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Conner caught Rush’s eye, grinned, and shook his head. Two strong men had met their match.
“Conner, I’ve got a question,” Clara said as Conner readied his power saw to cut down her tree.
“Anything for you, princess,” Conner said. “Ask away.”
“Is Bucket friends with cats? Do you know?”
“Hmm,” Conner said, thinking. “I don’t know that he has any cat friends, if that’s what you mean. I’ve never seen him hanging out with a cat.”
“No, I mean, if he saw a cat, what would he do?”
“Probably chase it. That’s what he does with most things.”
“But would he hurt it?”
“He’d have to catch it first. But Bucket isn’t mean. I don’t think he’d know what to do with a cat if he caught it.”
“So you don’t know for sure, do you?”
“Nope. Sorry.” Conner revved the motor on the chain saw to test it. “Travis might know. He got Bucket from the old man who had him first. You’re sure you want this tree?”
“Uh-huh. I mean, yes. Thank you, Conner.”
Conner felled the small tree with a single stroke and set it aside. While he was cutting more trees to load onto the trailer, Rush took Clara for a walk, down along the rows of trees. The afternoon sun had melted the snow. Crows, jays, and small brown sparrows flitted among the pine trees, filling the air with their calls. A squirrel, probably flushed and treed by Bucket, scolded in the distance.
“Daddy, do you like Tracy?” Clara asked.
“Sure, I do. She’s nice. Do you like her?”
“Uh-huh. I like her a lot. But she seems so sad. She told me her husband died.”
“I know that,” Rush said. “It can take a long time to get over losing someone you love.” I know. I lost you.
“Do you think she’ll get married again?”
“Maybe. But not till she’s through being sad.”
“You’re sad, too, Daddy. I can tell. But I’ve got it all figured out. You and Tracy could get married.”
Rush stifled a groan. He should have seen that coming. “I don’t think Tracy’s ready to get married,” he said. “Neither am I.”
“But think how nice it would be. We could live in her house, and I could have Snowflake, and nobody would be sad.”
“So you’ve got it all figured out, have you?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Listen, honey.” He laid a hand on her shoulder. This wasn’t going to be easy. “By the time you’re older, you’ll learn that you can’t just make people do what you want. I would love to keep you with me forever. But I have to follow the rules. And the rules say that when your mom comes back from her cruise, I have to send you back to Phoenix. And you can’t take Snowflake with you. You already know why.”
“I know. It’s ’cause Andre’s allergic. I hate the rules! They’re mean and stupid!” She kicked at a rock.
Rush wanted to kick at a rock, too. Or maybe a boulder. The news he’d been holding back would make her feel even worse. But putting it off wouldn’t make it any easier.
“I’ve got some more news,” he said, forcing the words. “I’m afraid it’s going to make you sad.”
“I’m sad now.” Her head was down, her feet dragging.
“Cecil called me last night. Annie’s father is still sick. Cecil and Annie will need to stay in Oklahoma to take care of him and Annie’s mother.”
