If You Believe

"Oh. " Almost reluctantly, Rass turned toward the house. "Follow me. "

They walked side by side down the manicured path. When they were almost at the house, Rass dropped his spade in the dirt.

Mad Dog reached down for it.

Rass stopped him. "Dont bother. I leave my stuff | laying around. It gives my daughter something to do. "

Mad Dog paused. "Your daughter?"

From somewhere inside the house came a shrieking "Rass!" and then thundering footsteps.

Rass sighed. "Thatll be her, coming to save me. "

"Why—"

The front door swung open and slammed against the wall. Something tall and brown hurtled through the open door. There was a high-pitched scream, a glint of silver.

Mad Dog reached for Rass to protect him.

"Dont you touch him!" the brown thing screeched.

Before Mad Dog could answer, something cracked into the side of his head. It was the hardest damn punch hed ever taken. Pain exploded behind his eyes. He weaved unsteadily for a moment, then pitched to the ground.

He lay sprawled in the damp grass. There was a moment of excruciating pain and then an envelope of soothing darkness.

When he came to, he was alone.

Chapter Two

"Are you modi"

Rass held up his gnarled hands. "Now, Mariah—"

She whirled on him. "You walk in here, calm as can be, and tell me you hired that . .

. " She glanced through the open door and saw the man, still sprawled in her prized purple dahlias. He was up on his elbows now, brushing a greasy lock of hair from his eyes. His gaze was glassy and unfocused, but soon that would change, and he would look this way. Mariah shuddered at the thought.

She fought to remain calm. "You hire that. . . person to help me out around the farm, and Im supposed to be happy about it?"

Rass sighed tiredly. "Its been a long time since I expected you to be happy, Mariah. "

Mariah felt a tiny catch in her heart, a snag of sadness. Why? she wondered for the millionth time. Why did everything her father say to her have to hurt so badly?

Shed worked hard to run this farm, damn it. Worked as hard as any man, and shed done a good job. But even that wasnt good enough for Rass. Hed gone be-1 hind her back and hired someone to replace her.

It was all she had to offer her father, all she did well. And now he was taking it away, telling her again that she wasnt good enough. . . .

"I wont let him stay," she said.

Rass shuffled toward her, his blue eyes swimming in sadness. "Weve been alone here too long, Mariah. "

She backed away from him, afraid suddenly to meet his gaze. She knew what he was going to say next and she didnt want to hear it. "It hasnt been that long. . . . "

"Mamas gone. Youve got to get on with your life. "

His words hit her like a slap. "I wont have it," she said, curling her hands into fists.

"I wont let you bring that stranger into my home. "