Instinctively Clair pulled back with a jerk, her hands up to indicate she wouldn't hurt him. Now that was an instinctive reaction if she ever saw one, and her exasperation segued into concerned as she looked the kid over more closely.

"Yes," she said, peering at him with a furrowed brow. "What's wrong?" Whatever it was, it was clearly urgent--the boy was a little too young, a little too passionate, for her to believe he was lying. Then again, kids did sometimes believe things were more urgent than they actually were ...