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guess I’ll need to get Montana enrolled in school Monday.”

    “Not next week,” Carolyn said. “It’s spring break.”

    The doorbell rang.

    A few seconds later Elam appeared in the kitchen doorway. “Brandon and Kelsey are here. They already met Montana outside and wondered if they could say hello to Ivy. They can only stay a minute.”

5

    ON MONDAY MORNING, Ivy Griffith sat at the breakfast table with Montana, Lu, and her parents. Her father had hardly spoken to her, and his indifference hurt almost as much as the reason for it.

    “Would anybody like another waffle?” Carolyn Griffith said.

    “Yes, please.” Montana held up his plate and flashed a charming grin. “Do you have more strawberries?”

    “Just waiting for you. I love a young man with a hearty appetite.” Carolyn got up and walked over to the griddle.

    “So, Ivy…where are you planning to apply for a job?” Elam said.

    Ivy tried not to squirm, determined not to let the intensity of her father’s gaze bore a hole in her defenses. “I think I’ll start by asking Jewel Sadler if she needs a waitress.”

    “Pays minimum wage plus tips. Is that enough?”

    “I can work two jobs.” Ivy took a sip of orange juice.

    “That’ll leave you time to sleep. What about the boy?”

    If you call him “the boy” one more time I’m going to scream! “Montana will be fine. I’ve always found time for him.” Ivy stole a glance at Lu, sobered by the reality that Lu would not be there to help her this time. She fluttered her eyelashes until she could focus clearly. “I’ll go talk to Jewel after the breakfast rush dies down.”

    The phone rang.

    Elam reached behind him and snatched the receiver off the wall phone. “Hello…You’re kidding…Are you absolutely sure it’s human? All right, don’t touch anything and call the sheriff. I’m on my way.” He hung up the phone and looked at Carolyn. “That was the construction foreman on the time-share project. They’re out there with the bulldozers clearing trees and uncovered a human skull, of all things—and some bones.”

    “How awful,” Carolyn said. “Where?”

    “At the south end of the old Collier ranch. Probably been out there since the gold rush days.”

    Ivy started to choke on her food and picked up her glass of orange juice and took a few gulps.

    “You okay, Ivy girl?” Lu said, giving her a couple whacks on the back.

    Ivy nodded. “Went down…the…wrong pipe.”

    Elam drank the last of his coffee, wiped his mustache with a napkin, and stood. “I’ll call and let you know what’s going on. I hope this doesn’t delay construction. It’s already a push getting the model finished by July for the Getaway Homes Show.”

    Ivy watched her father leave the kitchen and avoided making eye contact with her mother.

    “Goodness,” Carolyn said. “I wonder who the person is and how they died?”

    Montana cut off a big piece of waffle and stuffed it into his mouth. “On CSI they could tell from a guy’s skull that he died ‘cause someone hit him in the head.”

    “Where did you see CSI ?” Ivy said.

    Montana smiled sheepishly. “At Josh’s sleepover. Are you mad?”

    “Well, I’m not thrilled. You don’t need to be filling your head with that stuff.”

    Carolyn got up and started clearing dishes off the table. “How about if I drive you into town? And while you’re talking to Jewel, Lu and I can take Montana over to the ice rink. Should be a lot of kids there since it’s spring break.”

    Ivy walked into Jewel’s Café at ten o’clock and smiled when she saw the dreadful moose head hanging on the wall opposite the windows. She noticed only a few customers, none that she recognized, and was aware that someone had come out of the kitchen.

    “Well, will you look at this: Ivy Griffith in the flesh.” Jewel Sadler put her arms around Ivy before she could protest, then stood back and seemed to study her. “You’ve grown up.”

    “Can you