the Haven ready to go.”
“Of course.” Let him assess. As long as he didn’t do it down here. “Once I see how Thursday goes, I’ll be better prepared for Saturday night. I want posters up immediately so the word gets out.”
Ty could dawdle till spring but Cassidy intended to give the Haven her best shot as a repayment to Elizabeth. Then she’d move on to her dream.
“Cassidy, I knew you’d take this challenge and make it your own.” Elizabeth’s smile sent a dart of pleasure to her heart. “Now, let’s talk about your budget.”
Ty didn’t even glance her way. They tossed figures around for an hour before allocating a sum specifically for groceries. Cassidy knew she’d have to be very creative to feed the number she was counting on with such a small budget. But to give Ty his due, it was hard to know how the Haven would be accepted. A little shoe leather would help her find those answers.
“I want to thank you both for what you’ve accomplished here today. Whatever we do is for the Lord and I know He will be pleased.” Elizabeth rose, hugged Cassidy. “We’re going to let you get on with your work, dear. Ty and I need to talk about some other matters. You will let me know if you need anything, won’t you?”
“Thank you, Elizabeth. I hope things will work out here as you want.”
“Of course they will, child. God doesn’t give us dreams to crush them. You know that better than most.” Elizabeth’s face glowed. “I’m so fortunate I can be a part of this. I think Gail will be very proud.”
Ty’s handsome face wore a scowl, but only for a moment.
“I have some figures in my office.” He nodded at Cassidy. “We’ll see you later.”
Which was supposed to put her in her place, no doubt. He guided their benefactor from the room. Cassidy waited until he reached the door.
“Ty?”
He turned, lifted one eyebrow. “Yes?”
“I’m going to need at least one helper. Should I ask around, or do you have someone in mind?”
“As soon as I’m finished with Elizabeth I’ll make some calls. Okay?”
Cassidy pressed her lips together, nodded and Ty left.
Still playing the part of the boss. That was fine, for now. But if he didn’t come up with someone quickly, she’d do it on her own.
Because nothing was going to stop Cassidy from doing her duty the very best she could. Then she’d walk out of here and prove to her father and anyone else who cared to watch that she was worth loving.
Ty clapped his hands over his ears, struggling to ignore the pounding as he spoke on the phone. The answer he received was not conducive to soothing the headache that throbbed behind his eyes.
For a moment he wondered how much louder it could get, then realized that the pounding came from his office door.
“Come in,” he called, praying nobody would ask him to make a decision. Friday afternoon at four wasn’t his peak performance time. “Hey, Mac. How are—What’s wrong?”
“It’s Cassidy.” Mac stood in the doorway, his face beet red as he gasped for breath, shifting impatiently from one foot to the other.
“Is the kitchen on fire? What’s wrong?” Ty strode toward the door, ready to investigate.
“Not the kitchen. Bring your car keys and your coat. You’re going to need them.” Mac was thumping down the steps before Ty could ask any more questions.
“Car keys.” He shuffled through the papers littering his desk, found them, grabbed his coat, locked his office door and followed. By the time he’d closed the front door Mac was already moving around the corner of the building.
Ty jogged down the stairs and to his parking spot where the older man clung to the car door, half bent over as he puffed for air.
“What is going on?’
“Get in. I’ll explain on the way,” Mac ordered.
Ty steered down the snowy street, twisting and turning through a labyrinth of streets, following Mac’s directions. On his own, he knew he’d never remember how to get back.
“What are we doing here? What’s going on?”
“Cassidy’s recruiting,” Mac told him, scanning the rundown housing and less-than-well-groomed streets.
“She’s what?”
“Recruiting. Inviting people to dinner tomorrow night.”
“Cassidy’s out here by herself?” Ty gulped, whispered a prayer for help.
“She grew up around here, thinks she knows the place well enough to handle herself.” Mac glanced at him sideways. “I don’t think she’s aware of how tough it’s become.”
“Cassidy grew up around here?” Ty blinked, shocked by the knowledge. “I didn’t know that.”
He hadn’t wanted to know anything about Elizabeth’s protégée, if the truth were told. He’d heard more than enough from Elizabeth, who couldn’t stop bragging about how lucky they were to get the great Cassidy Preston at the Haven. Even Jack constantly sang her praises.
“Some of Jack’s new friends told him what she was doing. He told me to bring you, just in case. Then he followed her. That’s the street. Go right.”
Furious that she’d dragged his nephew into this, Ty cranked hard on the wheel and followed Mac’s directions.
“Where?” He slowed down, took a second glance into garbage-strewn alleys and dilapidated tenement buildings. Cassidy was nowhere to be seen.
“It didn’t take me that long to get you. She’s got to be around somewhere.” Mac’s face turned a sickly gray-white. “That gang—Do you think—I mean, you hear such awful stuff—”
Ty didn’t know what to think. Nothing had prepared him for this.
“They’re just kids—punks with big mouths.” He hoped. “Should I stop here?”
“Not yet. Keep driving. Slowly.”
“Why would she do this? I told her I’d get someone to put up posters.”
Three days ago he’d told her that. Today was Friday. And he still hadn’t done it. She was probably fed up with his promises.
Ty gulped.
If anything happened—
“Stop!”
Ty jammed on the brakes. Mac was out of the door and down the narrow alley a second later, motioning for Ty to follow.
“Why couldn’t she just cook?”
That wasn’t fair and
