Gabriel stepped forward as the driver opened the trunk. He picked up the single suitcase that Sara had brought with her. Something in the way Gabriel looked at the man had him backing away.

“Very sorry, again,” he said, flustered. “If you’d just sign the ticket, ma’am...”

He fetched a clipboard and handed it to her, eyeing Gabriel as if he expected him to leap on him any second. Sara signed it. The man obviously knew better than to look for a tip. He nodded, turned, jumped into the car and left a trail of dust as he sped away.

“That could have gone better,” Sara said with a grim smile. She hugged Gabriel. “So good to see you again.”

“You, too,” he replied. His face changed as he looked at the younger woman. He touched her hair. “You only grow more beautiful with age.”

“You only think so because you’re my brother.” She laughed musically. She looked past him at Michelle, who stood silent and wary.

“And you must be Michelle.” Sara went to her, smiled and hugged her warmly. “I have a nasty temper. The silly man almost killed us both, texting some woman.”

“I’m so glad he didn’t,” Michelle said, hugging her back. “It’s very kind of both of you to do this for me,” she added. “I...really don’t have anyplace to go. I mean, the Reverend Blair said I could stay with him and Carlie, but...”

“You certainly do have someplace to go,” Gabriel said with a grin. “Sara needed the change of scenery. She was vegetating up in Wyoming.”

Sara sighed. “In a sense, I suppose so, although I like it better there than in British Columbia. I left our foreman in charge at the ranch in Catelow. That’s in Wyoming,” Sara told Michelle with a smile. “Anything that needs doing for the sale, I can do online.” Her black eyes, so like Gabriel’s, had a sad cast. “The change of scenery will do me good. I love to ride. Do you?” she asked the younger woman.

“I haven’t been on a horse in years,” Michelle confessed. “Mostly, horses try to scrape me off or dislodge me. I’m sort of afraid of them.”

“My horses are very tame,” Gabriel told her. “They’ll love you.”

“I hope you have coffee made,” Sara sighed as they made their way into the sprawling house. “I’m so tired! Flying is not my favorite mode of travel.”

“I’ve never even been on a plane,” Michelle confessed.

Sara stopped and stared at her. “Never?”

“Never.”

“She wanted to look inside the limo.” Gabriel chuckled. “She’s never seen one of those, either.”

“I’m so sorry!” Sara exclaimed. “I made a fuss...”

“You should have made a fuss,” Michelle replied. “There will be other times.”

“I’ll make sure of that.” Sara smiled, and it was like the sun coming out.