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and turned back to the stove. “Do you think you’ll ever go back to flying?”
    “I don’t know. Laney comes first now. After the Lord, of course.”
    He got up, carried the baby into the living room to the makeshift bed on the couch and returned to his pancakes. Molly refilled his coffee cup. Then the hot skillet hissed and sizzled as she poured in more batter.
    “Do you live in this area?” She hadn’t seen him around, but she didn’t socialize as much as she once had.
    A forkfull of syrupy pancake paused in front of his mouth. “I moved into Winding Stair about a month ago. UPS offered a transfer and a raise if I’d drive the area out of Mena. So I came down here from Tulsa and checked out the housing, the churches and the child care in a couple of the towns around.”
    “And Winding Stair filled the bill for all three?” That surprised her, given the housing shortage in the area. Scooping her pancakes onto a plate, she came to sit across the table from him.
    “Winding Stair Chapel felt like home the first time I walked into a service. The people there are so friendly. They helped me find a small apartment and introduced me to the lady who owns the daycare.”
    A stab of longing sliced through Molly.
    Winding Stair Chapel. Her church. Or it had been before Zack’s death.
    She gulped a buttery bite of pancake, felt the lump stick in her throat, and washed it down with coffee.
    As much as she liked Ethan Hunter, she couldn’t wait for him to leave. His presence—and that of his daughter—stirred up too many painful memories. Once he was gone, she’d never have to think about him or see him again, and that was best for all of them.
    A baby’s scream ripped through the house. Molly jumped so hard, she dropped her fork and knocked over the syrup.
    “Hey, are you okay?” Ethan righted the syrup and laid a hand over hers. “You’re shaking.”
    Ethan’s hand felt much better than she wanted it to. Reluctantly, she drew away. “She startled me.”
    “Cry of the banshee. That’s what I call it when she wails like that. The first time I heard her, she scared me silly, but that particular cry usually means she’s wet.”
    While Ethan took care of his daughter, Molly cleared the table and filled the sink with hot water. He must think she was crazy the way she behaved around an innocent baby, but there was no way she’d tell him about Zack.
    She was down to washing the skillet when, without warning, the lights flickered once, twice and then went out.
    “Oh, no.” Although she’d been expecting to lose power, she was still dismayed. She could manage without lights, and the old house had propane heat, but the well pump was electric.
    Ethan reappeared in the kitchen, holding Laney. “That’s not good.”
    “Not good at all. No power, no water.”
    “It would be better if you didn’t stay out here.” He shifted Laney to his shoulder, holding her there with one hand. “Is there someone in town you can stay with?”
    “My aunt tried to get me to stay with her yesterday.”
    “Great. After driving up that mountain last night, I think I could manage Mount Everest. If you’re agreeable, I’ll drive the three of us into town in your car. The company can send for the van when the roads clear.”
    “Sounds like a good plan. My car is in the detached garage next to the camper if you want to warm it up.” The trip on flat ground would prove much easier than the one he’d made last night. “But there will be four of us.”
    At his raised eyebrow, she said, “My cat.” If she was holding the cat carrier, she wouldn’t have to hold the baby.
    “Right. Gather up the cat and whatever else you need while I go out and start the engine.”
    Ethan placed his daughter on the couch again, shoved his feet into his boots, shrugged into his coat, and disappeared out the back door.
    Molly’s tension eased as she went into the bedroom to pack. Soon she’d be in Aunt Patsy’s cozy apartment at the Senior