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Grace hoped that he was. Yes, he’d scared her, but he didn’t deserve to be hurt over it.

“Grace?” someone called. Footsteps pounded through the house, and Grace looked up just in time for her mother to wrap her arms around her. Those freaking tears started again, and Grace wondered when she’d gotten all blubbery. Mama set her back and cupped her head in her hands, looking her over. “Are you okay?”

Grace tried to nod, but her head was held too tight. “I’m fine,” she mumbled.

“I suggest you take her for an x-ray,” Lottie murmured. “Arthur said she fell down the bank headfirst and landed on the ice, then the ice let go.”

Mama had glanced at Lottie, but when she turned back to Grace, her mouth was open slightly. “You fell in the water?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Are you chilled? Wet?” She pulled the biggest blanket away.

“I’m fine, Mama. Lottie took care of me.”

Eventually, she eased back, but Grace could still see the worry in her expression. Mama and the sheriff shared a look, and he turned to Lottie, talking softly. Eventually, she nodded. “I have her things in the dryer. Let me see if they’re done.”

Lottie returned just a minute later with Grace’s jeans and t-shirt and sweater. “The coat is still very wet, so here’s something you can wear to the hospital.”

She handed over a red wool coat with white buttons, and Grace instinctively knew it was Hannah’s. Again. “We’ll bring it back to you,” she whispered, her throat tight.

Lottie and the sheriff stepped out of the room while Mama helped Grace change into her clothes. She shivered hard as her bare skin was exposed, and she could tell Mama was looking for more injuries. Then Mama was pulling her shirts over her head, making her curls pop out of the top and snap with electricity. Grace smiled as she tried to smooth them down. She had no idea where her hat was.

Grace allowed Mama to hold her hand as she tugged her from the bedroom and out into the kitchen. For a moment, when Lottie saw her in the red coat, her mouth sagged down with sadness. Then her lips turned up, and her eyes cleared. “You look fabulous in that coat, Grace. I think you should keep it.”

“Hannah,” she heard someone say, and she turned. Mr. Rochester stood in the archway to the living room, just looking at her.

Lottie moved to her husband’s side and took his hand into her own, pulling it up against her chest. “Arthur, why aren’t you napping in your chair? You had a big day, today. This is Grace Lowell, and her mother Cheyenne Lowell. And you remember the sheriff, right? He’s brought you home a couple of times.”

Mr. Rochester looked at the people in his kitchen, and Grace could see the struggle in his eyes. Grace wasn’t worried that anything would happen. Not with the sheriff there. So, she stepped forward and held out her hand. “Hello, Mr. Rochester. I’ve seen you around town a few times. I’m Grace.”

His gaze poured over her several times, lingering on her bright hair, as he let his wife’s hand go and stepped forward. He took her hand gently, and Grace thought he was beginning to see. “Grace,” he murmured.

“Yes, sir.” She glanced at her mother, hoping she was okay with what she was about to do. “Christmas is next week, and I wondered if you would make me some of that sourdough bread you were talking about. Or maybe some rolls. And come to dinner with us.”

His faded eyes lit up at the mention of bread, and he nodded. “Yes, we would love to join you for dinner. And I will bring several loaves with me. And maybe some Apple Cinnamon bread. Lottie, where is that recipe…”

They left the house, Mr. Rochester lost in boxes of old, handwritten recipes.

“That was a very nice thing you did, Grace.”

Grace tucked her chin into the coat. “Well, it wasn’t exactly what I was planning, but…”

“Speaking of,” the sheriff said, voice ominous.

“Yes, Grace,” her mother said, pulling her to a stop to look down at her. “Just because you had the best of intentions to help Mr. Rochester, it doesn’t release you from what you’ve done. You skipped school and put yourself in danger. We’ll get you checked out at the hospital, then we’re going to talk about your grounding.”

Grace sighed, but she wasn’t too upset. She still felt like she’d done something good, today. “Yes, Mama.”