*Grace* “Well?” I step off the covered porch as the repairman approaches. Making a point to look sufficiently sympathetic, he stops in front of me, making a few last notations on his quote before tearing it off the pad on his clipboard. “You’re probably not going to want to hear this, miss.”

*Rob* I’m usually up at first light—what can I say? military habits die hard—and today is no exception. It is exceptional though because I wake tangled up with Grace, naked in a blanket, diagonal across her bed after the absolute best night I’ve spent in my life. I shift slowly, and she slides into a warm, wonderful, girly-smelling pool beside me, murmuring in her sleep before she flops over onto her side and snuggles her back against my chest.

*Rob*“I think we’re going to need another car.”“You mentioned. Last week.” Grace’s eyes meet mine, no small amount of amusement flashing in them as she adds a bit of sugar, a dash of salt and milk to the rest of the dry ingredients in the pancake batter I’m stirring.Catching her by the wrist before she can get away, I pull her to me, losing myself in her kiss until she breaks it off. “As I remember it, that conversation got derailed and never went anywhere.”“So it did,” Grace giggles, then pushes away from me, collecting ingredients to return to the pantry. “Might need to consider getting another truck first. Something that can haul more.” The words come muffled from around the corner.I wait until she’s visible again, returning with a jar of homemade blueberry syrup. “Speaking of needing to haul more,” I abandon my stirring and pull her to me, both arms wrapped around her narrow waist. “I haven’t been at all responsible,” I nuzzle the soft behind her ear, planting a tender kiss th

*Grace* Though it’s taken a few days, we’ve got Ella mostly covered, I think, crossing replacement items she needed after the fire off my list. But my niece and nephew still need new clothes, especially with school starting soon. When the mudroom door opens, I look up from my perch on a stool at the kitchen bar, watching as Rob closes the door behind him. He fixes me with a beaming dimpled smile as he strides across the kitchen, planting a warm kiss on my forehead when he reaches my side. “It’s strangely quiet in here.” He peers around first the corner into the great room, then into the dining room, as if expecting the farmhouse to suddenly burst to life. “It is,” I groan contentedly at the blissful silence. “Your dad took the truck to the Village Mercantile to pick up more fungicide and fertilizer for the beets. Your mom and Ella are out shopping for school supplies and

*Grace* "Marshall Arsonist Arraigned in District Court on New Charges" by Margie Gregor "Paul Danvers, a 37-year-old Marshall man previously accused of criminal trespass, 1st Degree Arson, and resisting and obstructing a police officer now is charged in a separate incident with aggravated harassment. "Prosecutors say Mr. Danvers used a flare gun and a bottle of charcoal fluid to set fire to a residence on Delta Crossing over the July 4th holiday, causing significant damage to the home. “He planned to burn the property down,” the county District Attorney said in a statement Monday. “This was a premeditated act of arson directed at his estranged wife after brutal harassment of her over a period of weeks following her filing for separation.” "Monday's arraignment followed the ne