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“What do you think Alex will decide about seeing me?” Jackson asked finally

“I’ht, but thisback to Seattle for a sci-fi convention, an upcoo ca at Yellowstone this year”

Jackson tiredly rubbed the back of his neck Science fiction conventions and Mariners baseball garown up in a different world than a Montana ranch Alex was a city kid, and the enorain What would they have in common?

“Safeco Field? So Alex plays baseball,” he murmured

“Because he goes to ah rancher, but he’s never played sports that much Both Alex and DeeDee are Mariners fans”

“DeeDee?” Jackson asked, alaranto shorten his life by twenty years

“DeeDee is hter with Curtis She’s nearly ten and does play sports”

“I see” He stopped and tried to clear his brain “There’s so I don’t understand—why didn’t your family insist on a paternity test when Alex was born and ask for a financial settlement?”

“Because randparents only learned about it yesterday I didn’t even tell Mo way from Schuyler—I was afraid she’d reun into your crotch She can be hotheaded after a few drinks”

The iery was painfully vivid

“Uh, well, thanks I think”

Kayla sri to prison for castrating an underage cowboy”

Jackson winced inwardly “About Alex I can’t believe he won’t want tomale role model?”

Kayla’s eyes opened wide “A strong male role model? What, because Curtis is an accountant? I suppose you don’t think that’s h”