“It’s Yvonne,” Michelle told them. “I promised to have my picture taken with her and Gerrie. They were in my geography class. Be right back!”

They watched her go, her face alive with pleasure.

“Close call, masked man,” Sara said under her breath.

He stuffed his hands into his slacks and his expression hardened.

“You have to be patient,” Sara added gently, and touched his chest with a small hand. “Just for a little while.”

“Just for years,” he said curtly. “While she meets men and falls in love...”

“Fat chance.”

He turned and looked down at her, his face guarded but full of hope.

“You know how she feels,” Sara said softly. “That isn’t going to change. But she has to have time to grow up, to see something of the world. The time will pass.”

He grimaced and then drew in a breath. “Yes. I suppose so.” He laughed hollowly. “Maybe in the meantime, I can work up to how I’m going to explain my line of work to her. Another hurdle.”

“By that time, she’ll be more likely to understand.”

He nodded. “Yes.”

She hugged him impulsively. “You’re a great guy. She already knows it.”

He hugged her back. “I’ll be her best friend.”

“You already are.” She drew back, smiling. The smile faded and her eyes sparked with temper as she looked past him.

“My, my, did you lose your broom?” came a deep, drawling voice from behind Gabriel.

“The flying monkeys are using it right now,” Sara snarled at the tall man. “Are you just graduating from high school, too?” she added. “And I didn’t get you a present.”

He shrugged. “My foreman’s daughter graduated. I’m her godfather.”

“So many responses come to mind. But choosing just one.” She pondered for a minute. She pursed her full lips. “Do you employ a full-time hit man, or do you have to manage with pickups?”

He raised his thick eyebrows. “Oh, full-time, definitely,” he said easily, hands deep in his jean pockets. He cocked his head. “But he doesn’t do women. Pity.”

Sara was searching for a comeback when Michelle came running back.

“Oh, hi, Mr. Patterson!” she said with a grin. “How’s that bull doing?”

“Eating all he can get and looking better by the day, Miss Godfrey,” he replied, smiling. “That was a good piece you wrote on the ranch.”

“Thanks. I had good material to work with.”

Sara made a sound deep in her throat.

“What was that? Calling the flying monkeys in some strange guttural language?” Wolf asked Sara with wide, innocent eyes.

She burst out in Farsi, things that would have made Michelle blush if she understood them.

“Oh, my, what a thing to say to someone!” Wolf said with mock surprise. He looked around. “Where’s a police officer when you need one?”

“By all means, find one who speaks Farsi,” Sara said with a sarcastic smile.