Flora ignored the girl’s outburst, continuing to talk to Willa. “Don’t make this hard on the children. The Wests are able to take all the children except for Leanne. I’m still searching for a foster home for her. If I don’t find one by the end of the day, I’ll place her in one of the group homes where I have a bed available until I can find someone willing to take her.”

 Leanne started crying, retaking her seat.

 “You’re frightening her, Flora. Can’t she stay with me until you at least find a home for her?”

 Her brusque refusal was stopped short when Viper and Shade entered the office, followed by a mutinous Sissy who was being trailed by Lucky.

 Willa jumped to her feet, jostling Caroline and Chrissy awake. “Sissy! Thank God you’re all right.” Willa was so relieved she wanted to burst into tears; only the grim faces of the men prevented her.

 “Where did you find her?” Flora asked before Willa could get the question past her trembling lips.

 “We found her just outside of town.” Viper spoke when Sissy remained quiet. “She had managed to make it to Rosey’s.”

 Willa’s horrified gasp was drowned out by the ones from the Wests and Flora.

 “Mick didn’t see her. She stayed out in the parking lot, trying to catch rides,” Viper explained.

 “Sissy!” Willa cried out at the danger the girl had placed herself in.

 “I’m fine,” Sissy snapped. “None of the losers would give me a ride.”

 “Thank God.” Willa soothed Caroline, who began crying.

 “She fell asleep in the back of Mick’s car. He found her when Lucky called him and asked him to search for her.”

 “How did you know she was there?” Willa asked the man standing silently by the door.

 Lucky’s eyes flickered to Leanne. “Call it a hunch.” He shrugged.

 Willa buried her face in Caroline’s hair. Understanding now why Knox had wanted Leanne to remain behind when they had gone to the diner, Willa realized she was a complete and utter failure at taking care of the children.

 “I’ll call off the search,” Knox said, going to the phone behind the counter.

 Flora immediately took charge of the situation. “Leanne and Sissy, you come with me. Dalton and Lisa, you take the other three. I’ll check in with you tomorrow. Willa, if you pack their things, I’ll stop by this afternoon to pick them up.”

 Dalton reached for Caroline as Lisa reached for Chrissy, both girls beginning to cry.

 “Please, Flora…” Willa pleaded.

 “We’re not going back to Willa’s?” Sissy frowned, asking her sister who had also begun to cry.

 Leanne shook her head. “They’re placing us into a group home.”

 “You fat bitch….” Sissy lunged for Willa but Lucky snatched her by the waist, pulling her back.

 “Don’t touch her. Ever.” Lucky’s voice froze everyone in place, and fear entered Sissy’s face.

 “It has nothing to do with what Willa wants.” Knox slammed down the phone. “If you want someone to blame, look in a mirror! Why are you so mad, anyways? You didn’t want to stay with Willa, so your ass just got what it wanted.”

 “Knox, it’s all right. She’s upset.” Willa reluctantly released Caroline. She didn’t want to further upset the children by struggling with the inevitable. She would end up in one of the jail cells, and the children would still be gone.

 Caroline and Chrissy began screaming and fighting against the people holding them, and Charlie ran forward, grabbing Willa around the waist. “Please don’t make me leave. I’ll be good.”

 Tears fell from Willa’s eyes as she lowered herself to her knees, holding Charlie in her arms.

 “The children aren’t going anywhere. They’re staying with Willa.” Lucky’s statement caught everyone’s attention.

 “No, they are not.” Flora’s hands went to her hips. “They will be placed in their new foster home. Leanne and Sissy will go to a group home until I can find a placement for Leanne. Sissy, unfortunately, will not be placed due to her running away. She’ll stay there until she turns eighteen.”

 “The children and Leanne will remain with my fiancée until we’re married. Then they will all move into my home after we’re married in two weeks. Sissy can stay with Knox and his wife until our marriage. Then she can move in with us, also.”

 “You and Willa are engaged?” Flora asked, staring back and forth between them.

 “Yes, we became engaged last night.”

 Willa couldn’t believe the lies coming from Lucky, but she didn’t try to deny their fictitious relationship, because the children had stopped crying. She reached for the girls who were frantically trying to throw themselves out of the adults’ arms. Barely managing to hold both girls, she felt Lucky take Chrissy from her, placing a supportive arm around her shoulders.

 Flora stood with indecision on her face. “Where do you plan to live after you’re married?”

 “The church, of course. I’ll be taking over the role of pastor again next weekend.”

 “Why haven’t I heard of this before?” Flora asked suspiciously.

 “The deacons of the church gave me time to make up my mind. I was going to inform them after church tomorrow morning.”

 Dalton reached out, shaking Lucky’s hand. “We’ll be glad to have you back.”

 “I knew you would come back.” Lisa and her husband shared a glance that Willa didn’t understand. “The whole congregation has missed you.”

 “As I have them,” Lucky replied, his arm tightening across Willa’s shoulders.

 Flora frowned. “I don’t know…”

 “I will be around the children constantly during Willa’s and my engagement. They will be perfectly safe in our hands. I can supply as many references as you need. The governor will be one of them.”

 “I’ll bring the paperwork to Willa’s this afternoon. The state always wants what is best for the children.” Flora’s overbearing attitude went through an abrupt change. She was almost nice when she asked Knox. “You and your wife are willing to take in Sissy?”

 Knox remained silent for a brief second, his lips tightening. “Diamond and I will be happy to take her until Willa and Lucky are married.”

 Willa didn’t think he sounded very happy, but she was grateful he had agreed with the social worker.

 “That’s settled, then. I’ll see you this afternoon, Willa.”

 Willa could only nod as Flora and the Wests left the sheriff’s office.

 “I better call Diamond and tell her we’re having company for a couple of weeks.” Knox went into his office, closing the door.

 Lucky’s arm dropped from her shoulder. “You go ahead and take the kids home. I’ll be there in a few.” He handed Chrissy to Leanne.

 Sissy stood as if she was shell-shocked. Willa started to go to her, but Lucky blocked her by opening the front door for her.