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effectively as the owl’s hoot had. Her big expressive eyes, her freckles, her underlying spunk fighting for release. How good, how alive, he became in her presence? The instinct to wrap her in his arms and be all he could be, for her?
    Creighton entered his home and paused inside the kitchen doorframe. A big house for just one man. How empty the rooms were. His steps echoed through the great room on the way to his lonely bedroom.
     
    ****
     
    Shana rolled to her side yet again, thinking of her comfortable, roomy bed back in Lincoln. Not that this bed wasn’t OK, the mattress was even cushioned with memory foam. And it was warm.
    “But it’s not home,” she moaned. A tear escaped, and dried on her cheek. She drifted off to sleep, only to dream of a sinister presence in her home, touching and taking her belongings.
    When Shana next woke, dawn was spreading its wings across the sky. She smiled, stretched, and marveled at the fulfillment of a few hours rest. Her next thought was of Creighton. She wanted to see him, to feel his presence. Maybe they could do something together today.
    Would he want to spend time with her, after the way she had treated him last night?
    She bounded out of bed, eager to shower, enjoy her coffee, and make it a good day. She would not dwell at all on circumstances out of her control. She could not control or change the backgrounds of others. She’d refuse to focus on the The Pines getting along without her, or the fact that this retreat was forced on her by her boss. She’d do what she had to, in order to reach youth so they would have brighter futures. She was done feeling sorry for herself.
    Twenty minutes later, Shana leaned against the deck rail. A red squirrel scurried over the ground between the last pine tree of the windbreak and the cottonwood near her cabin. Her contemplation was interrupted with the clear alto notes of Valerie’s voice singing from around the bend in the creek. She sang of peace, a river, and sorrows.
    The notes soared closer and bobbed with the top of Valerie’s hat as she neared.
    The four-wheeler roared close and immediately ceased.
    A duet ensued when Creighton’s rich baritone voice joined Valerie’s on the last line in the refrain.
    The stereo effect caused laughter among the trio, followed by a chorus of greetings.
    Valerie stopped at the foot of the deck steps and rested her palms on the walking stick. “I’m putting together a new chapter, so I won’t stay. But I’ll see you two later.”
    They waved Valerie on.
    Creighton’s gaze fixed on Shana.
    She couldn’t look away.
    “Would—”
    “Creighton—”
    They laughed again.
    “Ladies first.”
    “I’m sorry about last night. I was about to come looking for you. Do you have time to show me around today?”
    “That’s what I started to ask, if you would like to see some of the ranch.” He pointed at her bare feet. “Do you have hiking shoes with you?”
    “My cross-trainers. Will they work?”
    “Sure. It’s getting too cool for the rattlers.”
    “No way. As in rattlesnakes?” her voice shook with unease.
    “I’m kidding again. I haven’t seen one in years. I’ll wait here until you’re ready to get started.”
    Shana made quick work of putting on socks and shoes, warmed by Creighton’s rich voice and soft laughter. She slung the sleeves of a khaki shirt over her shoulders, and bounced through the door.
    “Wow, you are fast,” Creighton commented.
    Shana’s fingers trembled as she tied the sleeves in a knot over her rust-colored T-shirt. Her quivery tummy made her wish she had eaten breakfast. Creighton’s deep hazel eyes created a hunger that she recognized as being unfulfilled by a token bowl of cereal or piece of toast.
    They turned and descended the board steps side-by-side.
    “Do you want to start near the buildings or walk the creek?” he asked.
    Shana considered. “Since I haven’t exercised in days, how about the creek? I feel the need to really stretch my