I Want You In My Bed, I Wont Deny It,

Adam said, But youll have to settle for what Im offering. Whats that? Tate asked. An affair? Adam shrugged If you want to all it that. And when youre tired of me, then what? Ill never get tired of you. Well ross that river when we get to it. Tate was shaken !y the revelation that Adam had !een married. "he wished she knew more a!out what had gone wrong to make him sound so !itter. #er $ride urged her to leave while she still ould. But her heart ouldnt fa e a future that didnt in lude Adam. All right, she said at last. An affair it is. "he snuggled u$ to Adams !a k. #e took her arms and $ulled them around his hest. Its a good thing my !rothers ant see me now, she said. Id !e a dead man for sure.

%I% &'( )(*+#A", T#I" B''- WIT#'(T A +'.,*? If you did, you should !e aware it is stolen property as it was *e$orted /unsold and destroyed !y a retailer. 0either the author nor the $u!lisher has re eived any $ayment for this !ook. +o$yright1 2334 !y 5oan 6ertens 5ohnston Australian +o$yright 2434 0ew 7ealand +o$yright 2334 )hili$$ine +o$yright 2334 8irst $rinting A$ril 2334 8irst Australian )a$er!a k ,dition 8e!ruary 2339 I"B0 : 4;4 :<;;3 = ,> e$t for use in any review, the re$rodu tion or utilisation of this work in whole or in $art in any form !y any ele troni , me hani al or other means, now known or hereafter invented, in luding >erogra$hy, $hoto o$ying and re ording, or any information storage or retrieval system, is for!idden without the $ermission of the $u!lisher, "ilhouette Books, ).'. Bo> ?2:, +hatswood, 0."W., Australia =:@;. All the hara ters in this !ook have no e>isten e outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone !earing the same name or names. They are not even distantly ins$ired !y any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the in idents are $ure invention. This !ook is sold su!Ae t to the ondition mat that it shall not, !y way of Trade or otherwise ir ulated without the $rior onsent of the $u!lisher in any form of !inding or over other than that in whi h it is $u!lished and without a similar ondition !eing im$osed on the su!seBuent $ur haser. This edition $u!lished under arrangement with #arleBuin ,nter$rises B. )u!lished !y "ilhouette Books 4 Ci!!es "treet +hatswood, 0"W =:@; Australia "ID#'(,TT, %,"I*, and the ou$le devi e are trademarks used under li ense and registered in Australia, 0ew 7ealand, )hili$$ines, (nited "tates )atent EFTrademark 'ffi e and in other ountries. )rinted and Bound in Australia !y Criffin )a$er!a ks, "outh2Australia

8or my editor, 6elissa "enate. "ometimes you find a hea$ of thread on a mighty small s$ool.

JOAN JOHNSTON started reading, roman es to es a$e the stress of !eing an attorney with a maAor national law firm. "he soon dis overed that writing roman es was a lot more fun than writing legal !ond indentures. "in e then, she has $u!lished several histori al novels. In addition to an author, she is a lawyer, a tea her and the mother of two hildren. In her s$are time, she enAoys sailing, horse!a k riding and am$ing.

A+-0'WD,%C6,0T" Im inde!ted to -en Alstads olle tion of Savvy Sayins, as a sour e of ow!oy wit and wisdom. I would also like to thank the ladies of my ritiBue grou$, %e!!ie "t. Amand and )am 6antovani, for their astute su$$ort and for reminding me, A wish!one aint no su!stitute for a !a k!one. 8inally, I would like to thank my earlyGmorning walking $artner, )am *a$$a$ort, for her heerful smile and s$arkling onversation, and those mushing sled dogs, Beau and 6a>, for leading us on and $rote ting us from small hildren, du ks and little old lady Aoggers.

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%,

One
6ay I kiss you good night, Tate? 'f ourse you an, #ank. &our !rothersH 8orget a!out themI Im a grown woman. I ertainly dont need $ermission from 8aron or Carth to give yon a sim$le little goodGnight kiss. Tate Whitelaw ste$$ed loser to the tall ow!oy and sli$$ed her arms, around his ne k. The !right light over the front door didnt Buite rea h to the orner of the railed $or h where she was standing with #ank. #ank took advantage of Tates invitation, drawing her into his arms !ehind one of the massive fluted olumns that gra ed the front of the house and aligning their !odies from !reast to hi$. "he was un omforta!ly aware of his arousal, sin e only two layers of denimH her Aeans and hisHse$arated their warm flesh. #is mouth sought hers, and his tongue thrust inside. It was more than a sim$le goodGnight kiss, and Tate suddenly found herself wishing she hadnt !een Buite so en ouraging. #ankH she gas$ed, $ulling her head !a k and trying to es a$e his ardor. I dont think H #anks arms tightened around her, and Tate found herself in a wrestling mat h. "he struggled to get the heels of her hands to his shoulders to $ush him away. #e gri$$ed her short !la k hair with one hand and angled her fa e for his kiss. #ankI "Gsto$it she hissed. +aught u$ in his lust, #ank was o!livious to Tates urgently whis$ered entreaties. Tate had already de ided it was time to take des$erate a tion when the issue was taken out of her hands. Diterally. Tate knew someone had arrived on the s ene when #ank gave a grunt of sur$rise as he was Aerked away from her. #e> !rother 8aron had a handful #anks Western shirt in his gras$ and was holding the young man at arms length. What the hell do you think youre doing with my sister? 8aron demanded. #ank !linked owlishly. -issing her?

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Who the hell gave you $ermission to kiss, her? I didI Tate said through gritted teeth. 8isted hands on hi$s, hin u$, she fa ed her

!rother defiantly. Who gave you $ermission to interfereI When I see my kid sister getting mauledH I an take are of myselfI 8aron ar hed a !row, and Tate knew it was !e ause she hadnt denied the fa t she was !eing mauled. #ank had Aust !een a little e>u!erant, that was all. "he ould have es a$ed her $redi ament without her !rothers interferen e. To Tates horror, Carth shoved o$en the front s reen door and asked, What in !lue !laJes is going on out here? I found this oyote for ing his attentions on Tate, 8aron said. Carth ste$$ed onto the $or h, and if the sheer siJe of him didnt intimidate, the fier e s owl on his fa e surely would have. /That true? Carth demanded of #ank. #ank gul$ed. )ers$iration dri$$ed at his tem$le. The olor left his fa e. Well, sir... #e looked to Tate for res ue. Tate wat hed Carths ti$s flatten into a grim line as he e> hanged a de isive look with 8aron. #ank had !een tried and onvi ted. All that was left was senten ing. Cet your !utt out of here, Carth said to #ank And dont ome !a k. 8aron gave #ank a $retty good shove in the right dire tion, and Carths, !oot finished the Ao!. #ank stum!led down the $or h ste$s to his $i ku$, dragged o$en the door, gunned the engine and de$arted in a swirl of gravel and hoking dust. There was a moment of awful silen e while the dust settled. Tate fought the tears that threatened. "he would never let her !rothers know how humiliated she feltI But there was nothing wrong with giving them the lash of her tongue. "he turned and stared first into Carths stern, dee$ !rown eyes, and then into 8arons more on erned grayGgreen ones. I ho$e youre !oth ha$$yI she sna$$ed Thats the fourth man in a month youve run off the ran h. 0ow, Tate, 8aron !egan. Any man who wouldnt stand u$ to the two of us isnt worth having for a !eau. %ont $atronise meI she raged. I wont !e $la ated like a !a!y with a rattle. Im not three. Im not even thirteen. Im twentyGthree. Im a woman, and I have a womans needs.

2:

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, &ou dont need to !e manhandled, Carth said And I wont stand !y and let it

ha$$en. 6e neither, 8aron said. Tate hung her head. When she raised it again, her eyes were glistening with tears that !lurred her vision. I ould have handled #ank myself, she said in a Buiet voi e. &ou have to trust me to make my own de isions, my own mistakes. We dont want to see you hurt, 8aron said, laying a hand on Tates shoulder. Tate stiffened. And you think I wasnt hurt !y what ha$$ened here tonight? Carth and 8aron e> hanged another look. Then 8aron said, 6ay!e your $ride was $ri ked a little, !utH A little! Tate Aerked herself from 8arons gras$. &oure im$ossi!leI Both of youI &ou dont know the first thing a!out what I want or need. &ou ant imagine what its like to have every ste$ you take wat hed to make sure you dont fall down. 6ay!e it made sense when I was a !a!y, !ut Im grown u$ now. I dont need you standing guard over me. Dike you didnt need our hel$ tonight? Carth asked in a old voi e. I didntI Tate insisted. Carth gra!!ed her hin and for ed her fa e u$ to his. &ou have no idea what a mans $assions an lead him to do, little sister. I have no intention of letting you find out. (ntil the right man omes alongH Theres no man wholl ome within a hundred miles of this $la e nowK Tate retorted !itterly. 6y loving !rothers have seen to thatI &oure going to kee$ me a virgin until I dry u$ andH Carths fingers tightened $ainfully on her Aaw, for ing her to silen e. "he saw the flash of fury2 in his dark eyes. A mus le fle>ed in his Aaw. At last he said, &oud !etter go to your room and think a!out what ha$$ened here tonight. Well talk more a!out this tomorrow. &oure not my fatherI Tate s$at. I wont !e sent to my room like a naughty hildI &oull go, or Ill take you there, Carth threatened. "he ant go anywhere until you let go of her hin, 8aron $ointed out. Carth shot a rueful look at his !rother, then released Tate. Cood night, Tate, he said. Tate had learned there were only two sides to Carths argumentsL his and the Gwrong one. #er stoma h was hurning. #er hest felt so tight it was hard to !reathe, and her throat had a

22

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%,

lum$ in it that made swallowing $ainful. #er eyes !urned with tears that she would !e damned if shed shedI "he looked from Carth to 8aron and !a k again Carths fa e was a granite mask of disa$$roval while 8arons !ore a look of sym$atheti understanding. Tate knew they loved her. It was hard to fight their good intentions. &et their love was smothering her. They would not let her live! #er mother had died when she was !orn, and she had !een raised !y her father and her three !rothers. Carth, 8aron and 5esse. Their father had died when Tate was eight. 5esse had left home then, and Carth and 8aron had !een res$onsi!le for her ever sin e. It was a res$onsi!ility they had taken very seriously. "he had !een ke$t loistered at #awks Way, more losely guarded than a novi e in a onvent. If she went anywhere off the ran h, one of her !rothers ame along. When Tate was younger shed had girlfriends to share her trou!les with. As she got older, she dis overed that the females she met were more interested in getting an introdu tion to her !rothers than in !eing her friend. ,ventually, she had sim$ly sto$$ed inviting them. Tate hadnt even !een allowed to go away to ollege. Instead she had taken

orres$onden e ourses to get her degree in !usiness. "he had missed the so ial intera tion with her $eers, the e>$erien e of !eing out on her own, that would have $re$ared her to deal with the #anks of the world. #owever, Carth and 8aron had taught her every Ao! that had to !e done or a ran h, from !randing and astrating to va inating and !reeding. "he wasnt naive. 0o one ould !e raised on a ran h and remain totally inno ent. "he had seen the Buarter horse stallions they raised at #awks Way mount mares. But she ould not translate that violent a t into what ha$$ened !etween a man and a woman in !ed. "o far, she had found the fum!ling kisses of her swains more annoying than anything else. &et Tate had read enough to know there was more to the maleGfemale relationshi$ than she had e>$erien ed so far. If her !rothers had their way, she would never unravel the mysteries of love. "he had ome to the dire on lusion over the $ast few months that no man would ever $ass muster with her !rothers. If she ontinued living with them, she would die an old maid. They had given her no hoi e. In order to es a$e her !rothers over$rote tiveness, she would have to leave #awks Way.

2=

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, This latest in ident was the final straw. But then, ki king a man when hes down is

sometimes the only way to make him get u$. Tate took one long, last look at ea h of her !rothers. "he would !e gone from #awks Way !efore morning. When the front door losed !ehind Tate, 8aron settled a hi$ on the $or h rail, and Carth leaned his shoulder against the doorAam!. "hes too damn !eautiful for her own good, Carth muttered. #ard to !elieve a woman an look so se>y in a mans TGshirt and a $air of Aeans, 8aron agreed with a shake of his head. Carths eyes were !leak. /Whatre we going to do a!out her? %ont know that theres anything we an do e> e$t what were already doing. I dont want to see her get hurt, Carth said. 8aron felt a tightness in his hest. &eah, I know. But shes alt grown u$, Carth. Were going to have to let go sometime. Carth frowned. 0ot yet. When? I dont know. 5ust not yet. The ne>t morning, Carth and 8aron met in the kit hen, as they always did, Aust !efore dawn. +harlie 'ne #orse, the $artG Indian odger who had !een hief ook and !ottle washer at #awks Way sin e their mother had died, had offee $erking and !reakfast on the ta!le. 'nly this morning there was somethingHsomeoneHmissing. Wheres Tate? Carth asked as he sat down at the head of the ta!le. Aint seen her, +harlie said. Carth grima ed, I su$$ose shes sulking in her room. &ou drink your offee, and Ill go u$stairs and he k on her, 8aron offered. A moment later 8aron ame !ounding into the kit hen. "hes not thereI "hes goneI Carth s$rang u$ from his hair so fast it fell over !a kward What? Cone where? 8aron gra!!ed Carth !y the shoulders and said in a fier e voi e, "hes not is her room. #er !ed hasnt !een sle$t inI Carth freed himself and took the stairs two at a time to see for himself. "ure enough, the antiBue !rass dou!le !ed was made u$ with its nu!!yGweave s$read. That alone was an ominous sign. Tate wasnt known for her neatness, and if she had made u$ the !ed, she had

24

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%,

done it to make a statement. Carth headed for the loset, his heart in his throat. #e heaved a sigh of relief when he saw Tates few dresses still hanging there. "urely she wouldnt have #awks Way for good without them. Carth turned and found 8aron standing in the doorway to Tates room. "he $ro!a!ly s$ent the night slee$ing out somewhere on the ran h. "hell turn u$ when she gets hungry. Im going looking for her. 8aron said. Carth shoved a hand through his hair, making it stand on end. #ell and the devilI I guess therell !e no $ea e around here until we find her. When I get hold of her, IllH When we find her, Ill do the talking, 8aron said. &ouve aused enough trou!le. 6e? This isnt my faultI Dike hellI &oure the one who told her go to her room and stay there. Dooks like she didnt $ay a whole helluva lot of attention to me, did she? Carth retorted. At that moment +harlie arrived, $uffing from, e>ertion, and said, &ou two gonna go look for that girl, or stand here arguin? 8aron and Carth glared at ea h other for another moment !efore 8aron turned and $ressed his way $ast +harlie and down the stairs. +harlie $ut a hand out to sto$ Carth. %ont think youre gonna find her, !oy. -new this was !ound to ha$$en sooner or later. What do you mean, old man? -new you had too tight a rein on that little filly. 8igured she had too mu h s$irit to stay in them fen es you set u$ to hold her in. It was for her own goodI +harlie shook his head. %id it as mu h for yourself as for her. -nowin your ma like you did, its no wonder youd want to kee$ your sister lose. )ro!ly fearful shed take after your ma, ste$$in out on your $a like she did andH Deave 6other out of this. What she did has thing to do with the way Ive treated Tate. +harlie tightened the !eaded rawhide thong that held one of his long !raids, !ut said nothing. Carth s owled. I an see theres no sense arguing with a stone wall. Im going after Tate, and Im going to !ring her !a k. This time shell stay $utI

29

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Carth and 8aron sear hed anyons and mesas, ridges and gullies on their northwest

Te>as ran h, !ut not a sign did they find of their sister on #awks Way. It was +harlie 'ne #orse who dis overed that the old /<2 +hevy $i ku$, the one with the lusty radiator and the ski$$ing ar!uretor, was missing from the !arn where it was stored. Another he k of Tates room revealed that her underwear drawer was em$ty, that her !rush and om! and tooth$aste were gone, and that several of her favorite TGshirts and Aeans had also !een $a ked. By sunset, the truth ould not he denied. At the age of twentyGthree, Tate Whitelaw had run away from home.

2<

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%,

Two
Adam )hili$s normally didnt sto$ to $i k u$ hit hhikers. But there was no way he ould drive $ast the woman sitting on the front fender ofGa /<2 +hevy $i ku$, its hood raised and its radiator steaming, her thum! outstret hed to !um a ride. #e $ulled his lateGmodel tru k u$ !ehind her and $ut on his "tetson as he ste$$ed out into the heat of a south Te>as midG summer afternoon. "he was wearing formGfitting Aeans and an offGtheGshoulder $easant !louse that e>$osed a lush female figure. But the heartGsha$ed fa e, with its huge haJel eyes and wide mouth framed !y !reeJeGruffled, shortG ro$$ed !la k hair, was inno en e itself. #e was stunned !y her !eauty and a$$alled at her youth. What was this female doing all alone one an isolated2 stret h of southwest Te>as highway in an old rattleGtra$ tru k? "he !eamed a trusting smile at him, and he felt his heart do a fli$flo$. "he sli$$ed off the rusty fender and laJily sauntered toward him. #e felt his groin tighten with desire and s owled. "he sto$$ed in her tra ks. A!out time she thought to !e waryI Adam was all too ons ious of the dangers a stranger $resented to a young, woman alone. CrimGli$$ed, he strode the short distan e !etween the two vehi les. Tate had !een so relieved to see someone show u$ on the deserted rural route that the danger of the situation didnt immediately o ur to her. "he got only a glim$se of wavy !lond hair and striking !lue eyes !efore her res uer had sli$$ed on a "tetson that $ut his fa e in shadow. #e was !roadGshouldered and leanGhi$$ed, with a stride that ate u$ the distan e !etween the two tru ks. It was a fair assum$tion, from his dusty !oots, worn Aeans and sweatGstained Western shirt, that he was a working ow!oy. Tate saw no reason to sus$e t he meant her any harm. But instead of a $leasant 6ay I hel$ you? the first words out of his mouth were, What the hell do you think youre doing? Tate was alarmed !y the animosity in the strangers voi e and frightened !y the intensity of his stare. But his attitude was so similar to what she had re ently gone through with her

2@

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%,

!rothers that she lifted her hin and retorted, #it hing a ride !a k to the nearest gas station. In ase yon hadnt noti ed, my tru ks !roken down. The s owl dee$ened !ut he said, Cet in my $i ku$. Tate had only taken two ste$s when the tall ow!oy gra!!ed her arm and $ulled her u$ short. Arent you going to ask anything a!out me? %ont you want to know who I am? By now Tate was more irritated than frightened. A Cood "amaritan with a !ad tem$erI she retorted. %o I need to know more? Adam o$ened his mouth to make a retort, took one took at the mutinous e>$ression on the young womans fa e, and shut it again. Instead he dragged her un eremoniously to the $assengers side of longG!ed $i ku$, o$ened the door, shoved her inside, and slammed it losed after her. 6y !agI Its in the !a k end of the +hevy,/ Tate yel$ed. Adam staked !a k to the rattletra$ +hevy, snagged the duffel !ag from the rustedGout tru k !ed and slung it into the !a k of his $i ku$. Woman was too damned trusting for her own goodI he thought. #er a id tongue wouldnt 2have !een mu h hel$ to her if he had !een the kind of villain who $reyed on stranded women. Whi h he wasnt. Du ky for herI Tate didnt onsider herself at all lu ky. "he re ogniJed the flatGli$$ed e>$ression on her Cood "amaritans fa e. #e might have res ued her, all right, !ut he wasnt ha$$y a!out it. The dee$ revi es formed around his mouth !y his frown and the we!!ed lines at the edges of his eyes had her guessing his age at thirtyGfive or thirtyGsi>Hthe same as her eldest !rother Carth. The last thing she needed was another kee$erI "he sat !a k with her arms rossed and stared out the window as they drove $ast rolling $rairie. "he thought !a k to the night two weeks ago when she had de ided to leave #awks Way. #er es a$e from her !rothers, while a$$arently sudden, hadnt !een om$letely without dire tion. "he had taken several ran h Aournals ontaining advertisements. from outfits all over Te>as looking for e>$ert hel$ and headed south. #owever, Tate soon dis overed that not one ran her was interested in hiring a woman, es$e ially one without referen es, as either foreman or ran h manager.

