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smile. “So, I guess I’ll leave you here then, if it’s okay. I have a few errands to run, and Dash will show you to your room. I’m sure he’ll be happy to fill you in on where the local hot spots are.” She rolled her eyes in Dash’s direction.
    “Honey, I’m in recovery.”
    “Yes, I know that, dear, and I’m proud of you. But I’m sure Baron Woolham would like to get himself some supper down at the Kountry Kitchen or barbecue out at the Pig Place. Would you be sweet and show him around? I’ve got to go tell Momma a second time that I’m not putting on that dress or having my hair poufed out. I have made a solemn vow never again to wear any kind of rhinestone tiara.”
    “Rocky, honey,” Dash said, “the single men in Last Chance will be drowning their sorrows tonight when they learn you’re going to ditch the seventy-fifth anniversary float. You coming home and riding on that float has been the hot topic of discussion most of the day. We’re all wondering whose heart you’re gonna break this time.”
    Caroline gave Randall an exaggerated punch in the biceps. “Shut your mouth, Dash. I’m in town to work, not ride on any parade floats. And I have no intention of ever breaking any hearts ever again. The fallout isn’t any fun.”
    Caroline turned and strode around the Mustang’s boot. She opened it and pulled out her small rolling suitcase. “I’m going now. Ya’ll have fun.”
    “Um, can I drop you someplace?” Hugh asked,wondering about the provenance of the nickname Randall had just used. Rocky Rhodes—it was rather amusing, wasn’t it? But in some strange way, that nickname seemed to fit Caroline. Maybe even better than her real name.
    “No, thanks.” She shook her head, and her ponytail swayed. “The Cut ’n Curl is just down the block a ways and around the corner. You have my cell number if you need to reach me. I’ll check in later with our schedule for tomorrow. I’m going to see if Daddy will give you a tour of the golf course. And I think my mother’s got it all fixed so you can have a place on the reviewing stand with Senator Warren, his daughter, and the rest of the local VIPs. But I have to confirm all that.”
    She turned and strode down the drive toward the sidewalk.
    “Hey, Rocky, good luck with that whole dress avoidance thing. Because I also heard through the grapevine that Dale Pontius has insisted that you ride his Watermelon Queen float,” Dash called after her, “or else.”
    Caroline stopped and looked back. “What?”
    Randall shrugged. “Just giving you the heads-up.” He glanced toward Hugh and then back. “I heard something about Dale Pontius driving a hard bargain.”
    Caroline muttered an oath, turned, and stalked down the driveway, her shoulders straight. Hugh couldn’t help admiring the swing of her hips and the nice shape of her derriere.
    It was really too bad that her father owned the land he needed. Caroline—or Rocky—might be a very nice diversion.
    Caroline opened the front door of the Cut ’n Curl. The pungent mélange of permanent solution, shampoo, and hairspray invited her into her own private reverie.
    The beauty shop was a world of its own, papered in pink-striped wallpaper and shuttered with green moiré curtains. Caroline remembered helping Momma pick out the paper and hang it. She’d learned to sew a straight seam by helping to make the curtains. Momma had done a real nice job of decorating the place. It was classy and homey all at the same time.
    The Cut ’n Curl had three workstations covered in pink marble-patterned Formica, a bank of hair dryers with pink vinyl seats, and a two-seat shampoo area near the back with two-toned, lime green chairs.
    As usual, a near-quorum of the Christ Church Ladies Auxiliary was present and accounted for.
    Lessie Anderson was in Momma’s chair with her hair up in permanent rollers. Thelma Hanks was under the dryer. Millie Polk, Rachel’s mother, was sitting on a side chair waiting on her