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morning, so you might want to bring an outfit for that too.”
    All the information raced around in Aliya’s head. She didn’t have any immediate plans for the weekend so it appeared that she was going to be spending it with Kolby and his family.
    “Okay,” she said. “I’ll be there. Oh, I almost forgot. “Shouldn’t you guys clear this with Marissa first? She may have a problem hanging out with her teacher all weekend.”
    “Are you kidding?” Genieva asked. “Marissa will love having you there. She can show you her tree house that Kolby built for her.”

Chapter Five
    “What time is Ms. Harris coming?” Marissa asked her aunt.
    Genieva made the potato salad while her mother Sonya pulled a pan of cornbread out of the industrial oven.
    “Soon,” Genieva answered.
    Marissa sat at the table playing with unshelled peas.
    “I can’t wait to show her my room.”
    “I don’t know what all the fuss is about,” Sonya said. “We’ve had guests before.”
    Genieva loved her mother dearly but Sonya had a very abrasive personality and she always spoke her mind. So Genieva wasn’t stupid enough to mention that she planned to fix Aliya up with Sonya’s precious oldest child.
    “This is Ms. Harris’s first time on a ranch. Kolby is going to teach her how to ride.”
    “Hrmp,” Sonya said. “Kolby is a busy man. He doesn’t have time to teach some greenhorn how to ride.”
    Marissa looked at Genieva for help. Her niece was smart enough not to let the cat out of the bag either.
    “He’s not busy today, mama,” Genieva said. “He’s doing it as a favor to me.”
    Sonya put the pan of cornbread on the counter to cool and then sat down at the table and began shucking peas. “Why do you want this? Is she your new best friend?”
    Genieva put the potato salad into the refrigerator. “Yes. She’s a very nice lady.”
    “What’s so special about her?” Sonya asked.
    “She’s smart and funny and she’s a teacher just like me. It’s nice to have a friend you have something in common with.”
    “And she’s pretty,” Marissa added.
    “What do you know about pretty?” Sonya asked Marissa. “Is that the only reason that you like this person?”
    Marissa shook her head and her pigtails flew into her face. She brushed them away from her eyes.
    “No, she’s a good teacher. She helps me when I ask her to.”
    “Oh,” Sonya said. “I guess I have to meet this fantastic person who everyone likes.” She paused. “Is she married?”
    “No,” Genieva answered.
    “Then keep her away from Kolby. He doesn’t need to be saddled down to some greenhorn. He needs a wife who can help him around the ranch.”
    Genieva had heard this sermon before, but what it all boiled down to is that her mother felt that there wasn’t a woman alive good enough for Kolby.
    Marissa looked like she wanted to cry.
    Genieva winked at her niece to ease her sorrow. She knew how much Marissa wanted her father to be happy.
    The front doorbell rang. Marissa hopped off the stool.
    “I’ll get it,” Genieva said, grabbing her niece’s hand and taking her out of the kitchen so Sonya couldn’t continue to question her about her teacher. They hurried through the house to the front foyer. Genieva opened the door. “Aliya,” she said. “Come on in.”
    Her friend had on a pair of jeans and a button-up plaid shirt and she carried a small overnight case and a garment bag.
    “Come on, I’ll show you to your room.” To be on the safe side Genieva would put Aliya in a room on her side of the second floor where Hale’s mother stayed when she visited. It had its own private bathroom too.
    “Hey, Marissa,” Aliya said to her student.
    “Hey, Ms. Harris.”
    Genieva took Aliya up the stairs to the room. Marissa followed.
    “Ooh, this is pretty,” Aliya said looking around the room.
    Genieva took her garment bag and hung it in the closet.
    “Thank you.”
    “I want to show you my room,” Marissa said.
    “Sure.”
    Aliya and