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“The school board has to weigh many requests for funds,” he said. “They have a tough job and a duty to be fiscally responsible. I’m still hoping the students can attend the science bee. I’ll be asking their parents to help make that happen, and I welcome any other volunteers from the community who’d like to help.”
    “Very nicely done.” She switched off the recorder and stuck it in her purse. “Any idea why Rick Southerland spoke out so vehemently against the proposal?”
    “I assume he objects to the school board spending any extra money.”
    “He hasn’t attended any of the meetings I’ve covered. And something about his manner...I think this was more personal.”
    He was tempted to tell her the whole story, but reminded himself that his words might end up on the front page of next week’s edition of the Hartland Herald. “Must be your imagination. Rick and I work together, but I really don’t know him well.”
    “And now you’ve volunteered to help Love Soldier with her gardening project. That’s very civic-minded of you.”
    Did he imagine the teasing note in her voice? “Her idea is a good one. I hated to see it shot down before we at least tried to find a solution. I worked on a couple of rainwater collection projects in college.”
    “Any idea why she changed her name to Love Soldier?”
    “You’d have to ask her, but Erica has always been a little alternative.”
    “Then you know her?”
    “We were in school together. Besides, stay in Hartland long enough and you get to know everyone.”
    “My grandmother keeps assuming I already know everyone the way she does. She was convinced you and I had met before, but I had to remind her I was only here for a few weeks in the summer.”
    “I don’t think we’d met before.” He liked to think he would have remembered if they’d known each other before, but who could say what kind of an impression she’d have made on him when she was a girl? He’d spent more time focused on baseball and horses than chasing after girls.
    “I’ll help you with the science bee, if you like,” she said.
    He didn’t try to hide his surprise. “Do you really want to spend the day with a bunch of high school kids?”
    She shrugged. “I think it would make an interesting story for the paper.”
    “Is that the real reason, or are you just looking for an excuse to follow me around and report on other signs of inexperience or special treatment?”
    Her eyes narrowed. “I’ll report on what I see, the same as I’d do with anyone.”
    “As long as you don’t single me out for any special attention. I wouldn’t want that, no matter what some people think.”
    A blush of color suffused her cheeks again—from anger, or some other emotion? “No special attention,” she said. “Not from me.”
    She started to turn away, but he touched her shoulder. “I don’t want us to be enemies,” he said.
    “You’re not my enemy. I told you before—I’m just doing my job.”
    Right. And someone had to matter to you in some way in order for them to be your enemy. Amy obviously felt nothing for him except that resentment she apparently felt for any veteran who had what her late husband did not—namely, a life. He couldn’t change those feelings with an apology or a smile. “The science bee is next month. I’ll let you know.”
    “Fine.” She slung her purse over her shoulder. “See you around.”
    “Yeah. See you around.”
    Josh watched her retreat—that’s what it felt like to him, anyway. She didn’t run out of the building, but he sensed she wanted to. What was she running from? Was his presence really so offensive to her?
    He’d been crazy to agree to let her come along on the science bee trip. The day would be awkward and tense and he’d probably come off looking bad in the article she wrote.
    “Where is she off to in such a hurry?” Erica joined him. “I wanted to talk to her about the school garden.”
    “She said she had a deadline for the