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The child twirled a curl with one pudgy finger. “Do you think they miss me?”
“I’m certain they do.”
Emma set her elbows on the table next to Simon. “I have a dog, too.”
Jack turned his attention to his other niece. “Do you?”
She nodded her head. “He’s a beagle and his name is Cookie.”
“Now, would he by any chance be that fine looking animal I saw outside next to Mrs. Mayweather’s carriage house?”
Emma beamed at the compliment. “Uh-huh. And I had a bird, too. Mr. Peepers. But he…” Her lower lip began to tremble.
Callie caught the panicked look on Jack’s face and quickly stepped in. “Emma, would you please bring me the empty platter from the stove?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Jack gave her a small nod and she felt a warm glow at this ever-so-slight sign of gratitude. Maybe he was finally beginning to see how she could help with the children. Perhaps they could work this whole matter out amicably after all.
A few moments later he carried his dishes to the sink. Then, without so much as a glance her way, he turned back to the children. “I plan to head back out to the farm to take care of some chores. Why don’t you all come with me? Annabeth, you can visit with your animals. And Emma and Simon, you can take Cookie along and let him run as far and as long as he wants to.”
Callie stiffened, the glow quickly evaporating. Was he actually planning to take the children and not her?
Annabeth clapped her hands in excitement. “Oh, yes! Do you think Mrs. Mayweather will let me bring some of her sugar cubes for Cinnamon?”
“We’ll ask her,” Jack answered. “But I’m sure it’ll be all right.”
“And Aunt Callie can come, too, can’t she?”
Bless Annabeth’s innocent little heart.
Jack cut her a quick glance, that stiff formality firmly back in place. “Yes, of course. That is, if she wants to?”
Was it her imagination, or did it sound as if he’d rather she declined the invitation?
She lifted her chin and smiled sweetly. “I need to make a stop at the telegraph office first, but I can’t think of any place I’d rather be.”
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