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suitors. What I do is my business. I’m not a little girl.”
    “Whoa. Wait.” I stood still, silent, hoping she’d come back.
    With her arms curtly folded, she reappeared.
    I stepped around the partition. “I’m just concerned. I don’t want to see you hurt. You’re right. It’s not my business.”
    “No, it’s not. And I’m not the kind of girl to go further than, well, you know.”
    “I know you wouldn’t, which is why—nothing.” I turned back to my work.
    “Why, what?” She stepped nearer to me.
    “Drew can be charming when it works for him, but when it’s just the guys, he’s not as nice. Just don’t get yourself in a place where he could take advantage of you. Please.”
    Without another word, Annabeth walked away, leaving me staring at a bare spot I’d chopped in the rose maze wall. Annabeth turning her back on me after a small spat bothered me more than everything that had happened with Grace.
    * * * *
    Later that day, Mr. Rollins appeared behind the maze and nodded his approval at my handy work.
    The bushes were lush, climbing their boundaries, creating a rounded wall at the top, except for the bare spot I’d mutilated. I kept him from going down that path. So, other than the tragic death of one rose bush, the rest of the maze looked like a work of art.
    “Well done, son. Well done. I’m sure you’re curious as to my interest in speaking with you today?” he asked.
    I nodded.
    “I’ve only ever had your father under contract here. I’ve seen the value you are as an employee as of late. Your eighteenth birthday is coming soon, and I thought it would only be proper to hire you under contract too.”
    “A little more income would be nice,” I agreed. There were so many things we could do if we had more money. Mama might not have to work so hard, Pop might be able to buy a piece of land, and eventually we could have our own home.
    “I realize your family works very hard, and that an increase in pay is well overdue. It’s time to give your father a raise, and give you the same pay he was formerly making to begin with. Is that an acceptable offer?” Mr. Rollins clasped his hands around his protruding stomach.
    I nodded.
    “Then it’s done. I’ll draw up the papers.” His ruddy cheeks pinched into a smile.
    As I towered over him, he offered me a stubby hand. After a firm shake, the deal was sealed. When he left to see to other business, I almost did a stupid dance right where I was.
    I wanted someone to tell, but I had no friends. Annabeth hated me, and if I told Grace, she’d probably want to celebrate by fornicating. It was probably her pastime of choice.
    * * * *
    The next morning on the walk to school, Grace wasn’t there due to some last minute illness. I took the opportunity to catch up to Annabeth.
    As I fell in beside her, I walked with a skip in my step. “Can I walk you to school? I was hoping to talk to you about something.”
    Telling her the good news her father had given me would be a great way to take the place Drew Cobb normally did. So, even though she stared straight ahead, I didn’t give up.
    “I’m perfectly capable of walking myself to school.” She moved on past me.
    My chest deflated, but as I regarded her, I noticed something about her I’d never really allowed myself to. No other woman was as beautiful as she’d become. Not even my mama when she was young.
    Annabeth’s long, soft, brown hair was pinned up in an elegant mound of curls, and her neck was milky white. The soft curve of her shoulders led to a neckline I’d have done anything to…
    Whoa. This was a girl I could never have.
    Those thoughts had to stop.
    In a few minutes, we would pass Drew Cobb’s plantation, and he would surely waste no time making sure the spot beside Annabeth was filled.
    “Good morning, sunshine.” He took her book and speller.
    I sped up and cleared my throat.
    “Oh, hi there, Colby. I didn’t see you back there,” he said in his best gentlemanly