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Gabi gave Marcus a concerned look, then scowled at Nolan "No business atin the truck if you need one"

Marcus’s expression cleared, and he grinned "Loan it to ave Linda an evaluating look "Anything happen last night?"

Why did he ask that? Had he seen her and Sam in the office room? Her cheeks turned war about the spotter Way to have your htly

"That’s a nice color you got there, darlin’," Marcus said "Got yourself up to soe of the trainees last night" Beth pointed at Linda with a carrot stick "And you’re a trainee now, right?"

"Sahter, she concentrated on choosing a sandwich To her relief, the conversation h schoolers Beth hired part-time

As she relaxed back into her chair, Gabi leaned over "Are you and Sa she was glowing After he’d put her in his bed, he’d been…well, Sa to say the words was so difficult that he’d wanted to show her instead

When she let out a happy sigh, Gabi echoed it "I’h he scares me a little"

"Really?" Odd, but that had never been a probleot her anxious, and he was daood at that But even then, she felt safe with hiht?" Nolan asked her

She lifted her chin, despite the chill that cli all night"

Sa at the new stable

"Looks good," Nicole said, hands in her jeans pockets "Will you breed Galadriel this year?"

"Yep" Saht in the world Smart and sweet and talented Z’s words cahter? Do you discuss your worries about the farm? Or tell her what she means to you?"

Linda needed those words Did Nicole? "You doing all right in school?"

"Oh, sure," she said "All A’s except for che to want to durinned, then tried a harder question "Do you ever ave hiher After a second of sending the dog into happy wiggles, she answered, head still bent "Kinda Not her Not how she is But I wish…I wish she’d been… I wish I’d had a mom She never was"

He ached for the sadness in her voice Felt like hell that he hadn’t done a better job, hadn’t been able to divorce the woet sole custody much, much earlier "I’m sorry, baby"

She shook her head and started to walk, his girl’s usual response to being upset Walk somewhere--anywhere When she was a teen, she’d disappear completely One of the reasons he’d trained Conn to find her

He fell into step as she headed for the pond

"It’s not your fault Hell, you did a lot-- up ravel into the bushes "Sos, but your dad isn’t there to defend you You were always there, Daddy"

He felt sohtness in his shoulders ease He hadn’t totally ht of how easily Linda would take toit Caring was just part of who his woman was

His woht, and dalance she gave hi Yeah, he’d screwed up badly, that she hadn’t heard that frouts to continue?

"Got out of the habit of saying anything," henod "Mother"