2;

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, To onfound her $ro!lems, the an ient $i ku$ she had taken from the !arn was in worse

sha$e than she had thought. It had left her stranded miles from the DaJy "Hthe last ran h on her list and her last ho$e for a Ao! in ran h management. %o you know where the DaJy " is? she asked. Adam started at the sound of her voi e. I e>$e t I ould find it. Why? I understand theyre looking for a ran h manager. I intend to a$$ly for the Ao!. &oure Aust a kidI The ow!oy ould have said nothing more likely to raise Tates ne k hairs. 8or your information, Im twentyGthree and a fully grown womanI Adam ouldnt argue with that. #e had a $retty good view of the reamy rise of her !reasts at the frilly gathered edge of her !louse. What know a!out ran hing? he asked. I was raised on a ran h, #awks Way, andH "he sto$$ed a!ru$tly, realiJing that she had revealed more than she intended to this stranger. Tate hadnt used her own last name to a$$ly for any Ao!s, knowing that if she did her !rothers would !e a!le to hunt her down and drag her !a k home. I ho$e youll kee$ that to yourself, she said. Adam raised an inBuiring !row that met su h gamine smile that his heart did that distur!ing fli$flo$ again. &ou see, Tate said, the truth is, Ive run from home. Adam snorted. Arent you a little old for that? Tates li$s urled ruefully. I su$$ose so. But my !rothers Aust wouldnt let me live! I mean, they wat hed every !reath in and out of my !ody. Adam found the thought rather intriguing himself. 6y !rothers are a little over$rote tive, you see. I had to run away if I was ever going to meet the right man and fall in love and have hildren. "ounds like you ould do that !etter at home than trai$sing around the ountryside, Adam o!served. &ou dont know my older !rothersI They want to wra$ me in otton !atting and kee$ me safe. "afe, haI What they mean is, they want to kee$ me a virgin forever. Adam hoked at this un!elieva!le revelation and oughed to lear his throat.

2?

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Its trueI Theyve hased away every single !eau Id ever had. Whi h is only a waste of

time and energy !e ause, you know, a man whos !orn to drown an manage to drown in a desert. Adam eyed her askan e. I mean, if something is destined to ha$$en, itll ha$$en no matter what. Tate waited for Adam to say something, !ut when he remained silent, she ontinued, 6y older !rother, 5esse, left home, too, when I was Aust eight. It was right after my father died. We havent seen for him for years and years. I dont $lan to stay away for years, of ourse, !ut then, who knows how long it will take to find my )rin e +harming. 0ot that I have to marry a $rin e of a man. Tate grinned and shrugged. But it would !e ni e, you know, to Aust on e kiss a man goodnight, without having my !rothers send him $a king !e ause hes not good enough for me. Tate realiJed she was talking to fill the silen e and for ed herself to shut u$. Behind the young womans !ravado Adam saw the des$eration that had sent her fleeing from the safe haven her !rothers had $rovided for her. #e felt side inside. Was this the way his younger sister had felt? #ad 6elanie seen him as an o$$ressive tyrant, the same way this young woman $er eived her !rothers? Tate held her !reath as the "tranger looked into her eyes. Thane was an awful sadness there she felt onstrained to dis$el. "o she !egan talking again. Ive !een looking everywhere for a Ao!, she said. I must have !een to fifteen different s$reads in the $ast two weeks. But I havent had so mu h as a ni!!le of interest. What I find so frustrating is the fa t that most owners dont treat me seriously. I mean, I know Im young, !ut there isnt anything I dont know a!out running a ran h. %o you know how to figure the amount of feed you need for ea h head of sto k? Adam asked. %e$ends on whether you $lan to kee$ the sto k $enned or let it graJe, Tate said 0ow if its $ennedH Adam interru$ted with, Cive me some sym$toms of oli . A horse might have oli if he wont eat, or if starts $awing, or gets u$ and down a lot. Cenerally an animal that ant get omforta!le has a $ro!lem. +an you kee$ !ooks on a om$uter?

23

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Tate snorted inelegantly. Boy an I everI I stu k with all the !ookkee$ing at #awks

Way. "o, if you were hiring at the DaJy ", would I get the Ao!? What will you do if you dont get the Ao!? Adam asked instead. Tate shrugged, not realiJing how revealing the gesture was of the fa t she wasnt she wasnt the least !it non halant a!out that distressing $ossi!ility. I dont know. I only know I wont go !a k home. And if your !rothers find you? #er hin took on a mulish tilt. Ill Aust run away again. Adam wondered if his sister was so forthright and disarmingly honest with the man who had $i ked her the night she ran away from home. #ad that stranger known all a!out the young woman he had ra$ed and murdered and left lying in a dit h on the side of the road? Adams teeth len hed in determination. If he had thing to say a!out it, the inno ent young woman in his $i ku$ would not !e ome another su h statisti . And he, of all $eo$le, was in a $erfe t $osition to hel$ her. Be ause he owned the DaJy " *an h. #owever, in the months sin e Adam had $ut his advertisement in the ran h Aournal, he had hanged his mind a!out needing a foreman. #e had de ided to $la e his ountry medi al $ra ti e on hold and $ut the DaJy " *an h !a k in the !la k himself. But if he told this young woman he had no Ao! for her, where would she go? What would she do? And how would he feel if he sent her away and she ended dead somewhere on the side of the road? "ay, theres the DaJy " *an hI Tate $ointed at wroughtGiron sign that !ridged a dirt road off the main thoroughfare. To her sur$rise, the ow!oy turned and drove a ross a attle guard onto the DaJy ". I thought you were going to take me into townI she said. I thought you wanted to interview for a Ao!I he retorted. Tate eyed the ow!oy. "he was $er$le>ed. 6any western men were the strong, silent ty$e, !ut the stranger who had $i ked her u$ was something more. Aloof. The more distant he was, the more intrigued she !e ame. It was a sur$rise to fine out he had !een kind enough to take her dire tly to the DaJy ". "he ould have ki ked herself for telling him so mu h $ersonal information without finding out anything a!out himHnot even his name. When he dro$$ed her off, she might never see him again. Tate suddenly realiJed she wanted to see him again, .ery mu h.

=:

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, As the ow!oy sto$$ed his $i ku$ in front of an im$ressive ado!e ran h house, she said,

I ant tell you how mu h I a$$re iate your giving me a ride here. Id like to thank you, !ut I dont even know your nameI Adam turned to look at her and felt a tightening in his gut as she smiled u$ at him. Well, it was now or never. 6y name Is Adam )hili$s, he said. I own the DaJy ". +ome on inside, and you an interview for that Ao!.

=2

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%,

T ree
Tate was stunned when the mysterious ow!oy revealed his identity, !ut !uoyant with ho$e, as well. "he s ram!led out of the $i ku$ after Adam, ertain that he wouldnt have !othered !ringing her here if he didnt intend to at least onsider her for the Ao! of ran h foreman. 8ollow me, he said, heading into the house. Tate sto$$ed only long enough to gra! her duffel !ag and sling it over her shoulder !efore s am$ering u$ the three ste$s after him. Adams living room was mas uline through and through, filled with massive "$anish furniture of natural leather studded with !rass. There was not another frill or a fur!elow to soften the room. No woman has lived here in a long timeif ever, Tate de ided. Ashe dis overed that the a!ode ha ienda formed a ( sha$e. The two wings en losed a garden shaded !y immense mossGladen live oaks and !right with !looming !ougainvillea. A entral tile fountain s$lashed with as ading water. They finally arrived at Adams offi e, whi h was lo ated at the ti$ of one wing of the house. The thi k a!ode walls and the !arrelGtile roof ke$t the inside of the house dark and ool, reminis ent of days gone !y when everyone took an afternoon siesta. Tate saw from the imma ulate ondition of the offi e that Adam must !e an organiJed $erson. ,verything had a $la e and everything was in its $la e. Tate felt her heart sink. "he wasnt averse to order, she Aust refused to !e !ound !y it. That had !een one small re!ellion she was a$a!le of in the s$a e in whi h her !rothers onfined her. Instead of sitting on the leather hair in front the desk, she seated herself on a orner of the antiBue oak desk itself. Adam refused to sit at all, instead $a ing the room like a aged tiger. Before we go any further, I want to know to know your real name, he said. Tate frowned. I need a $romise from you first that you wont onta t my !rothers. Adam sto$$ed $a ing and stared at her. Tate stared right !a k.

==

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, All right, he said. &ouve got it. Tate took a dee$ !reath and said, 6y last name is Whitelaw. Adam swore under his !reath and !egan $a ing again. The Whitelaws were known all

over Te>as for e> ellent Buarter horses they !red and trained. #e had on e met Carth Whitelaw at a Buarter horse sale. And he was intimately a Buainted with 5esse Whitelaw. Tates !rother 5esse, the one she hadnt seen in years, had re ently married #oney 8arellH the woman Adam loved. #oneys ran h, the 8lying %iamond, !ordered the DaJy ". 8ortunately, with the strained relations !etween Adam and 5esse Whitelaw, Tates !rother wasnt likely to !e visiting the DaJy " anytime soon. Adam turned his attention to the young woman he had res ued from the side of the road. #er short !la k hair was wind!lown around her fa e, and her heeks were flushed with e> itement. "he was gnawing worriedly on her lower li$Hsomething he thought he might like to do himself. Adam felt that telltale tightening in his groin. #e tu ked his thum!s into his Aeans to kee$ from rea hing out to tou h her. Tate rossed her legs and lut hed her knee with la ed fingers. "he ould feel the tension in Adam. A. mus le worked in his Aaw, and his e>$ression was for!idding. A shiver ran down her s$ine. But it wasnt fear she felt, it was anti i$ation. "he was so nervous her voi e ra ked when she tried to s$eak. "he leared her throat and asked, "o do I get the Ao!? I havent made u$ my mind yet. Tate was on her feet and at Adams side in an instant. Id !e good at it, she argued. &ou wouldnt !e sorry you hired me. Adam had his dou!ts a!out that. #is !lood thrummed as he aught the faint s ent of lila s from her hair. #e was already sorry he had sto$$ed to $i k her u$. #e ouldnt !e anywhere near her without feeling as randy as a teenager. That was a fine state of affairs when he had a$$ointed himself her guardian in her !rothers stead. But he !elieved Tate when she had said she would Aust run away again if her !rothers tried taking her home. "urely she would !e !etter off here where he ould kee$ a lose eye on her.

=4

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, #e arefully ste$$ed away from her and went around to sit !ehind his desk. )erha$s it

would $rovide a more omforta!le !arrier !etween himself and the un ontrolla!le urges that stru k him when he got within tou hing distan e of this engaging runaway. #e stee$led his fingers and said, The Aot I have availa!le isnt the same one that was advertised. "he !ra ed her $alms on the desk and leaded toward him. 'h? Why not? Adam took one look, at what her areless $osture in the $easant !louse revealed and for ed his gaJe u$ward to her wide haJel eyes. Its om$li ated. #ow? Why didnt she move? #e had the irresisti!le urge to rea h out andH #e Aum$ed u$ from !ehind his desk and started $a ing again. &oud have to know a little !it a!out whats ha$$ened on the DaJy " over $ast ou$le of months. Tate dra$ed herself sideways a ross the hair in front of the desk, one leg, swinging to release the tension, and said, Im listening. 6y $revious ran h manager was a rook. #es in $rison now, !ut !esides stealing other $eo$les attle, he em!eJJled from me. #e left my affairs in a mess. 'riginally, Id intended to hire someone else to try to straighten things out. Dately Ive de ided to $ut my medi al $ra ti e on holdH Wait a minuteI Tate sat u$ and her feet dro$$ed to the floor, de$riving Adam of the deli ious view hed had of her derriere. %o you mean to tell me youre a do tor? she asked in redulously. #e shrugged shee$ishly. Afraid so. 'ver the $ast few months Ive !een transferring my $ra ti e to another $hysi ian whos moved into the area, %r. "usan -owalski. 0ow I have time to su$ervise the work on the DaJy " myself. What I really need is someone I an trust to organiJe the $a$erwork and the !ookkee$ing. Adam $ointed to the om$uter on a stand rear his desk. That thing and I dont get along. I ant $ay mu h, Adam admitted, !ut the Ao! in ludes room and !oard. That would kee$ her from slee$ing in her tru k, whi h was a!out all Adam sus$e ted she ould afford right now. Tate wrinkled her nose. "he had ut her teeth on the om$uter at #awks Way, and what she didnt know a!out !ookkee$ing hadnt !een dis overed. But it was the kind of work she

=9

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%,

liked least of everything shed done at #awks Way. "till, a Ao! was a Ao!. And this was the !est offer she had gotten. All right. I a e$t. Tate stood and held a hand out to Adam to shake on the deal. When Adam tou hed her flesh he was a$$alled !y the ele tri ity that streaked !etween them. #e had sus$e ted his attra tion for Tate, all the while warning himself not to get involved. #is $owerful, instantaneous rea tion to her still aught him !y sur$rise. #e !lamed, it on the fa t that it had !een too damn long sin e hed had a woman. There were $lenty who would willingly satisfy his needs, woman who knew the s ore. #e a!solutely, $ositively, was not going to get involved with a twentyGthreeGyearGold virgin. ,s$e ially not some virgin who wanted a hus!and and a family. 8or Adam )hili$s wouldnt give her oneH and ouldnt give her the other. Tate was astonished !y the Aolt she re eived sim$ly from the las$ of Adams hand. "he looked u$ into his !lue eyes and saw a flash of desire Bui kly !anked. "he Aerked her hand away, said, Im sure were !oth going to enAoy this relationshi$, then flushed at the more intimate inter$retation that ould !e $ut on her words. Adams li$s urled in a yni al smile. "he was a lam!, all right, and a wily old wolf like himself would smart to kee$ his distan e. #e didnt intend to tell her !rothers where she was. But he was !etting that sooner or later word of her $resen e on the DaJy " would leak out, and they would find her. When they did all hell was going to !reak loose. Adam shook his lead when he thought of what he was getting himself into. Tate Whitelaw was Trou!le with a a$ital T. Where do I !unk in? Tate asked. Adam dragged his "tetson off and ruffled his !lond hair where the sweat had matted it down. #e hadnt thought a!out where he would $ut her. #is $revious foreman had o u$ied a se$arate room at one end of the !unkhouse. That o!viously wouldnt do for Tate. I su$$ose youll have to stay here in the house, he said. Theres a guest !edroom in the other wing. +ome along and Ill show you where it is. #e walked her !a k through the house, des ri!ing the layout of things as they went along. 6y !edroom is ne>t to the offi e. The living room, family room and the kit hen are in the enter of the house. The last !edroom down the hall on this other wing was set u$ for

=<

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%,

medi al emergen es, and I havent had time to refurnish it. The first !edroom on this wing will !e your room. Adam o$ened the door to a room that had a distin tively southwestern flavor. The furniture was antiBue Ameri ana, with woven rugs on the floor, a ro ker, a dry sink, a wardro!e and a large ma$le fourG$oster overed with a !rightly $atterned Built. The room felt tight and airy. That image was hel$ed !y the large sliding glass door that o$ened onto the ourtyard. Tate sat down on the !ed and !oun ed a ou$le times. 8eels $lenty omforta!le. "he turned and smiled her thanks, u$ at Adam. The smile froJe on her fa e, #is look was avid, his nostrils flared. "he was suddenly aware of the softness of the !ed. The fa t that they were alone. And that she didnt know Adam )hilli$s... from Adam. #owever, the $art of Tate that was alive to the danger of the situation was sBuel hed !y the $art of her that was e>hilarated to dis over she ould have su h a $rofound effe t on this man. Adam was Buite unlike the men her !rothers had so $erem$torily eAe ted from #awks Way. In some way she ould not e>$lain how !e was different. "he knew instin tively that his kiss, his tou h, would !e unlike anything she had ever e>$erien ed !efore. 0or did she feel the same $erson when she was near him. With this man, she was different. "he was no longer her !rothers little sister. "he was a woman, with a womans need to !e loved !y one s$e ial man. Instead of s ooting Bui kly off the !ed, she stayed right where she was. "he tried her feminine wings Aust a !it !y languidly turning on her side and $ro$$ing her head u$ with her hand. "he $ulled one leg u$ slightly, mimi king the se>y $oses she had seen in some of her !rothers magaJinesHthe ones they thought she knew nothing a!out. Adams rea tion was everything she ould have wished for. #is whole !ody tautened. A vein in his tem$le thro!!ed. The mus les in his throat worked s$asmodi ally. And something else ha$$ened. "omething whi h, onsidering the level she was lying at, she ouldnt hel$ o!serving. It was fas inating. "he had never a tually wat hed it ha$$en to a man !efore. 6ostly, the men she had dated were already in that ondition !efore she had n o$$ortunity to noti e. The hanging, sha$e of Adams Devis left no dou!t that he was !e oming undenia!ly, indis$uta!ly, a!solutely, om$letely aroused.

