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parent with a troubled teen. Bruce was Mitch’s main concern. And that was exactly as it should be.
    Tess knew that. And accepted it. But it didn’t stop a sudden surge of bittersweet longing from echoing softly in her heart.

Chapter Three
    â€œH ow about a cup of coffee to go with that pie?”
    Mitch looked up at the older man and smiled. “You spoil me, Uncle Ray.”
    â€œNo such thing. Your visits give me a good excuse to visit the bakeshop in town. Course, their pies aren’t as good as Emma’s. But they’re sure a sight better’n mine.”
    â€œI do miss Aunt Emma’s pies,” Mitch agreed.
    â€œMe, too. And a whole lot more,” Uncle Ray said, his eyes softening briefly before he turned away to fiddle with the coffeemaker.
    Mitch glanced at his uncle, still spare and straight at seventy-six. Only a pronounced limp, the result of a bad fracture from a severe fall over two years before, had slowed him down. Mitch knew the older man found the limp burdensome, though he never complained. And he still tried to put in a full day in the fields. Mitch had been trying to convince him toslow down, but as Uncle Ray always reminded him, farming was his life. He liked working the land.
    Besides, Mitch reflected, the land had been the one constant in a life that had known its share of loss and grief. So he couldn’t bring himself to force the issue. Instead, he’d found a job in St. Louis and spent his spare time helping out on the farm. It was the least he could do for the man who had been his lifeline six years before, who had shown him the way out of darkness step by painful step, who had helped him reconnect with his faith and find solace in the Lord. He owed his life—and his sanity—to Uncle Ray, and whenever the work began to overwhelm him, he only had to think back to that nightmare time to realize just how deeply in debt he was to this special man.
    â€œSo what’s on the schedule this weekend?” Mitch asked when the older man turned to place a cup of coffee in front of him.
    â€œThere are still a couple of fields that need to be turned over,” Uncle Ray said as he sat down across from Mitch. “I figured I’d get to them during the week, but I don’t move quite as fast as I used to.”
    Mitch frowned. “I thought we agreed that we’d do the heavy work together, on weekends?”
    Uncle Ray shrugged. “I have time to spare, Mitch. You don’t. What little free time you have shouldn’t be spent out here on an isolated farm with an old man.”
    â€œWe’ve been through this before, Uncle Ray. I told you, I like coming out here. It’s a nice change of pace from the city.”
    â€œCan’t argue with that. It is a great place. Nothing beats the fresh air and open spaces. But you needsome time to yourself, son. Companions your own age. You aren’t going to find those things out here.”
    â€œI have everything I need,” Mitch assured him. “My life is full. I have no complaints.”
    Uncle Ray looked at him steadily. “You know I don’t interfere, Mitch. I learned my lesson on that score the hard way years ago.” A flicker of sadness echoed in his eyes. “But I care about you, son. I don’t want you to be alone.”
    Mitch reached over and laid his hand over his uncle’s slightly gnarled fingers. “I’m not alone.”
    â€œThat’s not what I mean.”
    Mitch sighed. “I know. But I had my chance once, Uncle Ray. And I threw it away.”
    â€œYou’re a different man now.”
    â€œMaybe. Maybe not. I can’t risk it.”
    â€œWell, it’s your life, Mitch. I can’t tell you how to live it. I just want you to be happy.”
    â€œI am happy, Uncle Ray.”
    â€œCan I ask you one other thing?”
    â€œSure.” Mitch’s reply was swift and decisive. In a friendship forged in pain, there were few