"That's the problem,” Jane said, waving her arms in frustration. “I can't see your crossers but you can. Even that bothersome dog can see them. It's not fair."

"You missed your calling, Jane. You look like a traffic cop trying to get the Hell's Angels to turn in at the church."

"I do not. I'm upset because you're the death coach and I have no choice but to believe what you tell me.” Jane looked out the window again, trying to spy the man in the black suit. “I'm too tired to deal with this. I couldn't sleep last night because I kept worrying about our lawsuit. Now I'll be worrying about a murder, too."

"Quit worrying. I told you our attorney will take care of it. And I'll bet it's not true about the Fossums anyway."

Sadie pushed back the despair that engulfed her every time she thought about losing the lawsuit. Putting forth a positive front was safer than thinking about the consequences.

"But what if we don't win? What if we actually lose the resort?” Jane slammed her hand down on the table. “How can you be so calm?"

Drawing on her reserve, Sadie said, “I'm trying my best not to think about it. There's nothing we can do until the hearing."

"That's what drives me crazy. I hate waiting.” Jane fidgeted with her blouse collar, attempting to pull the points into alignment. “Our employees depend on us for a living. They'll be out of a job if we lose this resort."

Sadie sat in the chair next to her sister and folded her hands around Jane's fists. “You can't think like that. You've got to have faith it will be settled in our favor. We've owned this resort since Mother died. The judge will take that into consideration."

The women turned at the sound of Belly's bark. His stubby tail jerked anxiously as he sniffed the air.

"Judge Kimmer never liked us,” Jane said. “He won't give a hoot how long the resort's been in our family. You know he's wanted to buy this property. The fact we turned him down won't help."