=@

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, "he gas$ed, and her eyes sought out his fa e to see what he intended to do a!out it. Nothing! Adam thought. He was going to do absolutely nothing about the fact this

hoyden in blue jeans had him harder than a roc ! in ten seconds flat! If youre done testing your feminine wiles, Id like to finish showing you the house, Adam said. #umiliated !y the sar asm in his voi e, Tate Bui kly s ooted off the !ed. "he had no trou!le re ogniJing his feelings now. Irritation. 8rustration. "he felt the same things herself. "he had never imagined how $owerful desire ould !e. It was a lesson she wouldnt forget. "he stood !efore him, hin high, unwilling to admit the !lame or shame or regret for what she !ad done. Im ready. Then stri" down and get into that bed. Adam len hed, his teeth to kee$ from saying what he was thinking. #e didnt know when he had felt su h un!ridled lust for a woman. It wasnt de ent. But he damn sure wasnt going to do anything a!out itI +ome on. he growled. 8ollow me. Tate followed Adam !a k through the house to the kit hen, where they found a short, rotund 6e>i an woman with sna$$ing !la k eyes and round, rosy heeks. "he was ho$$ing onions at the ounter. Tate was treated to a smile that revealed two rows of !rilliant while teeth. Who have you !rought to meet me, "eMor Adam? the woman, asked. 6aria, this is Tate Whitelaw. "hes going to !e my new !ookkee$er. Tate will !e staying in the guest !edroom. Tate, Id like you to meet my housekee$er, 6aria 8uentes. Buenos dNas, 6aria, Tate said. O#a!la usted es$aMol? 6aria asked. &ouve already heard all I know, Tate said with a selfGde$re ating grin. 6aria turned to Adam and said in "$anish, "he is very $retty, this one. And very young. )erha$s you would wish me to !e her dueMa. Adam flushed and answered in "$anish, Im well aware of her age, 6aria. "he doesnt need a ha$eron around me.

=;

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, The 6e>i an woman ar hed a dis!elieving !row. Again in "$anish she said, &ou are a

man, "eMor Adam. And her eyes, they smile at you. It wouldnt !e hard for any man to refuse su h an invitation. 0o? 0oI Adam retorted. Then added in "$anish, I mean, no I wouldnt take advantage of her. "he has no idea what shes saying with her eyes. 6arias dis!elieving !row ar hed higher. If you say so, "eMor Adam. Tate had !een trying, to follow the "$anish onversation, !ut the only words she re ogniJed were 6aria, ha$eron, "eMor Adam and 0o. The look on 6arias fa e made it lear she disa$$roved of the fa t Tate would !e living in the house alone with Adam. Well, she didnt need a ha$eron any more than she needed a kee$er. "he ould take are of herself. 8ortunately, it wasnt ne essary for her to interru$t the onversation. A kno k at the kit hen door did it for her. The door o$ened !efore anyone ould answer it, and a young owhand stu k his head inside. #e had !rown eyes and au!urn hair and a fa e so tanned it looked like rawhide. Adam? &oure needed in the !arn to take a look at that mare, Break of %ay. "hes having some trou!le foaling. "ure. Ill !e there in a minute. Bu k. Instead of leaving, the owhand stood where was, his eyes glued on the vision in a $easant !louse and skinGtight Aeans standing in Adams kit hen. #e ste$$ed inside the door, sli$$ed his hat off his head and said, 0ames Bu k, maam. Tate smiled and held out her hand. Tate WhGatly. The ow!oy shook her hand and then stood there foolishly grinning at her. Adam groaned inwardly. This was a om$li ation he should have foreseen, !ut hadnt. Tate was !ound to harm every owhand on the $la e. #e Bui kly rossed $ast her and $ut a hand on Bu ks shoulder to urge him out the door. Dets go. +an I ome with you? Tate asked. Before Adam ould say no, Bu k s$oke u$. Why sure, maam, the ow!oy said. Be glad to have you along. There wasnt mu h Adam ould say e> e$t, &ou an ome. But stay out of the way.

=?

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, What kind of trou!le is the mare having? Adam asked as they rossed, the short

distan e to the !arn, Tate following on their heels. "hes down and her !reathings la!ored, Bu k said. Tate saw as soon as they watered they entered the stall that the mare was indeed in trou!le. #er features were grim as she sett led onto the straw !eside the mares head. There now, $retty lady. I know its hard. 5ust rela>, you $retty lady, and everything will !e all right. Adam and Bu k e> hanged a look of sur$rise and a$$roval at the alm, matterGofGfa t way Tate had insinuated herself with the mare. The mare lifted her head and whi kered in res$onse to the sound of Tates voi e. Then she lay !a k down and a long, low groan es a$ed her. Tate held the mares head while Adam e>amined her. Its twins. Why thats wonderfulI Tate e> laimed. 'ne of thems turned wrong, !lo king the !irth anal. In fa t, there was one hoof from ea h of the twins showing. "urely your vet an deliver themI Adams features were som!er as he answered, #es out of town at his daughters wedding. Adam ouldnt imagine a way to save either foal, entangled as they were. Tates e> itement vanished to !e re$la ed with fore!oding. "he had en ountered this $ro!lem on e !efore and the result had ome lose to !eing disastrous. Carth had managed to save the mare and it foals, !ut it had !een a very near thing. Ill have to take one foal to save the other, Adam said in a flat voi e. &ou mean, destroy it? Tate asked. "he ouldnt !ring herself to say dismem!er it though that what Adam was suggesting. Theres nothing else I an do. Adam turned to the ow!oy and said, Bu k, see if you an find some ro$e. Tate stroked the mares ne k, trying to kee$ the animal alm. "he looked u$ and saw the dread in Adams eyes. It was never easy to make su h de isions, yet they were a onstant $art of ran h life. "he was hesitant to interfere, !ut there was the tiniest han e the se ond foal ould !e saved. 6y !rother Carth went through this not too long ago. #e was a!le to save !oth foals !yH

=3

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Bu k arrived and interru$ted with, #eres the ro$e, Adam. %o you need my hel$? Im not sure. Id a$$re iate it if youd stay. Bu k $ro$$ed a foot or the edge of the stall and leaned his arms a ross the to$ rail to

wat h as Adam knelt !eside the mare and !egan to fashion a noose with the ro$e. Adam $aused and glan ed over at Tate. "he was gnawing on her lower li$ again while smoothed her handover the mares sleek ne k. Adam found himself saying, If you know something that an !e done to save !oth foals, Im willing to give it a try. #e wat hed Tates whole fa e light u$. &esI &es, I do. "he Bui kly e>$lained how Carth had re$ositioned the foals. Im not sue IH &ou an do itI Tate en ouraged. I know you anI #er glowing look made him think he might !e a!le to move mountains. As for saving two s$indly foals... It was at least worth a try. A half hour later, sweat had made dam$ $at hes under the arms and down the !a k of Adams ham!ray shirt. #e had $aused in what he was doing long enough to tie a navy !lue !andanna around his forehead to kee$ the salty wetness out of his eyes. #e worked Buietly, effi iently, aware of the lifeGandGdeath nature of his task. Adam knew a moment of ho$e when he finished. But now that the foals had !een rearranged, the mare seemed too e>hausted to $ush. #e looked a ross the mare to Tate, feeling his failure in every in h of his !ody. Im sorry. Tate didnt hear his a$ology. "he took the mares head onto her la$ and !egan hanting and ooing to the e>hausted animalHwit h raft for sure, Adam thoughtHuntil the mare amaJingly, mira ulously !irthed the first of the foals. Adam knew his grin had to !e as silly as the one on Tates fa e, !ut he didnt are. Bu k took are of leaning u$ the first foal while Tate ontinued her in antations until the mare had delivered the se ond. Bu k again took over drying off the foal while Tate remained at the mares head, and Adam made sure the after!irths were taken are of. When Adam was finished, he rossed to a sink at one end of the !arn and s ru!!ed himself lean. #e dried his hands with a towel !efore rolling his sleeves down from a!ove the el!ow to the middle of his forearms.

4:

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Adam wat hed in admiration as Tate oa>ed the mare onto her feet and introdu ed her to

her offs$ring. The mare too a tentative li k of one, and then the other. In a matter of minutes !oth foals were nudging under her !elly to find mothers milk. Tates eyes met Adams a ross the stall. #i o$ened his arms and she walked right into them. #er arms ir led his waist, and she held him tightly as she vent to the tears she hadnt shed during the awful ordeal. ,verythings fine, sweetheart. Thanks to you, everythings Aust fine, Adam said, stroking her short, silky hair. %ont ry, sweetheart. &ou did Aust fine. Adam wasnt sure how long they stood there. When he looked u$ to tell Bu k he ould go, he dis overed the ow!oy was already gone. Tates so!s had su!sided and he !e ame aware for the first time of the lithe figure that was $ressed so intimately against him. Tate Whitelaw might !e young, !ut she had !ody of a woman. #e ould feel the soft round of her !reasts against his hest, and her feminine hi$s were fitted tight against his mas ulinity. #is growing mas ulinity. #e tried shifting himself away, !ut her nose !uried itself more dee$ly at his shoulder and she snuggled loser. Tate. #e didnt re ogniJe the voi e as his own. #e leared his throat and tried again. Tate. #mm? If she didnt re ogniJe the $otential danger of the situation was he honor !ound to $oint it out to her? "he felt so good in his armsI Before he ould sto$ himself, his hands had tangled in her hair. #e tugged and her head fell !a k. #er eyes were lim$id $ools of gold and green. #er fa e was flushed from rying. "he had !een gnawing that li$ again and it was swollen. #e ould see it needed soothing. #e lowered his head and aught her lower li$ !etween his teeth, letting his tongue ride the length of it, testing the fullness of it. Tate moaned and !e was Dost. #is tongue sli$$ed into her mouth, tasting her, seeking sola e for a desolation of s$irit he had never admitted even to himself. #er whole !ody melted against him, and he was aware of an e> ru iatingly $leasura!le heat in his groin where their !odies were fitted together. #e s$read his legs slightly and $ulled her hard against him, then ru!!ed them together, reating a fri tion that turned molten oals to fire.

42

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Tate was only aware of sensations. The softness of his li$s. The sli kness of his tongue.

The heat and hardness, of his !ody $ressed tightly against hers. The surge of $leasure as his maleness sought out her femaleness. The urgen y of his mouth as it found the smooth olumn of her ne k and teased its way u$ to her ear, where his !reath, hot and moist, made her shiver. )lease, Adam, she gas$ed. )lease dont sto$. Adams head Aerked u$, and he stared woman in his arms. Cood Dord in #eavenI What was he doing? Adam, had to rea h !ehind him to free Tates arms. #e held her at arms length, his hinds gri$$ing hers so tightly he saw her win e. #e loosened his hold slightly, !ut didnt let go. If !e did, he was lia!le to $ull her !a k into his arms and finish what he had started. #er eyes were lam!ent, her fa e rosy with the heat of $assion. #er !ody was languid, !oneless with desire, and it wouldnt take mu h to have her flat on her !a k !eneath him. #re you out of your mind$ %hats gotten into you$ &oure su""osed to be "rotecting her from lechers! not seducing her yourself! Tate ould see Adam was distraught, !ut she hadnt the least notion why. Whats wrong? she asked. #er voi e was still !reathless and sounded se>y as hellI #is !ody thro!!ed with need. Ill tell you whats wrong, little girl! he retorted. &ou may ! hotter than a fire ra ker on the 8ourth of 5uly, !ut Im not interested in initiating any virginsI %o you hear me? 'lat not interested! +ould have fooled meI Tate shot !a k. Adam realised he was still holding her handsHwas in fa t ru!!ing his thum!s along her $almsHand dro$$ed them like hot $otatoes. &ou stay away from me, little girl. &oure here for one reason, and one reason onlyHkee$ing !ooks. &ou got that? I got it, big boy! Adam started to rea h to rea h for her !ut aught himself. #e stalked over and let himself out of the stall. A moment later and he was gone from the !arn. Tate urled her arms $rote tively around herself. What had ha$$ened to hange things so Bui kly? 'ne minute Adam had !een making sweet, sweet to her. The ne>t he had !e ome a raving lunati . 'h, hew f had stung when he alled her little girl! "he might !e small in stature, !ut she was all grown u$ in every way that mattered. ,> e$t for !eing a virgin.

4=

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Tate had to admit she was a !a!e in the woods when it ame to se>ual e>$erien e. But

she re ogniJed that what had Aust ha$$ened !etween her and Adam was something s$e ial. #e had wanted her as mu h as she had wanted him. "he ouldnt !e mistaken a!out that. But their attra tion had !een more than se>ual. It was as though when she walked into his arms she had found a missing $art of herself. And though Adam might dis ount what had ha$$ened !e ause she was so young, she wasnt going to let him get away with denying what had ha$$ened themHto her or to himself. And she wasnt let him get away with denying itH to her or to himself. "he wasnt some little girl he ould dismiss with a wave of his hand. )owerful for es were at work !etween them. Tate had to find a way to make Adam see her as a woman worthy of his love. But how !est to a om$lish that goal? Be ause the $hysi al attra tion !etween them was so $owerful, Tate de ided, she would start with that. "he would $ut tem$tation in Adams $ath see what ha$$ened.

44

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!our
Adam wat hed Tate smiling u$ at the ow!oys who surrounded her at the orral while she regaled them with another of her outrageous stories a!out life at #awks Way, as she had often done over the $ast three weeks. As usual, she was dressed in Aeans, !oots a TGshirt with some eBually outrageous slogan written on it. 'nly this TGshirt had the ne kline ut out so it sli$$ed down to reveal one shoulderHand the o!vious fa t that she wasnt wearing a !ra. Anyone with eyes in his head ould see she was naked under the TGshirt. The three ow!oys were sure as hell looking. The wind was !lowing and the otton lung to her outlining her generous !reasts. Adam told himself he wasnt going to make a fool out of himself !y going over there and dragging her away from three sets ogling male eyes. #owever on e his footste$s headed in that dire tion, he didnt seem to !e a!le to sto$ them. #e arrived in time tea hear her say, 6y !rothers taught me how to get even when some ra!!itGshy horse !u ks me oft. #ows that, Tate? one of the ow!oys asked. Why, I Aust make that horse walk !a k to the !arn all !y himselfI Tate said with a grin. The ow!oys guffawed, and Tate Aoined in. Adam aught his li$ urling with laughter and straightened it !a k out. %ont you have some work to do? he demanded of the three ow!oys. "ure, Boss. &eah, Boss. 5ust leaving, Boss. They ti$$ed their hats to Tate, !ut ontinued staring at her as they !a ked away. Adam swore a idly, and they Bui kly turned tail and s attered in three different dire tions. #e dire ted a ool stare at Tate and said, I thought I told you to stay away from my owhands.

49

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, I !elieve your e>a t wards were. /8inish your work !efore you go trai$sing around the

ran h, Tate re$lied in a drawl guaranteed to irritate her already irritated !oss. Is your work done? #ad you !een home for lun h, Id have offered show you the !ookkee$ing system Ive set u$. ,verythings !een logged in and all the urrent invoi es have !een $aid. I have some suggestions for waysH #e interru$ted with, What the hell ate you doing out here halfGdressed, arousing with the hired hel$? (arousing$ I was Aust tal ing to themI Tate flashed !a k. I want you to leave those !oys alone. Boys? They looked like grown men to me. +ertainly old enough to make u$ their minds whether or not they want to s$end time with me. Adam gra!!ed the hat off his head and sla$$ed it against his thigh. %ammit, Tate. &oure a !a!e in the woodsI &oure $laying with fire, and youre going to get !urnedI &on ant run around here, half naked and not e>$e tH Half na ed$ she s offed. &ouve got to !e kiddingI That TGshirt doesnt leave mu h to the imaginationI I an see your ni$$les $lain as day. Tate looked down and realiJed for the first time that twin $eaks were learly visi!le !eneath the TGshirt. "he de ided to !raJen it out. "o what if you an? I assume youre familiar with the female anatomy. Besides, youre not my father or my !rother. &ou have a!solutely no right to tell me what to wearI "in e the eroti feelings Adam was e>$erien ing at the moment werent the least fatherly or !rotherly, he didnt argue with her. #owever, he had a$$ointed himself her guardian in their stead. As su h, he felt it his duty to $oint out to her the dangers of su h $rovo ative attire. #e e>$lained in a reasona!le voi e, When a sees a woman looking like that, he Aust naturally gets ideas. Tate looked shar$ly at Adam. What kind of ideas? The wrong kind, Adam said em$hati ally.

