No Place Like Home by Debra Clopton Page B

hadn’t had a nightmare, which greatly relieved her. Yesterday had been a weird and wonderful day. Yet when she’d planted her head on her pillow last night, she’d feared the nightmares would return—but no, God had been great and given her instead a peaceful night. Waking up to the chickens had been icing on the cake.
    Reluctantly, she pulled herself away from the sight and prepared for the day of massive cooking. She had two days to cook; she figured she could get the candy all made up and then simply sell it during the festivities. But before she did anything, she sat down at her laptop computer, once again thankful for the satelliteconnection she’d invested in, and wrote her daily e-mail to Todd, which he would pass along to Rose and the others at the house.
    She’d been sending them e-mails about her cross-country trip all the way. They loved it. None of them had ever been out of the city, most had lived within the same ten-mile radius all their lives. It was a given that they’d especially enjoyed hearing about Mule Hollow. The chickens were sure to be a hit, as were Lacy Matlock and Norma Sue and Esther Mae; they’d love everything. And though she’d only e-mailed a few times, some of the women were looking up Molly’s back stories.
    She might have to bring them all out to the tiny town for a visit.
    Now, there was a thought.
    Even if it was for just a couple of days, it would give them a different perspective on life.
    The thought sent a warm fuzzy straight to her heart. She could just see them visiting here. The mental image she had of them being literally embraced by the people of this lovable town was so vivid, so real, it stunned her.
    Immediately she dashed off a new e-mail to Todd and told him her thoughts. One day they might make it happen.
    E-mail sent, she moved to start her candy assembly. According to Lacy, they were expecting a crowd of hundreds. So Dottie was thinking big. She was going to prepare more fudge, a herd of brownies with nuts and without, her favorite coconut balls with nuts…she’d love to make peanut brittle because it was alwaysa great seller, but there was no way the RV could handle such a job. She’d have to settle on the basic moneymakers. And maybe she could get some Gummi Bunnies in, too.
    Out of nowhere, Sheriff Brady stepped into her thoughts and started winking and waving. She mentally pushed the good-looking lawman away. No matter how much he waved, the big hunk of a man could jump up and down, even stand on his head, she was not getting sidetracked thinking about how nice he was. Or how nice his smile was, or how… Okay, that was enough of that. Enough!
    â€œWhat time is it?” Cassie moaned.
    â€œIt’s five-thirty, sleepyhead,” she laughed, glancing at the groggy-eyed, hairy monster leering down at her from the bunk. Glad to have something else to think about.
    â€œWhy are you up so early?” Cassie mumbled into her pillow.
    â€œBecause we’ve got candy to make! Jump into the shower and then you can help me.”
    An eye blinked at Dottie from beneath the pillow.
    â€œUp, me?”
    â€œWell, yea- ah. ”
    Cassie pushed the pillow off her head and crawled down off the bunk, squeezed past Dottie and disappeared into the compact shower. No complaints. Dottie was impressed.
    The girl’s parents had to be going crazy missing her. Surely Brady had found something out; she’d forgivehim for the winks if he’d learned anything, anything at all about Cassie.
    Moving quickly, she organized the ingredients for her first batch of goodies, then prepared the table with the cellophane paper and ribbon that she would have Cassie cut for wrapping the candy. All the while, her mind kept looping back to thoughts of Brady, like an eight-second video feed that refused to rest. Drat the man.
    He’d said she had a good heart. That pleased her. She did want people to notice that God had placed