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“Marlee, where are you girl?”

“Sorry dad. I was just thinking.” Setting her bowl on the bedside table, Marlee smiled into her father’s brown eyes. Eli Riverstone had been a handsome man. She could still see that in the strong bones of his face and the easy way his lips could still curve into a smile.

“The egg was delicious. I think you’re finally getting the hang of this cooking thing.” It was a joke he loved to share about every other day, because Marlee had been cooking his breakfast since he’d taught her as a little girl.

“Must not have been that good. Look at all you left, and who was it that taught me to waste not, want not?”

“Well, I did pretty good today. You can’t complain. Now, what are you thinking so hard about?”

“Nothing really, just my students.”

“Don’t you try to buffalo me. I might’a been born at night, but it wasn’t last night. Take it to the Lord, girl. Leave your burdens there and the answer will come.” Marlee got up to clear away the tray without responding. Eli put a hand on her arm, “Girl, I mean it. The Lord knows best in all things.”

Marlee smiled and nodded without meeting his eyes and left with the tray. Putting it on the kitchen counter, and taking a deep breath, she came back to the bedroom doorway, “You want some help to get into the chair, Dad?”

“Not just yet. Let me rest a while.”

“Right. I’m come check on you in a bit. Love you.”

“I love you too, kiddo.”