4<

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Tate smiled im$ishly and !atted her lashes at him. I thought you were /flat not

interested in. lil ole me. +ut it out, Tate. +ut what out? "to$ !atting those lashes at me, for one thing. Tate $outed her li$s like a hild whose andy !een taken away. &ou mean it isnt working? It was working all right. Too damn well. "he was Aust $re o ious enough to !e harming. #e was entran ed des$ite his wish not to !e. #e felt his !ody !egin to harden as she slid her gaJe from his eyes, to his mouth, to his hest, and straight on down !ody !e his rot h. Whi h was $utting on a $retty damn good show for her. &oure asking for it, he said through len hed teeth. "he !atted her eyelashes and said, Am I going to get it? The ne>t thing Tate knew she had !een hefted over Adams shoulder like a sa k of wheat, and he was striding toward the house. Det me downI she ried. Adam, this is un omforta!le. "erves you rightI &ou havent !een the least worried a!out my omfort for the $ast three weeks. Where are you taking me? What are you $lanning to do with me? "omething Im going to enAoy very mu hI Was Adam really going to make love to her? Would he !e rough, or gentle? #ow was she su$$osed to a t? Was there some sort of $ro$er etiBuette for the ravishing of virgins? 0ot that she hadnt ever worried too mu h a!out what was $ro$er. But she felt nervous, an>ious a!out the en ounter to ome. 8inally, Adam would have to a knowledge that greater for es were at work !etween them than either of them ouldHor shouldHresist The air inside, the ado!e house hit her like a ooling Je$hyr. The dimness left her !lind for an instant. 5ust as she was regaining her sight, they emerged on e more into sunlight and she was !linded again. "everal more strides and she felt herself !eing lowered from Adams shoulder. Tate !arely !ad time to register the fa t that they were in the ourtyard when Adam shifted her rosswise in his arms. Crinning down into her fa e, he said 6ay!e this will ool

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you offI and un eremoniously dum$ed her into the $ool of water that surrounded the fountain. Tate ame u$ s$luttering. Why youI "he !linked her eyes furiously, trying to lear the water from them. Why, 6iss Tate, are you !atting your eyelashes at me again? Cuess Ill have to try another dunking. #e took one ste$ toward her, and Tate retreated to the other side of the fountain. Ill get you for this you rouPI Adam laughed. It lad !een so long sin e he had done so, that the sound !rought 6aria to the kit hen window to see what "eMor Adam found so funny. "he shook her head and lu ked when she saw new the !ookkee$er standing dri$$ing in the fountain. "he gra!!ed a !ath towel from the sta k of laundry she was folding on the kit hen ta!le and hurried outside with it. "he handed it to Adam and said in "$anish, This is no way to treat a young woman. Adams eyes rinkled at the orners with laughter. It is when shes !ent on sedu ing an older man. 6aria hissed in a !reath and turned to eye the !edraggled reature in the $ool. "o that was the way the wind was !lowing. Well, she was not one to stand in way of any woman who ould make "eMor Adam laugh on e more. Be sure you get the seMorita dried off Bui kly. 'therwise she might at h a old. 6aria left Adam standing with the towel in his hand and a smug grin on his fa e. 'n e the housekee$er was gone, Adam turned !a k to Tate. And Bui kly lost his smirk. Be ause if the TGshirt had !een revealing !efore, it was $erfe tly inde ent now. #e ould easily see Tates flesh through the soaked otton. The old water had aused her ni$$les to $eak into tight !uds. #is mouth felt dry. #is voi e was ragged as he said, #ere. Wra$ yourself in this. 'nly he didnt e>tend the towel to her. #e held it so she would have to ste$ out of the $ool and into his is. When he en ir led her with the terry loth she shivered and snuggled loser. Im freeJingI she said. #e, on the other hand, was !urning u$. #ow did she do it to him? This time, however, he had only himself to !lame. #e felt her old nose !urrow into his shoulder as his hin nuJJled

4;

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her dam$ hair. The water had released the lila s ent of her sham$oo. #e took a dee$ !reath and realiJed he didnt want to let her go. Adam vigorously ru!!ed the towel u$ and down Tates !a k, ho$ing to dis$el the intima y of the moment. 6mm. That feels good, she murmured. #is !ody !etrayed him again, res$onding with amaJing ra$idity to the throaty sound of her voi e. #e edged himself away from her, unwilling to admit his need to her. In fa t, he felt the distin t ne essity to deny it. Im not going to make love to you, Tate. "he froJe in his arms. #er head lifted from his shoulder, and he found himself looking into eyes that warmed him like !randy. Why not, Adam? Is it !e ause Im not attra tive to you? Dord, noI 'f ourse youre a !eautiful woman, !utH Adam groaned as !e realiJed what he Aust admitted. I am? %hat had those brothers of hers been telling her , Adam wondered, to ma e her doubt herself li e this$ Is it !e ause I dont dress, like a lady? #is only o!Ae tion to the lothes she wore was his rea tion to her in them. +ontrary to what you might haw heard, lothes dont make the manH or the woman. Then it must !e the fa t that Im a virgin, she said. Adam felt himself flushing. Tate, you Aust dont go around talking a!out things like that. 0ot even with you? )s"ecially not with meI Why not? They were !a k to that again. #e turned her so he had an arm around her shoulder, and !egan ushering her a ross the ourtyard to her !edroom. I think its time you got out of those wet lothes. Tates im$ish smile rea$$eared. Would you like to hel$ me?

4?

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, 0ot on your lifeI #e o$ened the sliding glass door and gave her a nudge inside. Ill

meet you in the offi e in fifteen minutes and you an show me whatever !ookkee$ing wonders youve a om$lished today. #e turned and mar hed a ross the ourtyard, fighting the urge to look !a k. 'n e she was alone in her room, Tate let the towel dro$. "he stared at herself in the standing oval mirror in the orner and groaned. "he looked like something the at had dragged inI 0o wonder Adam hadnt !een interestedI Tate sat down on a wooden hair to $ull off her wet !oots, then yanked her TGshirt off and struggled with the wet Ji$$er of her Aeans. "he $eeled her silk $anties down and Bui kly !egan re$la ing her lothing with an identi al wardro!e. All e> e$t the wet !oots, for whi h she su!stituted a $air of !eaded Indian mo asins +harlie 'ne #orse had given her for +hristmas. While Tate dressed, she reviewed the events of the $ast three weeks sin e she had arrived at the DaJy ". Teasing Adam had !egun as a way of making him admit the se>ual attra tionHand something moreHthat e>isted !etween them. But she had dis overed that kidding some folks was like teasing a loaded $ole at. The satisfa tion was shortGlived. Tate hadnt !een enAoying the game mu h these days, mainly !e ause she had !egun to suffer from the se>ually harged situations as mu h as Adam. The $ro!lem was, on her side at least, her heart followed where her hormones lead. "he would give anything if Adam was as interested in her as Bu k seemed to !e. The leanGhi$ ow!oy had !een asking her every day for a week if she would go out with him on "aturday night. Well, may!e she should. 6ay!e if Adam saw that some!ody else found her worth $ursuing, he would get same idea. Tate had a heerful smile on her fa e !y the time she Aoined Adam in his offi e. #e already had the om$uter on and was $erusing the statisti s she had in$ut there. "o what do you think? she asked, $er hing herself on the arm of the large swivel hair in whi h he was sitting. It looks good. 'f ourse his offi e wasnt as neat as it had on e !een. There were halfG filled offee u$s amidst the lutter on the desk, and a olle tion of magaJines and a dirty TG shirt de orated floor. A !ridle and several other $ie es of ta k Tate was fi>ing were strewn around the room.

43

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, But he ouldnt argue with what she had a om$lished. Tate had set u$ a $rogram to

handle data on ea h head of sto k, $roviding a re ord that would !e invalua!le in making !uying and selling de isions. &ou didnt tell me you knew so mu h a!out om$uters. Tate grinned and said, &ou didnt ask. "he leaned a ross him and !egan earnestly dis ussing other ideas she had regarding $ossi!le uses of the om$uter in his !usiness. #e started automati ally leaning the de!ris from his desk. %ont worry a!out those, Tate said, taking a handful of $e!!les from him. Arent they $retty? I found them down !y the reek. "he s attered them !a k onto the desk. I $lay with them while Im thinking, sort of like worry !eads, you know? (hGhuh. Adam for ed himself to on entrate on what she was saying, rather than the way her !reast was $ressed u$ against his arm. By the time she was done talking a!out the $roAe ts she had in mind, she had shifted $osition four times. #e knew !e ause she had managed to !rush some $art of his anatomy with some $art of hers ea h time she moved. Tate was totally o!livious to Adams diffi ulty, !e ause she was having her own $ro!lems on entrating on the matters at hand. "he was !usy $lanning how she ould make Adam sit u$ and take noti e of her !y a e$ting Bu ks invitation to go out tomorrow evening. "he Aust had to make sure that Adam saw her leaving on the date with the au!urnG haired ow!oy. #er thoughts must have onAured Bu k, !e ause he suddenly a$$eared at the door to Adams offi e. 0eed you to take a look at that irrigation system to see whether you want it re$aired or re$la ed, Bu k said. Ill !e right there, Adam re$lied. Bu k had already turned to leave when Tate realiJed she had the $erfe t o$$ortunity to let Adam know she was going out with another man. 'h, Bu k. Bu k turned and the hat ame off his head in same motion. &es maam? Ive de ided to take you u$ on year offer to go dan ing tomorrow night. Bu ks fa e s$lit with an engaging grin. &es maamI Ill $i k you u$ at seven o lo k if thats all right, and we an have some dinner first.

9:

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, The thunderous look on Adams fa e was everything Tate ould have wished for, Ill

see you at seven she $romised. Bu k li$$ed his hat !a k on his head and said, &ou oming, Boss? In a minute. Ill at h u$ to you. Adams fists landed on his hi$s as he turned to onfront Tate. What was that all a!out? Bu k asked me to go dan ing at -ni$$a on "aturday night, and I though it might !e fun. Adam ouldnt very well for!id her going. As Tate had so $ointedly noted, he wasnt related to her in the least. But he ouldnt hel$ have misgivings, either. There was no telling what Bu k 6agnessons rea tion would !e if Tate su!Ae ted him to the same teasing sensuality that Adam had endured for the $ast three weeks. If Tate said )lease Bu k was damned likely to say Thank you and take what she offered. Adam suddenly heard himself for!idding his sister 6elanie from going out on a date with a !oy he had thought as little wild. #eard himself telling 6elanie that he knew !etter than she what was !est for And remem!ered the awful onseBuen es of his highGhandedness. Adam didnt have to like the fa t Tate had de ided to go out with Bu k 6agnesson. But if he didnt want to re$eat the mistakes he made with his younger sister, he had to $ut u$ with it. #ave a good time with Bu k tomorrow night, he said. Then he turned and walked out the door. Tate frowned at Adams !a k. That wasnt e>a tly the rea tion she had !een ho$ing for. Where was the Aealousy? Where was the demand that she s$end her time with him instead ? "uddenly Tate wished she had thought things through a little more arefully. Agreeing to date Bu k sim$ly to make Adam realiJe what he was missing wasnt turning out at all she had ho$ed. "he felt a little guilty that she had even onsidered using Bu k to make Adam Aealous. But sin e her $lan had failedHBuite misera!lyHshe ould at least enAoy the evening with Bu k with a lear ons ien e. Tate had gotten the !roken water hose fi>ed on her /<2 +hevy, and she used the $i ku$ to drive the ninety miles east to "an Antonio that afternoon to go sho$$ing. "he ould have worn Aeans to go dan ing, !ut had de ided that she owed it to Bu k to show u$ for their date looking her !est.

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T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, "he found a $retty halter sundress that tied around the ne k and had an almost

none>istent !a k. The !odi e fit her like a glove and showed Aust a hint of dP olletage. The !right yellow and white floral $rint ontrasted with her dark hair and $i ked u$ the gold in her eyes. The midG alf length skin was gathered at the waist and flared at the hem. "he whirled on e in front of the mirror and saw that the dress was going to reveal a great deal of her legs if Bu k was the kind of dan er who liked to twirl his $artner a lot. Bu ks smile when she o$ened the door on "aturday night was well worth the effort s$ent sho$$ing. "he ouldnt hel$ feeling a sta! of disa$$oint that Adam wasnt around to see her off. A$$arently he had made $lans of his own for the evening. Tate found Bu k sur$risingly entertaining om$any. The ow!oy had older !rothers of his own, and Tate was Bui k to agree, 0othing is harder to $ut u$ with than a good e>am$leI #e and Tate shared older !rother horror stories that ke$t them !oth laughing through dinner. The ountry and western !and was in full swing when they rossed the threshold of the Crange #all in -ni$$a. The room was fogged with igarette smoke that !attled with the overwhelming odor of sweat and ologne. The sawdusted dan e floor was rowded, el!ow to el!ow, with men in ow!oy hats $artnered !y ladies wearing floun ed Western skirts and !oots. 5ust as they made their way to the dan e floor, a twoGste$ ended and the hand !egan $laying a waltJ. "hall we? Bu k asked, making a dan e frame with his arms. A!solutelyI Tate said, ste$$ing into his em!ra e. Tate got another wel ome sur$rise when she and Bu k !egat to waltJ around the room. The lean ow!oy was gra eful on his feet. #e led her into several intri ate variations of the dan e that left her !reathless and feeling like a $rima !allerina !y the time the song ended. That was wonderfulI she e> laimed. Would you like something to drink? Bu k asked. 5ust a soda, $lease. Bu k found a seat for Tate at one of the small ta!les that surrounded the dan e floor and for ed his way through the rowd toward the !ar.

9=

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Tate was ta$$ing her foot to another twoGste$ tune and enAoying wat hing the ou$les

maneuver around the dan e floor when she thought she saw someone she re ogniJed. "he followed the ou$le until they turned at the orner of the room. Tate gas$ed aloud. It was AdamI #e was dan ing the twoGste$ with a !u>om redheaded woman. As he $assed !y her ta!le, Adam smiled and alled out, #i, thereI #aving fun? Before she ould answer, they had dan ed on $ast her, and she was left with the trill of the womans laughter in her ears. Tate felt si k. %ho was she$ The *edheaded Woman in Adams arms was a!solutely !eautiful. 0o wonder Adam hadnt !een interested in $ursing her when he was a Buainted with su h a gorgeous female. Whats aught your eye? Bu k asked as he set a soda in front of Tate. Adams here. "he $ointed him out. "ee there. With that redhead. To Tates amaJement, Bu k s owled and swore under his !reath. Whats wrong? she asked. 0othing I an do anything a!out. Thats the sort of statement thats guarantee get a nosy females attention, Tate said. 'ut with it. Bu k grinned shee$ishly and admitted, All right. #ere goes. #e took a dee$ !reath and said, That woman dan ing with Adam is my e>Gwife, &oure kiddingI /8raid not. Tate wat hed Bu k wat hing the *edheaded Woman. #is feelings were $ainfully trans$arent. &oure still in love with her. Bu k grima ed. 6u h good itll do me. I assume Adam knows how you feel. #e asked my $ermission !efore he took .elma out the first time. And you gave it to him? Tate asked in redulously. "he isnt my wife anymore. "he an set whoever she $leases. Tate snorted in disgust. While you suffer in no!le silen e. 6enI

94

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Tate had !een so involved with talking to Bu k that she hadnt realiJed the song was

ending. "he was less than $leased when Adam and .elma arrived at their ta!le. 6ind if we Aoin you? Adam asked. Tate !it her li$ to kee$ from saying something ensora!le. "he sli$$ed her arm through Bu ks $ut a giganti smile on her fa e, and said, Why sureI Wed love to have the om$any, wouldnt we, Bu k? It was hard to say who was the more sur$rised !y her $erforman e. Bu k or Adam. What she hadnt e>$e ted was the militant light that rose in .elmas green eyes when Tate laimed Bu ks arm. Well, well, well. 6ay!e there was more here than met the eye. Adam made introdu tions, then seated .elma and aught one of the few waitresses long enough to ask for two drinks. I didnt e>$e t to see you here, Tate said to Adam. I enAoy dan ing, and .elmas a great $artner. Tate ould imagine what else .elma was great at. "he had o!served for herself that the redhead had a wonderful sense of rhythm. Tate was aware of Bu k sitting stiffly !eside her, Buieter than he had !een at any time during the evening. #ow ould Adam not !e sensitive to the vi!rations that ar ed a ross the ta!le !etween the ow!oy and his e>Gwife? In fa t, Adam was imminently aware of how mu h Bu k 6agnesson still loved his e>G wife. It was why he had !rought .elma here this evening. Adam knew that with .elma in the room, Bu k wasnt lia!le to s$end mu h time thinking a!out Tate. There was more than one way to skin a at, Adam thought with satisfa tion. #e had known, Tate would re!el against an ultimatum, so he hadnt $rotested her date with Bu k. #e had sim$ly sought out a more su!tle way to get what !e wanted. Bringing .elma to the dan e seemed like the answer to his $ro!lem. #e was $retty sure .elma was as mu h in love with Bu k as the ow!oy was with his e>Gwife. #e didnt mind $laying +u$id, es$e ially if it meant se$arating Tate from the virile young ow!oy. #ow a!out trading $artners? Adam said, rising from his hair and rea hing for Tates hand. Before Tate ould $rotest, Bu k said, That sounds fine to me, took .elma !y the hand and headed for the dan e floor.

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T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Tate wasnt sure what to make of Adams $loy. "he waited until they were half a dan e

floor away from the other ou$le !efore she said, That was a $retty sneaky thing to do. I wanted to dan e with you. Are you sure you arent mat hmaking? Adam smiled. &ou ould feel it, too? I think he might still love her. Im sure he does. Then why did you !ring .elma here tonight? I would think thats o!vious. 0ot to me. I enAoy her om$any. 'h. #e grinned. And I knew Bu k would !e here with you. #e sent her into a series of s$ins that $revented her from making any kind of retort. By the time she was in his arms again the song was over and he was ushering her !a k toward their ta!le, where Bu k and .elma were sitting a ross from ea h other arguing vo iferously. Bu k? Tate didnt want to interru$t, !ut she wasnt sure whether she should leave him alone with .elma either. Dets get out of here, Bu k said, Aum$ing u$ and turning his !a k on .elma. Cood night, Adam. Ill see you tomorrow. As Bu k hurried Tate away, she heard .elma say, Id like to go home now, Adam. It thats all right with you? Tate wasnt sure where Bu k was taking her when he !urned ru!!er on the as$halt $arking lot. It was a safe guess from the dark look on his fa e that he had no romanti intentions toward her. Want to talk a!out it? she asked at last. Bu k glan ed Bui kly at her, then turned his eyes !a k to the road. I dont want to !other you with my $ro!lems. Im a good, listener.

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T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, #e sighed and said, .elma and I were high s hool sweethearts. We married as soon as

we graduated. )retty soon .elma !egan to think she had missed something. "he had an affair. Tate !it her li$ kee$ from saying something Audgmental. "he was glad she had when Bu k ontinued. I found out a!out it and onfronted her. "he asked for a divor e, and I gave it to her. Why? )ride. 8oolish damn. $rideI And you regret it now? 6y lifes !een running kind of muddy without her. "o why dont you do something a!out it? Tate asked. Its no use. "he says that I deserve !etter. "he doesnt !elieve I an ever forgive or forget what she did. +an you? The ow!oys eyes were !leak in the light from the dash. I think so. But youre not sure? A mus le worked in his Aaw. If I were, Id have her !a k home and under me faster than lightning with a link sna$$edI Tate had thought they were driving without dire tion, yet she realiJed suddenly that they had arrived !a k at the front door of Adams house. "he saw Adams, tru k $arked there. "o, he was home. And there was a light on in the living room. "he let herself out of the tru k, !ut Bu k met her on the front $or h. #e $ut an arm around her waist and walked her away front the light. 6ay I kiss you good night, Tate? Tate drew a !reath and held it. This was so e>a tly like the s ene she had $layed out the night she d left home that it was eerie. 'nly there were no !rothers here to $rote t her from the !ig, !ad wolf. 'f oarse you an kiss me good night, she said last. Bu k took his time, and Tate was aware of the sweetness of his kiss. And the relu tan e in it. When he lifted his head their eyes met, and they smiled at ea h other. 0o go, huh? he said.

