Willie down-shifted and brought the battered truck to a shuddering stop in front of the high school. Veronica collected her books and walked to the truck.

“Hey, Uncle Willie, what’re you doing here?”

“Your mama’s car won’t start.”

Veronica climbed in, then Willie pulled into traffic.

“How was your day at school?” he asked.

“Well, I’m not talking to Freddie.”

“Is that bad or good news for Freddie?”

“Oh, Uncle Willie. You men always side together. Freddie broke a date so he can play basketball with his pea-brained buddies. That was rude, and he deserves consequences. So I’m giving him some. What’s with people today, anyway?”

“Lots of folks are centered on themselves.”

“Please, let me go,” Allison begged her abductor. Her white empire muslin gown snagged on the saddle horn as she struggled to break free from his strong, yet strangely gentle grasp.

“Nope.” The man’s kind voice sounded vaguely familiar.

The horse stumbled. Allison clutched a handful of the horse’s mane in an attempt to keep herself from slipping forward. The man gripped her with muscled arms, and pulled her snug against his firm chest. She tried to free herself from his grasp, but she was no match for his strength.

“I promise not to bite,” he said, a low chuckle rumbling through his throat.

Where had she heard that laugh before? “Won’t you please remove this blindfold?”

“Soon.” His warm breath brushed against her ear. “We’re almost there.”

Almost where? And what did he want? If it was ransom, her uncle was so stingy even his money clip had cobwebs. And no one knew about the fortune her parents had left her, not even her greedy aunt and uncle.