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might make sense, but she just couldn’t sit by and watch her brothers leave. Too much was at stake. “I can’t just give up.”
    “No one said anythin’ ’bout givin’ up, lass.”
    “What do you suggest I do? I’ve spent all night and day trying to think of a way either to go or to change their minds.”
    Rook grinned, the sparkle back in his eyes. “Mebbe you’re tryin’ too hard, lass. Sometimes help comes from unexpected quarters. I suggest you relax and see what happens. Watch and listen. If you’s meant to go, a way’ll open up. You jest make sure you’re ready to take it.”
    They traveled the rest of the way to town in companionable silence. Jessie contemplated Rook’s advice. Perhaps he was right. If she went to the social tonight, maybe she’d discover something that would help in her quest to go west.
    It was dark by the time Jessie and Rook parted company on the outskirts of town. She turned and waved goodbye to her new friend, then headed for the Belshaws’ barn. When she arrived, fiddle music already filled the air, along with the jaunty sound of several mouth organs. She smiled. Her brothers were inside.
    Still dressed in her worn blue jeans with holes in the knees, a flannel shirt and scuffed boots, she tethered Shilo to a nearby tree, then ordered Sadie to stay. Squaring her shoulders, she headed toward the barn, where light and laughter spilled out into the dark night. Keeping to the shadows, she made her way to the wide-open door and peered in, scanning the crowd for her brothers. James and Jeremy stood on a makeshift stage along with several other men with fiddles. She glanced around but didn’t see Jordan. Slipping inside, she kept to herself.
    As the minutes passed, her hopes sank. And after an hour of listening to conversations concerning health, poor winters and bleak futures, she’d had enough. There was nothing to be learned here. Time was running out. Her lips trembled. Exhaustion swept over her as she watched her brothers play, stamping their feet and yelling as if they had no worries.
    Saddened, she pressed her lips together and hurried toward the exit. Once outside, she stopped and glanced over her shoulder. What a wasted trip, she thought glumly. Not only had shenot learned anything useful, she hadn’t even seen Elliot. Maybe he hadn’t come in case she showed up. That thought was even more painful.
    A loud whistle pierced the din inside. Silence, like a soothing balm, fell. Raising up on her tiptoes to see what was going on, she saw Orvil Baker make his way up onto the stage. There was still no sign of Elliot, so she turned to leave and ran smack into a male figure coming up the path. Startled, Jessie found herself staring at a chest covered by pristine white cotton. Her cheeks flamed as she lifted her gaze to Elliot’s handsome features.
    “What are you doing out here, Jessie? Pa’s about to make the announcement.”
    “Don’t know what announcement you’re talking about, Elliot,” she said, hiding her feelings for him behind a scowl. He was so handsome, it took her breath away. In the light from the moon above and the lanterns inside and outside the barn, Jessie gazed upon his boyishly handsome features. In his go-to-church clothes with his blond hair slicked down, Elliot Baker was unquestionably the best-looking male around.
    His eyes widened, then crinkled with devilment. “I’ll be damned—” he laughed “—they didn’t tell you, did they?”
    Jessie crossed her arms across her chest and glared at him. “If you have something to say, Elliot, say it.”
    He held up his hands. “Hey, I didn’t mean anything. I leave the feuding to you and Coralie. But—I, uh, suggest you pay attention to what’s going on inside.”
    Jessie gave him a puzzled look when he nodded toward his father. She returned to the doorway, very aware of Elliot’s warm male body standing close behind. Staring into the large room, her gaze fell on the two people standing beside Orvil