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good-looking,” he said as he got out and came around to open the passenger-side door. He gave her a quick peck on the cheek. “Good to have you home. Worried about you being in DC alone.”
    She waved him off. “I was fine, just like I told you I would be.” She climbed in and he closed her door. Before her trip to Washington they’d had a small argument about her traveling alone. She’d appreciated his concern but her mind had been made up and that was that.
    After getting into the truck on his side, he started the ignition, looked her way, and said, “I know you think you’re all that and a bag of chips, too, but no more trips by yourself. Okay?”
    â€œNot okay.” His lips tightened but she didn’t care. Keeping her voice soft she asked, “Can we fuss after we eat?”
    The smile that he showed cut the tension. “Yes, ma’am.”
    As he drove toward town she sighed inwardly. His treating her like he always knew what was best was driving her nuts, but she reminded herself that she’d loved him since high school. Marrying Riley Curry instead had been the worst decision of her life. Now they were trying to rekindle what they’d lost decades ago and she was doing her best to ignore the tiny voice in her head that kept whispering it was too late.
    The Dog and Cow was the only diner in town and, as always during the dinner hour, the place was jumping. The booths lining the walls and tables positioned in the middle of the large room were filled with people, and myriad conversations competed to be heard over the sound of the flashy red jukebox playing “Cowboys to Girls” by the Intruders. The family of the Dog’s owner, Malachi July, had lived in Henry Adams for over a century. Mal was also Clay’s BFF.
    Upon seeing them enter, Mal came over and gave her a hug. “Welcome home. Did you have a good time?”
    â€œI did.”
    â€œGood. Hold on a minute and I’ll get you two a booth.”
    While they waited Gen shared smiles and waves with a host of people she knew: from members of the young waitstaff like Bernadine’s daughter, Crystal, to Sheila Payne, the town’s director of special events, and Sheila’s husband, Marine Colonel Barrett. When Gen was young her main goal in life had been to leave town and see the world, and she thought by marrying Riley with his boastful plans it would happen, but as the years passed she found herself stuck in a loveless marriage with a man who cared more for a hog than he did for his wife. Now that she was finally in charge of her own life, she was content with this small town and the wonderful friendships she’d made because she was no longer stuck. In spite of Riley’s embezzlement, she was still financially secure—thanks to Bernadine’s advisors—and if she wanted to spend a week in Washington, DC, or even Paris, she could.
    Mal waved them over to a booth on the far side of the room. When the smiling Crystal came over to take their order, Gen ordered the trout and veggies. Clay opted for steak, salad, and a baked potato. “I’ll get this right out,” Crystal promised.
    She headed off to the kitchen to put in their order and Gen asked Clay, “So, what have you been doing while I was gone?”
    â€œBesides worrying?”
    Lord save me from this man! “Besides worrying.”
    â€œNot much. Bing and I drove over to Topeka for the Black Farmers’ meeting. We’re still dealing with the fallout of the lawsuit. Some people with legitimate claim numbers are being told their cases were filed too late for them to be compensated.”
    He was a member of the class action suit filed by Black farmers nationwide against the Agriculture Department for its decades of unethical loan disbursements and illegal land forfeitures. “Do the people who were denied have any options?” she asked.
    â€œIt doesn’t look like it, but