In Love with a Single Farmer-Daddy novel · Chapter 12 of 24

Chapter 12: Owl

I sat on the edge of the bed with the drawing in my lap until the sun came up.

I didn't take it to Roscoe.

I knew what it was.

It wasn't evidence.

It was a letter, and it had been written to me.

At six-forty Posy came down to the kitchen and stopped in the doorway, watching my face.

I'd put the drawing in my envelope with her first note and the money.

"Thank you for my picture," I said. "I'm keeping it safe."

She looked at me for a long moment.

Then she climbed into her chair, and for the first time she didn't check the pantry first.

At eight, Roscoe and I walked her into school together.

The principal came out of her office before we reached it.

She'd heard.

"Mr. Ketchum," she said quietly. "Mrs. Ketchum."

"I want to see Posy's pickup card," Roscoe said.

The secretary laid it on the counter.

There were three names on it in his square handwriting from two years ago.

Roscoe Ketchum.

Bonnie Lautner.

And one line that was blank.

Roscoe took the pen off its chain and drew a line through Bonnie's name.

He pressed so hard the pen tore the card.

He wrote my name on the blank line and handed me the pen.

"Betsy Ketchum," I wrote, for the first time in my life.

"Bonnie won't be volunteering in the building for now," the principal said. "Not until the sheriff's office is done. I've already called her."

"How did she take it?"

The principal looked at me over her glasses.

"She asked if I'd be bringing a casserole to her bridge club, since she'd have more time now."

The Friday after that was Halloween.

The whole elementary school walks from the gym down the middle of Main Street to the grain elevator and back, and the stores hand out candy from the doorways.

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