“Who’s gonna hire a pregnant woman?”

My grip on the steering wheel tightened. “I’m pretty sure it’s against the law to discriminate like that.”

“We’re living in Fenton County, Arkansas. Do you really think most employers here actually care about the law?”

Neely Kate had a point. “Violet’s going to need help in the nursery. Maybe you can work part-time there.”

She released a short laugh. “Me and Violet working together? Did Tabitha shake something loose in your head when she knocked you down?”

“No, but my side sure hurts.” I turned to her with a grin.

She was quiet for a moment. “Thanks for having my back in that mess.”

My smile dropped, and I glanced into her eyes for a second before turning back to the road. “Always, Neely Kate.”

She wiped a tear from her cheek and a mischievous grin spread across her face. “I’m glad to hear that.”

“Why do I already regret saying that?”

She laughed. “Because you’re a smart woman, Rose Gardner.”

I asked Neely Kate to tell me about some of the nursery ideas she’d found on the Internet, assuring her that everything would work out and she’d be able to decorate Ronnie Jr.’s room however she pleased once she had confirmation he was a boy.

“You could just have a vision and tell me now,” she said. “It would save me an awful lot of aggravation.”

I pressed my lips together. “You know how I feel about that.”

She released an exaggerated sigh. “I guess it’s for the best. I’ve always wanted to be a chef, and after I confirm Ronnie Jr.’s a boy, I’ll be too busy decorating to cook anymore.”

I squinted. “Since when have you wanted to be a chef?”

She gave me a half-shrug.

I suddenly wondered if I was being played.

Before I could confront her, we drove into the tiny town of Holler Creek, which consisted of a shabby gas station/convenience store, a café, a used bookstore, and a post office.

“Where’s Gems?”

“I think it’s just outside of city limits. A lot of towns don’t like to be associated with establishments like that.”

“You mean bars?”

Neely Kate pointed straight ahead. “Turn there on County Road 135.”

We drove about a half-mile before a big clearing appeared to the left. “She works at the race track?” I asked, confused. They’d put a dirt track in a few years before, but I was pretty sure they only raced once or twice a week.

“No, I think it’s on the other side,” Neely Kate said, sounding unusually cheerful.

We drove past the track, and my breath stuck in my chest. Up ahead was a tall neon sign that read, “Topless,” accompanied by the silhouette of a girl. The name Gems was painted on the side of the building. I hit the brakes and stopped in the middle of the road. “Oh, no.”

“You said you’d help me.”

“Neely Kate!” I pointed to the sign. “There are naked women in that building!”

“Not naked.” She looked up and pointed to the sign on the pole. “It says topless. There’s a difference.”

“Do I even want to know how you know that?”

“Because Dolly Parton worked at the Bunny Ranch before taking a job here a month ago.”

“So she’s an experienced stripper?”

“Hey, don’t knock it. The pay’s good if you find the right place.” She grinned. “Maybe I could make some extra money here.”

“Have you plum lost your mind?” I turned to her, my eyes wide.

A car horn behind me blared, making me nearly jump out of my skin.

“You’re in the middle of the road. At least pull into the parking lot.”

“Then it will look like we’re actually goin’ in there.”

“We are goin’ in there. Pull into the lot.”

Grumbling, I pulled off of the road, and into the long line of parking spaces.

“It’s not that bad, Rose. Really.”

I slammed the gear into park. “You’ve actually been here before?”

“No, but I visited Dolly when she worked at the Bunny Ranch.”

“You really expect me to go in there.” I pointed to the front door. “Into that building filled with naked women?”

“I thought we’d already established that they aren’t naked. They just take turns being topless and dancing around a pole.”

“They’re pole dancers?”

“Of course, they’re pole dancers! What other kind of dancers would they be?”

“I don’t know,” I semi-shouted, shaking my head. “You know . . . the kind that just dance around and take off their clothes.” I couldn’t believe I was actually having this conversation.

“They haven’t stripped like that for years.” Neely Kate stated the fact like I was an idiot.

“I’m sorry. I was sick the day they covered the evolution of stripping in history class.”

Neely Kate started to laugh. “What on earth do you think’s gonna happen in there?”

“I don’t know.” I cast a wary glance toward the red front door.

“The sheriff’s department knows all about this place, which means it has all its permits and everything, or you can bet your backside that Deputy Abbie Lee Hoffstetter would shut it down just like that.” She snapped her fingers, making me jump.