He caught her elbow to stop her. "Morgan is the label. Take my hand."
She let him lead her as her other hand fell to her side. "My mother—"
He squeezed her arm. "Is not your keeper anymore, Alice."
Her small hand slipped into his, and her face flushed. Without another word, she turned and guided him into her house. At the door she called out, "Mom, we're here."
Her hand stayed in his and she didn't let go. John gazed around the empty farmhouse, saw how spacious and warm the empty walls felt. Outlines remained where pictures had recently hung. The windows still held yellow curtains, though most of the house was packed into piles of boxes along the walls.
He had never been here to see what her home looked like before, but his mind noted the difference between a real home and a show house.
A moment later, an older lady with Alice's nose and profile walked in the room. She stopped and placed a hand on her hip. "We?"
Alice's face paled, but she eyed her mother. "Yeah, we. John brought me home."
Her mother's arms crossed. "You have the SUV."
John stepped forward. Alice looked weather-beaten. "She does, ma'am."
"I'm Mrs. Collins to you." Her mother shook her head. "Don't pretend to have manners. It's doubtful anyone in your family taught you any."
Manners ensured that his father made a business deal. He bowed but stayed next to Alice. "True."
"Mom, your name is Ellie, and that was so rude." Alice's voice shook.
Ellie Collins tapped her foot on the floor. "And don't pretend to agree with me."
Alice had been one hundred percent correct in her description of her feisty mom.
"Mom, where are both trucks?"
John turned toward her with a grateful smile. She'd changed the course of the conversation.
Her mother fisted her hands on her hips and looked out the picture window. "Your father will be here shortly. He went to the doctor. Colt took Clara north to check on the orange crops."
"Colt made it home?"
"Yes. He flew in yesterday, as he knew how worried we were about you."
"Was Clara glad to see him?"
"Of course."
Alice smiled, dropped his hand, and took a step forward. "Great. I'll just go pack a few things, so we can get going."
"We?" Her mother practically jumped in her way. "Pack? This is your home."
Alice walked around her. "Yeah. We're moving anyhow, so I'm staying with John for the next few days."
Her mother made the sign of the cross even though she was never religious. "Excuse me."
Alice's hands clenched and she met her mother's gaze head-on. "Did something happen to your hearing?"
She didn't need to get defensive. John coughed. "Mrs. Collins, I need to make sure Alice is safe."
Her mother held her head high. "We look after our own here."
Then she reached over and patted her daughter like a trained nurse as she searched for battle wounds.
