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Rick stopped the horse parade outside the stable and helped the woman and daughter dismount. They seemed a decent enough family for all the stories you heard about foster care. The dad might be a bit of a milquetoast, but he wrapped his daughter’s shoulders with his arm and ambled toward the cabin. Todd was watching through the corner of his eye but averted his face as they approached. The woman spoke to him, but he didn’t answer.
    Morgan joined Rick. “Hey.”
    Rick jerked his chin toward Todd disappearing around the back of their cabin. “What was that all about?”
    He must have seen their interaction, if you could call it that. “Just getting to know him.”
    “Good luck.”
    Morgan grinned. “He is a little prickly. What’s the deal?”
    Rick heaved the saddle off the mare. “Not sure. He’s been in the foster program awhile. Stan’s only had him a couple of months. He’s flunked out or been kicked out of every school he’s attended.”
    “How’d you get hooked up with them?”
    “Stan’s a friend of my neighbor. He’s trying to keep Todd out of trouble. Needed a place of refuge.”
    Morgan nodded. “I’m starting to see a pattern.”
    Rick stripped the blanket and sent the mare up to pasture. “They have the cabin as long as they need it.”
    “The guy’s not working?”
    “He’s a schoolteacher. Off for the summer.” Rick uncinched the last saddle. No doubt he’d given Todd’s family the same sort of deal he’d given Noelle when she appeared at his door, wounded and needy.
    Rick hoisted the saddle off. “Even though Stan has him at the private Christian school, two rival gangs are courting Todd. Stan thought he’d get him out of Denver, try to make some inroads. We’re working out a chore schedule for Todd and his sister—foster sister, or however that works.”
    Morgan chewed the corner of his lip. “That’ll go over well with Todd.”
    “I hope it’ll do him good.”
    At the sound of the screen door banging, Morgan glanced toward the house. “What about Noelle?”
    Rick stared across the yard at his wife. “She’s really somethin’, Morgan.” He said it as though just the sight drew the words from him.
    “Tell me about it.”
    Rick sobered. “We weren’t going to take guests this summer, but I think it helps to have other people around. She gets pretty focused.”
    “On you?” Rick should complain?
    Rick sent the last horse up to pasture. “It hasn’t been that long. God’s been good, but sometimes she’s shaky.”
    Morgan watched Noelle spread birdseed on the railing. “You sure a troubled kid is what she needs around?”
    “She was glad for the chance. Shifts the spotlight.”
    Morgan shook his head. His first assessment must not have captured all the nuances of his brother’s relationship. Again he had that sense that Noelle had chosen the better man. “Any regrets?”
    Rick squinted. “All the things I didn’t do right.”
    Morgan rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, Clark, Lois doesn’t seem to notice.”
    Noelle headed for them, shaking the seed from her fingers and still looking like a piece of Dresden china. “Where’d you go, Morgan? I heard the car tear out.”
    “Tear out?” He smiled. “Just giving Todd a little ride.”
    Noelle searched his face. “Really?”
    Morgan spread his hands. “What?”
    “I just … that’s nice, Morgan.”
    “And …”
    She slid a strand of hair behind her ear. “I know your sisters adore you, but I didn’t know you were interested in kids in general. I wouldn’t see you spending time with a boy like Todd.”
    “I’m a sucker for hard cases.”
    Her gray-green eyes were luminous in the daylight. “I should know that.”
    His chest tightened. Sure. Recapture the heartache. Smart, Morgan . He looked away. “Guess I’ll see what’s roarin’ at the Boar.” It was early to hit a bar, even for him. But hey, he was on vacation. He started for the car.
    “Morgan.”
    He turned back to Rick.