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slipped out of the new skirt back into her jeans .
    When she returned to the dining room, Anne was putting the food on the table, and Kara hurried to help her. It was on the tip of her tongue to thank the older woman for cluing Dad about the clothes, when Anne said, “The men are hungry; we will eat now.”
    â€œSit here, Sugar Bear.” Dad patted the seat next to his. “Anne can sit next to Ryan tonight. I thought you could use a break.”
    Kara glared at him. How could he use that stupid nickname in front of Colin? And why the change in seating arrangements? She always sat by Ryan.
    She tried to catch her father’s eye, but he had already bowed his head to say the blessing. She quickly clutched the hand he was holding out to her and shivered when she felt Colin grip hers on the other side.
    â€œFather,” Dad prayed, “we thank you for the food you have provided and for the hands that have prepared it. Thank you, too, for Anne, and for the ways she has already been a blessing to this family. Amen.”
    A blessing to this family? Dad’s words made Kara steam. Sure, it was great to have Anne’s help around the place, but she was just the cook. Was Dad going to let her run things? Was she trying to take Mom’s place?
    Colin’s hand brushed hers as he passed the red potatoes, and she nearly dropped the bowl. Get a grip, girl , she told herself. Colin’s just another guy, and Anne’s just a cook, and you are acting like a first-class idiot .
    She looked around the table to see if anyone had noticed. The men were busy eating. Ryan was sitting on his knees, intent on stabbing one more piece of potato onto his already full fork. But Anne met her gaze with gentle eyes and an understanding smile.

A FTER DINNER THE MEN DISAPPEARED into the storeroom to fiddle with the radio. Ryan tumbled out of his chair and raced after them. “Hey, wait for me, you guys. I get to help.”
    Kara helped Anne clear the table, then stared as the older woman ran dishwater into the sink.
    â€œNo sense running the dishwasher for so few dishes.”
    Kara groaned and grabbed a dish towel. Anne was right. Running the generator was expensive, and Dad had asked them to conserve energy whenever they could. She had wanted to wash her hair, but at this rate she wouldn’t be out of the kitchen until after eight, and the generator would be shut down.
    â€œThe men will need the lights later tonight, I think.” Anne interrupted her thoughts. “It will take them a while to set up the radio.”
    And , Kara thought, I can do my hair . She waited for Anne to say it. When the words didn’t come, she laughed silently at herself. You’re paranoid, Wako. She may be smart, but she definitely can’t read your mind!
    â€œIf you’re from the reservation in Idaho, you must be Nez Perce. Is that how you know my name means little moon?” Kara couldn’t believe she’d said the words out loud, but the woman just smiled and handed her the last plate.
    â€œWakara is not a Nez Perce name.”
    Kara nearly dropped the plate. What was she talking about? Of course Wakara was a Nez Perce name. Her great-grandmother was Nez Perce. Or was she? There had been some confusion about that.
    â€œWakara is a Yana name.”
    Kara felt a stab of irritation. “Yana? I’ve never heard of them.” She dried the plate and set it on the open shelf above the sink.
    When she turned back, Anne was watching her, a thoughtful smile on her face .
    â€œWould you like to talk, Wakara?”
    Kara hesitated. What she really wanted was a few minutes to herself. Anne had to be wrong but she was curious about what the woman had to say.
    Anne poured hot water from the kettle on the stove into two mugs and added packets of cocoa mix. When the hot chocolate was ready, she led the way into the dining room and cleared a place at one of the smaller tables.
    Kara blew on the hot liquid and