McKenna's Bartered Bride. Sandra Steffen

Slappy and Billy all raised their eyebrows in silent expectation. Jake recalled the way Josie’s voice had risen when she’d told him she wouldn’t spend the day with him if he were the last man on earth. That hadn’t been particularly satisfying. With a scowl hot enough to scorch the rich prairie grass, he turned on his heel.

      “Where are you going?” Sky called to his back.

      “To Boomer’s to get that lumber. In case you haven’t noticed, we have fences to mend.”

      Jake was too far away to hear Sky’s reply, but in his head, a voice whispered, There’s more than one kind of fences in need of mending today, my friend.

      That voice. It was driving Jake crazy. What did it mean friend? He’d never considered his conscience his friend.

      Cussing under his breath, he climbed into his truck and sped down the lane.

      

      “How long before we get there, Mama?”

      Hoping Kelsey didn’t notice how tightly her mother was clutching the steering wheel, Josie answered in the middle of the invocations and supplications she’d been reciting to herself since she’d first noticed the engine light come on a couple of miles back. “Ten more miles, sweet pea, and we’ll be home.”