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made such an observation. Instead she got them into her office, then called up someone named Seana who appeared and asked if she could give Prissy a tour.
    The relief on Jody’s face was evident as he handed the toddler over. “Thank you. If you need me, you know where I am, I reckon.”
    Seana flashed him a flirty grin. “That I do, cowboy.”
    Jody blushed and watched her lead Prissy away. “I’m so lost with all of this.” He took his cowboy hat off. His red hair was flattened where the hat had covered it, but the rest of it was a mass of wild curls. He ran a hand through the smashed hair then put his hat back on. “Sorry. I didn’t know I was a daddy until five days ago. Kind of a shock for me.”
    “You work at the Mossy Glenn?” Gertie asked, then went on before he could answer. “Not that I care, except you seem a little nervous, and I don’t want you thinkin’ anyone here has anything against you or the others who work there.” Noel recognised the glint in her eye a second before she said, “Why, Noel is gay as can be, and if you can’t tell, he’s like a son to me, so don’t be worrying about the gay thing if that’s a concern for you.”
    Not only was Jody nervous, fidgeting with his fingers against each other, but the man was bright red—embarrassed or ashamed, Noel didn’t know. There was a difference between the two. Noel hoped that Jody wasn’t ashamed of being a gay man.
    “Thank you, ma’am,” Jody said quietly. “I, uh. It’s just that straight people don’t have to say that kind of thing, so, you know, I don’t like having to, either.”
    Noel doubted it was that easy, that clear-cut, but Gertie didn’t press and there was no reason for him to.
    “I just wanted you to understand I don’t tolerate bigots,” Gertie explained. “Now tell me, do you have custody of this little girl of yours?”
    “Yes, ma’am, I sure do,” Jody answered. He stood up and took a business card out of his wallet, then handed the card to Gertie. “That there’s my lawyer. You can call him if you need to, or I can bring a copy of the records he’s filing. Prissy’s momma passed away and I’m listed as her daddy. No one else wanted her, so my sister brought her to me.”
    Noel felt a jarring stab of anger on Prissy’s behalf. He had to bite his tongue to keep from speaking out.
    Gertie didn’t bother. “You don’t say that kind of thing around her, do you? Because that baby don’t deserve to be unwanted. You do want her, don’t you? You’re not just taking her to keep from looking bad?”
    “Looking bad to who?” Jody retorted bitterly. “Ain’t no one gonna care on my side of the family. To them, me and any offspring are plumb evil. I got friends who’re helping me, or else I don’t know what I’d do. I’m doing the best I can damn well do. I…” Jody lowered his head and rubbed at his eyes. Noel ached for the man, for the amount of pain he’d heard in Jody’s voice.
    “I’m sorry. I had to ask. Prissy’s health and safety will always come first here,” Gertie said. “And I’m sorry your family is the way they are. That happens to too many people when they come out. It’s—”
    “They don’t know, and they wouldn’t care,” Jody cut in. “I’m dead to them, and that’s fine. It’s what it is.” Jody’s nose was red and so were his eyes, but he hadn’t cried. He sat up a little taller and tipped his hat back a smidge. “This is about Prissy, not me. She’s my daughter, and just because I never thought I’d have a kid doesn’t mean I don’t want her. I don’t know what to do for her, but I’ll learn. She won’t ever doubt that she has a family at the Mossy Glenn, and she’ll know every one of them there loves her.”
    Gertie smiled gently at him. “There, that’s a daddy for you. You’ll do just fine, Jody. Now, let’s talk about hours and fees. Noel, you listen up because you’ll be handling this sort of thing very soon. Pull up a