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have them meet here after school tomorrow?” he asked Dan, and the man agreed.
    Jared jotted a few notes onto a sheet of paper and handed it to Mr. Sanders. “See that Sarah’s here on time.”
    N ATALIE PEEKED OUT THE KITCHEN WINDOW WHEN SHE SAW THE headlights shine into their drive. She pulled the plug to the dirty dishwater in the sink, hoping Chelsey had eaten. They had just finished supper, and Natalie didn’t want another mess to clean up. It had been a long night already—thanks to Tom, who was once again missing in action.
    The man had impeccable timing. Some of the new steers had gotten out, and with Tom nowhere to be found, she and Dillon were left to get them back in the pasture. Why was their hired hand never available when needed?
    She draped the wet dishtowel over the back of a chair and waited for Chelsey to come in, hoping her sister’s evening had gone better than her own. When Chelsey appeared at the door, Natalie was surprised to see Jared Logan right behind—and wearing a black shirt and clerical collar.
    â€œWhat’s going on?” She directed the question to the man who continued to confound her. “You’re a preacher?”
    Jared fingered his white collar. “I’m the new pastor at New RedeemerChurch. Chelsey joined us for our youth meeting tonight. I tried to call, but couldn’t get any answer here at the house.”
    â€œDillon and I were out chasing steers.” She wondered why they needed to reach her. And why had Jared driven Chelsey home? Sensing they were about to drop a bomb, Natalie sank into the nearest chair. “I’ll ask again—what’s going on?”
    Jared and Chelsey towered over her. “Your sister and her friend had a little party after school today,” Jared said. “Apparently, they found some beer at Sarah’s house and came to church tipsy. Sarah’s dad picked her up, and when we couldn’t reach you, I decided to drive Chelsey home myself.”
    Natalie studied the man before her and noticed, of all things, how his dark shirt seemed to make his teeth gleam. Probably from the stark contrast of his white collar. She should have guessed that Jared was a preacher from all his talk about God. Embarrassment seeped from within that she’d poured out her heart to this man.
    â€œMind if I go to my room while you two plan my punishment?” Chelsey cocked her hip, her expression stoic.
    â€œYes, I mind.” Natalie reached across the table and shoved back a chair. What had happened to her little sister? The sweet girl who’d followed her around with childish zeal, singing songs and making up games of pretend for them to play, who never seemed bothered by anything the world threw at her? Who, in fact, had always been able to shut out the world. “And Jared, I’d appreciate it if I could have a word with you too, please.”

ELEVEN
    N ATALIE CONTEMPLATED THE TWO AT THE TABLE . J ARED HAD DECEIVED her into thinking he was a normal person…a friend even. For Pete’s sake, he’d allowed her to cry on his shoulder. It grieved her to think how she’d bared her soul to this man—the things she’d said. She could only imagine what he must think of her.
    Her gaze shifted to her sister, angered that she had to deal with this problem on top of everything else weighing on her, and do it in front of the mighty minister who seemed to consider her family his personal mission project.
    â€œWhy are you doing this?” she asked Chelsey who attacked her fingernails like a beaver. Natalie understood teens were curious about drugs and alcohol. Although she’d never fallen for such temptation, she’d seen plenty who had, especially on the rodeo circuit. But why her little sister? “Is it because of Dad? Are you trying to lash out at him for leaving us?”
    â€œWhy do you care? Miss higher-than-everyone-else Rodeo Queen. When you didn’t get