of this place.”
“Why?”
“Well, it’s our main tourist attraction.”
“It’s still weird.” Todd rolled his eyes as he looked up at the fiberglass statue of Jesus that presided over the eighteenth hole.
“Just remember that the church ladies in town have embraced this place. In fact, your momma will probably praise me for bringing you here.”
“Why?”
“Because of all these Bible verses.” He pointed to the verse on the eighteenth hole.
“Mom isn’t all that into God.”
Dash laid his hand on Todd’s shoulder, and for once, the kid didn’t shake it off. They’d had a pretty good evening out here at Golfing for God. And while putt-putt was no real test, Todd was showing some serious eye-hand coordination. Dash was determined to get Todd into the football program that Red Canaday, the Davis High football coach, ran every summer for younger boys. After playing catch and Ultimate Frisbee with him, Dash was starting to think the kid might make a heck of a running back. He had real good hands.
They turned in their putters and headed home. Dash was surprised to find Savannah waiting for them out on the porch, sitting with Miriam. Savannah must have gotten home from the book club a little early.
“Hey, Mom, have you ever played miniature golf at Golfing for God?”
Savannah smiled. “Many times.”
“It’s kind of weird, but fun.”
“I always liked the plague of frogs best,” she said.
“I liked it, too. Dash said that at the Easter Egg Jubilee they have a frog jump. He said he’d take me down to the river to get me a frog.”
Savannah frowned. “A frog jump?”
“Oh, yes,” Miriam said. “It’s so much fun. You missed a lot coming only in the summers. Your granddaddy took Dash out to the river on a lot of frog hunts. You remember that frog you had that took second place that time?”
“Her name was Frogzilla. She was one big bullfrog.”
“You guys aren’t kidding, are you?” Savannah said.
“Nope. Last Chance is a homey kind of place. Mark Twain would have felt comfortable here,” Miriam said. She turned toward Todd. “Have you ever read that Mark Twain story, the one about the jumping frog?”
He shook his head.
“Well, you should. I think it’s in Harry’s library. I’ll get it for you. You should read the story before you enter the frog jump.” Miriam gave Dash a big smile that he felt down in his middle.
But Savannah looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. She turned toward her son. “Have you finished your homework?”
Todd gave her an eye roll. “Mom, Dash made me do it before he took me to Golfing for God.”
Savannah’s expression softened just a little, and Dash felt a rush of warmth. Damn. Pleasing Savannah was kind of fun. But dangerous. He had to remember that. He was already halfway hooked on her smile.
“It’s time for bed. You get ready, and I’ll be up to tuck you in,” she said.
“Jeez, I’m way too old for that.” The kid turned and stomped into the house, slamming the door behind him.
Miriam chuckled. “What is it about boys and screen doors?” she mused.
“You got a minute?” Savannah asked Dash.
His warm fuzzy feelings evaporated. Savannah was ticked off about something. He could sense it. Her shoulders were all tense. “Sure.” He started toward one of the rockers, but she stood up.
“Not here. Inside.”
“Honey, you be careful with him, now, you hear?” Miriam said.
“Be careful with me how?”
Miriam smiled, her eyes twinkling in the porch light. His aunt was up to something.
He followed Savannah into the living room. She turned and put her fists on her hips.
“Who gave you permission to show my business plan to Rocky?”
“I didn’t think it was a secret.”
“Well, I wasn’t totally finished with it. I gave it to you so you could give me advice on how to improve it. I didn’t expect you to hand it off to Rocky or for her to hand it off to Hettie and Sarah and Lark. I don’t even know who Lark is.”
“She’s the sheriff’s wife. And the sheriff is Rocky’s older brother, Stone. You remember Stone from your summers here, don’t you?”
“Vaguely. Look, Dash, I gave you that plan in draft form so you could tell me all the things I did wrong.”
“But you didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I didn’t?” She seemed genuinely surprised.
“No. It was a really good plan.”
“Oh. Why didn’t you tell me that?”
“I didn’t think you wanted my advice.”
“Of course I did. Why would I have given you the plan in the first place?”
“Because I told you