“Miss Jessie, don’t you look pretty today,” Tami exclaimed the next morning at the diner where she and Linx met up for breakfast.

Linx looked back over her shoulder. “Wow, Miss America, here she comes.”

Jessie wore a little girl’s version of a Wonder Woman costume: a red cape, blue skirt with white stars, a golden headband and belt, and a red top with a big ‘W’ patch.

She made puny muscles and smiled at her mother, Jean. “When I grow up, I’m going to be Wonder Woman just like Miss Linx.”

“Jean, please, sit with us,” Tami said, patting the bench seat of the booth.

“Oh, I don’t want to interrupt whatever you two are discussing,” the pastor’s wife said. “Jessie is ever so grateful you found her dog.”

“Actually, I didn’t find her,” Linx clarified. “Grady Hart found Betsy. Is she doing okay now?”

“She’s fine. Lost a bit of weight, and we had to take her to grooming to remove all the stuck-on burrs and dirt.”

“That’s good to hear.” Linx made room for them. “Please join us for breakfast.”

“Can we? Please?” Jessie asked, bouncing up and down so that her cape fluttered. “Miss Linx said me and Betsy can march in the dog parade.”

“Is that right?” The pastor’s wife smiled and swept her flowing skirt to sit. “Will she be a bother?”

“Not at all. We’d love to have her and Betsy in the parade,” Linx said. “Everyone who has a dog can march under our banner.”

The Annual Fourth of July celebration started with a parade around the town square, before the festivities that included the pet rescue auction and a town fair.

“Can you march with me?” Jessie slid into the booth next to Linx and tugged her sleeve. “Can you also be a Wonder Woman?”

Linx hadn’t even thought that far ahead, given all the Grady craziness. “Only if it’s okay with your parents.”

“She’s in her superhero phase,” Jean said. “But don’t you Colson girls usually show your father’s horses?”

“I’ll let Joey and Vivi do the honors,” Linx said. “We have a big push for adoptions going on at Mountain Dog. We’re pretty overcrowded right now, and we’re hoping Ginger will bring in a lot of donations.”

“I want Ginger,” Jessie said, tapping her mother’s arm.

“No talking out of turn.” Jean gave Jessie a stern look. “What do you say?”

“Sorry.” Jessie clapped a hand over her mouth.

“As I was saying, you look lovely, Miss Jessie,” Tami said, easing over any awkwardness. “I’ll tell you what. If it’s okay with Linx, you can help us with the auction on stage.”

“Of course, it’ll be okay,” Linx said, peering at Mrs. Patterson. “As long as it’s okay with your mother.”

“What exactly will she do when she shows the dogs?” Jean asked. “I want to make sure it’s safe for her.”

“We wouldn’t ask her to hold dogs or anything,” Linx said. “Dogs tend to get too excited at these auctions, so we leave them in the kennel and show pictures of them. Only prequalified people can bid and we don’t actually close any sale until they come to the center to take their dog home.”

“In that case, it sounds harmless.” Jean said, as Joey poured coffee for the grownups and placed a glass of milk in front of Jessie.

After everyone gave their usual orders, Jessie raised her hand. “Mama, remember you said I could get a puppy?”

“I did, sweetie, but only if we didn’t find Betsy,” Mrs. Patterson replied.

“Betsy’s lonely. I bet she’ll love to have a puppy to play with,” Jessie said with the cute earnestness only little kids could muster.

“Betsy has you,” Mrs. Patterson said firmly. “She’ll never be lonely.”

“Where do you think Betsy went when she ran away?” Tami was always good at conversation. “Do you think she lived in the forest?”

“She did! She lived deep in the woods in a fairy wagon.” Jessie bounced in her seat. “Next time Betsy runs away, I’m going with her.”

“Remember how worried and scared you were when Betsy ran off?” Linx asked Jessie, patting her back. “Your mommy and daddy will cry and cry and be worried and scared.”

“I don’t want Mama and Papa to cry.” Jessie crossed her arms and looked at her mother.

“No, you don’t.” Linx stroked the girl’s silky hair. “You and Betsy need to stay home so everyone can be happy.”

“Okay.” Jessie nodded. “But we’ll be happier if we have a puppy or a baby brother or sister.”

Linx glanced at Mrs. Patterson who pursed her lips and placed her napkin primly over her skirt.

Jessie didn’t know that her adoptive mother was unable to have children, and she couldn’t fault the little girl for being lonely.

“Tell you what,” Linx said. “Next time you come to the center, you can teach Ginger to eat dog food.”

“Can I?” Jessie raised her hand and beamed at her mother. “Please?”

“Sure, you may.” Jean flashed her daughter an indulgent smile. “You can help Miss Linx as much as you want.”

Even though Linx was glad for Mrs. Patterson’s trust, her gut cringed at the thought of Grady taking it all away from her. But then again, if he actually won custody of Jessie, would he let her visit and spend time with Jessie?

“Mama, can I say grace?” Jessie raised her hand.

“Of course, darling.”

Linx lowered her head and closed her eyes as little Jessie prayed.

“Father, bless our food and bless our home. Bless Miss Linx and all her puppies. Bless our town and bless everyone. Thank you for bringing Betsy back. Amen.”

* * *

After breakfast, Linx dropped by the post office to mail off her bills. She hadn’t heard head or tails from Grady, and he hadn’t sent anyone to claim the dogs he had lined up for the veterans he was helping.

“There you are,” a female voice called out to her after she dropped her letters in the mailbox. It was Cait, Grady’s sister. “Last I heard, Grady had a date night with you. Have you seen him since? He hasn’t returned any of my calls or text messages.”

Linx put her hand over her forehead and shook her head. “I screwed up badly. He’s hurt, and he’s skipped town. I’m surprised he didn’t say goodbye to you.”

