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“Real hungry” Jake confirlad it’s lunchtime Mom and me was just headed to the house to eat Mom said Aunt Cat would prolly have the food on the table by now”

“Let’s hope so” By common consent, they all struck out for the Hos could match

“Hey, Mo sideways “Do you s’pose Greypa has found a husband for Aunt Cat yet?”

“A husband?” Trey threw a puzzled frown at Sloan

“Long story,” she murmured in answer, then said to Jake, “I doubt it”

“Can I go ask hierness

“May I,” Sloan corrected automatically

“But I want to ask him, Mom,” Jake insisted, a determined set to his chin

“No—I o ask him” She found it hard not to let a small smile show

“Well, can I?”

Sloan gave up the atterammar and waved a hand toward the house “Go”

With perranted, Jake took off at a run for the Hoo in the house with those muddy boots on, Jake Calder! Take them off outside”

“Yes, Mom,” he hollered back

“So what’s this long story about Gra Cat a husband?” Trey asked now that Jake was out of earshot

While she told hi’s incident, she kept an eye on their son just to make sure he remembered to remove his boots before he went inside