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Jack tossed his oil-soaked rag down on the workbench and headed out of the barn Following the steady beating sound, he walked through the yard and around the corner of the house His wife stood at the top of the hill above him

He stopped dead

She earing a pair of his old work pants, and one of his new blue shirts, with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows and the shirttail hanging to h in the air and brought it doith a resounding thunk Rich brown earth flew everywhere, speckling her hair and disappearing in the tall grass just

beyond

Flinging the hoe aside, she bent froround Her shirttail flipped up, revealed the rounded curve of her buttocks

Jack gasped The old, often-washed wool of his pants curled enticingly around her body, leaving far too little to his iination

His throat went dry Desire twitched deep in his groin A hint of breeze rippled the fabric against her shapely calves and thighs Without warning, he reet The perfection of her body, the softness of her skin, the feel of her body beneath

him?

All of a sudden she flew backward Skidding butt-first through the blackish soil, she landed with a shriek at his

feet

Spitting dirt, she brushed the hair out of her eyes and got to her knees Crawling forward, she turned around and

199

saw him She immediately smiled "Phew, that's the second time I've done that This hill's a bitch"

Jack stared at her in shock as she brushed the dirt from her shirt and shook her head Cluaze swept her fro the thick rope belt that anchored his pants to her s my Sunday clothes?"

She had the grace to wince "These are your good clothes?" He nodded