Chapter Four

      Heather wasn’t sure what to do next.

      The kindly doctor had cleaned and inspected Bailey’s elbow, then checked her over and pronounced her slightly bruised but ready to go. With a grape lollipop tucked in her mouth, Bailey seemed none the worse for wear as they followed Josh out to his pickup, which the day care class was calling the Rescue Truck.

      Heather’s nerves were another story altogether.

      She’d never been so terrified in her life, and when she reached out to tousle her niece’s hair for the third time, Bailey pulled away as she buckled her seat belt.

      “I’m fine, Aunt Heather,” she announced in an overly patient tone that betrayed her annoyance. “You can stop smushing me.”

      “Sorry. I guess I’m not good in a crisis.”

      “Seriously?” Josh teased with a sidelong grin at her. “You’re a vet.”

      “Human crisis,” she clarified, frowning back. “I can’t believe you’re being so blasé about this. If it weren’t for you...” She trailed off, unable to complete the thought. If she was being honest, she had to acknowledge that she hadn’t yet accepted her brother’s sudden death, and she was still learning to navigate her responsibilities as a guardian. If anything happened to Bailey, she’d never forgive herself.

      The twinkle in his blue eyes dimmed a bit, chasing away the smile. “My turn to apologize. You might not wanna hear this, but I know how you feel.”

      Her favorite phrase, she thought bitterly. She’d heard it so many times at the funeral, she’d barely managed not to scream at the well-meaning guests. Smothering that same impulse now, she summoned the tone she’d cultivated for chauvinistic professors who’d dared to question her choice of career. “About what?”

      “Your brother,” he replied quietly, staring out the windshield as he pulled onto Main Street. “We lost my dad in a car accident a few years ago. It changes your perspective on things.”

      She gave him a long look, but he didn’t meet her eyes. When she realized that was his intent, she decided it was probably best for both of them. After the scare she’d had, seeing sympathy in the eyes of this selfless, courageous man might just make her cry. She was fairly certain that was the last thing either of them wanted. “Yes, it does. Thank you for understanding.”

      He nodded, then angled a glance down at Bailey. “How’s your arm feeling?”

      “Okay. Can I turn on the radio?”

      “Sure, sweetness. Pick whatever you want.”

      “Sweetness?” she echoed, grinning up at him. “That’s a nice nickname.”

      “Then it’s yours. You were pretty awesome today, so I’m thinking you should get whatever you want.”

      She cast a woeful look through the rain-streaked window at the park. The powerful storm had moved on, but not before dropping several enormous limbs on top of what had been a sprawling wooden playground only a few hours ago. “Mr. Kinley, do you think someone can fix that?”

      He hesitated, and Heather guessed that he was trying to come up with a way to be truthful but encouraging. Most adults would’ve patted Bailey on the head and told her not to worry about it, but not Josh. He was treating her with the same respect he’d shown Heather, and she appreciated his generous attitude toward her niece. She didn’t know him well, but she couldn’t deny that there was a lot to like about this tall, easygoing country boy.

      “I’d imagine so,” he finally replied, “but not for a while. It’ll take some serious cash and a lot of hours no one has to spare this time of year.”

      Bailey sighed. “I saw a bunch of kids playing over there yesterday. It looked like they were having a lot of fun.”

      Josh’s eyes flicked toward Heather, but she had no idea what he was after, so she kept quiet, waiting to hear what he’d say next.

      “Tell you what,” he said as he stopped for an elderly couple in the crosswalk. “I’ll start pulling a crew together to make the repairs on one condition.”

      “What?” Bailey asked eagerly.

      “You and your aunt have to help raise the money we’ll need to replace the materials.”

      “I don’t know, Josh,” Heather said instinctively. “With my new job, I’m going to be awfully busy.”

      “And I’m just a kid,” Bailey added. “What can I do?”

      “Folks need a good reason to donate money to the project. Who better to ask them than a girl who’s going to enjoy the end result?”

      “What if they say no?” she asked.

      “Then you ask someone else,” he replied with a chuckle. “That’s how the Oaks Crossing Rescue Center operates all year long, and they’re doing it well enough to bring your aunt here, aren’t they?”

      “I guess.” Hope shone in Bailey’s china-blue eyes that were so much like Craig’s as she looked at Heather. “Is it okay?”

      After the day the little girl had endured, how could she possibly say no? Besides, Josh was in the middle of planting season, and he’d volunteered time he clearly didn’t have to spare. It wasn’t as if she could claim to be busier than he was. “Of course it is. Maybe some of the kids in your class will help, too. Then you’ll be raising money and making friends at the same time.”

      Josh flashed her a grin of approval that went a long way toward soothing her frazzled nerves. Her last boyfriend had broken things off when Bailey moved in with her, claiming he didn’t have the energy for a child during his residency. Heather had decided that she and Bailey would be better off not relying on someone else who’d leave when things didn’t go his way.