Elizabeth met Mandie in the hall. "Thank you for telling them a story, dear."
"I enjoyed it. It's nice to be home again." Mandie wrapped an arm around her mother and laid her head on her shoulder.
Elizabeth returned the hug. "I'm afraid I let the twins take up so much time that I haven't as much I'd like for you. John said we could hire a nanny to help out, but because I wasn't there for you during your early years, and Samuel…"
The mention of Samuel sent a pang to Mandie's heart. She fiddled with the sash of her dress. "I understand, Mother. Don't worry about me."
"I was thinking about hosting a party, so you could meet some new young people."
"You don't have to on my account. Besides Joe will be back soon."
"But what about when Joe leaves? I don't want you to be lonely. Are there any other friends you'd like to invite to visit for a while?"
Of course, her mother meant well, but the conversation rubbed Mandie wrong, like a reminder that everyone was moving on without her. "Once Joe and I help Anna and Robin, maybe I'll go visit my Cherokee kinspeople."
"That's a good idea. I'll try to see if John can take us all."
"In the meantime, I'd like to go meet up with Robin, if that's okay."
"Joe said it's a nice neighborhood, so I suppose it's all right but come right back afterward."
"Thank you, Mother." Mandie felt a slight pang of conscience. While it was possible Robin might be at home, she didn't plan to look there first. But Mr. Barnes' store was in the same general vicinity. Besides, all the need for chaperoning in her own town was more bother than anything.
Mandie put Snowball on his harness and leash and took him with her. "Otherwise, you'll grow lazy bothering Aunt Lou for food." Mandie told her beloved cat, who stared at her with a disapproving air as if he understood. Perhaps Snowball would help her persuade Robin to behave himself without her having to be a snitch.
The day was windless and hot, so Mandie walked fast to the bookstore. Anna had said Robin had been bothering Mr. Barnes lately. If he was there now, she could talk to him without Anna around.
Once she and Snowball came into view of the bookstore, she found Mr. Barnes holding Robin by the arm, ushering him out of the store. She slowed down in order not to be noticed by Mr. Barnes, who might still have a grudge against her after their last meeting.
"Don't come in again today." Mr. Barnes let go of Robin with a bit of a push. "You're pestering the customers." He stalked back into the store without a backward glance. Robin stuck out his tongue at his back. As Robin turned, he saw Mandie and grinned.
He ran over to her. "Did you get my note?"
"Yes, what is this all about?" Mandie tried to sound stern and put one hand on her hip.
Robin shook his head. "Not here. He might see us. Come on." He picked up Snowball and walked around to the side of the bookstore, where a tall elm offered shade. He leaned against the trunk, and cradled Snowball, who seemed content while his chin was being rubbed.
"He's hiding something, Maid Marion, and it's up to us to find out what. I unlocked one of the back windows today when he wasn't looking, so we can sneak in later when the store's closed."
"No, Robin, that's against the law."
"Half that store belongs to Anna and I, that's what your Joe said. Besides we aren't going to hurt nothing, just look around."
"For what exactly?" Mandie asked, thinking of the letter.
"We'll know when we see it. He might have that money right there in the store. He asked Papa about it once."
"Oh?"
"Papa told him to quit pestering him about that money. It was none of his affair."
"When was that?"
Robin's face fell. "A few days before the accident."
They both fell silent. Robin looked down at Snowball, and Mandie saw a tear fall on her cat's head.
Before she could think of something to say, a commotion at the front of the door caused them both to peek around the tree.
Mr. Barnes was coming out with an older lady who was nodding her head and waving goodbye as Mr. Barnes said, "Thank you for your understanding." Once she strolled away, he turned to the door and locked it. Then he hurried away in the opposite direction.
Robin cocked his head to one side. "What's he up to now?"
"Maybe gone for food?" Mandie suggested, but Robin shook his head and headed toward the front of the store. A handwritten sign in the window read: "Closed. Sorry for the inconvenience."
"What could have been his hurry?" Mandie wondered aloud. Could it be bad news?
"This is a break for us," Robin said. "We won't have to wait for tonight. We can go now."
"No, Robin." But Robin had already run to the back of the store. Mandie hurried after him as he opened a window in the back, presumably the one he'd already unlocked. "We shouldn't snoop—" She grabbed his arm, but he pushed Snowball inside the store and let him go.
"Oops. We'll have to get Snowball out." He grinned impishly.
Mandie blew out a breath. "I'll get him. You stay here."
Once she'd slipped in through the window, she could have easily stepped on Snowball's leash to hold him, but she hesitated a long moment, and that's all Snowball needed to bound farther up the book aisle. Robin landed inside beside Mandie with a thud.
"I didn't want you scared by yourself," Robin said to Mandie's frown.
She gripped his hand and dragged him along after Snowball. One runaway was bad enough. "We're getting Snowball, and we're getting out, understand?" she hissed. Joe would be mad if he found out, but this wasn't her fault. She'd planned to do the right thing—for the most part.
Robin mumbled something that was drowned out by the rattle of the store's front door.