The piece on Wofford Patterson ran with Michelle’s byline, along with photos of his native grasses, his water conservation project and his huge bull. People she didn’t even know at school stopped her in the hall to talk to her. And not only other students. Teachers paid her more attention, as well. She felt like a minor celebrity.

“I actually had someone to sit with at lunch,” she told Sara, all enthusiasm, when she got home from school that day. “Mostly I’m always by myself. But one little article in the paper with my name and just look!”

Sara managed a smile. “It was well written. You did a good job. Considering the material you had to work with,” she added with smoldering black eyes.

Then Michelle remembered. Wofford Patterson. Mortal enemy. Sara’s nemesis.

“Sorry,” she said, flushing.

“The man is a total lunatic,” Sara muttered, slamming pans around as she looked for something to boil pasta in. Her beautiful complexion was flushed. “He backed into me and tried to blame me for it! Then he said I rode a broom and kept flying monkeys in the barn!”

Michelle almost bit through her lower lip. She couldn’t laugh. She couldn’t laugh...

Sara glanced at her, rolled her eyes, and dragged out a big pot. “You like him, I gather?”

“Well, he didn’t accuse me of keeping flying monkeys,” Michelle said reasonably. “He’s very handsome, in a rough-cut sort of way, and he loves animals.”

“Probably because he is one,” Sara said under her breath.

“He has this huge rottweiler. You wouldn’t believe what he calls her!”

“Have you seen my hammer?” Gabriel interrupted suddenly.

Both women turned.

“Don’t you keep it in the toolbox?” Michelle asked.

“Yes. Where’s my toolbox?” he amended.

The two women looked at each other blankly. Then Sara flushed.

“I, uh, had to find a pair of pliers to turn the water spigot on outside. Not my fault,” she added. “You have big hands and when you turn the water off, I can’t turn it back on. I took the whole toolbox with me so I’d have access to whatever I needed.”

“No problem. But where is it?” Gabriel added.

“Um,” Sara frowned. “I think I remember...just a sec.” She headed out the back door.

“Don’t, for God’s sake, tell her the name of Patterson’s dog!” Gabriel said in a rough whisper.

She stared at him. “Why?”

He gave her a speaking look. “Who do you think Patterson’s unknown buddy in World of Warcraft is?” he asked patiently.

Her eyes widened with glee. “You mean, they’re buddies online and they don’t know it?”

“In a nutshell.” He grinned. “Two lonely people who can’t stand each other in person, and they’re soul mates online. Let them keep their illusions, for the time being.”