“Me too,” Diana added.

“Ashlyn was throwing a fit this morning about her hair. She wanted Tiffany to cut it, but Tiffany already has one demerit, and she’s afraid to do anything against the rules. What if we let them do each other’s hair this afternoon, since they have to stay in anyway? I’ve got a decent pair of scissors in my suitcase if any of them want a haircut,” Jayden suggested.

“Man, that would take a lot of trust. Some of them are still pretty wary of the girls who aren’t in their cabin. But I’m willing to give it a try, and I’ve got a curling iron they can use,” Diana said. “Who’s going to do the cutting, and who’ll use the curling iron? What if one of them decides to do a shabby job on the styling or burn someone with the iron?”

“We could have a war,” Novalene said, “but if it will keep them from being bitchy all afternoon because they can’t play softball, then I’m all for it.”

Elijah covered a yawn with his hand. “If y’all are going to primp all afternoon, then I’m going to my cabin for a nap. You don’t need me to play beauty shop.”

“Oh, come on,” Jayden teased. “I thought maybe you’d like a facial.”

“In all the years I’ve been here, I can’t remember ever letting the girls do something like this after only three weeks in camp,” Diana said.

“No, but it sounds like a good idea.” He pushed back his chair and stood up. “They haven’t gotten to primp in a while, and they have been pretty good, even with the transition.” Elijah took his tray to the counter. “See y’all at supper. My cell phone number is on the front of the fridge if you need me.”

“So, how do we get this started or even find out if they’re interested?” Jayden asked.

“It’s your idea—you tell them,” Novalene said.

Jayden tapped a fork on the side of her iced-tea glass, and the room went quiet. “As you all know from your damp uniforms, it is raining, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to clear up, so . . .” She went on to tell them about her plan, ending with, “Does anyone here have any kind of experience in hairstyling?”

Novalene’s two girls raised their hands. “You learn something new every day. Neither of them mentioned having any cosmetology experience until now,” Novalene said.

“We have a stylist that comes to the house every week, and she’s taught me a little about hair,” Keelan said.

Bailey raised her hand. “Sometimes me and my friends all get together and have a makeover. I can do about anything with hair if I have the right equipment. I can’t believe y’all are going to let us do something like this.”

“It’s a reward for not one of you having a demerit all week,” Novalene said. “You might think about that when you want to do something stupid in the coming days.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Keelan said. “Is there a spray bottle somewhere in the kitchen I can use to wet hair?”

“I know where one is.” Tiffany hopped up and started around the end of the bar.

“How about a towel?” Bailey yelled. “We can use it for a cape.”

“Will this work?” Tiffany held up a muslin tea towel.

“It will do just fine,” Keelan said. “Who’s first?”

Ashlyn held up a hand. “Me.”

All eight girls who had been used to makeup, hair salons, and the best that money could buy were suddenly in their element, laughing and talking and getting everyone’s opinions about how much hair to cut, and what style would look best.

“I betcha if one of them breaks a rule this next week, they’d better sleep with one eye open.” Diana laughed.

“Why’s that?” Jayden asked.

“Because after all the fun they’re having today, if one of them keeps the whole bunch from getting a treat like this next Sunday, the other seven might not take too kindly to it,” Novalene explained.

“Hey, Jayden, could I have a word?” Elijah poked his head inside the door and motioned for her.

“Uh-oh!” Diana nudged her on the shoulder. “If you get a demerit and all us counselors have to do something awful, we may banish you from the camp.”

“And you’d never see Elijah again,” Novalene teased.

Jayden pushed back her chair. “I can outrun every one of you, so I’m not worried.”

She really wasn’t worried about her two friends, but the way her stomach knotted up told a different story when she headed for the door. What had she done that Elijah would single her out in front of all the girls and the other two counselors?

The rain had slowed down to a nice drizzle, but the yard was muddy. Thank goodness the bench on the porch was set back far enough that it was still dry. Elijah motioned for her to have a seat and then sat down beside her.

“I thought you were going to take a nap.” The bench was narrow enough that their shoulders touched. She didn’t know how that affected him, but ever since he’d held her during that crying jag after Skyler left, every time he was close by her heart threw in an extra beat.

Elijah removed his cap and ran his fingers through his hair. “Rain has slowed down. God knows we never complain about rain in this part of the country. I’m just glad we didn’t have the hay cut and drying or we’d be in a mess. According to the weatherman, it’s supposed to be sunny the rest of the week, so we should be able to get it cut, baled, and into the barn by next Saturday.”

Jayden wondered why Elijah had brought her outside to talk about rain and hay. He could have done that in front of the other three counselors.

“Do the girls help haul hay?” she asked.

“Soon as it’s baled, we issue them a pair of gloves, put them in two teams, and have a contest to see who can get it into the barn and stacked first,” he answered. “But I didn’t really want to talk about that.”

Halle-damn-lujah! she thought. Not that she didn’t like the delicious little shivers chasing down her spine every time he changed positions and pressed even closer to her side, but she did want to know what was on his mind. Then she realized that the news might be bad and gasped. What if something had happened to Henry or to Mary, and he was building up his courage to tell her?

He cleared his throat to go on, and heaviness filled her chest.

“I just had a long conversation with Mary and Henry,” he said.

“Thank God!” she spit out before she even thought.

“What does that mean?” he asked.

“The way you were hemming and hawing around, I thought maybe something had happened to them,” she told him.

He flashed a smile that heated up the porch at least another five degrees. “They are both fine, and I didn’t mean to be evasive.”

“Then why are we talking about rain and hay?” she asked.

“Downright blunt, aren’t you?” he chuckled.

“I can be,” she answered.

He laid a hand on her shoulder. “I like it, but you’re right. I have a favor to ask, and truth is, I like talking to you.”

“Ooo . . . kay . . .” Jayden drew the word out. “I miss them, too. I didn’t realize how much Mary and I visited while we worked until she was gone.”