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T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Tate shook her head. I like you an awful lot, Bu k. I ho$e we an !e friends. Id like that, the ow!oy said. #e leaned down and kissed her again. Both of them knew how mu hHand how littleHit

meant. #owever, that was not so the man wat hing them through a slit in the living room urtains.

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T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%,

!"#e
It had taken every oun e of will$ower Adam $ossessed to kee$ from stalking out onto the front $or h and $utting his fist in Bu k 6agnessons nose. It wasnt Aust the thought at his sister 6elanie that ke$t him from doing it. There were things he ouldnt offer Tate that Bu k ould. But he wasnt a saint or a eunu h. If Tate $ersisted in tem$ting him, he wasnt no!le enough to refuse her. #e was determined to kee$ his hunger leashed at least until he was ertain Tate knew what she wouldnt !e getting if she got involved with him. "he was too young to give u$ her dreams. And there was no way he ould fulfill them. Before Adam had time to e>amine his feelings further, the front door o$ened. Tate ste$$ed inside to find him sitting in one of the large 6editerranean hairs !efore the !la kened fire$la e, nursing a halfGem$ty glass of whiskey. #ello, she said. I didnt e>$e t to see you again tonight. I was waiting u$ for you. Tate immediately !ristled. Dook, I dont need aretaker. "he wanted a lover. But not Aust that. A man who loved her, as she was !eginning to fear she loved him. 'ld ha!its die hard. Whats that su$$osed to mean? I used to wait u$ for my sister 6elanie. &ou have a sister? Why havent I met her? "he died ten years ago. Im so sorry. Adam had drunk Aust enough whiskey to want tell her the rest of it. 6elanie ran away from home when she was seventeen. "he was $i ked u$ !y a stranger while hit hhiking. #e ra$ed her, and then sta!!ed her to death. That must have !een awful for youI Tate wanted to $ut her arms around Adam to omfort him, !ut his !ody language $osted o!vious 0o Tres$assing signs.

9?

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, "he used sitting on the ou h as an e> use, to ross loser to him, sli$$ed off her !oots

and $ulled her feet u$ under her. "he folded her arms under her !reasts to give herself the omfort he wouldnt a e$t. Then another, more trou!ling thought o urred to her. Is that why you $i ked me u$ on the road? Be ause of your sister? Adam nodded. Tate fell as though shed !een $hysi ally stru k. "he hesitated and asked, Is that why you offered me a Ao!? It seemed like a good idea at the time. Tate swallowed over the lum$ that had grown in her throat. "o Im Aust a harily ase to you? Adam heard the $ain in Tates voi e and realiJed he had handled this all wrong. If he didnt do some fast talking, he knew she would !e gone, !y morning. &ou an hardly !lame me for offering hel$ under the ir umstan es, an you I ouldnt take the han e that I might !e res$onsi!le for another young womans deathI Tate wasnt so wra$$ed u$ in her own feelings that she failed to re ogniJe the signifi an e of what Adam had Aust said. #ow an you !lame yourself for your sisters death? What ha$$ened ouldnt $ossi!ly !e your faultI 'h, no? Adams nostrils were $in hed, his !lue eyes like shards of i e. %idnt you tell me that you left home !e ause your !rothers made your life misera!le? They only did what they did !e ause they love meI Tate $rotested. "o that makes it all right for them to interfere in your life? To aggravate you enough to send you running that old rattletra$ tru k? It was lear Adam was sear hing for answers would release him from the guilt he suffered over what had ha$$ened to his sister. Tate found herself eBually onfounded !y the issues he had raised. Was love a good enough e> use for the highGhanded way Carth and 8aron had a ted? What if she had met the same fate as Adams sister? Would they have !lamed themselves for her death? "he knew they would have, Aust as Adam !lamed himself for 6elanies death all these years. "he didnt know what to say to ease his $ain. "he only knew she had to do something. Tate stood and rossed to Adam. "he knelt on the ool tile floor at his feet and laid a hand on his thigh. "he felt him tense !eneath her tou h. Adam, IH

93

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, #e rose a!ru$tly and stalked away from her. Im not in the mood for any teasing

tonight. I was trying to offer omfortI Tate retorted. 5ust stay away from meI Tate stru k !a k like the s orned woman she felt herself to !e. There are $lenty of others wholl wel ome my attentionsI Dike Bu k? Dike Bu kI That was a lie, !ut told in a good ause. "aving her $ride seemed of utmost im$ortan e right now. #ell never marry you. #es still in love with .elma. "in e Tate knew he was right, she retorted, I dont have to marry a man to go to !ed with himI Is that so, little girl$ Tate was gas$ing, she was so furious at the taunting words. But it was lear she ould ut her own throat with a shar$ tongue. "he had ertainly dug a hole for herself it was going to !e hard to get out of. "he took two dee$ !reaths, trying to regain her tem$er. Adam didnt give her a han e to s$eak !efore he said, If youre smart, youll go !a k home where you !elong. 0ow, !efore you get hurt. Are you firing me? Tate held her !reath until he said, 0o. Then Im staying. If youll e> use me, Im tired. I want to go to !ed. Tate had started for the door when Adam Bui$$ed, What, no invitation to Aoin you? Tate slowly turned !a k to fa e him. "he took her time getting from where she was to where he was. "he hooked a finger into the o$ening at the ne k of his shirt and looked u$ into eyes that were !oth wary and amused. /I learned at my !rothers knees never to a$$roa h a !ull from the front, a horse from the rear... or a damn fool from any dire tion. Cood night, Adam. Well talk a!out this again tomorrow, he said to her retreating !a k. Dike hell we willI she re$lied.

<:

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Tate s$ent a restless night, tossing and turning as her mind gra$$led with all of Adams

revelations. What she found most distur!ing was the $ossi!ility that Adam had merely !een tolerating her !e ause he felt res$onsi!le for her welfare. "urely she ouldnt have !een mistaken a!out his $hysi al rea tion to herI 6ore likely, he was attra ted to her, !ut his feelings of res$onsi!ility toward her were kee$ing him from $ursuing a relationshi$. If so, she would soon ure him of thatI Tate felt somewhat heered !y her de ision, and she made u$ her mind to onfront Adam at !reakfast. 'nly, when she arrived in the kit hen the ne>t morning, she dis overed that he had already eaten and left the house. %id !e say where he was going, 6aria? 0o, se*orita. Tate worked hard all day in the offi e so she wouldnt have time to worry a!out where Adam gone. #e was !ound to turn u$ sooner or later. #e wasnt going anywhere. And neither was she. #owever, !y seven o lo k that evening there was still no sign of Adam. #e hadnt even alled 6aria to say he wouldnt !e home for dinner. 6aria washing u$ the dinner dishes, and to kee$ herself !usy, Tate was drying them and $utting them away. 6aria had tried to start a onversation, !ut Tate was too distra ted to kee$ tra k of what she was saying. 8inally 6aria gave u$ trying and left Tate to her thoughts. Tate was worried. Where ould Adam have gone? "he had already he ked on e at the !unk house, !ut no one !ad seen him all day. When she heard a kno k at the kit hen door, Tate lea$ed to answer it. It wasnt until she o$ened the door that she realiJed Adam wouldnt have kno ked. Bu k? &ou look terri!le. Whats wrong? Bu k $ulled his hat off his head and wi$ed the sweat from his !row with his sleeve. (m, I, um. "he $ut a hand on his arm and urged him inside room, +ome in. "it down. #e resisted her efforts to move him from his s$ot Aust inside the kit hen door. 0o, IH &ou what? Tate asked in e>as$eration. I need your hel$. 'f ourse, anything.

<2

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, 6ay!e you !etter not say yes until you hear what I have to say, #e eyed 6aria, !ut

was too $olite to ask her to leave. Aware of the tension in the ow!oy, 6aria said, I give you some time alone, so you an talk, and left the room. But she made u$ her mind she wouldnt !e gone for long. The ni e se*orita, she was good for "eMor Adam. It would not do to let ow!oys like Bu k 6agnesson take what should not !e theirs. Tate turned a kit hen hair and sat in it like a saddle. Im all ears. Bu k fidgeted with the !rim of his hat another moment !efore he said, Ive thought a lot a!out our onversation last night. &ou know, a!out whether or not I ould forgive and forget what .elma did? And, wellQ I !elieve 2 an. A smile s$read on Tates fa e, Im so Bu k. &eah well, thats why I need your hel$. Ive de ided to go see .elma and tell her how I feel, and I thought may!e if you were along to sort of refereeH Tate was u$ and a ross the room in an instant. "he gave the startled ow!oy a !ig hug. Itll !e my $leasure. When would you like to go see her? Bu k grinned. Is right now too soon? Tate thought a!out leaving a note for Adam, then reAe ted the idea. It would do him good to know how it felt to worry a!out someone who didnt leave a message where he was goingI 6aria, heard the kit hen door slam losed and ame !a k in to see what "eMor Bu k had wanted. "he frowned and lu ked her tongue in dismay when she realiJed that "eMorita Tate had left the house with the handsome ow!oy, "eMor Adam will not like this. #e will not like this at all. 6aria made u$ her mind to stay until "eMor Adam got !a k from wherever he had gone and tell him what had ha$$ened. Then !e ould go find the se*orita and !ring her home where she !elonged. 6eanwhile, Bu k drove Tate to a tiny house with ginger!read trim in a Buiet neigh!orhood off 6ain "treet in (valde. "he waited an>iously with him to see if .elma were going to answer the door!ell. Tate saw the light in .elmas green eyes when she saw Bu k, and wat hed it die when she realiJed Tate was with him. I want to talk to you, .elma, Bu k said.

<=

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, I dont think we have anything to say to ea h other. "he nearly had the door losed

when Bu k stu k his !oot in it. Im not leaving until I say my $ie e, Bu k insisted in a harsh voi e. Ill all the $oli e if you dont go away, .elma threatened. I Aust want to talkI When .elma let go of the door to run for the $hone, Bu k and Tate took advantage of the o$$ortunity to ome inside. Bu k aught .elma in the kit hen and $ried the $hone re eiver out of her hand. )lease, !a!y, Aust listen to me, he $leaded. )lease give him a han e, .elma. I know youre going to want to hear what Bu k has to say. .elma froJe when she heard Tates voi e. Why did you ome here? she demanded. Bu k thought it might make it easier for the two of you to talk if there was someone else here to sort of mediate. .elma looked at Bu ks som!er fa e. "he took a dee$ !reath and said, All right. Ill listen to what you have to say. 8or five minutes. Bu k set her down, letting her !ody slide along his as he did. Tate ould have lit a fire from the s$arks that flew !etween them. They !elonged together, all right "he only ho$ed Bu k would find the right words to onvin e .elma he meant what he said. 8ive minutes later, .elma was still listening, !ut Tate ould see she was torn !etween the fervent wish to !elieve Bu k, and the awful fear that he would soon regret what !e was saying. I dont think Ill ever forget what ha$$ened .elma, Bu k said. But I think I an live with it. That wasnt e>a tly the same thing as forgiving it, Tate realised. A$$arently .elma also noti ed the distin tion. /Thats not good enough, Bu k, she said in a Buiet voi e. I love you, .elma, he said. "he hoked on a so!. I know, Bu k. I love you, too. Then why ant we get !a k together? It Aust wouldnt work.

<4

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, By now .elma was rying in earnest, and Bu k would have !een heartless indeed if he

ould have resisted $ulling her into his arms to omfort her. In fa t, that was Aust what he did. Tate suddenly realiJed another reason why she !een !rought along. #er $resen e $rovided the only restraint on the se>ual e>$losion that o urred whenever the two of them tou hed. ,ven that wasnt suffi ient at first. Bu k already had his fingers twined in .elmas red urls, and .elma had her hand on the front of Bu ks Aeans when Tate leared her throat loudly to remind them that she was still there. They !roke a$art like two teenagers aught ne king, their fa es flushed as mu h !y em!arrassment as !y $assion. (h, sorry Bu k said. .elma tried rearranging her hair, a ho$eless task onsidering how !adly Bu k had messed it u$. &ou look fine, honey, Bu k said, taking a hand smoothing her tresses himself. But the gesture turned into a aress, whi h turned into a fervent look of desire, whi h ended when Bu ks li$s lowered to .elmas in the gentlest of kisses. There was no telling where things might have gone from there, e> e$t Tate said, All right, enough is enoughI Well never get any where this way. Bu k, you go sit over there in that hair. .elma and I will sit on the ou h. "hee$ishly, Bu k rossed the room and slou hed down in the hair Tate had indi ated. Tate Aoined .elma on the ou h. "he dragged her TGshirt out of her Aeans, and used it to da! at .elmas tears. 0ow it seems to me, Tate !egan, that you !oth want to give this relationshi$ another try. "o I have a suggestion. Tate outlined for them a $lan where!y they would start from s rat h. Bu k would $i k .elma u$ at her door, they would go out together and he would return her at the end of the evening. A!solutely no se>. &ou have to learn to trust ea h other again, she said. That takes time. Bu ks fa e had taken on a mulish ast. Im not sure I an $lay !y those rules. ,s$e ially that /no se> $art. It wasnt hard to see why. The se>ual ele tri ity !etween than would have killed a normal, $erson.

<9

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, 0o se>, Tate insisted. If you s$end all your time in !ed, you wont do as mu h

talking. And !oth have a lot you need to talk a!out. Tate hewed an>iously on her lower li$ while she waited to see whether they would a e$t her suggestion. I think Tates right, .elma said. The negotiations didnt end there. In fa t it wasnt until the wee hours of the morning that all $arties were satisfied. Tate felt as emotionally e>hausted as she knew Bu k and .elma were. The hug .elma her as she was leaving, and the whis$ered Thank you from the other woman, made everything worthwhile. Tate ru!!ed the tense mus les in her ne k as Bu k drove her !a k to the ran h. "he knew Bu k was still trou!led, !ut at least now there was some ho$e that he and his e>Gwife might one day end u$ together again. When they arrived at the front door to Adams house, Bu k took Tates hand in his and said, I dont know how to thank you. 5ust !e good to .elma. Thatll !e thanks enough for me. #e ruffled her hair as an older !rother might, then leaned over and kissed her on the heek. &oure a good friend, Tate. If I an ever do anything for you, Aust let me know. Ill remem!er that, Tate said. &ou dont need to get out. I an let myself in. Bu k waited until she was inside the front door !efore he drove his tru k around to the !unkhouse. Tate had only taken two ste$s when the living room lights li ked on. Adam stood at the swit h, his fa e a granite mask of dis$leasure. Where were you? Tate a used. I waited for you for hours, !ut you never ame homeI Adam was taken a!a k, sin e he had intended to ask the same Buestion. %r. -owalski had a medi al emergen y with one of my former $atients. "usan asked me to ome !e ause 6rs. %aniels was frightened, and she thought the old lady would res$ond !etter if I was there. I knew it had to !e something im$ortant, Tate said with of relief. Were you a!le to hel$? &es, 6rs. %aniels is out of danger now.

<<

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Adam suddenly realiJed that Tate had om$letely distra ted him from the onfrontation

he had $lanned. #is eyes narrowed as he tried to de ide whether she had done it on $ur$ose. Where have you !een all night? !e asked ool voi e. %o you realiJe its four a.m.? Is it realty that late? I mean, that early, Tate said with a laugh. I was out with Bu k. 'h, AdamH #e ut her off with a snarl of disgust as she onfirmed his worst sus$i ions. I dont su$$ose I have to ask what you were doing, little girl. If you were that an>ious to lose your virginity you should told me. &ou didnt have to drag Bu k into the $i ture. Tate was aghast. &ou think Bu k and IH What am I su$$osed to think when you ome rolling in at this ungodly hour of the morning your TGshirt hanging out and your hair mussed u$ and your lower li$ swollen like its !een !itten a doJen times. Theres a $erfe tly logi alH I dont want to hear any e> usesI %o you deny that you s$ent the night with Bu k? 0o, !ut something wonderful ha$$enedH I dont want to hear the gory detailsI #e was shouting !y now, and Tate knew that if she had !een any loser Adam might not have !een a!le to ontrol the visi!le anger that shook his !ody. Cet out of my sightI he said in a hard, Buiet voi e. Before I do something Ill regret. Tate $ut her hin u$. If this fool would give her a han e, she ould e>$lain everythingI But her $ride goaded her to remain silent. Adam was neither father nor !rother. &et he seemed determined to fill the role of $rote tor. "he felt the tears that threatened. Why ouldnt he see that she only had eyes for one manHand that man was himI "ome folks ant see any farther than the steam from their own $ot of stew. With that $ronoun ement, she turned and stalked from the room. 'n e Tate was gone, Adam swore a !lue streak. When he was done, he felt worse instead of !etter. #e had ho$ed he was wrong a!out what Tate and Bu k had !een doing out so late. #e had !een stunned when Tate hadnt denied losing her virginity to the ow!oy. #e felt a!solute, un ontrolla!le rage at the thought of some other man tou hing her in ways he

<@

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%,

knew she had never !een tou hed. And thought that she had found it wonderful aused an un!eara!le tightness in his hest. #e tried to tell himself that what had ha$$ened for the !est. #e was not a whole man. "he deserved more. But nothing he said to himself took away the !itter taste in his mouth. "he was his. "he !elonged to him. And !y Cod, now that her virginity was no longer an im$ediment, he would have her.

