Hometown Sweetheart. Lenora Worth

the damage had been done. And not just to Katie. She’d get over her scare. After all, Simon had tried to comfort her. But he might not forget this night or the harsh accusations the boys had placed on him, all in the name of fun and jokes. He did seem scary, after all. But he also seemed as confused and lost as some of these children.

      “I’m sorry,” Shanna said, taking Katie up in her arms. “I need to get her back to the cabin so I can check her knee. This is the second time this week she’s skinned it in the same place.”

      Simon nodded, his eyes vacant and faraway. “I scare little children.”

      Shanna sat Katie down again then hurriedly wet a paper towel and placed it on her leg. “Honey, stay right here, okay, and hold this on your knee. I need to talk to Simon for just a minute. You’re okay, right?”

      Katie looked up at Simon, bobbing her head, her tears receding. “He wasn’t so scary after all, Miss Shanna.”

      “I know, darling. I saw that.”

      Janie called from the yard. “Shanna, is Katie all right?”

      “She’s fine, Miss Janie. You can come in if you want. She just got confused and hit her knee again.”