fancy gourmet dining. “Good for you.”
“Where’ve you been? I thought I saw Daniel here a minute ago,” Retta said.
“He’s here,” Molly said. “Kendra, come with me for a few minutes.”
Alarm immediately darkened her eyes. “Why?”
Retta put her arm protectively around the girl’s shoulders. “What’s going on?” she asked Molly.
“I need to talk to Kendra,” Molly said.
“Now?” Retta asked, her expression filled with worry.
“Right now,” Molly said.
Retta studied her face, then nodded. “Baby, it’s okay. You go on and talk to Molly, okay? Remember she’s on your side and do whatever she asks, you hear me?”
Kendra nodded meekly, then followed Molly into the bar, her gaze darting around nervously. “Where is he?”
“Who?”
“Daniel.”
“Still upstairs, more than likely.” Or outside trying to waylay Joe Sutton, but Kendra didn’t need to know that.
When they were settled in a reasonably private booth in the back, Molly reached for Kendra’s hand. “You know that I only want what’s best for you, Kendra, don’t you?”
Kendra nodded.
Molly debated her next words, then opted for the truth. Kendra was smart enough to see through any sugarcoating, anyway. She had to know this stalemate couldn’t go on forever.
“Daniel and Joe can’t put off taking you home,” she said at last. “Your parents have guessed that Joe knows where you are and they’re threatening to take legal action against him, Daniel and possibly against me, if we don’t bring you home.”
The color drained from Kendra’s cheeks. “Can they do that?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“But that’s not fair. You’re only trying to help me.”
“The way they see it, we’re keeping you from them. I don’t care for myself, but I am worried about Daniel and Joe. Their jobs could be affected by this, and that’s not fair, either.”
Kendra stared down at the table. “I suppose.”
“Sweetie, you know it’s not.”
“I could call them, from someplace where they couldn’t trace the call,” Kendra said, her expression brightening. “I could explain that I’m okay and that they shouldn’t get mad at you guys.”
“I think it’s too late for that,” Molly said. “Now, if there’s a reason why you don’t want to go wherever they’re sending you, you have to tell us. Daniel will fight for you, but you have to speak up now. There’s no more time.” She tucked a finger under Kendra’s chin and forced the girl to meet her gaze. “Is there a reason? Something besides the plan to send you away?”
Tears swam in her eyes, but Kendra remained silent.
“Did they ever hurt you?” Molly asked one more time.
“No,” she said softly. “Never.”
“Was there an argument of some kind?”
“No.”
“Did they punish you for something?”
Kendra shook her head.
Molly regarded her helplessly. “Kendra, you’re a good girl. You didn’t just run away for no reason, did you?”
She shook her head but remained silent.
Molly sighed. “Then we have no choice. Daniel has to take you home.”
Kendra’s shoulders heaved with sobs. Tears spilled down her cheeks. “I don’t want to go back,” she whispered brokenly.
Molly felt her heart twist in her chest. She would have given anything to grab the girl and run with her, but she couldn’t do it. She’d made a promise to Daniel and she had to honor it.
“It’s time, Kendra. Your parents love you. Joe says there’s not a doubt in his mind about that. Do you think he’s wrong?”
“No, not really,” she said without hesitation.
Molly felt relieved that Kendra at least believed that her parents cared about her. “Then going home won’t be so bad, will it? Whatever happened, you can work it out.”
Kendra regarded her hopefully. “Will you come with me?”
“If Daniel agrees, of course I will,” Molly said at once. She was no more ready to say goodbye than Kendra was. She wanted to get a good look at the people who were going to send Kendra away again. Maybe they’d provide the answers that Kendra had been unwilling to offer.
Kendra sighed heavily. “Okay, then. I’ll go.”
Molly glanced up and saw that Daniel was approaching, alone, thank heavens. “Kendra says she’ll go home,” she told him. “She’d like me to come along.”
There was no mistaking the relief in Daniel’s eyes. “Fine with me,” he said at once. He gave Kendra’s shoulder a squeeze. “I know you feel bad right now, but it’s going to be okay.”
The look Kendra gave him was filled with despair. “I don’t think so.”
“Sure it will be,” Molly said. “Daniel won’t let you down.” She was counting on that.
“Will you be able to come see me?” Kendra asked.
“We’ll try to work it out with your parents,” Molly promised.