"He just let it go to me. So I'd tuck a few dollars in his pocket just in case his Daddy wouldn't let him have the commission out of politeness but he'd say, 'no Miss Pam. That's yours for training me.'"

Hayden didn't know if she believed that Pam was responsible for Brian's knowledge, but she listened intently and after a moment Pam's smile fell away.

"One day, Brine's mama died of cancer. They didn't tell the kid just how sick his mama was until it was at the very ...