"Actually, Jeanette Fulbright just hired me, so I'm free only on Mondays and Tuesdays."

Jessie looked at her, not having expected this.

"I think I should tell you," Sabrina said before Jessie could speak, "I don't have any experience working in a store, but I'm not usually clumsy and I catch on pretty fast."

Jessie couldn't stop her smile. The other woman's voice was soft and at times sounded uncertain, but she stood and moved with the air of a confident person.

"I might not need you every week," Jessie began, "but if you want to come by on Monday morning, I can tell you that day." Sabrina smiled and sighed.

"I'm Jessie, by the way," that woman said.

"I'm Bri Matthews."

"Well, Bri Matthews, I'll see you on Monday," Jessie said, and smiled again when Sabrina, looking utterly delighted, went on her way.

Sabrina stood outside the large home at the far end of town, wondering if this could possibly be the place. Jeanette had told her where the house was and that it was large, but Sabrina had not expected this.

She started up the walk, not in a hurry, and was surprised when a woman came out the front door. She was partway down the walk before she noticed Sabrina.

38 "h.e.l.lo," the woman greeted and kept moving.

"h.e.l.lo," Sabrina said in return, stepping aside so the woman could pa.s.s. Sabrina watched her walk away. Clearly she thought nothing of Sabrina's presence. This gave the newest resident of Token Creek courage to go up and knock on the front door.

"Did a young woman come-tall, with black hair?" Jeanette asked of Heather the moment she arrived home from the shop.

Heather, who had worked for Jeanette for many years, smiled before saying, "Bri is in the kitchen helping Becky."

"Oh," Jeanette said quietly, not having expected this. "How did that come about?"

"She heard Becky say she was going to make bread pudding and went in to learn how."

Jeanette had to smile. She had been quite sure she'd done the right thing in hiring Sabrina Matthews, and for some reason this only confirmed that fact. She went to the kitchen herself and found Sabrina rapt.

"How long does it take to bake?" Sabrina asked.

"It takes 45 minutes to an hour," Becky told the new houseguest. "On a warm day like this, probably closer to 45."

Both Becky and Sabrina saw Jeanette just then. Both women smiled at her, but they were different types of smiles. Becky's said she was amused but pleased. Sabrina's was excited and a bit uncertain of being found disturbing Becky.

"Did you learn how?" Jeanette asked, defusing the situation for Sabrina.

"Yes. My mother used to make bread pudding, but I didn't remember the recipe."

"It's one of my favorites," Jeanette said. "Are you ready for supper, Bri?"

Sabrina nodded. She'd not eaten much that day and was very 39hungry. It was a relief when Jeanette wasted no time and immediately led the way to the dining room where they were served.

"After supper," Jeanette began once they had plates full of pork, sweet potatoes, and applesauce, "I'll take you to the porch to meet my sister. She is not capable of taking care of herself. She won't respond to you, but you may speak normally to her."

"Has she lived with you long?"

"Ten years," Jeanette said. "Her sons, along with their wives, run Holden Ranch outside of town. You'll probably meet them on Sunday," Jeanette finished, taking for granted that Sabrina would attend the church service with her.

"Does your sister respond to her sons or to you?"

Jeanette thought it an astute question but had to shake her head no.

"Her injury was quite severe. We didn't think she would live. She's not been herself since."

"I'm sorry," Sabrina said, thinking that it must be sad. It was like having someone die but still living with you. Sabrina wondered how Jeanette coped with such a situation.

"Did you get settled in your room?" Jeanette asked next.

"Yes, thank you. It's very pretty," Sabrina said, thinking of the rust and dark green decor and the light oak furniture.

"I'm glad you like it, and I meant it when I said to take your time finding a place to live."

"I asked Jessie at the mercantile if she could use me a few days a week, and she said to check with her on Monday. I may have to wait until Tuesday to look for an apartment."

"That's fine. Jessie is also a good one to ask. The mercantile is sometimes a hive of information. She might be able to tell you about apartments available in town."

The women went back to their meals, and Jeanette was given time to think a little more about who this young woman was. She was surprised that she'd looked for work on the days the dress shop was closed but still impressed. That, along with her questions about 40bread pudding, made Jeanette think she might have a lively one on her hands.

Sabrina would have laughed if she could have heard Jeanette's thoughts because they were all too true. Her mind was running with a thousand questions, but she didn't want to seem nosy or impertinent. Heather and Becky were easy to talk with, but Jeanette was a bit intimidating. She was obviously a woman of wealth, and Sabrina didn't think for one moment that she acquired this house, with its staff, by making and selling clothing a few days a week.

"All set?" Jeanette asked.

"Yes, ma'am," Sabrina answered, unaware her hostess had been studying her.

"My sister's name is Theta," Jeanette explained as they walked. "Heather sees to her every need. We'll just head right out here on the porch."

The large sunporch, technically a small conservatory, was warm and comfortable. Plants sat here and there, but the room was not overrun with them. In the midst of comfortable furniture in various shades of green sat a woman in a chair with high arms. Jeanette immediately began to speak to her.

"Theta, I want you to meet our houseguest. This is Bri Matthews. I just hired her to help me at the shop. Bri, this is my sister, Theta." Jeanette put a brief hand on her sister's shoulder, and Sabrina quietly greeted the silent, staring woman.

