Page 70 of Savage Wounds

“I appreciate the offer, but I don’t think your parents would want me there. They don’t really know me.”

She waves off the comment. “Everyone is a stranger to each other at first until they become friends.”

Where did this kid come from?

“That’s pretty insightful for…uh…how old are you?”

Of course, I already know her age.

“Six. What does insightful mean?” Her brows furrow in anendearing kind of way.

“Means you’re smart.”

“Oh, duh!” She rolls her eyes. “I knew that already.”

I let out a laugh.

“My daddy says I’m super smart all the time.”

I nod. “Everyone has to be right about something at least once…” I whisper that last bit.

“Do you know he saved me when I was a baby?”

My curiosity is piqued. “Did he? How?”

“My birth parents died in a fire, and he rushed in and saved me. He’s a hero!”

“Mm-hmm…”

I didn’t know that.

She tilts her head and examines me like a tiny spy, trying to get inside my head. “Do you not like my daddy?”

No.

“I mean, he’s okay…”

She giggles. “You’re funny.”

“Sophia!” Mabel calls. “Where are you?”

“Uh-oh.” She grimaces and jumps to her feet. “I gotta go before I get in trouble. Thanks for the ball.” She gathers it in both hands. “Maybe I’ll see you next time, sir.”

“Maybe.” I give her a half-smile as she turns to rush off. “But, Sophia?”

She stops and glances back over her shoulder. “Yeah?”

“Be careful, okay? There are a lot of bad people in this world. Don’t make it a habit to talk to strangers.”

“But you’re not a stranger. You were at Grandma’s wedding, silly, so it means we’re friends now.” She grins.

“Friends, huh?”

“That’s right! What’s your name, by the way?”

Don’t tell her.

“Andy.”

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