page_447 < previous page page_447 next page > Page 447 Chapter Twenty-Eight The rolling landscape Allie viewed through the kitchen window was warmly familiar. Summer scents were heavy in the airsweet honeysuckle from the bush beside the porch, occasional whiffs of mint from the herb garden beyond, and barn odors, always strongest in the heat of the afternoon sun. A hint of a smile touched Allie's lips. All familiar scents, but some not particularly pleasant. Strange, the pungent smell of the barn had completely escaped her notice in recent years. It had become a part of her life, a reality she accepted without thought. Only since her return had it again come to her notice, as her mind seemed to assess every aspect of her life as if it were new. But she had been away for months, and had been home only a few days. She was still adjusting to the changes in her life. She was grateful that Homer Trace had consented to work a few days a week for as long as she could afford to pay him. He had evidently done his work well since James's death, and she had been inordinately pleased to see the farm in such excellent condition when she returned. James would have been happy to see the healthy crops in his fields, the well-tended animals in his  < previous page page_447 next page >