mean at Christmas?" "Longer even than Christmas." "That's a long, long time, isn't it?"

"Yes, a very long time. But then one day, I will be back, and I hope you will still remember your papa."

"Oh, I will, Papa, because I still remember Mama, and she has been gone a long time too."

At that point, I reached down and picked Anna up and held her tightly in my arms. My throat tightened, and my chest ached, and I felt tears forming in my eyes. What in the hell was I doing leaving this delightful little girl behind while I galloped off to God knows where? She has, I thought to myself, already lost her mother, and now she is about to lose her father for God knows how long.

By the time we returned to the McNab house...

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