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A warning voice echoed in her head, re her he wasn't a social worker and he was a threat to Sam's place in Zoe's well-loved fa inside her or the need he inspired

She'd never let her emotions take over common sense, but then she'd neverwith s and she approached warily, coree turn Sam's attitude toward Ryan Baldwin see about?" Zoe asked And just when had Mr Baldwin, the social worker with the stick up his butt, beco the shovel into the dirt and leaned on the handle, his entire look and attitude providing a ed, outdoorsy appearance than she would have associated with hi the finer points of raising pigs" He rubbed his sweaty hands on his khakis, leaving a trail of dirt behind

Zoe wondered what his Boston relatives would think if they saw him now, but with Sam around she couldn't ask She could however re on?" She pointed to the patch of dirt where grass used to be

"It's a place for Ihtand play in, we'll cut down on her doing it in inappropriate places"

Zoe's gaze flew to Ryan "You bought her books?"

"And azines," Sam added

"I see" Zoe nodded slowly

"I showed up at her birthday party eed as if the gesture e offering Syin to understand or comprehend Zoe wondered if she should question his sincerity, but then decided it was a petty thought, unworthy of her

"So I read a few pages and noe're giving Iestured to the patch of dirt Ryan had created

Zoe glanced down "In the yard"

"Yep"

"Where Elena's daffodils bloo" She leaned closer to inspect his handiwork "Interesting choice," she said, looking into Ryan's stunned eyes

"Sam said that was an empty spot" He blanched "She said that nobody would care if I dug here In fact, young lady, you begged forin this very place" He raised his voice at Saht himself, thenher arer style "Hey I didn't know, okay?"

The itated started up again "Then maybe you should have asked for permission first"

"Hey— "

"Is for horses," Zoe said in an attempt to diffuse the situation