<;

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%,

S"$
"uddenly it was Adam who !e ame the $ursuer and Tate who $roved elusive. "he gave him the old shoulder whenever she met him and made a $oint of smiling and re klessly flirting with Bu k. Be ause of the way Bu ks ourtshi$ was $ros$ering with .elma, he had the look of a ha$$y, wellGsatisfied man. Whi h left Adam seething with Aealousy. Tate sus$e ted she ould lift the thunder loud that followed Adam around if she sim$ly told him the truth a!out what she had !een doing the night she had s$ent with Bu k. But she was determined Adam would !e the one to make the first move toward on iliation. All !e had done for the $ast week was glare daggers at her. #owever, there was more than anger refle ted in his gaJe, more than antagonism in his attitude toward her. Tate was !eginning to feel fraJJled !y the uns$oken se>ual tension that siJJled !etween them. "omething had hanged sin e the night they had argued, and Tate felt the hairs lift on her arms whenever Adam was around. #is look was hungry. #is features radiated leashed $ower. #is features were harsh with unsatisfied need. "he had the uneasy feeling he was stalking her. Tate es a$ed into the offi e !y day, and $layed mediator for Bu k and .elma at night. "he refused to admit that she was hiding from Adam, !ut that was the ase. #is eyes followed her whenever they were in the same room together, and she knew he must !e aware of her rea tion to his dis on erting gaJe. ,>a tly one week from the day Tate had a om$anied Bu k on his $ivotal visit to .elma, the ow!oy took Tate aside and asked whether she minded staying home that evening instead of Aoining them as ha$eron. There are some things Id like to dis uss with .elma alone, Bu k said. Why sure, Tate re$lied with a for ed smile. I dont mind at all. 'n e Bu k was gone, Tates smile flattened into a som!er line. "he was more than a little worried a!out what Adam might do if he found out she was home for the evening. "he de ided the !est $lan was to avoid him !y staying in her room. It was the owards way out, !ut her !rothers had taught her that sometimes it was !est to $lay your ards lose to your !elly.

<?

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Tate Bui kly found herself !ored within the onfines of her !edroom. "he remem!ered

that there was some work she ould do in the offi eHif only she ould get there without !eing dete ted !y Adam. The light was on in his !edroom a ross the ourtyard. Adam often retired early and did his readingH!oth ran h and medi al AournalsHin !ed. "he was already dressed for slee$ in a long $ink TGshirt, !ut it overed her $ra ti ally to the knees. "he de ided it was modest enough even for even Adam should he find her working late in the offi e. "he ti$toed !arefoot a ross the tiled ourtyard, whi h was lit !y !oth moon and stars, sli$$ed into Adams wing of the house via a door at the far end, and sneaked down the hall to the offi e. It ould have !een an hour later, or two, when Tate suddenly felt the hairs $ri kle on her arms. "he had long sin e finished working at the om$uter !e ause the hair in front of the desk was more omforta!le than the one !ehind itHwhi h was straightG!a ked and rigid as the man who usually sat thereHshe had $lo$$ed down in it to look over $rintout of what she had done. "he had one ankle !alan ed on the front of the desk and the other hooked on the o$$osite knee. "he glan ed u$ and found, herself ensnared !y the look of desire in Adams heavyGlidded !lue eyes. Working late? he asked in a silky voi e. I thought Id finish a few things. Tate was froJen, una!le to move, un omforta!ly aware that her long TGshirt had ru ked u$ around her thighs, and her legs were !are all the way u$ to yonder. As Adam stared intently at her, she felt her ni$$les harden into dark !uds easily visi!le !eneath the $ink otton. Adams hest was !are, revealing dark urls that arrowed down into his Devis. #is Aeans seemed to !e hanging on his hi$!ones. #is !elly was ri!!ed with mus le, and a faint sheen of $ers$iration made his skin glow in the light from the single standing lam$. Adam was no less dis on erted !y Tates a$$earan e. #e had ome to his offi e looking for a ran h Aournal and found a sultry se> kitten instead. #is view of Tates 8ren hG ut $anties was wreaking havo with his selfG ontrol. #er rowG!la k hair was tousled, and her whiskeyG olored eyes were dark with feminine allure. &ou ought to know !etter than to ome here half dressed, Adam said. I wasnt e>$e ting to see you.

<3

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, 'ne !la k !row ar hed dis!elievingly. Werent you? Adam a!ru$tly swe$t the desk lear of de!ris with one hand while he rea hed for Tate

with the other. )a$ers flew in the air, u$s shattered, Tates handful of $e!!les $inged as they shot a ross the tile floor. The last $a$er hadnt landed, nor the $inging sound faded, when he set her down hard on the edge of the desk fa ing him. Tates frightened $rotest died on her li$s. Adams fier e !lue eyes never left hers as he s$read her legs and ste$$ed !etween them. #e yanked her toward him, fitting the thin silk of her $anties snugly against the heat and hardness of his arousal. /Is this what you had in mind? he demanded. Adam, IH "he gas$ed as rough hands smoothed the otton over her !reasts, revealing ni$$les that a hed for his tou h. AdamH &ouve !een teasing me for weeks, little girl. ,ven I have my limits. &oure finally going to what youve !een asking for. AdamH "hut u$, Tate. #e seiJed !oth her hands in one of his and thrust his fingers into the hair at her na$e to hold her a$tive for his kiss. Tate didnt dare !reathe as Adam lowered his head to hers. #er !ody was alive with anti i$ation. Though she had wanted this ever sin e she had first laid eyes on Adam, she was still a little afraid of what was to ome. "he wanted this man and she was ertain now that he wanted her. Tonight she would know what it meant to !e a woman, to !e Adams woman. The waiting was over at last. Adams anger at finding what he onsidered a sensual tra$ in his offi e made him more for eful with Tate than he had intended. But after all, she was no longer the tender, ine>$erien ed virgin of a week ago. #owever, somewhere !etween the moment he la ed his hand into her hair and the instant his li$s rea hed hers, his feelings underwent a violent transformation. )owerful emotions were at work, soothing the savage !east. When they finally kissed, there was nothing in his tou h !eyond the fier e need for her that thrummed through his !ody.

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T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Tate was un$re$ared for the velvety softness of Adams li$s as he slid his mouth a ross

hers. #is teeth found her lower li$, and she shivered as he ni$$ed it and then soothed the hurt. #is tongue teased her, sli$$ing inside, then retreating until she sought it out and dis overed the taste of him. %ark and distin tive and uniBuely male. Tate was lost in sensation as ea h kiss was answered !y a streak of desire that found its way to her !elly. #er !reasts felt full and a hy, yet she was too ine>$erien ed to ask for the tou h that would have satisfied her !odys yearning. "ometime while she was !eing kissed, Adam had released her hands. Tate wasnt Buite sure what to do with them, "he sought out his shoulders, then slid her hands down his !a k, feeling the orded mus le and sinew that made him so different from her. #er head fell !a k as Adams mouth aressed the hollow in her throat. The male hands at her waist slowly slid u$ under her TGshirt until Adam was u$$ing her !reasts. Tate gas$ed as his thum! !rushed a ross the a hing rests. #er !ody seemed alive to the !arest tou h of his allused fingerti$s. I want to feel you against me, Adam said as he sli$$ed the $ink TGshirt off over her head. Before Tate ould feel em!arrassed, his arm slid around her. #e sighed with satisfa tion as he hugged her to him. &ou feel so good, he murmured against her throat. Tates !reasts were e> ru iatingly sensitive to the wiry te>ture of Adams hest hair. "he was intimately aware of his strength, of hear own softness. Adam gras$ed her thighs and $ulled her more snugly against him. "he lut hed his shoulders and held on as his maleness $ressed against her femininity, evoking feelings that were foreign, yet whi h oa>ed an instin tive res$onse. A guttural groan es a$ed Adam as Tate ar hed her !ody into his. #is hands dug into her !utto ks, trying to hold her still. &oure killing me, sweetheart, he said. %ont moveI But it feels good, Tate $retested. Adam half groaned, half laughed. Too good, he agreed. Be still. I want to !e sure you enAoy this as mu h as I do. 'h, I will, Tate assured him.

@2

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Adam hu kled as he slid his mouth down her throat. #e a$tured a ni$$le in his mouth,

su ked on it, teased it with his tongue, then su ked again, until Tate was writhing with $leasure in his arms. #e took one of her hands and slid it along the hard ridge in his Aeans, too wra$$ed u$ in the $leasure of moment to noti e her virginal relu tan e to tou h him. 8eel what you do to me, he said. I only have to look at you, think a!out you, and I want youI #is hin rested at her tem$le, and he was aware of the faint s ent of lila s. #e would always think of her from now on when he smelled that $arti ular fragran e. It didnt take Tate long to realiJe how sensitive Adam was to her !arest tou h, and she reveled in her new found feminine $ower. When he ould stand the $leasure no longer, Adam !rought ea h of Tates hands to his mouth, kissed her wrists and her $alms, then $la ed her hands flat on his hest. Dift your li$s, sweetheart, Adam murmured as he tu ked his thum!s into her !ikini $anties. "he did as he asked, and an instant later Tate was naked. "he hid her fa e in his shoulder, suddenly shy with him. Adams arms sli$$ed around her. Theres no need to !e em!arrassed, sweetheart, he teased. Thats, easy to say when youve got lothes on, she retorted. Adam laughed. That an !e easily remedied. #e rea hed !etween them and unsna$$ed his Aeans. The harsh ras$ of the Ji$$er filled a silen e !roken only !y the sound of her la!ored !reathing and his. Tate gra!!ed Adams wrist to kee$ him from $ulling his Ji$$er down any more. 0ot yet, said !reathlessly. "he ouldnt hel$ the nerves that assailed her. Adam seemed to think she knew what to do, and $erha$s she had led him to !elieve it was so, !ut she was all too aware of her ignoran eHand inno en e. #e dragged the Ji$$er !a k u$ !ut left the sna$ undone. Theres no hurry, sweetheart. We have all night. Tate shiveredHas mu h from a virgins Bualms as from anti i$ationHat the thought. Adam settled her hands at his waist and lifted his own to gently u$ her fa e. #e angled her hin so that she was looking u$ at him. &oure so damn !eautifulI he said. &our eyes. #e kissed them losed.

@=

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, &our nose. #e herished the ti$ of it. &our heeks. #e gave ea h one an a olade. /&our hin. #e ni$$ed it with it is teeth. &our mouth. Tates eyes had sli$$ed losed as Adam !egan his reverent sedu tion. "he waited with

!ated !reath for the kiss that that didnt ome. "uddenly she felt herself !eing lifted into his arms. #er eyes flashed o$en in alarm. AdamI What are you doing? Where are we going? #e was already halfway down the hall to his room when he said, I want the $leasure of making love to for the first time in my own !ed. Tate had $eeked into Adams !edroom, !ut she had never !een invited inside. It was de orated in warm earth tones, sandy !rowns and innamon. "he had remem!ered !eing awed !y the sheer siJe of his !ed. The antiBue head!oard was intri ately arved master$ie e, and the s$indles at head and foot nearly rea hed to the tenGfoot eiling. The Built that overed the !ed was an intri ate !o> design Tate had never seen !efore, !ut the raftsmanshi$ was e>Buisite. Tate gra!!ed Adam around the ne k to kee$ from falling when he rea hed down to yank the Built aside, revealing $ristine white sheets. 0ow we an rela> and enAoy ourselves, he said. Adam laid her on the !ed and in the same motion used his !ody to mantle hers. #e nudged her legs a$art with his knees and settled himself against her so that she was left in no dou!t as to the reason he !rought her here. Where did you get this !ed? Tate asked, $ost$oning the moment of ultimate truth. Its a family heirloom. "everal generations of my an estors haw !een on eived and !orn here. +ut not my own, Adam thought. Never my own. Tate felt the sudden tension in his !ody. Adam? Adams features hardened as he re alled what had ha$$ened over the $ast week to ause him to !e here now with Tate. "he had made her hoi e. And he had made his. #e wanted her, and she was willing. That was all that mattered now. Adams kiss was fier e, and Tate was aught u$ in the roughness of his lovemaking. There was nothing !rutal a!out his aresses, !ut they were not gentle, either. #is kisses were

@4

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%,

fervent, his $assion un!ridled, as he drove her ruthlessly toward a goal she ould only imagine. Tate was hardly aware when Adam freed himself of his lothes. "he was so lost in new sensations that the feel of his hard naked !ody against hers was !ut one of many delights. The feel of his handsQthere. The feel of his li$s and tongueQthere. Tate was in e stasy !ordering on $ain. "he rea hed with trem!ling hands for whatever $art of Adam she ould find with her hands and her mouth. Adam, $leaseI "he didnt know what she wanted, only that she des$erately needed...something. #er !ody ar hed toward his, wild with need. 5ust as Adam lifted her hi$s for his thrust, she ried. WaitI But it was already too late. Adam s fa e $aled as he realiJed what he had done. Tates fingernails !it into his shoulder, and she lam$ed her teeth on her lover li$ to kee$ from rying out. Tears of $ain $ooled in the omers of her eyes. Adam felt her mus les len h involuntarily around him and struggled not to move, fearing he would hurt her more. &ou didnt slee$ with Bu k, he said in a flat voi e. 0o, she whis$ered. &ou were still a virgin. &es, she whis$ered. Why did you make me thinkH%ammit to hell, TateI I would have done things differently if Id known. I wouldnt haveH #e started to $ull out of her, !ut she lut hed at his shoulders. )lease, Adam. Its done now. 6ake love to me. Tate lifted her hi$s, ausing Adam to grunt with $leasure. 0ow that he knew how ine>$erien ed she was, Adam tried to !e gentle. But Tate took matters out of his hands, tou hing him in $la es that sent his $ulse through the roof, taunting him with her mouth and hands, until his thrust was almost savage. #e !rought them !oth to a lima> so $owerful that it left them gas$ing. Adam slid to Tates side and folded her in his em!ra e. #e rea hed down to $ull the overs over them and saw the !lood on the sheet that testified to her inno en e. It made him angry an over again. I ho$e youre $leased with yourselfI

@9

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, &es, I am. %ont e>$e t an offer of marriage, !e ause youre not going to get it, he said !luntly. Tate fum!led for a sheet to over herself. "he u$ and stared at Adam with wary eyes. I

dont think I e>$e ted any su h thing. 0o? What a!out all those dreams of yoursH meeting the right man, having a ni e home and a gaggle of hildren $laying at your feet? Ceese ome in a gaggle, she orre ted. And for your information, I dont think my dream is the least !it unreasona!le. It is if you have me $i tured in the role of )rin e +harming. Tate flushed. "he toyed with the sheet, arranging it to over her naked flank. Adam wat hed with regret as her tem$ting flesh disa$$eared from view. Well, Tate? "he looked into eyes still darkened with $assion and said with all the tenderness she felt for him, I love you, Adam. That was lust, not love. Tate win ed at the vehemen e with whi h he denied the rightness of what had Aust ha$$ened !etween them. Besides, he added, I like my women a little more e>$erien ed. Adam did nothing to tem$er the $ain he saw in Tates fa e at his !rutal reAe tion of her. #e ouldnt give her what she wanted, and he refused to risk the $ain and humiliation of having her reAe t what little he ould offer. If what you want is se>, Im availa!le, he said. But Im not in love with you, Tate. And I wont $retend that I am. Tate fought the tears that threatened. "he would !e damned if she would let him see how devastated she was !y his refusal lo a knowledge the !eautiful e>$erien e they had shared. It wasnt Aust se>, Adam, she said. &oure only fooling yourself if you think it was. #is li$s urled sardoni ally. When youve had a little more e>$erien e youll realiJe that any man an do the same thing for you. ,ven Bu k? she taunted. A mus le Aum$ed in Adams Aaw. "he knew all the right !uttons to $ush where he was on erned. &ou get the hankering for a little se>, you ome see me, drawled. Ill make sure youre satisfied, little girl.

@<

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Tate $ulled the sheet free of the mattress and wra$$ed it around herself as !est she ould.

Cood night, Adam. I think Ill slee$ !etter in my own !ed. #e wat hed her go without saying another word. The instant she was gone he $ounded a fist into the mattress. %amn you, Tate WhitelawI "he had made him wish for something he ould never have. "he had offered him the moon and the stars. All he had to do was !are his soul to her. And take the heartGwren hing han e that she would reAe t what little he ould offer in return.

@@

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%,

Se#en
The tears Tate had refused to let Adam see her shed fell with a vengean e on e she was alone. But she hadnt !een raised to give u$ or give in. Before long Tate !rushed the tears aside and !egan to $lan how !est to make Adam eat his words. If Adam hadnt ared for her at least a little, Tate reasoned, he wouldnt have !een so u$set !y her taunt that she would seek out Bu k. "he was ertain that Adams Aealousy ould !e a $owerful wea$on in her !attle to onvin e him that they !elonged together. ,s$e ially sin e Adam had admitted that he was willing to take e>treme measuresHeven making love to herIHto kee$ her away from Bu k. Tate intended to seek Bu k out and let the greenGeyed monster eat Adam alive. It was with some distress and onsternation Tate realiJed over the ne>t several days that Adam had somehow turned the ta!les on her. #e was the one who found e> uses to send her off alone Bu k. And he did it with a smile on his fa e. Where was the greenGeyed monster? Was it $ossi!le Adam really didnt are? #e was o!viously $ushing her in Bu ks dire tion. Was this some sort of test? %id !e e>$e t her to fall into Bu ks arms? %id he want her to? If Tate was unsure of Adams intentions, he was no less onfused himself. #e had woken u$ the morning after making love to Tate and realised somewhere !etween the moment she had first flashed that gamine smile at him and the moment he had laimed her with his !ody, he had fallen in love her. It was an a$$alling realiJation, oming, as it had, after he had insulted and reAe ted her. Doving Tate meant !eing willing to do what !est for herHeven if it meant giving her u$. #e had made the selflessly no!leHif a!surdHde ision that if, after the way he had treated her, she would rather !e with Bu k, he would not stand in her way. "o he had made e> uses for them to !e alone together. And suffered the agonies of the damned, wondering whether Bu k was taking advantage of the time to make love to her. 'ne or the other of them might have relented and honestly admitted their feelings, !ut they werent the han e !efore ir umstan es aused the tensionGfraught situation to e>$lode.

