“Mama must have known,” Birdie said.

The others looked at each other in silence, finding it hard to believe that the mother they’d taken for granted had kept a secret like that for so long, but the three of them knew why.

“I wonder what Mama asked him to do?” Junior said.

“What do you mean?” Ray asked.

Junior frowned. “You heard him. He told Mama he’d keep his promise and do what she asked him to do.”

“Oh yeah,” Ray said.

“I wonder where he’s going?” Junior asked. “Do you think he’s going to stay at Mama’s house?”

Emma shrugged. “I don’t know. Why don’t you drive by the house on your way home and see if he’s there. If he thinks he’s gonna just move in, he has another think coming. I want to—”

“What you want and what’s going to happen are two different things,” Junior said. “There are four of us standing here.”

“But there are five heirs,” Birdie said. “Whatever money comes from selling Mama’s house will be divided five ways, not four. The house is old. It’s not going to bring anything worth fighting over.”

“Nothing is worth fighting over,” Ray said.

Emma glared at all of them. “We’ve already talked about Mama’s funeral and stuff, and there’s just enough money in Mama’s bank account to bury her and nothing more. Let’s go home and get some rest.”

“Did Mama leave a will?” Birdie asked.

They all stopped.

“I don’t know,” Emma said.

Junior shrugged. “I don’t either.”

“How do we find out?” Ray asked.

“Maybe Hunt knows. He already knows something about Mama that we don’t know,” Birdie said.

“I’m going home. If you want to know where Hunt is at, go look for him yourself,” Junior muttered.

Ray got in his car and left, and Junior did the same.

Emma ignored him. “I’m sad Mama is gone, but I’m glad she’s not suffering.” Then she glanced at Birdie. “I wonder where Hunt’s been all these years.”

“I don’t know, but he sure turned into a good-looking man,” Birdie said.

* * *

Hunt rolled up to the bed-and-breakfast as quietly as he could manage on a Harley, cognizant of the other guests who were likely asleep. He locked up his bike, grabbed his bag and helmet, then headed to the door and rang the bell.

Bud Goodhope was still up and waiting for their last guest to arrive, and when he heard the doorbell, he hurried through the hall to answer the door.

“Welcome to Blessings Bed and Breakfast,” Bud said.

Hunt nodded. “I’m Hunt Knox. I have a reservation.”

“Yes, come in, Mr. Knox. I’ll get you registered and show you to your room. You must be exhausted.”

A short while later, Hunt was taken upstairs and given a room at the end of the hall.