let that happen, can we? Adam the Great and Good. Aunt Forey says he’s going to solve all the problems about this stupid bakery idea the women have and—”

“What’s wrong with starting a bakery? Do you think all women have to be housewives? That they can’t work outside the home? They have to—?”

He narrowed his eyes at her. “I don’t deserve that. I’m saying that these women have never had an outside job. They don’t understand that they have to be there even when they don’t want to be. Why does everyone think Adam can make some brilliant deal? They could get a lawyer.”

“Adam knows the people involved. When we were kids we used to eat at Mr. Gresham’s place. We used to—”

“Could you give me a break from Adam Hatten for one minute? Do you have your suitcase with you?”

“You sound like you’re jealous.”

Miguel turned away, grabbed a heavy load of the posters they’d made, then went back up the stairs. She’d hidden her car under trees in the deep shade. With a few tree branches leaning against it, it was well camouflaged.