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from him. Of course it would. What would intimidate a man his size? Nothing . Every man who grew to those proportions should spend time in a five foot seven, one hundred and thirty pound body. She’d bet after only a week, they’d remember how bad it hurt to be slapped or shoved by someone bigger and stronger.
    In broad daylight, Heather stood within plain view of all the neighbors so Whisper left the window.
    Heather didn’t have the same phobias Whisper did.
    She could laugh and enjoy being in the presence of men. Whisper could act similarly, but not with the men so close. She could act confident around a man if he stayed at least ten feet away.
    She walked to the kitchen, put her hair in a ponytail to get if off her neck, and began washing dishes. The apple pies sat on the windowsill to cool.
    Two whole chickens had been cut, breaded and fried.
    She’d also fried five pounds of potato wedges to go with the coleslaw and homemade biscuits. The amount of food wouldn’t satisfy men that large, but it’d take the edge off. After the pies, they’d probably be full. She made due with what’d been provided.
    Heather’s stealing made several things very real in her mind. They walked a thin line and an accident almost toppled them. She’d be more careful in the future. She couldn’t afford a mistake.
    The screen door opened and she expected to hear Heather’s excited report of what all happened. What she heard instead was a familiar, deep voice.
    “Heather said to walk in.”
    She didn’t turn to face him, left her hands in the soapy water, and rested her elbows on the edge of the sink. “It’s fine. You need something?”
    “You didn’t have to go to all that trouble,” he 20

    Whisper

    replied. That thick, rumbling voice sounded a little different without accusation lacing his words.
    “No problem. You bought the food.”
    “Look, about last night—”
    She interrupted and blurted out, “I do take care of her.”
    “I’m sorry.” He sounded controlled and sincere.
    She didn’t need a visual confirmation badly enough to turn an inch in his direction. She started scrubbing a pan. Maybe he’d leave. When he didn’t, words formed. “Don’t be. Heather said you were good to her. Isn’t enough of that in the world these day’s.
    Like she told you though, I’ll repay you. I’ll have cash next week.”
    “When you get money, buy what you need around here first.” He sounded like he’d moved closer.
    She heard him fine where he’d been, and knew he could hear her. There wasn’t a good enough reason for him to come into the kitchen. “We’ll manage. Thank you.” Her voice grew softer. Damn, even her hands started shaking in the water. She needed to make her point but her throat closed a little more. “If you’ll excuse me now, I’d like to get the kitchen in order.”
    Keith seldom tolerated being dismissed. She’d gone to a lot of trouble to make amends for the night before and show she’d be able to care for Heather.
    Keeping his tone reasonable, he asked, “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
    She seemed to understand he wanted a face-to-face conversation. Soapy hands came out of the dishwater. A full minute crept by as she slowly dried them. A hand rose to the back of her head to swipe the band holding her ponytail. Long, strawberry blonde hair fell almost to her waist. Her fingers ran through strands by her face before she hesitantly turned.
    21

    Kathleen Lash

    Reasonable length shorts and a loose fitting tee shirt greeted him as she hung her head and looked at his boots. Her feet were bare and her long legs were covered in bruises. She wouldn’t look up. When he took a step, she backed against the stove and crossed her arms. The defensive move made him freeze. The entire situation changed. He’d been so used to defending kids; he’d forgotten sometimes parents or guardians weren’t always a problem.
    They might even need a little safety themselves.
    He leaned casually against the