“Hey,” Mia yelled. “Y’all ready for some chili and a spoiled dog named Tex? If so, someone needs to open the door for me.”

Cody rushed across the floor to let her in and took the box from her arms. He took it to the kitchen, set it on the table, and returned to the living area. Tex beat Mia inside and ran right to the sofa, where he curled up beside Stevie and laid his head on her lap. Mia took off her coat and hung it on the back of a kitchen chair, then sat down in the rocking chair. “Mama says you could have a slight concussion. How are you feeling?”

“If I’ve got one, it’s not a bad one. I’ve had a couple before, so I know how they work. Thanks for supper,” Stevie said.

“How’d you get that cut on your forehead? Do you remember?” Mia asked.

“I thought I was a flying squirrel and could land on a branch of a tree. I went through it and the ice on the limb cut me, then I landed on my back, and it was lights-out.” Stevie rubbed Tex’s head the whole time she talked. “Where have you been, old boy? You could have helped the donkey keep those coyotes away from me.”

“What coyotes?” Mia’s eyes widened out. “Did you have to fight them off?”

“No, the donkey you talked Dad into buying did his job,” Cody answered for Stevie. “But when I got out there, the donkey was braying, and they were out there by that grove of scrub oak trees.”

“I knew that donkey would pay for his keep,” Mia said. “I don’t know where that lazy dog has been, but it wasn’t at the ranch house. He was on the porch when I got here.”

“He was with me and Jesse.” Cody dipped chili into two bowls. “Crackers or cornbread?”

“Crackers,” Stevie answered.

“Do you have a headache?” Mia focused on Stevie. “See double? I had a concussion a year ago when…” She stopped talking and put a hand over her mouth.

“When what?” Cody asked. “You never told me that you’d had an accident.”

She removed her hand, but two scarlet spots dotted her cheeks. “It wasn’t an accident.”

“Did someone hurt you?” Cody handed Stevie a bowl of chili and a package of crackers on a lap tray, and then brought food to the coffee table. He sat down on the floor and took the first bite.

“It wasn’t any big deal.” The blush deepened even more. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“Was it Ricky?” Stevie asked.