That night in bed she pondered her past, the big moments and changes that had shaped her life into what it was today. She missed her daddy, but not every bit of life back then had been perfect.

What Anna had said to Robin in the graveyard had resonated deep inside Mandie. All summer she'd felt as if something were missing in her life, something just out of reach but unknowable. Maybe she'd been missing things of the past so much that she hadn't a good perspective of what could be in her horizon.

Now, she had her mother, Uncle John, the twins, and Grandmother Taft too. All the friends she'd met and the adventures she'd taken. There would be more adventures and more friends too. God had a way of sending her people to meet and mysteries to solve.

And then there was Joe. Mandie's face warmed but she refused to shy away from thinking of him, here in the safety of the dark. What of Joe? For so long it had seemed far less complicated to pursue anything deeper than friendship with him, but lately, it hadn't felt enough. Comfortable, yes, in a small, familiar way, but dissatisfying. She couldn't picture a future without him in it, but at what capacity? Life felt fuller when he was around, a never-ending adventure.

Sometimes they argued, sometimes their fights had been really bad. What if something went wrong like what had happened with her father and mother? Or Grandmother Taft and her husband? Sometimes Joe made her so mad. Sometimes they both got themselves in tight fixes. If she let him closer and then lost him forever… She couldn't bear the thought.

But was buckling to fear how God wanted her to live? That wasn't trusting Him. Or Joe, who was ever faithful, hardworking, caring, and honest. She'd always known it, but all those wonderful qualities flashed before her in a new appreciation. He was the kind of man a woman could rely on, respect, and share life's experiences with in full assurance that he would partner with her through it all. He was the kind of man who would keep up with her, steady her, and match her desire to help people, even at a cost to self. There was a pull of her heart toward him, a desire to be all those things for him, to know his heart deeper.

She'd always loved him although the feelings attached to that love had gone through an evolution of phases, both awkward and startling at times. The most startling now, when she finally faced the idea she'd been dancing around for days—she wanted to spend her life with him.

A smile tugged at her mouth as she hugged the secret to herself and fell asleep dreaming of the future.

Morning seemed to strengthen Mandie's revelations of the night before, but along with a drizzle of rain, it also brought a slew of jittery nerves. Lingering in her bedroom longer than normal, she dressed in her favorite blue organdy dress and frowned at her own hair preening. Aw shucks, quit being silly. There's no reason to be afraid of someone you've known almost your whole life. With a toss of her head, she turned her back on the mirror and headed downstairs.

After a fortifying cup of coffee and breakfast, Mandie found Tommy and Joe in the parlor playing checkers.

"Morning, sleepyhead." Joe glanced up at her briefly, but it was enough to stir up her nerves to a jittery high. "I'm just beating Tommy here real quick."

Tommy laughed. "Guess lawyers aren't good at seeing when they have a losing case." He moved one of his black checkers into Joe's last row. "King me."

"Kings can be jumped like any other." Joe said, but as he kinged Tommy's checker, he frowned.

Mandie pulled up a chair to sit and watched Tommy make a clean sweep of Joe.

"I one the first game," Joe informed Mandie.

"Two out of three?" Tommy asked, then grinned at Mandie, "And you take on the winner? I don't think I've ever played checkers with you."

"Sounds good," Mandie looked at Joe who was staring out the windows with a glum expression. "Everything okay?"

"He's hoping it stops raining early enough he gets out of losing again." Tommy grinned.

Were the two actually getting along? Mandie hadn't thought they'd ever get past their awkward civility, but Tommy's teasing was a good sign.

"Actually, if it clears up by this afternoon, I thought I'd head on home," Joe said quietly. He watched Mandie to see her reaction.

Mandie felt as if he'd splashed cold water into her face. She straightened in her chair. "So soon?"

He shrugged. "I miss my parents."

What could she say to that?

Tommy and Joe set up their next game in silence, and Tommy beat him faster than before.

"Looks like it's you and me next, Mandie," Tommy said.

Joe stood and held out his chair for Mandie. They both looked out the window to see that the light rain had stopped, and the sun had come out.

"Looks like I'll be able to go after dinner." Joe gave Mandie a tight smile. "Make sure you beat him so he doesn't get more full of himself."

He strode out of the room. Mandie watched him go, the air in her lungs seeming to leak away.

"We don't have to play, if you'd rather…" Tommy trailed off awkwardly.

With a mental shake, Mandie forced her attention on her guest. "Now who's trying to get out of losing?"

Tommy let Mandie win, there could be no other reason, for her mind was stuck on one thought: Joe was leaving. She couldn't let him go without telling him what he meant to her, but all that morning she could never get him alone. Tommy, her parents, the twins, they all showed up wherever Joe or Mandie were.

He was out the door with his carpetbag, having thanked Uncle John and Elizabeth and saying goodbye to Tommy, before Mandie saw her chance. She followed him outside, where his horse was hitched to his wagon. He tossed his bag into the bed of the wagon and turned to Mandie, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Celia's wedding will be soon, right?" he asked. "I'll see you then."

"Another month. Joe." Mandie stopped. She couldn't tell him not to go, he probably did miss his parents. What could she say? She changed her mind, she did want to marry him? It was too hard, too soon to express something still new to her.

"Mandie." Joe put his hands on her arms. "I'm not going to rush off to New Orleans and you never hear from me again. I promise."

She tried to say something, anything, but her mouth refused to work.

He hugged her, planted a hasty kiss on her forehead, and pulled away with a husky, "So long."

Mandie leaned his way, but her feet stayed rooted to the ground as he jumped into the wagon and flicked the reins across the horse's back.

He was leaving. Her hand, seemingly of its own accord, lifted in a wave, then fell heavily at her side. He was leaving, and she let him go without a word.