@;

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Adam had gritted his teeth and no!ly sent Tate off with Bu k to the "aturday night dan e

at the Crange #all in -ni$$a, not realiJing that they were sto$$ing to $i k u$ .elma on the way. Tate didnt la k for $artners at the dan e, !ut she was on her way to a wret hedly lonely evening nonethelessH!e ause the one $erson she wanted to !e with wasnt there. "he refused a ow!oy the ne>t dan e so she ould at h her !reath. (nfortunately, that gave her time to think. "he found herself admitting that she might as well give u$ on her $lan to make Adam Aealous, mainly !e ause it wasnt working. If he truly didnt want her, she would have to leave the DaJy ". Be ause she ouldnt stand to !e around him knowing that the love she felt would never !e returned. An alter ation on the dan e floor dragged Tate from her morose refle tions. "he was on her feet an instant later when she realiJed that one of the two slugging away at ea h other was Bu k 6agnesson. "he rea hed .elmas side and shouted over the ru kus, What ha$$ened? Why are they fighting? All the $oor man did was wink at meI .elma shouted !a k. It didnt mean a thingI There was no reason for Bu k to take a swing at him. When Tate looked !a k to the fight it was all over. The ow!oy who had winked at .elma was out old, and Bu k was !lowing ool air on his !ruised knu kles. #e was s$orting a !la k eye and a ut on his hin, !ut his smile was !road and satisfied. Cuess he wont !e making any more advan es to you, honey, Bu k said. &ou idiotI &ou animalI I dont know when Ive ever !een so humiliated in my entire lifeI .elma raged. But honeyH #ow ould you? But, honeyH Tate and Bu k were left standing as .elma t in a huff and headed for the door. Bu k threw some money on the ta!le to $ay for their drinks and ra ed outside after her. .elma was dra$ed a ross the hood of the $i ku$, her fa e hidden in her rossed arms as she so!!ed her heart out. When Bu k tried to tou h her, she whirled on him. "tay away from meI

@?

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, What did I do? he demanded, getting angry now. &ou dont even know, do you? she so!!ed. 0o, I dont, so Id a$$re iate it if youd Aust s$it it out. &ou didnt trust meI she ried. What? &ou didnt trust me to let that ow!oy know Im not interested. &ou took it u$on

yourself to make sure hed kee$ his distan e. &oure never going to forget the fa t that I strayed on e, Bu k. &oure always going to !e wat hingHwaiting to see if I sli$ u$ again. And every time you do something to remind me that you dont trust meHlike you did tonightHitll hurt the way it hurts right now. I wont !e a!le to stand it, Bu k. Itll kill me to love you and know youre wat hing me every minute from the orner of your eye. Take me home. I never want to see you againI .elma sat on the outside edge of the front seat, with Tate in the middle during the long, silent fifteenGminute drive west to (valde from -ni$$a. When they arrived in .elmas driveway, she Aum$ed out and went running into the house !efore Bu k ould follow her. Bu k rossed his arms on the steering wheel and dro$$ed his forehead onto them. Cod. I feel awful. Tate didnt know what to say. "o she Aust waited for him to talk. I ouldnt hel$ myself, he said. When I saw that fellow looking at her... I dont know, I Aust went raJy. Be ause you were afraid he would make a move on .elma? &eah. Is .elma right, Bu k? %idnt you trust her to say no on her own? Bu k sighed. It was a defeated sound. 0o. There wasnt anything else to say. Bu k had thought he ould forgive and forget. But when it ame right down to it, he would never trust .elma again. The risk was too great that his trust would $rove unfounded. I dont want to !e alone right now, Bu k said. Would you mind driving u$ toward the 8rio with me? 6ay!e we an find a omforta!le $la e to sit along the river!ank and lie !a k and ount the stars. 5ust for a while, he $romised. I wont kee$ you out too late.

@3

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Tate knew Adam might !e waiting u$ for her, !ut Bu k had $romised he wouldnt kee$

her out late. Besides, Adams !ehavior over the $ast few daysH throwing her into Bu ks om$anyHsuggest that he no longer ared one way or the other. All right, Bu k, Dets go. I ould use some time away to think myself. They found a s$ot !eneath some immense y$ress trees, and lay !a k on the grassy !ank and listened to the wind whistling through the !oughs. They tried to find the onstellations and the 0orth "tar in the loudless !lueG!la k sky. The !ur!le of the water over the ro ky stream!ed was soothing to two wounded souls. They talked a!out nothing, and everything. A!out hildhood ho$es and dreams. And adult realities. A!out wishes that never ame true. They talked until their eyes drifted losed. And they fell aslee$. Tate woke first A mosBuito was !uJJing in her ear. "he sla$$ed at it, and when it ame !a k again sat u$ a!ru$tly. And realiJed where she was. And who was lying !eside her. And what time it was. "he shook Bu k hard and said, Wake u$I Its dawn already. We must have fallen aslee$. Weve got to get homeI Bu k was used to rising, early, !ut a night on the old hard groundHnot to mention the events of the $revious eveningHhad left him grum$y. Im going, Im going, he muttered as Tate shoved him toward the tru k. Tate sat on the edge of her seat the whole way home. "he only ho$ed she ould sneak into the house !efore Adam saw her. "he ould imagine what he would think if he saw her with grass stains on her denim skirt and a !louse that looked as if she had sle$t in itHwhi h she had. Adam would never !elieve it had !een a totally inno ent evening. When Bu k dro$$ed her off, she ran u$ the ste$s !e front doorHa !etter hoi e than the kit hen if she ho$ed to avoid AdamHand sto$$ed dead when he o$ened it for her. Adam stood !a k so she ould ome inside. We fell aslee$I she !lurted, 'h, Dord, that ame out all wrongI Dook. Adam, I an e>$lain everything. Bu k and I did fall aslee$, !ut we werent slee$ing togetherI I wouldnt have let you slee$, either, he drawled. 0ot when there are so many more interesting things to do with the time. I mean, we didnt have se>, she said, irritated !y his sar asm. 'h, really? It was o!vious he didnt !elieve her.

;:

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Im telling you the truthI What makes you think I are who you s$ent the night with, or what you did? he said in

a voi e that ould have ut steel. Im telling you that a!solutely nothing se>ual ha$$ened !etween me and Bu k 6agnesson last night, she insisted. Adam wanted to !elieve her. But he ouldnt imagine how Bu k ould have ke$t her out all night and not have tou hed her. #e didnt have that of will$ower himself. #is mouth was o$ened and the words were out !efore he knew he was going to say them. I made you an offer on e, little girl, and I meant it. If youre looking for more e>$erien e in !ed, Ill !e more than ha$$y to $rovide it. Tates eyes widened as she realiJed what Adams harshGsounding words really meant. #e was jealous! #e did areI If only there was some way of $rovoking him into admitting how he really feltI 'f ourse, there was something that might work. It was an outrageous idea, !ut then, as her !rother 8aron had always $rea hed, A faint heart never filled a flush. Tate sat down on the !rassGstudded leather sofa and $ulled off one of her !oots. When Adam said nothing, she $ulled off the other one. Then she stood u$ and !egan releasing the Ji$$er down the side of her skirt. What are you doing? he asked at last. Im taking you u$ on your offer. What? Are you serious? A!solutelyI Werent you? "he looked u$ at him oyly, !atted her lashes, and had the satisfa tion of seeing him flush. &ou dont know what youre doing, he said. I know e>a tly what Im doing, she re$lied. #er skirt landed in a $ile at her feet, and Tate was left standing in a frilly sli$ and a $easant !louse that was well on its way to falling off her shoulder. Adam swallowed hard. #e knew he ought to sto$ her, !ut was $owerless to do so. 6aria will !eH &ou know 6aria isnt here. "unday is her day off. Tate rea hed for the hem of her !louse and $ulled it u$ over her head.

;2

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Adam gas$ed. #e had never seen her in a !ra !eforeHif thats what you alled the tiny

$ie e of onfe tion that hugged her !reasts and offered then u$ in la y u$s for a hungry mans $alate. Tate wat hed Adams $ulse Aum$ when she ste$$ed out the ir le her skirt and walked toward him. #is hand was warm when she took it in her own. &our !edroom or mine? she asked. 6ine, he roaked. Adam allowed himself to !e led to his !edroom as thought he had no will of his own. Indeed, he felt as though he were living some sort of fantasy. "in e it was one very mu h to his liking, he wasnt $utting u$ mu h of a struggleHnone, a tuallyHto !e free. #ere we are, Tate said as she losed the door !ehind her, shutting them into Adams !edroom alone. Ive never !een made love to in the morning Tate said. Is there any s$e ial way it should !e done? What healthy, redG!looded male ould resist that kind of invitation? Adam swe$t Tate off her feet. 8rom then on she was aught u$ in a whirlwind of $assion that left her !reathless and $anting. But now he led and she followed. Di$s rea hed out for li$s. 8lesh rea hed out for flesh. "he was aware of te>tures, hard and soft, silky and ris$, rigid and su$$le, as Adam introdu ed her to the delights of se> in the warm sunlight. This time there was no $ain, only Aoy as he Aoined their !odies and made them one. When it was over, they lay together in the tangled sheets, her head on his shoulder, his hand on her hi$, in a way that volumes a!out the true state of their hearts. Tate was aware of the fa t Adam hadnt said a word sin e she had losed the !edroom door !ehind them. "he didnt want to !reak the magi s$ell, so she remained silent. But it was $lain from the way Adam !egan moving restlessly, tugging on the sheet, rearranging it to over and un over various $arts of her !ody, that there was something he wanted to get of his hest. I dont want you to go out with Bu k anymore, he said in a Buiet voi e. All right. 5ust like that? All right? I dont want Bu k. she said. I want you.

;=

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Adam groaned and $ulled her into his arms, holding her so tightly that she $rotested,

Im not going anywhereI I an hardly !elieve that youre here. That you want to !e here, Adam said with a !oyish grin. Ive !een going raJy for the $ast week. 6e, too, Tate admitted. But everything is going to !e $erfe t now, isnt it, Adam? &ou do love me, dont you? "he didnt wait for an answer, Aust ke$t on talking. We an !e married and start a family. 'h, how Id love to have a little !oy with your !lue eyes andH Adam a!ru$tly sat u$ on the edge of the !ed. Tate $ut a hand on his !a k and he shrugged it off. Adam? Whats wrong? #e looked over his shoulder with eyes as desolate as an endless desert. I thought Id made it lear that I wasnt offering marriage. /But you love me. %ont you? Instead of re$lying to her Buestion, he said, I was married on e !efore, for eight years. It ended in a !itter divor e. I have no desire to re$eat the e>$erien e. Tate ouldnt have !een more sho ked if Adam had said he was a onvi ted mass murderer. Why didnt you ever say anything to me a!out this !efore? It wasnt any of your !usiness. Well, now it isI she retorted, stung !y his !luntness. &ou dont have to make the same mistakes this time around, Adam. 5ust !e ause one marriage failed doesnt mean another will. #e len hed his teeth, trying to dredge u$ the ourage to tell her the truth. But he wasnt willing to risk the $ossi!ility that she would hoose having hildren over having him. And he refused to offer marriage while his awful se ret lay like a wedge !etween them. I want you in my !ed, I wont deny it, Adam said. But youll have to settle for what Im offering. Whats that? Tate asked. An affair? Adam shrugged. If you want to all it that. And when youre tired of me, then what? Ill never get tired of you. Well ross that river when we get to it.

;4

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Tate was shaken !y the revelation that Adam had !een married. "he wished she knew

more a!out what had gone wrong to make him sound so !itter. #er $ride urged her to leave while she still ould. But her heart ouldnt fa e a future that didnt in lude Adam. With the naRvetP of youth, she still !elieved that love would onBuer all, that somehow, everything would work out and that they would live ha$$ily ever after. All right, she said at last. An affair it is. "he snuggled u$ to Adams !a k. #e took her arms and $ulled them around his hest. Its a good thing my !rothers ant see me now, she teased. Id !e a dead man for sure, he said with a groan. 5ust thank your lu ky stars that Ive !een using a false last name. Theyll never find me here. Dets ho$e not, Adam muttered. The onversation ended there, !e ause Adam turned and $ulled Tate around onto his la$. #e still didnt Buite !elieve that she hadnt stalked out in high dudgeon, that she had hosen to stay. #e straightened her legs around his la$ and sli$$ed inside her. Tate learned yet another way to make love in the morning. It was a mere three weeks later that their idyll ame to a sho king and totally unforeseen end.

;9

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%,

%"& t
Tate was $regnant. At least she thought she was. "he was sitting in. %r. -owalskis offi e, waiting for her name to !e alled so she ould find out if the results of her home $regnan y test were as a urate as the om$any laimed. "he was only eight days late, !ut never on e had su h a $henomenon o urred in the $ast. Who would have thought you ould get $regnant the first time outI It had to have ha$$ened then, !e ause after that first time she had gone to see %r. -owalski and !een fitted for a dia$hragm. "he had managed to use it every time she had made love with Adam over the $ast weeksHe> e$t the time she had sedu ed him after s$ending the night at the river with Bu k. "o may!e it had ha$$ened the se ond time out. That was !eginners lu k for youI 6rs. Whitelaw? &oure ne>t. Tate sat u$, then realiJed, the nurse had said 6rs. Whitelaw. Besides, she had given her name as Whatly. "o who was this mysterious ,rs. Whitelaw? The tall woman who stood u$ was very $regnant. The ondition o!viously agreed with her !e ause her skin glowed with health. "he had urly !lond hair that fell to her shoulders and a fa e that revealed her age and hara ter in smile lines at the edges of her ornflowerG !lue eyes and the $arentheses !ra keting her mouth. Tate found it hard to !elieve that it was $ure oin iden e that this woman had the same unusual last name as she did. 5esse had !een gone for so long without any word that Tate immediately !egan weaving fantasies around the $regnant woman. 6ay!e this was 5esses wife. 6ay!e 5esse would walk in that door in a few minutes and Tate would see him at long last. 6ay!e $igs would fly. Tate wat hed the woman disa$$ear into an e>amination room. "he was left with little time to s$e ulate !e ause she was alled ne>t. 6s. Whatly? /(h, yes. "he had almost forgotten the $hony name she had given the nurse.

;<

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, &ou an ome on !a k now. Well need a urine s$e imen, and then Id like you to stri$

down and $ut on this gown. It ties in front. The do tor will !e with in a few minutes. Tate had had only one $elvi e>amination in her lifeHwhen she had !een fitted for the dia$hragmH all the medi al hardware atta hed to the e>amining ta!le looked as old and intimidating as she remem!ered. The wait seemed more like an hour, !ut a tually was only a!out fifteen minutes. Tate had worked herself into a $retty good ase of nerves !y time %r. -owalski ame into the room. #ello, Tate. I understand the ra!!it died. The do tors teasing smile and her twinkling eyes immediately $ut Tate at ease. Im afraid so, she answered. The do tors hands were as warm, as her manner. Tate found herself leaving the do tors offi e a short time later with a $res ri$tion for $renatal vitamins and another a$$ointment in si> weeks. Tate was in the $arking lot, still daJed !y the onfirmation of the fa t she was going to have Adams !a!y, when she realiJed that the woman who had !een identified as 6rs. Whitelaw was trying to hoist her ungainly !ody into a $i ku$. Tate hurried over to her. 0eed a hand? I think I an manage, the woman answered with a friendly smile. Thanks, anyway. Tate losed the door !ehind the $regnant woman, then u$$ed her hands ever the o$en window frame. The nurse Whitelaw? The woman smiled again. #es my hus!and. Tates Aaw dro$$ed. 0o foolingI *eally? 5esses your hus!andI &ouve got to !e kiddingI Why that means hes going to !e a fatherI The woman hu kled at Tates e>u!eran e. #e sure is. 6y names #oney, the woman said. Whats yours? Im Tate. WowI This is fantasti I I ant !elieve thisI Wait until I tell 8aron and CarthI Tate so!ered suddenly. "he ouldnt onta t 8aron and Carth to tell them she had found 5esse without taking the han e of having them dis over her wherea!outs. But 5esse wouldnt know she had run away from home. "he ould see him, and share this Aoy with him. alled you 6rs. Whitelaw. Would you !y any han e know a 5esse

;@

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, With the mention of Tates name, and then 8arons and Carths, #oneys gaJe had

!e ome s$e ulative, and finally trou!led. When #oney had first found out she was $regnant, she had urged 5esse to get !a k in tou h with his family. It had taken a little while to onvin e him, !ut eventually she had. When 5esse had alled #awks War, he had found his !rothers franti with worry. #is little sister Tate had disa$$eared from the fa e of the earth, and 8aron and Carth feared she had suffered some dire fate. If #oney wasnt mistaken, she was looking hus!ands little sisterHthe one who had !een missing for a good two and a half months. The $res ri$tion for $renatal vitamins that Tate had !een waving in her hand suggested that 5esses little sister had !een involved in a few adventures sin e she had left home. I have a onfession to make, Tate said, interru$ting #oneys thoughts. 5esseH your hus!andHis my !rotherI That mates us sisters, I guess. Cee, I never had a sister. This is greatI #oney smiled again at Tates e!ullien e. 6ay!e youd like to ome home with me and see 5esse, she offered. Tates !row furrowed as she tried to imagine what 5esses rea tion would !e to the fa t that she was here on her own. 'n se ond thought, it might !e safer to meet him on her own ground. Why dont you and 5esse ome over for dinner at my $la e instead? Tate said. &our $la e? Tate grinned and said, Well, its not e>a tly mine. Im living at the DaJy " and working as a !ookkee$er for Adam )hili$s. #orsefeathers, #oney murmured. Is something wrong? 0o. 0othing. ,> e$t that Adam )hili$s was the man she had Ailted to marry 5esse Whitelaw. Well, do you think you ould ome? If Tate didnt realiJe the an of worms she was o$ening, #oney wasnt a!out to !e the one to tell her. #oney was afraid that if she didnt take advantage of Tates offer, the girl might run into 5esse sometime when #oney wasnt around. 8rom fa ts #oney knewHthat Tate o!viously didntHit was lear the fur was going to fly. #oney wanted to !e there to make sure everyone ame out with a whole skin.

;;

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, 'f ourse well ome, she said. What time? A!out seven. "ee you then, #oney. 'h, and was ni e meeting you. 0i e meeting you, too, #ooey murmured as Tate turned and hurried away. #oney

wat hed the younger woman yank o$en the door to the /<2+hevy $i ku$ her !rothers laimed she had onfis ated when she had run away from home. #orsefeathers, she said again. The word didnt do nearly enough to e>$ress the fore!oding she felt a!out the evening ahead of her. 6eanwhile, Tate was floating on air. This was going to work out $erfe tly. "he would introdu e Adam to her !rother and his wife, and later, when they were alone, she would tell Adam that he was going to !e a father. Boy was he going to !e sur$risedI Tate refused to imagine Adams rea tion as anything other than e stati . After all, Aust as two $eo$le didnt have to !e married to have se>, they didnt have to !e married to have hildren, either. After all, lots of movie stars were doing it. Why ouldnt they? Dong !efore seven o lo k Tate heard someone $ounding on the front door. "he knew it ouldnt !e the om$any she had invited, and from the sound of things it was an emergen y. "he ran to o$en the door and gas$ed when she realiJed who was standing there. 5esseI "o it is youI Tate laun hed herself into her !rothers arms. #e lifted her u$ and swung her in a ir le, Aust as he had the last time they had seen ea h other, when she was a hild of eight. 5esse looked so mu h the same, and yet he was different. #is dark eyes were still as fier e as ever, his !la k hair still as shaggy. But his fa e was lined, and his !ody that of a mature man, not the twentyGyearGold !oy who had gone away when she was Aust a little girl. &ou look wonderful, Tate, 5esse said. "o do you, she said with an irre$ressi!le grin. "he angled her head around his !road hest, trying to lo ate #oney. Wheres your wife? I ame ahead of her. A tually, he had snu k out !ehind #oneys !a k and ome running to save his little sister from that sonofa!it h Adam )hili$s. 5esse had never liked the man, and now his feelings had !een vindi ated. 5ust look how )hili$s had taken advantage of his !a!y sisterI

;?

