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met. Even the assortment of small-town shops seemed welcoming.
    Leaving the hardware store, Ruth led them toward a small gift shop. The bell over the glass door tinkled out a welcome, blending with the aroma of freshly brewed cider.
    “Ruth!” A woman greeted them. “Did you find out good news?”
    “Yes and no,” Ruth replied. “On the down side, we don’t have any new updates on Gregory. But on the positive side, we brought his bride home. Wilma, meet Brynn.”
    Smiling self-consciously, Brynn held out a hand and found it swallowed in a surprisingly firm grip.
    Wise, steel-blue eyes surrounded by a waterfall of wrinkles, zoned in on Brynn. “Well. well. I never thought that boy would ever settle down. And you’re the girl who hooked him.”
    Ruth laughed. “What makes you think Gregory didn’t do the hooking?”
    “Because that boy was a chaser. Couldn’t sit still for more than two seconds. He wouldn’t settle down without a fight. Hell, he’d more likely ask for a recount.”
    Ruth patted Brynn’s arm. “But Brynn’s a very special girl.”
    “So I see,” Wilma commented, her gaze skipping over Brynn’s baggy clothing and oversize glasses. “Tell me, how did you and Gregory meet?”
    Brynn felt a trace of panic. Surprisingly, no one had asked her any more details, accepting that it troubled her to talk about it. And what would this apparently astute woman believe? Not that it had been love at first sight. What would Stephanie, the heroine of her comic strip, do?
    Tell an outrageous tale.
    That was easy. It was something Stephanie often did.
    But something Brynn had never tried.
    She took a deep breath, hoping she wouldn’t be hitchhiking back to Salt Lake City if the story fell flat “Gregory and I were working on a project together.” That much was partially true, but she slid her fingers together behind her back as she continued. “And it seems he’s not used to women who say nor.”
    Wilma’s brows rose.
    Brynn smiled as she thought Stephanie might. “At heart, I guess Gregory really is old-fashioned.” She barely kept from wincing at the incredulous expressions that flashed across both Wilma’s and Ruth’s faces. “I mean that he wanted to be the one to do the chasing. The women he’d been involved with were all bright and beautiful—but they didn’t play hard to get. In fact, they chased him until they caught him. So Gregory wasn’t used to someone who not only wouldn’t chase him—but kept him at arm’s length.” Brynn thought briefly of the wedding album she’d had made and squirmed.
    “What sort of project were you working on?” Wilma asked.
    Brynn thought rapidly. She couldn’t say the auction. There was a good chance Ruth knew about that—it had been publicized enough—and she’d know there hadn’t been enough time for a courtship, engagement and wedding since the event. “I’m involved in a program to stop the overpopulation of homeless animals and...I headed a drive to get dogs and cats spayed and neutered. We found veterinarians willing to donate their time and facilities and the volunteers coordinated everything. Some on the medical end, some—”
    “You met Gregory while you were castrating animals?” Wilma asked, horrified amusement flashing across her face.
    “Well, not exactly. Gregory has such a way with animals—”
    “He does?” Ruth interrupted, surprised.
    “Well, yes... I mean, he’s gotten very good with animals. Very good.”
    “But why was he volunteering before he found this affinity?” Wilma asked, skepticism showing in both her voice and expression.
    What would Stephanie say? “I hate to reveal something that Gregory didn’t already confide.... But, I guess if you’ll keep it to yourselves...”
    Ruth and Wilma both nodded eagerly, as did a younger woman who’d edged over from the middle of the shop and now stood, unabashedly listening.
    “Gregory was working late... and there was an electrical fire. It started small but the