Clara climbed down the ladder after handing the blanket and lasagna to her daddy. She climbed down without incident, which amazed even her. Together they walked back to the house, in silence, Clara followed her daddy up the stairs to her room where he tossed the blanket on her bed, and placed the dish of warm lasagna on her night stand.<br/><br/>She gave him a hug and kiss on the cheek. "Good night, Daddy."<br/><br/>She ate the lasagna which brought back so many memories of her Momma, better times, as a tight knit family. She rinsed her dish in the bathroom sink, placed it and the fork on the stand near the door. She was very tired, it had been a life changing day. Clara laid down and was sleeping soundly in minutes.<br/><br/>~Morning~<br/><br/>The sun was shining in her window, which surprised Clara, the rooster normally woke her long before the sun was up.  She looked out the window and saw her daddy's truck was gone. Clara went down stairs, wondering where he went, and why he did not wake her. Everything was in order down stairs, a vase of fresh cut roses on the table with a note.<br/><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><em>Dear Clara,<br/><br/>This may come as a surprise, and I am sorry about that. I decided to take some time away from the farm and see some of the surrounding areas. I know that Dukey will take of you, and even though we don't see eye to eye, I am sure he cares for you.<br/><br/>He will take care of you, or I will take matters into my own hands when I return. By the way, I have taken Sukey with me so I am not totally alone.<br/><br/>You have the farm, you are grown enough to know how to care of it, you know where everything is. Responsibility comes with becoming an adult. I trust you and Dukey will be able to do what needs to be done. I will be in touch soon.<br/><br/>Love,<br/>Daddy</em><br/></td></tr></tbody></table><br/><br/>Clara ran outside. "Daddy, no!" She looked down the dirt driveway, thinking he still might be there, but there was no trace of him, or the truck, just a bare dirt driveway. Clara stood there looking around at the corn field, the tall grasses growing in the next field and the soybeans.  "Oh Daddy, why now?" She suddenly felt overwhelmed.<br/><br/>Knowing Sara Lee, Dukey and his friend Marcel, were supposed to be over today, she went into the house, back to her room took a shower, all the while wondering where her Daddy went.<br/><br/>