Moran had been watching the scene unfolding nearby, taking it all in.


    He noticed York and Gaylord going out of their way to look after Charlene and Connie, but chalked it up to simple chivalry. After all, out of the eight or nine people in Charlene''s group, only she and Connie were women. It made perfect sense that the guys would look out for their female friends.


    Just as he turned his attention elsewhere, Vesta returned.


    "There you are," Moran said, relief in his voice. "I was just about to call you. They''ve already got the barbecue goinge get something to eat?"


    Vesta smiled. "Sounds good."


    She paused, then asked, "Shouldn''t we wait for Granger?"


    "He''s already had dinner. Told us not to hold up on his ount."


    "All right."


    As she finished speaking, Leah and the others came back from wandering around the campsite. Leah looked much better than before; her earlier moodiness had faded. The promise of barbecue brought a smile to her face, and she was about to say something when she caught sight of a vaguely familiar figure in the distance.


    She stopped mid-step, thinking she must be mistaken. But as she looked closer, she realized she wasn''t: "Wait...is that Charlene? What''s she doing here?"


    Charlene had intended to help with the barbecue, but York and the others wouldn''t hear of it, gently insisting she rx. Reluctantly, she stepped away from the grill area.


    Because of arge sunshade, Leah and her friends couldn''t make out the faces of everyone in York''s group-they only noticed Charlene.


    Vesta, already aware that Charlene and Stewart hade camping in the same area, hadn''t gone out of her way to look for them since arriving. Now, hearing Leah''s exmation, she turned her head to follow Leah''s gaze. Sure enough, there were Charlene and Connie, not far away.


    Sensing someone''s eyes on her, Charlene nced over and met Vesta''s gaze. Recognizing both Vesta and Leah, Charlene pressed her lips together, then quickly looked away.


    Connie had also spotted Vesta''s group. With a slight sneer, she muttered to Charlene, "She''s really here Like a bad penny, she always turns up  s


    Charlene said nothing.


    On the other side, Leah let out a short, derisiveugh. "Yeah, she just can''t stay away."


    Leah''s friends, unaware of the backstory, looked puzzled. "Who''s Charlene?" one of them asked.


    Leah didn''t want to air her family drama in public. Face tightening, she kept silent.


    Vesta, sensing the tension, turned away and said softly to Leah, "Let''s just have some barbecue."


    "Yeah. Good idea."


    Vesta made her way to the pic nket, joining the others. As she chatted and nibbled on grilled food, she felt distracted. Her gaze drifted and she was surprised to spot York not far away.  s


    Before she could process it, she watched York walk over to Charlene, handing her


    a freshly grilled skewer.<fn9fa5> Chapters first released on F?nd-Novel</fn9fa5>


    Leah and her friends saw it too, exchanging quick nces.


    York noticed Vesta''s group nearby and looked equally taken aback. He gave them a polite n?d, then tumed back to Charlene. "Want anything else?" he asked.  s


    Charlene shook her head. "No, I''m almost full."


    York offered her a gentle smile. "All right. If you change your mind, just let me


    know and I''ll make you something else."


    Before Charlene could reply, Gaylord strolled over, carrying another te of food in his hands.