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I got him on his feet and handed him the crutches and he claimed to be okay on his own. Until he got into the bathroom, I kind of hovered over him.

Things were moving along okay until Brenda showed up at the front door and none of us were even dressed. Pouring rain, she stood on my porch with an umbrella over her head and a tote bag in her hand.

“Billy left some of his stuff at my place and I thought I’d drop it off.”

“Okay, thanks.” I took the bag from her hand and had no qualms about not inviting her in. Billy didn’t want to see her—I knew that for a fact.

“Can I talk to Billy?”

“Umm…he’s in the bathroom and he’s not dressed. Can you wait in the living room?”

I opened the door wide enough for her to come in and the dogs ran in behind her, soaking wet again. “You’re pretty early, Brenda. What’s the rush?”

She put the umbrella down and leaned it on the hall table before she went into the front room and sat on the sofa. Never bothered to take her wet boots off. I guess she figured I was a man, so I wouldn’t care about muddy tracks across my pine floors.

“Billy’s been avoiding me, and we need to talk. I had planned to go to his mother’s in Shelby yesterday and have a little chat with him, and then I found out he was gone.”

Savanna entered the kitchen fully dressed and saw me talking to Brenda. “Nasty weather. You’re up early, Brenda.”

“I came to see Billy.”

“Uh huh.” Staying clear of Brenda, Savanna headed for the coffee maker.

“Give me a minute, Brenda. I’ll see if Billy needs help in the bathroom.” I hustled down the hall, knocked once and said, “It’s me. You need help?”

“No. I’m good.”

“Brenda is here to see you.”

“No. She can’t be here. I’m not coming out. Get rid of her.”

“I can’t. She brought you some stuff and she’s waiting until she sees you.”

The door opened a crack and Billy crashed around trying to get through the narrow opening with the crutches. He was a pretty solid guy and there was just no room for his stocky body and a pair of crutches.

I gave him a helping hand and he took a minute to get set on the crutches, then he limped his way down the hallway. Standing in the archway between the kitchen and the living room, he snarled, “Brenda, what the hell are you doing here when people aren’t even up?”

“I wanted to drop off your stuff to you and I had to do it before it was time to open the shop. I’ve got a business to run.”

“I know that,” said Billy. “You tell me often enough how tough it is being the owner of a fuckin dress shop. Thanks for my stuff, but why don’t you put me on hold for now? I won’t be able to take you out for a long time and you might as well see other people.”

Brenda hopped to her feet and stomped out of the living room to take a stance—hands on hips—in front of Billy Johnson.

Harlan walked into the kitchen at that moment and smirked a little.

I hooked a thumb in the direction of the coffee, and he took a mug from the cupboard and filled it. He added a drop of cream from the carton on the counter, picked up the mug and sat down next to Savanna at the table.

She flashed him a smile. “How was your first night?”

“Okay. The bed was good enough.”

“You have enough blankets?” I asked. “We can get more today.”

Harlan nodded. “I was warm.”

“I’m going to start breakfast,” I said. “I’ve got to get to the station.”

“I’ll help,” said Savanna. “What are we making?”