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"I save it for good Christians" Colleen picked up the full tray and an to follow her with the second one "Mark my words, Sister I will not tolerate your wickedness er One whisper from me, from Gene, and no one will frequent your store"

"You're wrong about that"

"Am I?" Colleen smiled, "Shall we find out?"

"I'?"

"Not if you persist in acting this way" She walked from the kitchen

Megan sat in one of the chairs by the table and rested her chin in her hands She could hear the faint laughter and conversation from the parlor She felt out of place and unwelcome in her sister's ho This had been co time Perhaps it had all started that cold November day their father had told them their mother was dead As far as she knew, it was the only time their father had ever lied

The back door opened and Gene walked in His bare scalp and telistened from the heat He wore a white shirt and vest, and carried his black jacket in one hand When he saw her, he stopped and s about his eyes

"Megan What are you doing here?"

"Colleen is having a " She rose to her feet and approached the stove "I was just waiting for the coffee" She opened the pot and glanced at the dark liquid "Oh, look It's ready" She poured it into the silver service

Before she could pick up the tray, Gene moved close and placed his hand on her arm "Colleen is very worried about you"

Despite his lack of hair and his chilling expression, Gene wasn't unattractive He was tall and lean, with a studied but graceful carriage When they'd first been introduced, she, along with her sister, had thought hied as she'd spent more tiement

Noith his fingers gently stroking her foreare to put as much space between them as possible "My sister is overly protective I understand her concerns, even if I don't agree with the is fine"

"I do worry about you With your father gone, I consider youflared there She didn't want to knohat it was so she turned away and swept up the heavy tray

Gene seemed to take the hint and moved to the hallway and held open the door It was an unnecessary task; the door stayed open on its own Still, she thanked hiraciously