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Afterward I looked around and everyone was crying, even the new mother, whether for joy or for sorrow, I couldn’t tell, but I cried too So birth to another child, but who knohat happiness this new lifein her pocketbook and gave ift!

16

Threat

It has been ten weeks since I started transporting groceries for the Bitt that time, the number of my customers has steadily declined It worries me that n of the worsening economy If it weren’t for Peaches Goody’s delivery, we’d really be strapped

Even Willa has stopped needing my services, probably because her husband has been laid off and is ho out of Bitt into the saloon in the back alley, but the vet looked away and didn’thad happened on that infa regular custoreen drive of her lovely faroat

"I don’t kno this happened One of the nannies, Bella, had her kids at the wrong ti There were triplets and this one is the runtjust not getting enough food The others push her out of the way"

I sit down on the steps to watch The little black-and-white goat with droopy ears nudges the bottle like it was an udder and gives a repeated cry that sounds quite huh its fur

"The man from Oil and Gas Coht reinforce me the state has a hundred-dollar tax lien on the property that never was paid

"I’ to intiet the sheriff to auction the place off for back taxes! I own this place free and clear It’s all paid up They think because half the farmers in Union County are in hock, I am too"

"Did you try Mr Linkous, the lawyer in town? Maybe he could help"

"I guess that’s , honey"

To cheer her, I change the subject "I noticed your trurow over the arch in the gateway I’e flowers complement your white farmhouse

"Patience Murphy, the o on, "a little cottage on the side the mountain, not as nice as your place, but beautiful in its oay There used to be a picket fence there, but a few years ago soh her nose and tightens her esture She places one hand overThese are bad times She loves this house and the land her husband willed her She loves the picket fence too and what it represents, a safe haven froh worldbut the Oil and Gas Company man will be back

House of Beauty