Lily nodded but didn’t commit to anything. She eased down into the chair that Teena had vacated, and sighed. “I told Mack about the kids in confidence.”

Sally patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. Mack does not spread gossip. Ruth-Ann probably heard about the parties from a student in the hallway. Kids tend to think that teachers can’t hear their whispers.” She picked up her coat. “I’m going to an estate sale in Fredericksburg this morning. The advertisement said that it would open at ten and that there would be lots of crystal glassware. This younger generation doesn’t know what they’re passing up when their grannies offer to give them their priceless collections of pretty dishes.”

She hadn’t been gone but a few minutes when Lily’s second customer of the day arrived. By noon, she’d had a total of five. Two of them were small-time buyers and spent less than twenty dollars each. The other three made up for it. They came in together and said they had a shop in San Antonio that sold only items made in Texas. Lily showed them Granny Hayes’s shawls, scarves, and earrings, and they bought the entire stock for resale in their business.

When they’d left, Mack arrived with a brown bag in his hands. “I brought food,” he said. “Burgers and fries and root beer. Hope you haven’t eaten already.” He pulled two cans from the pockets of his denim coat.

“No, but I’m hungry.” She opened the bag as soon as he set it down. “Ruth-Ann came by this morning.”

“I already heard.” He got out the burgers and fries and set them on the counter. “That’s one of the reasons I’m here. Did she say anything about those river parties?”

“Nope.” Lily unwrapped a burger and took a bite.

“That’s good. The kids are all whispering about it in the hallways. I was afraid that you’d think I’d betrayed your confidence, and I’d never do that.” He unwrapped his burger. “I also wanted to see you.”

“Thank you for that. Why didn’t you bring enough food for Sally?”

“Because she’s over in Sisterdale at a sale and won’t be back until after lunch,” he replied.

“Fredericksburg,” Lily corrected him.

“She went there first, but now she’s in Sisterdale. There’s an antique dresser over there that she’s interested in buying. She sent a picture of it to the English teacher who is all excited about it and was showing off the picture of it in the teacher’s lounge. Sally is buying it for her,” Mack explained. “And Rose and Ivy have bragged too many times to too many people about those parties on Friday nights, but the older kids are moving the party out to Grandpa Opperman’s vacant barn. Don’t tell me that kids aren’t smart these days.”

“Devious and stupid is more like it.” Lily was glad that Holly wasn’t going to the party. “Grandpa Opperman has a shotgun and a temper.”

“He died last year. His place has been cleaned out, and it’s up for sale. Adam thought I should buy it, but it’s too big for what I need.” Mack squirted ketchup over his fries. “You’d think that kids couldn’t get into too much trouble in only a couple of hours.”

“I imagine it’ll go down something like this,” Lily told him. “Susie will tell her parents they’re spending the night with Grace. Grace will say she’s staying with Amber. Then Amber will say that she’s staying with Susie. The story will be that the mothers will take the girls home early on Saturday morning, and some kid who’s old enough to drive will really be the one to drop them off. Boys will do the same thing, and if no one gets caught, then the parents are never the wiser.”

“Man, I’m glad I’m not that age anymore,” Mack said. “You’re right. They are devious little snots. How’d you get so smart about all this?”

“Duh!” Lily popped her palm against her forehead. “Smoking pot in the library bathroom not even a month ago. I’m surprised that Holly’s not mixed up in the middle of it all.”

“Maybe,” Mack chuckled, “no laptop, phone, or any electronic device has taught her a lesson. I’ve got to get back to school now. I’ve got an FFA adviser meeting after school. The teachers from several surrounding schools are gathering, so I won’t be home until after dark. I’ll miss having supper with y’all tonight.” He dropped a kiss on her forehead and headed for the door.

Dammit! She wished that she could tell him that she was already putting deep roots down in Comfort and never wanted to go back to Austin. But a promise was a promise, and she’d given the kids her word.

“I can pray that they’ll change their minds, though, can’t I?” she muttered.

Lily made a right turn into the lane, and the school bus pulled in right behind her. The kids beat her into the house and were already in the kitchen by the time she’d gotten her coat hung up and her purse set on the bottom step of the staircase.

“Are, too!” She heard Braden already arguing with his sister.

“Am not!” Holly’s voice had gone all high and squeaky.

Lily crossed the foyer and went into the kitchen. She checked on the pork roast she’d put in the slow cooker that morning. “Are what?”

“Holly’s friends, Rose and Ivy, are going to a party tonight in some old barn. Isaac said that they want her to go with them. I told her to be careful because rats live in old barns, and she’s scared of little bitty mice, so she’d probably faint if a rat started chasing her,” Braden said.

“How’d you find out about that?” Lily asked.

“Isaac told me. Some of the high school boys work out on the ranch for his daddy, and they were bragging about outsmartin’ the police. They didn’t know that Isaac was in the tack room,” Braden said, and then grinned. “I guess I could go with her—so if there is a rat, I could chase it away.”

“How would little old bitty you take care of a dam—darn—rat?” Holly shivered. “And I’m not going anywhere tonight but up to my room to work on my math. If I have trouble, Faith said I can call her and she’ll walk me through the problem.”

“You are mean,” Braden smarted off.

“You are obnoxious,” Holly told him.

“Both of you eat a cookie, and don’t talk with food in your mouths,” Lily told them.

“Mack should be home by now, right?” Braden asked.

“He had an after-school meeting,” Lily answered. “He won’t be here until late.”

“I can take care of the feeding,” Braden said. “You want to help me, Holly?”

“Only if Mama goes with us,” Holly answered.

“Why?” Braden frowned.

“Because if there’s a mouse out there, you’ll get it by the tail and chase me with it,” Holly replied.

“Get finished with your snack, and we’ll take care of the evening chores together.” Lily figured it would be well worth her time to get Holly interested in the goats.

Of course, Holly had to change her clothes, braid her hair, put on fresh lipstick, and get out her oldest boots. Not even the goats were going to see her looking like a bag lady. Lily put on a pair of jeans, a flannel shirt, and her dad’s old work coat. It didn’t fit her much better than it had Braden.