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ake was relieved to be back home after spending a week at Sue’s family’s farm. Though he enjoyed most of it, he felt incredibly filthy after riding the horse, being in the pig pen, and falling in the mud. He took two baths when he got home but he still felt disgusting. He was glad he wore Jeremiah’s clothes instead of his own because if it had been his clothes, he would have burned them afterwards. After he bathed, he went to bed, exhausted. If he had to spend another night in the same room with Sue, he would go insane. She was too appealing. He didn’t sleep at all, especially after seeing her reach for milk and holding her in the kitchen. He was happy to be in his own bed. After he got a good night’s sleep, he was ready to go to work and hand in his resignation letter to Conrad.

On his way out the door to meet Henry at the buggy, he saw Mr. Blacksmith walking up the steps to his house. He frowned. One good thing about being at the farm was that he didn’t have to worry a