Page 12 of Good Girls Don't Kiss and Tell (Rock Canyon, Idaho 7)

Gracie felt the little girl bury her head into Gracie’s chest painfully, and she shrugged at Sam.

Rubbing the think back under her jacket, she whispered, “Why don’t you and I go sit in my car, turn the heat up high, and I’ll find some cartoons for you on my phone.”

Gracie passed by Officer Quinn Morgan, who she’d had one terrible date with, and smiled. He was a good guy though, so they’d decided they were better off friends.

“Hey, Quinn,” she murmured, aware of the terror radiating from the toddler. It was so strange that she hadn’t showed any fear of Gracie at the door, but was now petrified.

Quinn nodded. “Gracie. What were you doing here?”

“Delivering Thanksgiving dinners for the church.”

Quinn grinned at her, his eyes twinkling. “Aren’t you just Mother Teresa?”

Gracie rolled her eyes, and when she opened the car door, she unzipped her coat, but the little girl didn’t want to let go.

“Hey, hey, it’s okay. I’m just going to turn the car on.” Gracie put the keys in and thanked God the engine was still warm. Hot air blew out of the vents, and she slid into the driver’s seat, closing the door behind her. The toddler stayed glued to her lap, and Gracie moved the seat back to give them more room.

She searched through Hulu and found some Disney show about a cat that was a sheriff. The child just sat there, her thumb in her mouth, staring at the screen quietly. Gracie wished she had a brush to get the hair out of her dirty face, but could imagine how detangling that mop would hurt. Softly, she stroked the little girl’s back and arms, waiting on Sam.

A few minutes later, Sam and Quinn came out, and she rolled down her window. Tiny arms wrapped around her neck in a death grip and she mumbled low, soothing words.

“We need to bring her down to the station. Wanna follow us?” Sam asked.

“Sure, but I don’t know if she’ll let me go.”

“Have you gotten her name yet?” Sam asked.

“No, she hasn’t said a word.”

“I got a kids’ seat in the car. Hang tight while I grab it.” Sam jogged back to his car, and Gracie pulled back enough to brush the little one’s hair back off her face.

“Are you hungry, sweetie?”

Gracie could tell by the hollow of her cheeks that she was, but she still didn’t want to let go.

“I promise you, I’m going to take care of you and keep you safe.”

* * *

At the police station a half hour later, Gracie watched in horror as tiny hands shoved hunks of banana and donuts into the little girl’s mouth. Quinn had stopped off at Hall’s per her request, and picked up a couple things a child might like.

When the cheeks were stuffed so full, she couldn’t even close her mouth, Gracie hooked a finger inside and pulled some of the chewed globs out. “Hey, baby, slow down or you’re going to choke. I promise, no one is going to take this away from you. Take small bites.”

Sam came into the room, and Gracie could tell from the grim look on his face that whatever he’d found out wasn’t good.

“The woman renting the duplex is Rita Faulkner, but she doesn’t have any kids. I’ve got a call into social services, but being a holiday, who knows when they’ll get out this way.”

“So, what’s she supposed to do?”

“I can keep her here until social services arrives…” Sam trailed off as if there were more options, but he couldn’t think of them.

Gracie’s gaze met those big eyes, and her heart broke into a million pieces. “What if I keep her with me? Until social services can get out here? I can feed her and give her a bath. She’ll be more comfortable with me than here.”

“Ah, Gracie, I know your heart’s in the right place, but I can’t—”

“Why? You know me, Sam. Why not let me make a scared child just a little more comfortable?”

Sam scratched the back of his neck hesitantly, then nodded. “All right, I’ll let social services know she’s got a safe haven for the night. I’m sure they’d appreciate the load off.”

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