Chapter 9Arriving at Jo’s apartment a short while later, Melissa and Lawton found both Jo and Charlie there. They listened in shock to the tale of Melissa’s car fire.
“Good grief, Lis, I’d be a wreck. What are you going to do?”
Melissa moved restlessly around the room, picking things up and setting them back down. She couldn’t stand to be still.
“Lawton wants me to stay at the ranch for a few days, until we find if it really was arson or not. He’ll drive me back and forth, for now. I just came by to get a few things to take with me. And to let you know.”
While Melissa went into her room to pack, Jo drew Lawton aside. “Take care of her,” she said. “She’s…well, there’s one thing I didn’t tell you. Shortly after Mom and I moved out, her Dad took her to Mexico on a vacation and while they
