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Page 397

| Chapter Thirty-Two |

| ONE YEAR LATER THE OUTBACK THE HOMESTEADREBUILT |

| "Let him go, Ashton," Sasha said, holding her arms out for Tobias as he clung to Ashton, his chunky legs wobbly. She smiled at Tobias and beckoned to him with her hands. "Come on, darling. You're a year old today. Let's see you take your first step." |

| "Come on, son, you can do it," Ashton said, releasing his grip on Tobias's arms. Pride swelled through him when Tobias stood his ground instead of falling to his hands and knees as he had done every other time they had tried to encourage him to walk. Ashton held his breath when Tobias shakily placed one foot ahead of the other, then balanced himself to hold his arms out to the child. |

| Ashton inched around Tobias and went to stand beside Sasha. "That-away, son," he encouraged him |

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