Chapter 16

Dark, curly hair spilled across her cheeks, but it did little to hide the abrasive burns that marred her dusky skin. There were more burns across the back of her hands, along with broken skin on her knuckles and at least one ragged fingernail. As soon as Jesse noticed them, however, she hastily tucked them out of sight in the pockets of the baggy sweatshirt she wore.

“I’m looking for Jesse Madding.” Her words were accented, Texan mixed with Spanish if her appearance was anything to go by. Her light brown eyes darted from his face to over his shoulder, and then to the house’s exterior, before returning to meet his. “Please tell me he’s here.”

“I’m Jesse Madding.” His annoyance forgotten, he pushed the door open wider. It wasn’t unusual for strangers to knock on their door, though they almost always came in search of Gideon. “Come in. Sit down.”