Page 42 of Spiritwarrior

“The trailer is just sitting empty. We wouldn’t have to worry about any animals making a home inside.”

Sophie bit her lip. The offer was tempting. She hated living in the apartment without any yard of her own.

“At first, you thought the man whom Marty owes money was the one who broke into your apartment. Obviously, he frightened you. You wouldn’t have to worry about that if you lived here. No one steps on our property unless we know about it.”

Ginny took over convincing her when Jody stopped. “When your parents come to town, they can take over the apartment for you … unless you were planning on living with them.”

“I don’t think the trailer would be big enough for all of you to live in,” Jody hastened to add.

“I wasn’t going to live with them. I was going to find another apartment when they moved to town.”

“This would save you a lot of money from renting another place, especially with the diner just starting out.”

“True. That is … if I decide to stay.”

“You haven’t given the diner a chance. Are you sure you even want to own a restaurant?”

Giving Jody a hostile glance, she stuck her chin out stubbornly. “I’m sure. The problem is I should have looked before I leaped. I don’t have enough capital to make it until it thrives. When I sell the diner, it could give me the capital I need.”

“How? Any money you make from the sale will have to go to purchasing a new one, unless you’re thinking of renting. You own the diner free and clear, don’t you?”

“Yes,” she admitted.

“There you go. You may be operating on a shoestring budget now, but it’ll perk up.”

Sophie put her hands up in the air. “How am I supposed to say no when both of you are wearing me down?”

“Good.” Ginny grinned happily.

Jody stood up. “Come on. I’ll follow you to your apartment and call Knox to tell him you’re on your way. You can pick out what you want to move to the trailer, and I’ll bring it back so you’ll have it waiting for you when you get off work.”

“You don’t need to go with me. I can load what I want to take in my car—”

“It’ll be quicker if I go with you. That way, you can go on to the diner. Ginny can open it for you.”

“Are you sure?” she asked Ginny.

“I’d love to. My sister-in-law is babysitting for me. She’ll be upset if I told her I didn’t need her.”

“If you’re sure …” She looked at both of them.

“We are.” Jody reached for their coffee cups.

Handing Ginny the keys to the restaurant, Sophie allowed Jody to usher her out of the house.

She took in the beauty of the surroundings and couldn’t believe she was going to be able to live here. Owning a restaurant wasn’t her only dream; she had dreamed of having enough money to live in a wide-open space with trees and grass, where she had her own yard, even a puppy. She really, really wanted a puppy.

“Are you ready?” Jody brought her back from her imaginings.

“Sorry. It’s beautiful here. Ginny’s lucky.”

“We all are. We each have a section of property on the mountain. We own over seventy acres. If you close the diner before dark, I can show you the trailer while it’s still light enough to see.”

“Okay.”

Walking to her car, she was conscious of Jody following behind her.

“I’ll meet you at your apartment. My truck is parked at Silas’ house.” Jody pointed to the small road branching off Ginny’sdriveway. “Take that road. When you come to the end, make a right. That will lead you straight into town.”

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