“I think they’re okay, but let’s check to make sure.” He stepped back to watch her clean the area and swab it.

She stood up. “Let’s look at the right front. We can—”

“Miguel!” came a woman’s voice from outside. “Are you in here?”

“Holy hell,” he said under his breath, then looked at her. “It’s Gabby and you’re way too pretty. She’ll be jealous and she’ll make my life miserable. And yours.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the ladder that went up to the loft. “Go!” he practically growled.

With Kelly’s work, she was used to having to do things quickly. Angry animals weren’t polite. She scurried up the ladder in record speed, Miguel right behind her.

Once they were up, he went across some bales of hay, then pulled Kelly’s hand so she rolled across to him. She was on her stomach, wedged against the bales, and Miguel was practically on top of her. He put his finger to his lips for her to say nothing.

They could hear footsteps below them. “Miguel! I know you’re in here. I’ll find you. You can’t hide from me.”

When they heard her climb the ladder, Miguel put his arm across Kelly’s head and they stayed as low as possible. Kelly couldn’t see her but Gabby seemed to look around the loft. If she came up to the floor, she’d find them. That would be embarrassing and very awkward.

Kelly could feel Miguel’s breath on her cheek and his heart beating against her body. She kind of hoped Gabby would stay there all day.

But alas, they heard her go down the ladder, then footsteps heading out. Kelly started to get up, but Miguel whispered, “Not yet.”

Seconds later, Gabby returned. “Miguel!” she shouted angrily. A full minute later, they heard her leave.

He rolled off Kelly and onto his back. “Sorry about that. If I were a real man, I’d face her.”

Kelly rubbed his cheek. “Hmm. Scratchy. Feels like a man to me.”

Laughing, he sat up. “Would you like a Coke?”

“Love one.”

He shoved a bale aside to reveal a big metal cooler. “I try to put some ice in it every day.” He pulled out a bottle of Coca-Cola, used an opener on the wall and handed the cold drink to her. “I have sandwich makings in here. And fruit.”

“No, thanks.”

He opened a bottle for himself, leaned back against the wall and motioned to her to join him. She sat beside him and looked across the loft as she drank. “You hide like this often?”

“Yes. Here or somewhere.”

She took another drink. “I assume you know that Forey and Mom think you’re going to marry her.”

“Oh, how I know that!”

“Didn’t I hear that you’ve been going to school?”