Jenny laughed and rummaged in the reMgerator for some more chicken. The call had come at a perfect time, considering the disaster of the night before. Who cared if it was just a game? It could turn out to be fun.

Peaches ambled over, hoping for another handout, and Jenny laughed again. "Guess what, Peach? I've got a secret admirer."

Chapter 4

When the phone woke her the next morning, Jenny leaped out of bed and dashed down the hall to her parents' room. Maybe it was him, her secret admirer. All the day before she'd hung around the house, mainly because she didn't have any reason to leave, but also because she half expected him to call again. He hadn't, and she'd gone to bed feeling strangely disappointed.

Breathless and rumpled, she grabbed the phone and flopped down on her parents' bed. "Hello?"

"Hi, sweetie."

It was her father. Jenny stifled a yawn.

Her father chuckled. "I heard that. It's ten-thirty, you know. What'd you do, leave a few lights blazing and keep yourself awake?"

"Something Uke that," Jenny said, deciding not to tell him exactly how many lights. "How was your trip? I thought you'd call last night."

"Everything's okay," he said. "We tried to call

during the day a couple of times, but the line was busy."

That must have been when she was trying to reach David or Sally, Jenny thought. She hadnl gotten either of them.

"Then the O'Dell's took us out to dinner," her father went on, "and it was past one when we got back. How's everything?"

"Okay," Jenny reported. "Tell Mom the painters called. They're coming tomorrow, so wish me luck."

"Just tell 'em what we want and get an estimate. Don't argue with them, they're the only painters within a fifty-mile radius. Just a second." Jenny heard her mother's voice in the background, then her father came back on. "Your mother says don't let them intimidate you."

"I won't," Jenny said. "She thinks I'm a total pushover. I can handle them."

"Sure you can," he said. "Well, is the mutt earning her keep? Guarding the homestead?"

Peaches hadn't budged when Jenny tumbled out of the bed. "Give her a break, Dad. After all, you two gave her to me, remember? So, how long do you think you'll be there?"

"Couple of days, tops," he said. 'We'll let you know when to meet us. Take care, sweetie."

"I will. Dad. Bye."

Jenny hung up the phone and headed for the shower. She'd just finished pulling on shorts and a faded blue T-shirt when the doorbell rang. Dragging a comb through her wet hair, she ran down the

U

stairs to the front door and found Sally standing on the porch, red-cheeked and out of breath.

"I just rode my bike up here," Sally puffed. "I forgot how steep that hill is. Remind me to take Emma next time."

"Come on in," Jenny said, stepping aside. "I was just going to find something to eat. You hungry?"