“Not quite true,” Minette replied. “You could have come to us. Even Cash Grier mentioned that they could make room for you, if you needed a place to stay.”

“So many,” Michelle said, shaking her head. “They hardly know me.”

“They know you better than you think,” was the reply. “In small communities like ours, there are no secrets. Your good deeds are noted by many.”

“I guess I lived in the city for too long. Daddy had patients but no real friends, especially after Roberta came into our lives. It was just the three of us.” She smiled. “I love living here.”

“So do I, and I’ve been here all my life.” She cocked her head. “Gabriel seems an odd choice to be your guardian. He isn’t what you think of as a family man.”

“He’s not what he seems,” Michelle replied. “He was kind to me when I needed it most.” She made a face. “I was sitting in the middle of the road hoping to get hit by a car. It was the worst day of my life. He took me home with him and talked to me. He made everything better. When Roberta...died...he was there to comfort me. I owe him a lot. He even got Sara down here to live with him so that he could be my legal guardian with no raised eyebrows around us.”

Minette simply said, “I see.” What she did see, she wasn’t going to share. Apparently Gabriel had a little more than normal interest in this young woman, but he wasn’t going to risk her reputation. It was going to be all by the book. Minette wondered what he had in mind for Michelle when she was a few years older. And she also wondered if Michelle had any idea who Gabriel really was, and how he earned his living. That was a secret she wasn’t going to share, either. Not now.

“Well, I’ll see you tomorrow, then,” Michelle added.

“Tomorrow.”

Carlie was waiting for her at the front door the next morning, which was Friday. She looked out of breath.

“Is something wrong?” Michelle asked.

“No. Of course not. Let’s go.”

Carlie checked all around the truck and even looked under it before she got behind the wheel and started it.

“Okay, now, what’s going on?” Michelle asked.

“Daddy got a phone call earlier,” Carlie said, looking both ways before she pulled carefully out of the driveway.

“What sort of call?”