rachel and grady: POWER OF LOVE

share of damage to him. By her refusal to listen, to let him e

that day Cody was born and the whole town heard about

on the past and thinking about Rac

it," he

hatever's going to happen between yo

to happen between

u've both moved on since then." She looked at him for a long moment, tryi

ispered as he an

her had hired Alma to help with the kids and the house. His father had hired Joe to run the ranch w

ng hugged by the woman who'd changed his di- apers and

id, stepping back a minute later and sw

an I," Gra

g the grief in each other's eyes for Ray and David an

And you brought that beautiful little..." She turned toward Cody still standing near the door. "Come here, you sweet thing, you." Grady smiled while Alma nearly smothered Cody in hugs and kisses. Cody blushe

disciplinarian, coconspirator, knee-bandager, wound-kisser, advisor, and all-around best friend. There was no one in Cod

wo minutes had him seated at the table with a san

ady. "You made better time

d here and left a message on the machine, telling you I'd be early." "I'm sorry. I've b

his father and David were dead. He damn sure wouldn't want to talk about it

lf when Joe came in with a bag of groceries. He set the bag on the counter with a thud. Grad

, it's good

oe who taught him the finer points of horse training, how to rope a steer at an all-out gal- lop. How to fight, and how to hide the bruises from Dad. How to

a man. The only man al

about life, about honor and integrity. That

e gentle. How to love, how to l

named Grady Lewis felt as small and

to sink in. His father

What do I do

Lewis's passing. As Rachel walked the two hundred yards fr

she needed to keep t

o many memories rushing back. Standing Elk Veterinary Clinic, the sign at

be before Grady had the heart to t

is, was the first man outside h

el's brother, Jack, had defied King Wilder and sneaked into the house and called the vet. Dr. Lewis had ar- rived, and for the first time in h