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CHAPTER 1

RUSTY sighed and wondered again if she’d done the right thing in hiring the kid part time They didn’t need the help in the store Frank kept busy despite objections fro it after his heart attack a few years earlier Rusty helped out when she was ho to drop everything and help anytime they were needed

And yetShe hadn’t been able to refuse the kid Maybe it was the quiet desperation in his eyes It was a look--and a feeling--she ell acquainted with

"But by the grace of God--and the Kellys--go I," sheher lips upward

There was little doubt she’d still be in a run-down trailer living with her shithead of a stepfather, scratching out a hand-to-mouth existence, if Marlene Kelly hadn’t taken Rusty in Oh, she wouldn’t still be with her stepfather She would have run away Eventually And she’d likely be on the streets so herself just to survive

A shiver overtook her as long-suppressedel Rusty thanked God for her and Frank every single day

Because of theraduate in a year’s tis she’d never i But the best part of it all?

She had a fa family She was a Kelly Marlene and Frank had even hired a lawyer so Rusty could legally change her name She’d been reissued a birth certificate and social security card and everything Rusty Kelly

Oh, her first name sounded corny and aith the last name of Kelly But then she’d had a perfectly nored Marlene had wanted to adopt her, even though Rusty had already been a legal adult She didn’t want anything to h she weren’t truly a part of the Kelly clan

But it hadn’t been necessary Just knowing she was loved and accepted by all of the Kellys--big-ass surly, overprotective brothers and all--was enough for Rusty That she could go to school and be known as Rusty Kelly still overwheluard and she verged precariously on tears And she’d sworn never to cry again She left that life behind All the pain and embarrassment that she’d lived with for the first fifteen years of her existence

Gone the moment Marlene tenderly enfolded her in the blanket of the Kelly nalanced down the aisle at Travis Hanson--if that was even his real naotten herself into

He was the sae as Rusty had been when she’d broken into the Kelly house wanting nothingto eat He had the same darkness in his eyes Sadness But worst of allfear

As if sensing her scrutiny, Travis looked up froistered Poor kid was absolutely inept at keeping his e broadcast all over his face That told her that he wasn’t experienced, and so whatever had brought him into this store and put that fear in his eyes was recent

"Is there soht be fifteen--that hat he’d told her--but he looked a lifetime older He was much taller than ly as so ed fast Grown up Was old beyond his years

It was so Rusty could definitely relate to because she’d been forced to grohen she was only ten years old For that matter, when had she ever truly been a child?

"Nothing at all," Rusty said cheerfully, hoping she wasn’t being as obvious as the kid was about her uncertainty "Was just thinking that after you finish that shelf we could have lunch There’s a sandwich shop just a few doors down You hungry?"

The instant flare in his eyes told her that he was indeed hungry She wondered when his last good meal had been But she didn’t want to ask because he’d probably just run

"I, uh, left my wallet at home," he stammered "But I can pay you back tomorrow That is, if you want rimaced Frank didn’t open the hardware store on Sundays That was church and family day But Travis didn’t need to know that Frank would have a fit if any of his employees worked on Sunday Rusty had already decided she’d pay the kid cash under the table from her own pocket if she had to

"We stock on Sundays," she said, hoping God would forgive her for that blatant lie "Store’s not open, but I could definitely use you for a few hours in the h his eyes and his shoulders sagged "Sure No proble as you need me"

Rusty took a chance and watched his reaction closely "Sure your o to church and spend tiood e"

His expression becaht, his eyes impassive, but they flickered just once as he replied

"I don’t have a er sister I like to help out Eve--I mean she--works too hard She won’t mind if I work a few hours We could use the money"

Rusty tucked that bit of info away and quickly moved on Travis was extre Not that she was sure why it mattered Hell, it would probably be better if the kid didn’t hang around too long because when Frank found out what Rusty had done, he’d probably wonder if she’d lost her mind

"Okay, then What would you like to eat? They have a great club sandwich But they also serve up a pretty er A boy your size probably needs the protein"

Travis grinned Just a brief smile that erased some of the shadows in his eyes But just as quickly it faded, leaving aback at her

"Choke-and-puke?"

She laughed "Yeah It’s a good thing, though It’s what rease and cheese Hoet at fast-food restaurants Around here, hoood choke-and-puke bacon cheeseburger grab you? And it’sso reat," he ad, I mean This means a lot to rab hi would be all right But she resisted because she knew that when she was his age, such atime to realize that not everyone in the world was out to hurt her And that love was unconditional and given freely No strings No repercussions

But her heart ached for hiry To have far tooThank God for Marlene and Frank Kelly Thank God for them all