Page 48 of Daddy's Little Farmer

“You’ll always have us. See you tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

Mara sat there and let the tears come until she heard footsteps approaching the bedroom. She raced into the back of the closet and hid behind some hanging clothes.

“Mara, honey, are you in here?” Rafael called out.

She pressed her hands to her mouth. The last thing she wanted to do was show him she was sad. He’d ask too many questions, and she wouldn’t be able to hide anything from him.

He cursed a few times and made a call. “Landry, are you sure she’s not down there?”

“Yes, sir. I thought she went up to your room.”

“Keep looking. I have an important meeting I need to go to. Tell her I’ll see her at dinner.”

“I will do that.”

“All right, thank you,” Rafael said.

She heard him sigh, and then his footsteps receded. For several minutes she let herself cry to release the tension in her stomach.

When she finished, she washed her face with cold water and then snuck out one of the back doors. She slowly walked through the grove of trees, taking some time to let the redness and puffiness go from her face. She hid behind the last tree and took several deep breaths before walking into one of the barns. She got busy, mucking out one of the stalls.

“There you are,” Porter said. “Your Daddy was looking for you. He called down here about thirty minutes ago.”

“Why?” she asked.

“He wanted to see you before he left for a meeting.”

She smiled the best she could. “I’ll see him in a few hours.”

Porter stared at her. “What’s wrong? I can tell you’re upset about something.”

“I can’t really talk about it.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. It must be between you and Mr. Saunders.”

“Yes. We’ll talk tonight.”

“Make sure you do. You don’t want this to fester longer than it needs to.”

She nodded and watched Porter walk off. She spent the next few hours brushing animals and cleaning because there was always something to be done.

Porter stopped her. “Hey, Mara, you better get up to the big house and shower. Dinnertime is in forty-five minutes.”

“Oh, thank you. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Good night.”

“Night, Porter.”

Mara rushed through the kitchen.

“Slow down, child, before you crash!” yelled Ms. Bailey.

“I’m sorry, Ms. B.”

She slowed down until she got to the other hallway and ran up the stairs. She was showered and dressed in one of Rafael’s favorites. She brushed her hair until it lay in big locks down her back and put in a ribbon that matched the dress.

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