Side by Side

frowning.

“I was pulling your chain,” she replied, mimicking his scowl. “You are far too young to be such a curmudgeon.”

“Dad’s a cur-munchkin,” Rush crowed. “That’s like a small mongrel.”

“A car monkey,” Faith Ann added. “A vehicular simian.”

“There’s still a lot of work for Winter to do on the barn before cold weather sets in,” Hank said. “This warm spell won’t hold long.”

“Work for Winter to do? You can help me, Hank,” Winter told him.

“I reckon if sitting in a rocker, sipping liquor, and pointing out the shortcomings in your carpentry work product is any help, I’ll be a world-class assistant.”

“Well, I can help. I know how to use a saw and a hammer,” Faith Ann told Winter. Winter and Faith Ann Porter shared a special bond. Winter had saved her life, had been there when it counted, and she would never forget it.

“I’ll hammer,” Rush volunteered. “You can hold the nails for me.”

“I got a big picture of that!” Laughing, Faith Ann reached over to muss Rush’s hair again, but he caught her wrist before she had done any real harm.

The sight of a silver sedan barreling up the driveway ended their banter. The vehicle continued to the farmhouse, parked, and a woman wearing a business suit stepped out and strode rapidly to the porch. She carried a leather shoulder bag.

“Salesman?” Hank wondered out loud.

“Salesperson,” Faith Ann corrected.

“Sign at the front gate says No Soliciting,” Hank said.

“Maybe she’s selling eyeglasses,” Faith Ann said.

Winter rose and got his field glasses from the truck. “It’s Alexa.”

“Who is Alexa?” Faith Ann asked.

“She’s an old friend of Winter’s,” Sean told her.

“Alexa’s cool. She always sends me a check for twenty bucks on my birthday and something neat for Christmas. Not just some dumb sweater either. She and my daddy have been friends forever, since they were in high school,” Rush said.

“Did you know she was in town?” Sean asked Winter.

“No,” he said.

“Go down and get her,” Sean told him.

“Whistle at her, Daddy,” Rush said.

“Everybody cover your ears,” Faith Ann said.

Winter put his fingers to the corners of his mouth and emitted an ear-piercing whistle. All three horses stopped eating and, ears erect, looked over at Winter.

The woman in the business suit turned at the sound and waved.

“So, I’m finally going to meet Special Agent Alexa Keen,” Sean said. “And here I sit dressed like a man who smells like a horse.”

Alexa started toward them. Winter didn’t get in the truck to go get her; he just stood with his hands on his hips with a look of worry on his face, watching his dear friend stride purposefully up the long green slope.

4

“Hello, Massey!” Alexa Keen called as she approached him.

He opened his arms to her and they hugged warmly. The crown of her head came to Winter’s chin.

Sean was surprised. Based on Winter’s stories about Alexa, Sean had imagined she would be a tall tomboy- not nearly as attractive as this woman was. Winter had told her that Alexa’s anonymous father was white, her mother black. He hadn’t mentioned that her honey-colored hair was soft and straight, her eyes as green as emeralds.

Sean and Rush were standing, smiling. Faith Ann remained on one knee, unsure. Sean had stopped feeding Olivia and had buttoned her blouse.

“Don’t I get a hug?” Rush said, opening his arms.

“Who are you?” Alexa asked. “Who is this tall, handsome young man who sort of resembles a beautiful woman name of Eleanor Massey?”

Sean swallowed and tried to hold her smile in place.

“Who do you think I am?” Rush demanded.

“’Fore God, as I live and breathe! This Greek god can’t be little ole Rush Massey!”

“You think I’m bigger?”

“Enormongus. And stunningly handsome.”

Alexa hugged Rush, then leaned back and held his face between her hands and kissed his forehead. “You’re going to break a bushel of hearts, you are. If I was twenty years younger. .”

Rush’s face turned red. “Thanks. I guess.”

“Hello, Sean,” Alexa said, turning to her and opening her arms. The two women hugged gently and briefly. “And, oh my, this must be Olivia.” Alexa knelt beside the infant. “Where did that name come from?”

“My mother was named Olivia,” Sean told her.

“I’m sorry we haven’t met before now,” Alexa murmured, eyes on the baby. “The wedding pictures Lydia e- mailed me didn’t do you justice. I’m so sorry I missed your wedding.”

“You were probably working on a kidnapping,” Rush said.

“Something like that,” Alexa said. “Actually, I was in Peru looking for a missing executive.”

“Did you find him?”

“Her. Yes we did.” Alexa turned and smiled. “Hi ya, Hank.”

“Excuse me for not standing,” he told her. “I’ll take a hug if you’ve got another one.”

Alexa hugged him. “I was so sorry to hear about Millie. She was a wonderful woman.”

“She was that,” Hank agreed. “Want you to meet my niece, Faith Ann.”

“Goodness, I thought Rush was dating fashion models.”

“Heck no,” Rush said. “Faith Ann’s going to be a lawyer. She’s way too smart to be a model.”

“Pleased to meet you,” Alexa said, shaking Faith Ann’s hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you, Faith Ann. But I didn’t know how pretty you were.”

“I hope you haven’t eaten. There’s plenty of chicken,” Sean said.

Sean noticed that Alexa’s only jewelry was an inexpensive wristwatch. The sensible gray wool suit-jacket and slacks-was good quality, but had probably come off the rack in a chain department store. The loafers had thick rubber soles for comfort and sure-footedness. The handbag was machine-stitched with nylon thread. The smooth brown leather purse was large enough to carry all of a woman’s necessary equipment like makeup, cell phone, address book, tissues, and a wallet. There was also room for a handgun, extra magazines, a badge case, and a pair of handcuffs. Everything Alexa had on was practical and functional. She dressed like an FBI agent.

“Thank you, Sean. I’m ravenous. I went to your house in town and your next-door neighbor told me how to get here. Beautiful land. How’s Lydia?”

“Mama loves Florida,” Winter answered. “She’s dating a retired physician. Nice fellow. . she says.”

“She’s living in sin,” Rush snickered. “With an old doctor.”

Winter watched how effortlessly Alexa folded herself into the picnic. She’d always been like that-instantly at home wherever she found herself, and she had a way of putting people at ease, making them like her. It was why she was so good at her job. Sean seemed to like her, but he was getting odd vibes from Alexa. Women had their own way of seeing things. Winter had talked to Sean about Alexa-but hadn’t really gone into their relationship in any depth. He hadn’t seen the point. It had been a long time ago.

Winter had known Alexa for twenty years. They had met under an odd set of circumstances and had almost instantly become friends. Their interracial friendship had raised a few eyebrows in the Mississippi Delta, and a lot of