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The sentiment had hu had happened that day at the mine And part of the credit ed to Billy, who’d had her father pegged all along

"You’re our baby," her reed--and it’d been tantamount to an emotional outburst "We rely on you We already have one kid so far away" His face had twisted up funny when he’d said that last bit If it’d been any other ry, but with her father, she knew, it was deep e in , "What your father is trying to tell you is that we rely on you Hoould we--hoould I--have uess your father has held on to the past too tightly Maybe he thought that a firs did"

"I’iven credit Given responsibility"

Her father gave a gruff nod, visibly struggling with so "It’s been hard The stroke"

"Oh, Daddy" She reached for him then, and he wrapped her in his arms "Itwood every , or as vital, or as iiven her a pat on the shoulder as they parted, looking unco eet to it Lunch croill be co soon"

And that’d been that

Sully’s voice interrupted her thoughts "Only"Nobody packs the tavern with hungry diners like Sorrow here"

"And you taught her everything you know, didn’t you?" Marlene took his ar on under his own nose What a shock about Dabney"

"I guess Daet his shot at the helm of Simmons Timber sooner rather than later," Sorrow said "His dad can’t exactly run the coasped, practically in unison

"Just e need," Laura said, not bothering to conceal her scowl "Another Si on the throne"

Sorroas quick to correct her "Don’t count Dauy in there--he’ll find his way out"

"Speaking of changes…" Marlene’s gaze drifted across the grass to her grandson as he spread out a picnic blanket for hi is headed to Chicago after graduation Decided to go Navy Said he was tired of being landlocked" She sighed

"It’s a good life" Sully tucked her arlances Pearl and Ruby shot their way "He’s ready, Marlene He’s a ratitude in her eyes Those twosister to share a look, but when she saw those wickedly narrowed eyes, she braced herself

Laura asked, "Where’s your boyfriend?"

Boyfriend Billy was so much more than just a boyfriend He’d beco more than to have him there for the entire day, but he was the sheriff, and his responsibilities never took a day off And though they hadn’t been together long, their bond was a powerful one It was as though she felt him out there, their two hearts connected, noall that, she just gave a casual shrug "Once he saw the booths were all up and running, he said he had some quick department business to attend to"

It wasn’t until later that afternoon that Sorrow got a taste of just what that pressing business was

He hated leaving Sorrow’s side on her big day But it was just for a little while And it was necessary

Because Billy had a ring to pick up in Silver City

He’d cut the ti to be perfect--perfect size, perfect fit--when he presented it to Sorrow And ht

He’d known the moment he saw it in the jewelry storeIt was an antique, a diaraved platinu and solid, too Not over the top Nothing pretentious or splashy--a classic