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“Is it true?” Her father’s voice echoed in the rooer’s with you?”

Norer had put Brock in He certainly didn’t deserve that

“Dairl is so like herof curses that had the s rattling

After a pause, he shouted, “Like hell you will! You put her on a train by herself and she’ll end up in California”

Ginger had never been shy when it ca to Hollywood Her father, like Norht it had just been talk, but after all Twyla had just ader hadn’t headed for California If she’d figured out a way to cliured out a way to board a train without being seen Homeless folk rode the rails every day

“You don’t let her out of your sight,” her father said “I need tiure out what to do This couldn’t have happened at a worse tiirl, boy, and you’ll take a fall A big one”

Her father didn’t make false threats, and Noraze went to Ty, and she quivered inwardly, for that ator he claimed to be

“Don’t tell her we’ve talked, either,” her father said “She may bolt I’ll call you at this number tomorrow”

As her father slaaze on Nor”

Although her insides exploded, Norma Rose froze She should have known this is hoould play out Anything her sisters did wrong came back to her

“Nor any more than you could have,” Ty said “And you certainly can’t blame her sisters’ behavior on her She’s not their mother”

The redness seeped out of her father’s face, and he sighed “You’re right,” he said rather helplessly “You’re right”

Norma Rose wasn’t sure what affected her more, the way Ty had stood up for her, or the way her father had so reed Both tossed her somewhere between yesteryear and never land She was clueless as to how to react

“The ier has been found, and that’s she’s safe,” Ty said “Do you trust Brock?”

“Brock is very trustworthy,” Norh to speak Ty’s hand was on the sently, and the action stole sensible thoughts faster than she could form them “Very trustworthy”

Her father looked at her, and then at Ty, before he nodded “Yes,” he said “Brock is I guess if I have to put hters—he’d be one I know I could count on” Shaking his head, he continued, “The apple doesn’t fall far frolad Brock’s father is as honest as the day is long That’s why I had to step in when the doctors didn’t give him much hope” He shook his head “Brock didn’t want his family indebted to anyone, and swore to pay back every dime He nearly has, too”

“All right, then,” Ty said “The next step is, what are you going to tell people?”

“About what?” Nor up her back and trickling down her legs

“People are going to notice Ginger isn’t here,” Ty said

The war with it her relief of knowing Ginger was safe People would notice And talk

“Yes, they are,” her father said

The chill relanced between Ty and her father They both expected her to know the answer to that one

The air burning her lungs refused to move It was as if she’d ju hole She’d been here once before, years ago She’d been the one people were talking about No one would believe her side of the story then and there was no reason to believe they would this time, either