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gentle, nurturing rain. Which made her weak and vulnerable. After her stay at the Randalls’, she was going to have to change her personal life. It was time she made some connections.
    To put some distance between them, emotionally if not physically, as he joined her at the door, she asked, “When is your fiancée arriving?”

Chapter Three
    Brett came to breakfast late on Friday morning, and he was glad he did. Anna was at the table. He’d scarcely seen her since their late-night talk three days ago.
    “Anyone need any errands run in Casper?”
    There was no response from his family, but then he wasn’t particularly interested in one from them. His eyes focused on Anna. “How about you?”
    “No, thanks,” she said, never looking at him. “Though if I’d thought about it yesterday, I would’ve asked you to deliver my friend’s birthday card for me. But I put it in the mail.”
    He didn’t believe her. After their conversation on Tuesday night, she’d been avoiding him. Or it had seemed that way to him.
    “Why not come to Casper with me?” Brett suggested, an idea forming in his head. “I’d enjoy the company for the drive, and you can take your friend to lunch.”
    “Thanks, but I’m sure Lisa has to work today.”
    Brett gave her a speculative look. He wasn’t sure why he was so determined to spend time with Anna, but he was. In the past few days, he’d casually questioned his brothers about her, but they didn’t know much. He’d asked a few friends around town, but no one knew whom she was dating or anything about her personal life. For some reason, she seemed to keep to herself.
    Now he persisted. “She’d still get some time off for lunch. Why don’t you give her a call?”
    Before Anna could say no, Janie chipped in her opinion. “I think you should go, Anna. You never take time off. You deserve a break.”
    “You could at least give your friend a call. It can’t hurt anything,” Jake added, smiling.
    Brett sat back, silent, his arms crossed over his chest, letting his family do the persuading for him. Sometimes it paid to have an interfering family.
    “But I thought you were gonna pick up Sylvia at three,” Red suddenly said. “You won’t be there in time for lunch.”
    Brett held back the epithet that rose to his lips. Anna had almost been convinced. Now she stared at him, really looking at him for the first time, her blue eyes large with question.
    “I decided to go in a little early, do some errands. I’ll be leaving about nine. We’ll be there in plenty of time for lunch. Go call your friend, Anna.”
    “Are you sure?” Anna asked. “Perhaps your fiancée is looking forward to a quiet ride back alone with you.”
    “We’ll have plenty of time to be alone. Don’t worry about that.”
    “Yes, Anna, go,” Janie urged.
    Brett watched Janie wink at Megan and wondered what his sisters-in-law were up to, but he really didn’t care as long as it helped him persuade Anna to accompany him.
    She finally left the table. Brett pretended great interest in his breakfast while the rest of the family discussed the day. He ignored their comments and questions and directed a question to Jake. “Is it okay if I take the sedan?”
    Each of the brothers had his own pickup, but the family also kept a sedan for more-formal outings.
    “I don’t know if it’s back from the mechanic. I’ll check on it.”
    “Um, Jake,” Janie said in a hesitant voice quite unlike her normal self. “I forgot to tell you Mike called about the car yesterday. He said you needed a new water pump but he had to send into Casper for the part. It won’t be ready until Monday.”
    Jake turned to Brett. “Looks like it’s the pickup. Sorry, brother.”
    “Sorry about what?” Anna caught the tail end of the conversation as she entered the room. After Brett filled her in, she balked. “Should I stay here, then? I don’t want to crowd you.”
    “Don’t be silly, Anna,” Brett said, openly winking at her.