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means something.”
    She scooted to the seat’s edge. “What? Did you live there? Could you have family there?”
    He had no answers for her. “Is it about two days’ ride from here?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œI’m not sure how I know that.” He raked his hands through his hair, tugging a little at the ends. “Could you write to your sister? Ask her to check with her neighbors and the town leaders? Perhaps someone would recognize my description.”
    Hands twisting together, she pondered his request. “I’ll write immediately after supper and post it tomorrow.” Standing, she adjusted her blouse and, flipping her ponytail over her shoulder, made to leave.
    â€œJessica?”
    â€œYes?” The one word carried a world of strain. Indecision.
    â€œWhat will it take for you to believe me?”
    Her inner struggle was reflected on her face. “Doc believes you. My mother believes you. I value both their opinions.”
    â€œI’m more concerned with what you think.”
    â€œMy first instinct is to believe you.”
    The triumph swirling inside was tempered by a heavy dose of restraint. “But?”
    â€œMy instincts have been wrong before.” The raw grief he glimpsed in her jolted him. “My sister almost died because of me. I can’t afford to be wrong about you.”
    She left him with more questions than answers, the desire to reassure her, to make things good for her again completely unexpected and decidedly irrational.
    He couldn’t fix his own problems. What made him think he could fix hers?

Chapter Four
    â€œY ou’re so lucky.” Teeth flashing in the gathering shadows, Will carried a water bucket in each hand. “Nothing exciting ever happens to me.”
    Walking beside him through the tranquil woods, Jessica shook her head. Because of his towering height and sturdy frame, the fifteen-year-old had the appearance of a man. And while he was mature in some ways, times like these reminded her he had plenty of growing up yet to do. Despite the absence of his parents—he’d been raised by an infirm grandfather and his older sister, Sophie—he’d turned out fine.
    â€œCount your blessings, Will. Trust me. Excitement isn’t always a positive thing.”
    â€œEasy for you to say. Your life isn’t all about chores and schoolwork.”
    Jessica recalled the time when her biggest irritant was having to write a history report or prepare a speech to deliver in front of the other students. Such innocence seemed like a hazy dream.
    They emerged from the trees close to where Grant had hours earlier. The outbuildings were mere outlines, the details obscured by encroaching darkness. The great, hulking barn was impossible to ignore. Her memory conjured up smoke belching out the wide entrance, and she could almost taste the acrid stench of burning wood and hay.
    Coming even with the structure, her gaze strayed to the patchy grass and the spot where Tom had dragged Lee’s lifeless body before returning inside and putting out the fire. Moisture smarted. She blinked rapidly, appalled that she still hadn’t mastered the grief and regret. If only it hadn’t happened here. If only she didn’t have to face the lingering images each and every day.
    Will reached the porch steps before noticing she hadn’t followed. “You coming?”
    â€œI’ll be along in a minute.”
    The door slapped shut behind him. Setting her own full pail on the ground, a little of the water splashing out, she trudged through the grass and stopped directly on the spot where Lee had lain. Heart expanding near to bursting, she knelt and pressed her palm flat against the hard, warm earth. Blades of grass tickled her skin.
    â€œWhy can’t I forget, Lord?”
    She’d crouched over him in shock, his unmoving hand locked between hers, lost in sorrow to the point she hadn’t given a thought to