She glanced away, a rosiness creeping into her cheeks.

“I’m just in a funk. I’ve made a mess of my life.”

“You have?”

Josh’s voice interrupted whatever Eunice might have said when he shouted, “Are you guys even looking?”

“He’s hiding behind the water trough,” Eunice said. “You want to find him this time, or should I?”

“How about we do it together?”

“Deal.”

“And then we’ll get dessert.”

“Dessert does make most situations look better.”

“Never makes things look worse.”

But as they ambled over to the trough, where he could see his son’s straw hat peeking out from the corner, Zeb couldn’t help wondering why Eunice thought she’d made a mess of her life. As far as he could see, she’d made some pretty good choices. Never falling in love might not have its drawbacks—at least he assumed she’d never fallen in love. She’d never mentioned anyone that she cared about.

He admired that.

If you never put your heart out there, then it couldn’t get broken...