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First, though, he called Olivia Gordon, Malachi’s cousin, to explain who he really was and what he was doing there She evidently knew that an agent was co in; she couldn’t have missed that fact, since he was scheduled to start at the Horse Farain in the --or maybe he’d just show up Either way, he didn’t want to leave a s could come back to bite you But he also assu woure it out

Exa his room, he discovered that he probably did have the best His bathrooe ay more closet space than he needed, and his key worked on the back door, as well It led to the rear porch area; if he ever needed to, he could exit without being seen

He left his roo the door behind him He did it out of instinct, not because he suspected anyone wanted to go through his belongings But you never knew

He waved to Ellie as he left, and also waved at Coot, still rocking on the front porch, as he walked out to his car

The café was even closer than he’d realized from Ellie’s directions; it was just down the road It was a true diner, converted froht cars The tables were small but neat and clean, and his waitress, a heavyset woman named Delilah, arm and friendly The place was empty when he entered, but as she took his order--the daily special of pot roast, with a side of grits, okra and a serving of corn bread--the door opened and four young ; the older e House," Delilah e House?" he asked politely

"It’s a center for ard boys At least that’s e used to call theotten into some minor trouble None of thera horse therapy" She paused, wagging her head "We have a famous facility for that, you know" When he e has a good success rate--although sohborhood But hts, after their NAat the old chapel," Delilah told him "Some of them--well, quite a few of theh, they come back, and they come back--and then we hear they’re up at the state prison or they’ve wrapped thehway Drew, over there, he works for the Horse Farm This is a sideline for hi how most of the time he’s with critters"

She walked away to fill his order He picked up a copy of the free local paper, which was only six pages--mostly ads, a few columns of local news The restaurant was s on around hi

Two of the boys were cutting up, stealing another boy’s baseball cap and tossing it back and forth

"Stop Give it back We’re in a restaurant," the older man said He didn’t yell, but he spoke sternly and they listened to hiood day He was out with Olivia Gordon for half the afternoon!"

"Yes, and you had your horse therapy session, too," the older reat with the horses--and with you kids," the older ht, Joey?" one of the boys joked

Dustin could just see Joey The kid was blushing

"Joey’s got a crush on his therapist!" another one teased

"I don’t have a crush on her--you guys have a crush on her!" Joey protested "And it’s dumb She thinks we’re all kids"

"You are all kids," the older man said

"Hey, Drew," one of the boys said "Did you ever try to date her?"

The older hed "I’ve known Olivia Gordon since she was a kid, and no, Sean, we never dated She was a Nashville girl, and we irls didn’t date country bumpkins?" Joey asked

"No, Olivia was never like that," the ; it was evident that he liked Olivia Gordon, too "She’s always been nice to everyone, and she’s very serious about her work So don’t golife miserable for her, huh? She’s"

"She’s what?" Joey demanded

"She’s just different," Drew said "Special And a really fine therapist, so you all behave like gentlemen when you’re around her, y’hear?"

"Yes, sir," one of the boys who’d teased Joey said "This whole thing, though It’s all a little hypocritical, isn’t it?"

"He’s talking about old Danby going back on the juice," another boy said

"Hey, that’s nothing but a rumor," Drew said firot started"

"But what if the rumor’s real?" Joey asked