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Pulling up to the house, Eli parked next to what she assumed was the rental car. It was a small white thing, and she knew instantly she was going to be driving the two of them home and returning for the rental later. No way was it going to make it toIndigo. Eli put her truck in neutral and left it running as she dashed up to the front door of the house.
She didn’t bother knocking. Instead, Eli pushed open the door and called out, “Mrs. Hargrave?”
“Heavens, Elijah, call me Ginger.”
Grinning, Eli moved into the kitchen where she’d heard Mrs. Hargrave. Giggling, she stepped inside and rubbed her hands on her jeans with a shake of her head and a squint of her eyes. “Not a chance, Mrs. Hargrave. I had you for too many years in school to break old habits. Besides, you still call me Elijah.”
Mrs. Hargrave chuckled and opened her arms. Eli walked right into them and gave her a hug. She had completely ignored Sarah, one because she was frustrated with the entire situation but two because she was always enraptured by Mrs. Hargrave when they were in the same room. She had learned so much more from her than just what was taught in the schoolbooks.
Turning on her heel, Eli put her fist on her hip, popped it out slightly, and stared down at Sarah. Sarah had been glaring at her glass on the table, but as soon as she turned to look up at Eli, Eli’s breath flew out of her lungs. She never would have guessed that one.Sadie Bade.Country singer, folk singer, indie singer, whatever genre someone wanted to put her in, was sitting in the middle of the kitchen with a pout on her thin lips, and Mrs. Hargrave, bless her soul, had no idea who she was sipping tea with.
“I suppose you’re Sarah Bannock.” Eli gave her as much of a smile as she could muster and held out her hand. “I’m Elijah Wilson. Eli, please.”
Sarah put her hand out and shook. Warmth seeped into Eli’s fingers and up her arm. She jerked away before it hit her belly. She was simply star struck, that’s all it was. Nothing more.
“I’ll take you back toIndigo. I think you’re a bit farther off than you thought you’d be.”
“Yeah.” Sarah’s voice was barely above a whisper, and if Eli hadn’t been facing her, she wouldn’t have even thought she’d spoken.
“We’ll have to take my truck. You don’t mind, Mrs. Hargrave, if we leave her car here until tomorrow, do you?”
“Not at all. If you leave me the keys, Dwaine and I can meet you in town with it.”
“Sounds good.” Eli nodded toward Mrs. Hargrave as she stared down Sarah, realizing in an instant that she hadn’t been able to rip her gaze from Sarah’s sad brown eyes. Sarah reached into her pocket and pulled out the keys, setting them on the table, and Eli could tell she was hesitant. “Ready?”
“Elijah?” Mrs. Hargrave interrupted.
“Yes, ma’am?” Eli spun on her heel.
“Would you go check on Dwaine? I always worry about him being out here in this kind of weather at this time of night.”
Eli furrowed her brow. “One of the boys isn’t doing the three o’clock checks?”
Mrs. Hargrave shook her head as she gripped the back of the chair. “No.”
Eli wanted to roll her eyes and say something sharp, but she held her tongue. It wouldn’t do any good to talk to them about it, but she could figure out a way to get word out to Robert’s and James’ wives and that would no doubt get the fire lit under them to help out their dad, because truthfully, Dwaine should not be out in the fields in the middle of the night.
“Yeah, I’ll check before I head back. If you don’t hear from me, he’s fine.”
“Thanks.” Mrs. Hargrave gave her a grin.
Eli turned to Sarah, who hadn’t budged from her seat but was still staring at her. “Ready?”
Sarah nodded. “I need to get my things.”
“We’ll throw them in the back.”
“Is it covered?”
“No?” Eli furrowed her brow and shook her head. “The backseat.”
“You have a backseat in your truck?”
Eli wasn’t quite sure what to say to that. Either Sarah had grown up and continued to live under a rock, or she was still too upset to think straight. “Yeah. Let’s go. Mrs. Hargrave deserves to have her kitchen back.”
Sarah got up and ambled toward the front door. Eli turned and gave Mrs. Hargrave one last hug before she followed Sarah outside and into the chill air. She really hoped she could find her own balance again after realizing who her guest was, because every thought that went through her mind wasthank God she had fixed the toilet before Sadie Bade showed up on her front step.
Chapter 4