“What happened?” Cait clutched Linx’s sleeve. “How did he get hurt? Is it physical or emotional?”

“It’s emotional, and it’s a long story.” Linx blinked and averted her gaze. “I’m not sure I should be the one to tell you.”

“If Grady’s missing, how’s he going to tell me?” Cait put on her elder sister tone. “I’m really worried about him.”

“I’m sure he’s okay,” Linx reassured. “Probably working at his homesite. We can go up and check.”

“Great. Let’s go now.” Cait threw her letters down the mail slot. “On the way, you better tell me what happened.”

“I don’t even know where to begin,” Linx said, feeling a knot bury deep in her belly. “I really think Grady should be the one to tell you.”

Cait screwed up her eyebrows and glared at Linx. “Okay, then tell me what’s up with you. You don’t look so happy. In fact, you look like your heart’s broken. Did Grady do it? Did he hurt you? I told him not to fool around with you if he has no intention of … Never mind.”

“Grady and I hurt each other.” Linx swallowed dry rocks in her throat. “We’re the type of people no one should ever get involved with. The ones you keep away from anyone you care about.”

“Why would you say that?” Cait’s green eyes widened. “You’re both strong and self-sufficient, but you have tender hearts inside. I mean, look how you care for the dogs, and Grady, well, he might be gruff, but he cares for his family.”

“Right, except all we do is hurt each other. I feel like he’s quicksand or something. I can’t live with him, and I can’t live without him. It hurts too much to be with him, but it hurts worse to let him go.”

“Human quicksand, eh?” Cait quirked an eyebrow as she unlocked her car. “Are you sure it isn’t love?”

“It’s not love,” Linx hastened to clarify. “Love shouldn’t hurt like this.”

“No, it shouldn’t, but it does when you’re not on the same page.”

“We’re never on the same page.” Linx got into the passenger seat. “I’m sure he hates me right now. I really screwed up.”

Cait started her engine and backed out of the parking spot. “Since you won’t tell me what’s wrong, you don’t get to tease me with riddles. We’re friends, aren’t we?”

“Yes, we are.” Linx glanced at the generous woman who always stopped by with treats and good cheer. “I suppose you’ll get it out of Grady anyway.”

“Darn tootin’ right,” Cait chirped. “You might as well spill. What did you do that was so bad to Grady other than keeping his dog?”

Linx swiped her face with both hands and blinked, her heart racing and pulse speeding. “I kept his daughter from him.”

Errrrr! Cait slammed on the brakes and jerked to a stop. Linx braced herself for the rear-end slam, but fortunately there was no other car behind them.

“I knew it. That picture was a dead giveaway.” Cait shrieked so high-pitched, it stung. “Why didn’t you tell us? My family would have adopted her.”

Great. Now she’d not only hurt Grady, but also Cait and the entire Hart family. The first grandchild for their parents was given away without them having had a chance to claim her.

There was nothing she could do for them than to admit the whole truth. They’d hate her and she’d lose Cait’s friendship. But then, psychopaths like her didn’t deserve the kind of love and acceptance normal people enjoyed.

“I gave her away for adoption.” Linx’s voice was as flat as steamrolled roadkill. “She’s the pastor’s daughter now.”

“And you never told Grady?” Cait’s voice was accusing. She pulled off the road and glared at her.

“I tried to tell him, but my messages were intercepted. When he finally called me, it was already a done deal, so I told him I was never pregnant.” Linx stared out the side window. With a heaviness inside her chest, she relayed the entire story to Cait, about Salem, the missed messages, and all the years of hiding.

By the time they arrived at Grady’s plot of land, everything was out in the open, and Cait now knew what an evil, black heart Linx had. It was exactly as her mother had predicted. No one who got close to her would survive unscathed. Even someone as big and bold and beautiful as Tami could one day fall victim to Linx and her horrible judgment. Maybe she should save everyone the trouble by running away and becoming a hermit.

“He’s not here,” Linx said, looking at the empty parking are. “His truck’s not here.”

“Maybe he’s hiding in the trailer.” Cait parked next to the fifth wheel.

Linx didn’t think so, but fear prickled chilly icicles up her spine. He wouldn’t be hiding in the trailer, but could he have hurt himself? Or worse?

Both women rushed out of the car and pounded on the trailer door, calling for Grady.

“He’s not answering,” Cait said with a worried look on her face.

“I hope he hasn’t hurt himself.” Linx’s heart pounded like a bag of jagged rocks, and she jiggled the door handle. Please, please, please, don’t be too late. She jimmied a credit card into the slot, popping the trailer door open.

“I’ll reserve comment on where you acquired those skills,” Cait said as they both peered into the darkness of the trailer’s interior.

The trailer was empty, thankfully, and there was no note on the table. The closet was empty and his toothbrush was missing from the small bathroom.

“He’s gone AWOL,” Cait concluded. “He does that when he’s upset. Disappears for months at a time. No calls, no mail. Nothing. I’ll call my parents and let them know he’s missing.”

“I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault.” Linx hugged Cait. “I don’t know what I’ll do if anything bad happens to him.”

She definitely couldn’t live with herself.

If it wasn’t for the fact that she needed to see Jessie grow up, she’d just as soon disappear, too.

“Maybe we’ll never see Grady again.” Cait burst into tears. “Imagine having a child and not being able to acknowledge her. The agony must be overwhelming.”

While Cait carried on, Linx spotted Grady’s cell phone on a bench inside the trailer and she slipped it into her pocket.

Grady didn’t want to be contacted. Smartphones left a trail of clues—GPS locations, websites he’d visited, trips he took, even where he had parked his car. By dumping it, he was truly free from the electronic tether.

Linx closed her eyes and whispered to herself, “I’m going to find you, Grady Hart, no matter where you are.”