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"Yes, ma’am"

"I don’t understand Why did you do that?"

"Why don’t you pull into the driveway? We can have us a talk"

She glanced around in confusion

"You go on now," he assured her

Rather reluctantly, she turned the Denali into the driveway and shut off the engine Carter stepped to the driver’s-sideagain Thesound Hands locked on the steering wheel, Rachel stared straight out the windshield, as if afraid to look at hi this," she said

"It’s all right," Carter said

Her voice sharpened with panic "But it’s not all right It’s not all right at all"

Carter opened her door "Why don’t you come and see the yard, Mrs Wood? Kept it nice for you"

"I’m supposed to drive the car That’s what I do That’splanted one of those cut-leaf maples you like You should see how pretty it is"

For a moment she was silent Then: "A cut-leaf maple, you say?"

"Yes, ht it would be just the right thing for that corner You know the one I mean?"

"Absolutely I do"

She turned to look at hihtly squinted "You’re always thinking ofto say I don’t think I’ve ever had a friend like you"

"Oh, I expect you have"

"Oh, please I have people, sure Lots of people in Rachel Wood’s life But never anyone who understands me the way you do" She looked at him kindly "But you and me We’re quite a pair, aren’t we?"

"I’d say we are, Mrs Wood"

"Now, if I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times It’s Rachel"