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There was only so much he could do Only so ood intentions deserted him

HOURS LATER dusk turned to night and he was almost satisfied with the curve of the cradle’s rocker He rolled it oncethe flat surface of the workbench No wobbles

The oak was good and the old tools still had soic left in them And he…well, he rein with

He’dcolanced down at the parts stacked carefully against the wall Pieces of oak took the fors and spindles The finished headboard and footboard sat to one side

He couldn’t quite figure out how he felt about this project He’d spent years of his life forgetting Rachel, burning her letters, giving away the food, candy, socks and books she’d sent in her care packages

He’d see her na He’d refused to be curious To care

And noasa cradle for his niece or nephew because Rachel had asked Because she’d looked at him with tears in her eyes and said, “Please”

Of course, the real reason he’d o into the house with Julia there He’d tried three times in the last few hours, but she was still awake and puttering around so he’d turned, tail between his legs, back to the garage

He wiped sawdust off the bench and smiled ruefully at his oardice

If my men could see me now…

He ined for a moment the kid in Rachel’s belly Smart probably, blue-eyed, tons of spunk They’d take the kid to the ocean, watch the waves lap at their toes And they’d go to the mountains

He re trips Rachel and Mac had taken hi They’d be better supplied now, of course More food, functioning flashlights and perhaps even a tent

He shts that he wouldn’t have traded for the world

The bitterness slid in, as it always did, and covered his