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And that won’t happen to me, because I won’t let it Just like he’d always believed he wouldn’t let hiave him pause…

When he’d cleared the path, he pounded on the man’s door "You like Dinty Moore beef stew?" he asked shortly

"Why?"

"I have a surplus I thought I’d leave some off later"

"No need to do that"

"Coesture The woman at my place hates that stuff and won’t eat it--I’ll leave by a few cans If it’s not going to be too big a burden for you to take it off roeed over there on that ridge?"

"Hell, no What makes you ask that?"

"What you do over there?"

"I cut down trees and sell firewood out of my truck I fish some Lately I shovel and plow a lot I don’t know your name"

"We’re even," the old boy said "Since I never knew yours"

"Ian Buchanan," he said, not putting out his hand

"Michael Jackson," the old boy said, and Ian let a burst of laughter escape The old man frowned darkly and Ian realized, too late, that this fella probably hadn’t seen television in decades, if ever

"Nice to roeed? Because I don’t get "

"I’oods by later on, but for now you can get to the john and heat up the house"

Ian went back to his truck, adjusted the plow so it wouldn’t scrape on the highway and turned around to leave There was no thank-you, no pleased to uy’s drive for over two years without any exchanging social graces

But, no doubt about it, things were declining some for the old man Mr Jackson had been able to plow his drive till now, but now he couldn’t even make his way out back to the toilet and it was possible there was no food in the house Reh at the end, he decided he would mention this situation to Doc He couldn’t have Michael Jackson on his conscience; his conscience was pretty full right now

It took hier than usual to deliver his wood He had to wait for both his custoo to their ATM’s to withdraw cash as he couldn’t afford to take a bad check at this point By the tione eight hours When he ca on the stove "Well, Abigail," he said, s at her "I see you’re ready for me to come home Tell me, do you have the back forty plowed?"

"And the barn rebuilt," she said, s time today"

"Some days are easier than others," he said "I have to make a quick run Not fifteen minutes" He walked over to his cupboard "Howto part with?"

"Why?"

"I don’t think the old e cans and stacking theht of theet a duffel and loaded it up with the cans

"That’s nice, Ian Sharing with hi over to ht back"

When Ian pulled up to Mike Jackson’s house, he found the man no more friendly or receptive than earlier, but he didn’t put up a fuss about the stew He took it, nodded, and closed the door

That moment was an epiphany You can have it either way out here You can get bonded with your town, your neighbors, belong to each other and have a connected existence where h the hard tiet near you, they soon got the hbors were separated by ht for your friendship or your companionship You’d have to at leastto the people around hiin River He was just like his father Thank God Marcie had ignored that…He’d have to change things--or he’d end up like his old neighbor, like old Raleigh

Ian went hoail, and it was cute There were just a few days left to theether and, because he kneas hard for her to go and bring an end to this mission of hers, he’d make it as easy on her as he could

So he bathed, he ate, he held her against him for a little while and read aloud the spicy part of her ro co that followed Then they spruced up a little and drove into Fortuna together to do some laundry It was there that he told her his plan