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lap. ''We know, honey." She insinuated herself onto the small seat between Jess and Abby and fussed with Jess's blouse, and Abby saw the genuine kindness in the gruff woman. "Now we need to listen to Mike and his friend. They have some questions maybe you can answer. You'll try, won't you, honey?" |
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Jess smiled. "Of course. But Myra is the one who can answer. Ask her." |
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With a sinking feeling, Abby realized how much Jess's mind wandered. She was unlikely to have answers to prove to Mike that Abby was what, and whom, she claimed. |
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Still, Abby plunged in, explaining that Mike had told her how he began Arlen's Kitchens using recipes that Myra said had come from his ancestor. "I'm interested in Arlen and his family's journey west," she concluded. "Do you have any information about themArlen's wife's name, for example? And where did Myra get the recipes?" |
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"Myra'd want you to tell her," Grace added, patting Jess's shoulder. |
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Jess laughed, holding up her gnarled fingers as though to stave off the onslaught of questions. "Oh, that Myra. She was something. But I didn't care about all that old stuff, did I?" |
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She looked at Mike, who shook his head. |
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"That's how I stayed young, caring about what was new. Well, let me see. Arlen and the wagon train? I remember Myra talking about them." |
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Biting her lip, Abby asked again if Jess remembered Arlen's wife's name. Jess raised her wrin- |
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