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price, however steep it is.” He leaned toward her and confided, “Personally, I think he has visions of teaching some lessons about humanity and generosity.”
    Her lips twitched. “I imagine he does, but it’s not up to him. I will not be responsible for him getting fired or friends taking sides against each other.”
    â€œFriends might disagree, but they’ll patch things up. As for Caleb, who said anything about firing him?”
    â€œSome anonymous caller left a message for me yesterday, and I heard a few people talking about it this morning. Word’s getting around that George Winslow wants Caleb gone. He’s not going to let this drop, not as long as he has my father whispering in his ear. He’s determined to stir up trouble if we go forward. Caleb doesn’t deserve the aggravation.”
    â€œPeople talk about a lot of things. It doesn’t mean they’ll act on it. I’m sure whoever left the message figured you’d cave in, because they knew instinctively that you’d back away from a fight.”
    Her eyes flashed. “I’ve never backed away from a fight in my life,” she said indignantly. “But George is as rich as my daddy and just as powerful. He and Big Max are allies. When it comes to me and my father, there’s little question about whose side he’d take. He’ll happily bring down anyone who tries to help me, and he’ll consider it a favor to my daddy.”
    â€œHe doesn’t seem to scare Caleb. Isn’t that what counts?” Josh asked.
    â€œI’m not willing to take that chance.” Her gaze narrowed. “Besides, didn’t you just say it wasn’t much fun being the object of pity? Maybe I’ve thought it over and decided I don’t want to be in that position, either. I’ll be indebted to these people forever if I let them build the house.”
    â€œI could certainly understand it if you were to come to that conclusion,” Josh agreed.
    â€œThen we’re agreed. I’m doing the right thing.”
    â€œNo, we’re not agreed,” Josh said. “Because I don’t think that’s what happened. I think you got scared off, just the way this Winslow person—or your daddy—wanted you to.”
    Despite her earlier indignation, she didn’t seem to have enough fight left to argue. “Does it really matter?”
    â€œI think it does. There’s a big difference between being proud and being scared,” Josh told her. “And even if you think this is all about pride, I’m not sure you’re in a position to let pride get in the way of doing what you need to do for those kids of yours.”
    She studied him intently. “Something tells me you would have thrown this offer right back in their faces, too, especially once it got complicated.”
    â€œPossibly,” Josh agreed. “But I like to think that I’d have taken another look at it if someone had offered my mom the one thing that might have made a real difference to us.”
    â€œWhat was that?”
    â€œA home,” he said simply. “I’m not just talking about four walls and a roof over our heads, Amanda, but a real home with a community of people who cared enough to build it for us. That’s what you’ve got happening here. I’m not sure you should be so quick to turn your back on it, especially not just to protect Caleb, a man who doesn’t seem to think he needs your protection.”
    â€œBut there are a lot of people, not just George Winslow, who think building this house for me is the wrong thing to do. Maybe they’re right.”
    â€œThumb your nose at them,” he advised. “After all, what do they know? You have your reasons for not asking your daddy for help, and those reasons are none of their concern. If they knew, they might just admire your gumption. I do.”
    â€œI suppose,” she said, though she still