As if sensing her insecurity, David gave Sara a look of reassurance over Katie's mop of short, dark curls, then turned his daughter towards the woman he loved.
"Katie, there's someone I want you to meet."
The teenager pushed at the bridge of her oversized glasses with her index finger and peered at Sara through thick lenses. Sara held her breath and endured the scrutiny of those pale blue-gray eyes until, after an almost imperceptible nod, Katie smiled and stuck out her right hand.
"Hi!" She said cheerfully. "You're a friend of my father's?"
"That's right, I'm Sara, and I've been looking forward to meeting you. Your father has told me a lot about you."
Katie glanced up at her father. "Dad, you haven't been telling any 'cute kid' stories have you?"
David laughed. "Certainly! Especially the one when I was showing you off to my senior partner and you proceeded to throw up all over him."
"Well it was his own fault! He bounced me on his knee after Mom had told him I'd just been fed," explained Katie in her own defense. "Everyone knows you don't bounce a baby after it's eaten, right?"
"Oh absolutely," agreed Sara, trying to match Katie's serious tone.
"Speaking of eating ... are you guys hungry? 'Cause I'm starved." exclaimed the young girl as she leaned against her father, feigning weakness.
"I hope you have enough strength to walk over to the Saxon Inn. They have the best burgers in town."
"Yeah, I think I can hold out a little longer." she grinned.
"I'm glad to hear it. First let's get your stuff in the truck." David went to pick up the bright purple suitcase the bus driver had deposited on the sidewalk. "Jeeze! What have you got in this thing?" he groaned.
Katie giggled. "Oh Dad. It's not that bad. It's just that I never stayed on a farm before and I didn't know what to bring."
"I see, so you just brought everything."
"Really, Dad, I couldn't bring everything. And certainly not enough for a truck. Whose truck is this anyway? Where's the Lincoln?"
David heaved the heavy bag into the back of the blue pick-up. He turned and grinned at his daughter. "It's my truck."
"You're kidding!" Katie peered up at her father. "You really are getting into this country stuff, aren't you?"
"Yeah, pumpkin, I guess I am. Now come on, I thought you were starving."