Michelle chuckled. “It was a shock to me, too, let me tell you. I tried to give it back, but they wouldn’t hear of it. They said I needed something safe. Like a big Ford truck wouldn’t be safe?” she mused.

“I’d love a big brand-new Ford truck,” Carlie sighed. “One of those F-Series ones. Or a Dodge Ram. Or a Chevy Silverado. I’ve never met a truck I didn’t love.”

“I like cars better,” Michelle said. “Just a personal preference.” She glanced at her friend. “I’m going to miss riding with you when I go to college.”

“I’ll miss you, too.” Carlie glanced out the window. “Just having company keeps me from brooding.”

“Carson is still giving you fits, I gather?” Michelle asked gently.

Carlie looked down at her hands. “I don’t understand why he hates me so much,” she said. “I haven’t done anything to him. Well, except make a few sarcastic comments, but he starts it,” she added with a scowl.

“Maybe he likes you,” Michelle ventured. “And he doesn’t want to.”

“Oh, sure, that’s the reason.” She shook her head. “No. That isn’t it. He’d throw me to the wolves without a second thought.”

“He spends a lot of time in Cash Grier’s office.”

“They’re working on something. I’m not allowed to know what, and the chief makes sure I can’t overhear him when he talks on the phone.” She frowned. “My father’s in there a lot, too. I can’t imagine why. Carson isn’t the praying sort,” she added coldly, alluding to her father’s profession. He was, after all, a minister.

“I wouldn’t think the chief is the praying sort, either,” Michelle replied. “Maybe it’s something to do about that man who attacked your father.”

“I’ve wondered about that,” her companion replied. “Dad won’t tell me anything. He just clams up if I mention it.”

“You could ask the chief.”

Carlie burst out laughing. “You try it,” she replied with a grin. “He changes the subject, picks up the phone, drags someone passing by into the office to chat—he’s a master at evasion.”

“You might try asking Carson,” she added.

The smile faded. “Carson would walk all over me.”

“You never know.”

“I know, all right.” Carlie flushed a little, and stared out the window again.

“Sorry,” Michelle said gently. “You don’t want to talk about him. I understand.”

“It’s okay.” She turned her head. “Is Gabriel coming back soon?”

“We don’t know. We don’t even know where he is,” Michelle said sadly. “Some foreign country, I gather, but he didn’t say.” She shook her head. “He’s so mysterious.”

“Most men are.” Carlie laughed.

“At least what he does is just business stuff,” came the reply. “So we don’t have to worry about him so much.”

“A blessing,” Carlie agreed.