She looked at her parents. "I love you all, but I don't want to stay with my parents the rest of my life. If I had a job and a car of my own, I could take Billy Ray places and give Mom a little time to herself sometimes."

Billy Ray sat up straight and grinned. "Mom could go with us."

Actually, that wasn't a bad idea. Mom could have some alone time shopping or doing something besides taking care of the house.

Later she followed Barrett out to the car. He leaned against the car and pulled her into his arms. She rested her head on his chest and sighed in contentment.

"What are you going to do when this job is done?"

"Look for a job."

"What kinda job?"

"I don't know - maybe flipping burgers."

She lifted her head and looked at his face. He was smiling. She wrinkled her nose at him. "That would be a waste of a good education, wouldn't it?"

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He brushed a strand of hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. "It would be a job - income until I could find something better."

She sobered and gazed up at him in the fading light. "Will you come see me after they take the trailer?"

He took her face between his hands. "As often as I can." He leaned his head down and lightly brushed her lips with his.

Her heart beat faster. "Bear, I'm afraid you'll go away and forget me."

"I'll never forget you," he whispered passionately before kissing her again.

She returned his kiss with equal passion. For a few minutes they clung to each other, neither willing to break it off. Finally he gripped her shoulders and gently pushed her away.

"I hate to go, but if I don't get back to the trailer soon, the guys will think I abandoned them."

She reluctantly moved away from him and he opened the car door. Before he climbed in, he gave her an encouraging smile. "We'll work this out."

Inside the house, Ma called to her before she could escape to her room. She joined Ma in the kitchen and helped her with the milk.

"Monroe is a nice guy, but remember what I told you."

She sighed. "You think he only wants one thing."

"Has he proposed to you?"

"We confessed our love to each other, Ma, but we ain't said nothing about no wedding."




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