"It's nice to meet you," Sabrina said, and then glanced around. "This is such a pretty spot to sit and enjoy."

"Isn't it?" Jeanette agreed, taking a seat and inviting Sabrina to do the same. "I love this room. In mid-July or if we have Indian summer it gets a bit warm, but it still might be my favorite room in the house."

"Have you lived in Token Creek all your life?" Sabrina asked, feeling a bit more relaxed with Jeanette's easy manner.

"I came here after I was married. Theta and her family moved to the area a few years later."

41 "How nice to have your family near."

"Do you have family?"

"Just a sister, and we've lost all contact."

"Well," Jeanette had to say, sensing just a moment of pain in her new employee, "I hope you find family here."

Sabrina thanked her, her heart hoping for the very same thing.

"How are you?" Trace asked Ca.s.sidy, who, in her second month of pregnancy, did not like the smell of the toast Trace had accidently burned.

"I think all right," she said, not wanting to lose the breakfast she'd just eaten and having gone to sit on the front porch for some air.

Trace smiled. "You moved pretty fast there, Ca.s.s," he said, sitting down beside her. "I didn't know you could manage that."

Ca.s.sidy chuckled before saying, "I think desperation helps."

Trace put an arm around her. She was a bit thinner than when they'd married, and he wondered if she would put it all back as his sister-in-law, Meg, had done with her pregnancy. Meg had become delightfully round by the time Savanna had been born, and Trace had to admit that he wouldn't mind that for Ca.s.sidy at all.

"What are you thinking about?" Ca.s.sidy asked, and Trace realized she'd been watching him.

He smiled, knowing he was on thin ice but admitting, "I was wondering how fat you're going to get."

Ca.s.sidy's mouth opened and Trace laughed.

"I knew the truth would get me in trouble."

"That's what I get for asking what you're thinking," Ca.s.sidy said, turning a cold shoulder to him.

Trace moved her hair and kissed her neck.

"Ask me what I'm thinking now," he invited.

Ca.s.sidy turned and looked into his warm, brown eyes and found she didn't have to ask at all.

42 "Okay, Bri," Jeanette said the moment they were ready to work on Thursday morning, "I want you to finish the pants you started yesterday and then press them."

"Is it going to trouble you to check the hem before I press it? I want to make sure."

"That's fine, Bri, but I'm not worried about your work."

Sabrina nodded and started in. Jeanette watched the look of concentration on her face, her mind on an event that had happened earlier that morning. Theta had experienced a little trouble with the stairs, and Sabrina had stepped in, taking one side with Heather on the other. Jeanette had not been present, but Heather had told her all about it.

"Do you ever think about the person who owns the legs that might wear these pants?" Sabrina asked.

"I'm not sure I do," Jeanette admitted.

"Oh, okay."

"What were you thinking?" Jeanette was too curious to let that pa.s.s.

"Well, just that they might be the legs of a father or a grandfather, and there might be children who sit on the man's lap. Or they might be a pastor's legs, and he might hold his Bible on his knees. Or I suppose he could be a bank teller with no time to sit down at all."

Jeanette had to laugh, not bothering to mention that she knew exactly who ordered the pants, and he was none of those things.

"What did I say?" Sabrina asked.

"I'm just laughing at your possibilities. I must admit that my mind never went that far."

"Clothing could probably tell interesting stories."

"I'm sure you're right," Jeanette had to agree. "I've always thought that of the walls of a home or bank but never of clothing." "Shoes too," Sabrina said thoughtfully. "All the places they go."

43Sabrina kept working steadily on the hem but added, "Of course, there is an awful lot of talking in this world as it is. I'm not sure we need to add shoes and clothing to it."

Jeanette had to laugh again.

"Am I talking too much?" Sabrina asked, suddenly looking very young.

"Not at all," Jeanette answered honestly, still chuckling a little. "I've been working alone for several months, and I just realized how much I've missed the company."

"Well, do tell me if I need to hush," Sabrina added.

"I don't think that will be a problem."

As it was there wasn't time to find out. Not five minutes pa.s.sed before Brad and Trace Holden came in the door. It was time for Sabrina to meet Jeanette's nephews.

44.

JEANETTE WASTED NO TIME. just as soon as she'd hugged the men, she did the honors. "Bri, please meet my nephews, Brad and Trace Holden."

The men had both removed their hats, and Sabrina stood to meet them.

"Are you twins?" Sabrina asked when the introductions were complete.

"No." Trace took this one. "He's much older."

Sabrina smiled, catching the teasing glint in his eyes and the way both Brad and Jeanette smiled.

"You found yourself a tall one," Brad said to Jeanette, but his smile was for Sabrina. "Makes you look shorter than ever."

A laugh escaped Jeanette before she could catch it, and then she tried to look outraged. It didn't help to look over at Sabrina, who had bit her lip to keep from laughing.

"I need Ca.s.sidy and Meg here," Jeanette said. "They're at my level."

"Ca.s.sidy is my wife," Trace offered, no small amount of pleasure in his voice. He had seen Sabrina looking confused. "And Meg is stuck with Brad."

45 "Stuck or not," Jeanette added, "they have the most adorable baby in the territory."