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you decided to keep it. You will be the fourth generation to run the farm, and I know you’ll pass it on to the next generation in as good a shape as I’m passing it to you. You love this land as much as I do; it’s in your blood.
    There are some things I need you to do.
    Please take care of Len. He’s the love of my life, and I was blessed with both him and you. I hope he’ll find someone and be happy again, and you mustn’t try to stop him. He deserves all the happiness he can find in this world, just as you do. Farming can be a very lonely life, so find yourself someone to love who loves you back. That makes everything else worth it.
    Finally, I want to tell you how much I love you and how proud I am to have you as a son.
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Love Means … NO SHAME
    You brightened my life every day. The first time I held you, I couldn’t fathom how quickly anyone could capture my heart, but one look from your big blue eyes, and I was a goner. As you grew up, you became an extraordinary man with a huge capacity for love and caring.
    You will be tried by many things in the years to come, but whatever happens, remain the same loving, caring person you are today. I love you always,
Dad
    Geoff’s eyes stung and his throat hurt as he finished the letter and put it back in the envelope. Walking back into the office, he placed the letter in the top drawer, turned off the lights, and went upstairs, his father’s words singing in his ears.

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    Andrew Grey
GEOFF had never needed an alarm to get him up in the morning—
    well, at least when he hadn’t been drinking—and this morning wasn’t an exception. It was still dark, and Geoff was out of bed, cleaned up, dressed, and in the kitchen grabbing a bite to eat before going to the barn for his morning ride. He heard a soft knock and opened the door to find Lumpy standing on the steps, looking concerned. “There’s something in the barn that you have to see.” Geoff felt dubious but followed Lumpy across the yard, into the barn, and down to the empty stall on the end, where he saw a pair of black boots. Looking into the stall, he was surprised to see a pair of legs, and peeking around the corner, the sleeping form of what looked like a boy. The barn was still largely dark, with only the early morning light coming through the windows and open door, but it was enough for Geoff to see that this boy was extraordinary. It was only after seeing his sleeping face that he noticed the black pants sticking out from under the black coat he was using as a blanket, and the wide-brimmed black hat that had been carefully set on the empty manger. What on earth was an Amish boy doing sleeping in his barn?
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Love Means … NO SHAME
    Geoff didn’t get much time to contemplate the question, because a few seconds later, the boy’s eyes opened and immediately filled with fear. Suddenly he was on his feet and running like a jackrabbit out of the barn and into the yard. Lumpy looked at Geoff and took off after him, but Geoff called him back. “I’ll go. You get started with your work.” Lumpy nodded, and Geoff picked up the hat and pair of boots, walking outside. Dawn was just starting to break, and he could see the boy standing by the road, looking back at the barn.
    Geoff walked slowly in his direction, treating the boy like a spooked horse, making no sudden movements. “You forgot your boots and hat.” Geoff held them out to him, and when the boy didn’t move forward, Geoff slowly bent down and set them on the ground.

    “It’s okay, I won’t hurt you.” He stepped back, and the boy moved forward, pulling on his boots and taking his hat. “Why were you sleeping in the barn? Where’s your family?”
    “ Rumspringa .”
The word sounded foreign to Geoff. “I don’t know what that means.”
    The young man—Geoff could see now that he was definitely not a boy—stood back up again, those intense blue eyes boring into him. “It is my time away from the community.” Geoff nodded, not really