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, 8aron and Carth have !een worried to death a!out you, 5esse hastised. &ouve !een in tou h with them? When? #ow? #oney talked me into alling them when she found out for sure she was $regnant. Is it

true what #oney told me? Are you living here with Adam )hili$s? 5esse demanded. I work here, Tate said, the $ride she felt in her Ao! a$$arent in her voi e. Im Adams !ookkee$er. What else do you do for Adam? Tate hissed in a !reath of air. I dont think I like your tone of voi e. Cet your things, 5esse ordered. &oure getting out of here. Tates hands fisted and found her hi$s. I left home to get away from that kind of highG handedness. I dont intend to let you get away it, either, she said tartly. I ha$$en to enAoy my Ao!, and I have no intention of giving it u$. &ou dont have any idea what an ha$$en to a young, woman living alone with a manI 'h, dont I? %o you mean to say that you and )hili$sH 6y relationshi$ with Adam is no on ern yours. 5esses dark eyes narrowed s$e ulatively. #is little sister glowed from the inside out. #e was mentally adding one and oneHand getting three. #oney said she met you in the $arking lot of %o -owalskis offi e, !ut she didnt say what you were doing there. What were you doing there, Tate? Are you si k? 5esse was Aust fishing, Tate thought. #e ouldnt know anything for sure. But even a !lind $ig will find an a orn on e in a while. "he had to do something to distra t him. #oneys a really !eautiful woman, 5esse. #ow did you meet her? %ont hange the su!Ae t, Tate. 5esse had Aust gra!!ed Tate !y the arm when Adam ste$$ed into the living room from the kit hen. I thought I heard voi es in here. Adam s$ied 5esses hold on Tate, and his !ody tensed. #e wel omed the long overdue onfrontation with Tates !rother. #ello, 5esse. Would you mind telling me whats going on? Im taking my sister home, 5esse said. Adam sear hed Tates fa e, looking dee$ into her haJel eyes. Is that what you want? I want to stay here.

;3

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, &ou heard her, 5esse, Adam said in a steely voi e. Det her go. &ou !astardI Itll !e a old day in hell !efore I leave my sister in yourG lut hes. Adam took a ste$ forward, his eyes flashing, teeth !ared, fists len hed. "to$ itI Both of youI Tate yanked herself free from 5esses gras$, !ut remained

!etween the two men, a human !arrier to the violen e that threatened to eru$t at any moment. Cet out of the way, Tate, 5esse said. %o as he says, Adam ordered. Tate $ut a firm, flat $alm on ea h mans hest to kee$ them a$art. I said sto$ it, and I meant itI Im taking you home, Tate, 5esse said. But his words and the hallenge were meant for Adam. If Tate wants to stay, she staysI Adam retorted, a e$ting the summons to !attle. Tate might as well not have !een there for as mu h attention either man $aid to her. "he was merely the $riJe to !e won. They were intent only on the onfli t to ome. There was a loud kno king at the door, !ut !efore any of them ould move, it o$ened and #oney ste$$ed inside. Thank goodness I got here in timeI #oney ste$$ed !etween the two men who fell !a k in deferen e to her $regnant state. What at two doing to this $oor girl? "he sli$$ed a omforting arm around Tates shoulder. Are you all right, Tate? Im fine, Tate said. But these two idiots are a!out to start $ounding on ea h otherI #es got it omingI 5esse growled. What kind of lowGdown hyena sedu es an inno ent hildI 5esseI Tate ried, mortified as mu h !y his use of the term child as !y his a usation. 5esse might still remem!er her as a hild, !ut she was a woman now. Adams fa e had !lea hed white. &oure way off !ase, Whitelaw, he snarled. +an you say you arent slee$ing with her? 5esse demanded. Thats none of your damn !usinessI Adam sna$$ed !a k. #oney ste$$ed !a k a $a e, taking Tate with her, !eyond the range of the animosity radiating from two $owerful men. Tate turned to $lead $ea e with her !rother. I love Adam, she said. But Ill !et he hasnt said he loves you, 5esse retorted in a mo king voi e.

?:

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Tate lowered her eyes and !it her li$. I thought notI he said trium$hantly. Tates hin lifted and her eyes flashed defian e, I wont leave himI #es Aust using you to get !a k at me, 5esse said. The reason I know he ant love

you, is !e ause I stole the woman he wanted right out from under his nose. What? +onfused, Tate looked from her !rother to her lover. Adams eyes were dark with $ain and regret. Tate whirled her head to look at #oney. The $regnant womans arms were folded $rote tively around her un!orn hild. #er heeks flamed. "he slowly lifted her lids and allowed Tate to see the guilt in her lovely ornflowerG!lue eyes. It ouldnt !e trueI Adam wouldnt have done something so heinous as to sedu e her to get !a k at !rother for stealing the woman he loved. But none of the three $arties involved was denying it. #er eyes sought out Adams fa e again, looking for some shred of ho$e that her !rother was lying. Adam? Adams stony features s$oke volumes even though he remained mute. 'h, Cod, Tate !reathed. This ant he ha$$ening to meI 5esse lashed out with his fist at the man who had aused his sister so mu h $ain. Adam instin tively ste$$ed !a k and 5esses fist swung through, em$ty air. Before 5esse ould swing the other fist, #oney had thrown herself in front of her hus!and. )lease dont fightI )lease, 5esseI It was a tri!ute to how mu h 5esse loved his wife that he held himself /in he k. #e ir led his wifes shoulder with one hand and held out the other to Tate. Are you oming? he asked. IQ Im staying. At least until she had a han e to talk with Adam in $rivate and hear his side of this un!elieva!le story. Then she would de ide whether to tell him that she was going to have his hid. #oney saw that her hus!and was ready to argue further and intervened. "hes a grown woman, 5esse. "he has to make her own hoi es. %ammit, this is the wrong oneI 5esse snarled. But it is my hoi e, Tate said in a Buiet voi e.

?2

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, #oney sli$$ed her arm around her hus!ands waist. Dets go home, 5esse. Im leaving, 5esse said. But Ill !e !a k with 8aron and Carth. #e yanked o$en the

door, urged his wife out of the house and Bui kly followed, slamming the door after him. Tate felt her stoma h fall to her feet. "he had !een sur$rised to see Adam stand u$ to her !rotherHoverAoyed, in fa t. But if all three of the Whitelaw !rothers showed u$, there was no way Adam would !e a!le to endure against them. #er !rothers would haul her !a k home !efore she had time to say yeah, !oo, or Im $regnant. &ou might as well say good!ye to me now, she said glumly. When 8aron and Carth find out where I am theyll !e oming for me. 0o oneHyour !rothers in ludedH is going to take you from the DaJy " if you dont want to go, Adam said in a hard voi e. %oes that mean you want me to stay? Adam nodded urtly. "he didnt want to ask, !ut she had to. Is it true, what my !rother said? %id you love #oney? That same urt nod in res$onse. Tate felt the onstri tion in her hest tighten. Would you have married her if 5esse hadnt ome along? Adam shoved a hand through his hair in agitation. I dont know. I wanted to marry her. Im not so sure she was as an>ious to marry me. I asked her. "he never said yes. That was small omfort to Tate, who was a$$alled to hear how lose Adam had ome to marrying her !rothers wife. Is that why you ant love me? Tate asked. Be ause youre still in love with her? The tortured look of $ain on Adams fa e left Tate feeling ertain she had hit u$on the truth. But she didnt des$air. In fa t, she felt a great deal of ho$e. Adam must realiJe that he ould never have #oney Whitelaw now. Time was the !est do tor for a wound of the heart. And time was on her side. "he very arefully did not !ring u$ the su!Ae t of 5esses a usation that Adam had made love to her to get revenge on her !rother. In her heart she knew Adam would never use her like that. #e might not !e a!le to say he loved herHyetH!ut she was ertain that one day he would.

?=

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, I need a hug, Tate said. Adam o$ened his arms and Tate ste$$ed them. "he snuggled against him, letting the love

she felt flow over them !oth. But his !ody remained stiff and unyielding. Adam, Im... The word "regnant wouldnt ome out. What is it, Tate? #is voi e sounded harsh in her ear, his tone still as urt as the a!ru$t nods with whi h he had a knowledged his love for another woman. 6ay!e Tate would Aust wait a little while !efore she told him she was arrying his hild. Im glad you want me to stay, she said. #e hugged her harder, until his hold was almost $ainful. Tale felt tears $ool in the orners of eyes. "he !lamed the $henomenon now on the heightened emotions aused !y her $regnan y. But the devil on her shoulder for ed her to admit that unsettling seeds of dou!t had !een $lanted on erning whether everything would turn out ha$$ily ever after.

?4

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%,

N"ne
Tate s$ent the night in Adams arms. #e ouldnt have !een more omforting. But for the first time sin e they had !egun slee$ing together, they didnt make love. When they met a ross the kit hen ta!le the ne>t morning, an awkwardness e>isted !etween them that had not !een there in the $ast. &ou must eat more, se*orita, 6aria urged. &ou will not make it through the day on so little. Im not hungry. Tate said. A tually, she had already snu k in earlier and had a light !reakfast to stave off the first sym$toms of morning si kness. (nder 6arias stern eye, she dutifully a$$lied herself to the !owl of oatmeal in front of her. Tates on entration was so om$lete that she $aid no attention to the su!seBuent onversation 6aria ondu ted with Adam in "$anish. The seMorita has !een rying, 6aria said. Adam glan ed at Tates redGrimmed eyes. #er !rother ame to visit yesterday, the one site hasnt seen sin e she was a hild. This !rother made her ry? #e wanted her to go away with him. Ah. But you did not let her go. "he hose to stay, Adam orre ted. Then why was she rying? 6aria asked. A mus le worked in Adams Aaw. At last he answered, Be ause shes afraid I dont love her. "tu$id manI Why dont you tell her so and $ut the smile !a k on her fa e? Adam sighed disgustedly. I dont think shell !elieve me now. 6aria shook her head and lu ked her torBue. I am going to the store to !uy gro eries. I will not oming !a k for twoHno, three hours. Tell her you love her. Adams li$s urling sardoni ally. All right, 6aria. Ill give it a try.

?9

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Tate had !een making sha$es with her oatmeal and had only eaten a!out three !ites when

6aria whisked the !owl out from in front of her. I need to lear the ta!le so I an go sho$$ing, 6aria said. "he refilled Tates offee u$. &ou sit here and enAoy another u$ of offee. "he refilled Adams u$ as well and, giving him a suggestive look, said, &ou kee$ the se*orita om$any. 6aria took off her a$ron, $i ked u$ her $urse and left !y the kit hen door a few moments later. When she was gone, the silen e seemed o$$ressive. 8inally Adam said, What are your $lans for today? I guess Ill in$ut some more information on the om$uter. What a!out you? Im moving attle from one $asture to another. &our Ao! sounds like more fun than mine. +an I ome along? I dont think that would !e a good idea. 'h. Adam saw the look on Tates fa e and realiJed she thought he was reAe ting herHagain. #e swore under his !reath. Dook Tate. I think wed !etter have a talk. Tate rose a!ru$tly. This was where Adam told her that he had thought things over and he wanted her to leave the DaJy " after all. "he wasnt going to hang around to let him do it. Id !etter get going. IH Adam aught her !efore she had gone two ste$s. #e took her shoulders in his hands, turning her to fa e him. "he ke$t her eyes lowered, refusing to look at him. Tate, he said in a voi e that was tender with the love he felt for her. Dook at me. #er eyes, were more green than gold. #e ouldnt !ear to see the sadness in them. #e gras$ed her na$e and $ulled her toward him as his mouth lowered to laim hers. It was a hungry kiss. A kiss of longing for things that ought to !e. A kiss fier e with $assion. And tender with love. Adam waited to !e loser, he $ulled her TGshirt u$ and over her head, then yanked the sna$s o$en down the front of his shirt and $ulled the tails out his Aeans. #e sighed in satisfa tion as !e losed his arms around her and snuggled her naked !reasts tight against his hest.

?<

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Dord, sweetheart. &ou feel so goodI #e u$$ed her fanny with his hands and lifted her,

ru!!ing himself against her, letting the layers of denim add to the fri tion !etween them. #is mouth found a s$ot !eneath her ear that he knew was sensitive, and he su ked Aust hard enough to make her moan with $leasure. Adam froJe when he heard the kit hen door !eing flung o$en. #e whirled to meet whatever threat was there, $ulling Tate $rote tively. Tate felt Adams !ody tense, felt his shoulders sBuare and his stan e widen. "he knew who it was, who it had to !e. "he turned her head. There in doorway stood her three !rothers, 8aron, 5esse and Carth. And Carth was arrying a shotgun. Tate felt her fa e flush to the roots of her hair. "he was naked from the waist u$, and there ould !e no dou!t as to what she had !een doing with Adam. 'r, from the looks on their fa es, how her !rothers felt a!out it. "he losed her eyes and lut hed Adam, knowing her !rothers $lanned to tear them a$art. 6ake yourself de entI Carth ordered. Tate rea hed a ross to the hair where Adam had slung her TGshirt, and with her !a k to her !rothers, $ulled it over her head. When she turned to fa e them, Adam $ut an arm around her waist and $ulled her snug against his hi$. The three men rowded into the kit hen. It soon !e ame a$$arent they hadnt ome alone. An elderly gentleman wearing a leri al ollar and arrying what Tate su$$osed to !e a Bi!le followed them inside. &ou have a hoi e, Carth said to Adam. &ou an make an honest woman of my sister, or I an kill you. Adam o ked a !row. Thats murder. Carth smiled grimly. Itll !e an a idental shooting, of ourse. 'f ourse, Adam said, his li$s twisting yni ally. What if Tate and I arent ready to get married? 6an gets a woman $regnant, its time to marry her, 5esse snarled. I made a $oint of seeing %o -owalski on the way home last night and told her Tate was my sister. "he ongratulated me on the fa t Ill soon !e an uncle! Adam froJe. #e turned to stare at Tate, !ut she refused to meet his gaJe. #is hand tightened on her waist. Are you $regnant, Tate? lose and $ressing her fa e against his hest

?@

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, "he nodded. Adams li$s flattened and a mus le worked in his Aaw. #e gra!!ed hold of her hin and

for ed it u$. Whose hild is it? Bu ks? &oursI Tate ried, Aerking her head fro gras$. 0ot mine, he said flatly. Im sterile. Tate sank into a kit hen hair at one end ta!le, her eyes never wavering from Adams granitelike e>$ression. 6eanwhile, Tates !rothers were in a Buandary. We ant for e him to marry Tate if the hilds not his, 8aron argued. But it must !e hisI 5esse said. Dook how we found them todayI Carth handed the shotgun to 8aron, then rossed and sat down !eside Tate on the o$$osite side of the ta!le from Adam. #e took Tates hand from her la$ and held it in his for a moment, gently ru!!ing her knu kles. I want you to !e honest with me, Tate. #ave you !een with another man !esides Adam? 0oI Im arrying Adams hild, whether !elieves it or notI Adam says hes sterile, Carth $ersisted. I dont are what he says, Tate said through len hed teeth. Im telling the truth. Carth and 8aron e> hanged a signifi ant glan e. Carth stood and onfronted Adam. +an you deny youve made love to my sister? 0o, I dont deny that. Then my original offer still holds, Carth said. Civen that hoi e, I su$$ose I have no hoi e? Adam on eded with a stony glare. what a!out me? Tate asked. %ont I get a hoi e? &oull do as youre told, Carth ommanded, 'r else. 'r else what? &ou ome home to #awks Way. Tate shuddered. There seemed no es a$e from the ultimatum Carth had given her. At feast if she went through with the wedding, she would still have her freedom. 'n e her !rothers had her safely married would go !a k where they had ome from Hand she ould figure out what to do from there. All right. Dets get this over with, she said.

?;

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, *everend Wheeler if you $lease? Carth dire ted the minster to the head of the ta!le,

arranged Tate and Adam on one side, and stood on the other side with 8aron and 5esse. #e told Adam, I had to ut a few orners, !ut Ive taken are of getting the li ense. #e gestured to the minster. Whenever youre ready, *everend. If *everend Wheeler hadnt !a$tiJed Tate $resided at her onfirmation he might have had some Bualms a!out what he was a!out to do. 0ever had !ride and !ridegroom looked less ha$$y to !e wed. But he firmly !elieved in the san tity of home and family. And Carth had $romised a large donation to !uild the new "unday s hool wing. The reverend o$ened the Bi!le he had !rought along and !egan to read, %early BelovedQ Tate listened, !ut she didnt hear what was !eing said, s$oke when alled u$on, !ut was unaware of the answers she gave. "he had fallen into a dee$ well of des$air. Tate had never really thought a!out having a !ig wedding, !ut a white TGshirt was a $oor su!stitute for a wedding gown. "he wouldnt have minded giving u$ the festive tra$$ings, if only she were sure the man standing !eside her wanted to !e her hus!and. Adam did not. #ow had things gone so wrong? Tate had never meant to tra$ Adam. It was lear he thought she had sle$t with Bu k, and that the !a!y wasnt his. "he knew front her e>$erien e with Bu k and .elma that a marriage that la ked trustHon !oth sidesHwas in dee$ trou!le. If Adam !elieved she had lied a!out the hilds father, wouldnt he e>$e t her to lie a!out other things? Would he, like Bu k, overrea t from now on if she so mu h as looked at another man? 'f ourse Bu k was Aealous !e ause he loved .elma. Tate wasnt so sure a!out Adams feelings. #e had never on e said he loved her. Tate would have given anything if she had Aust told Adam a!out the !a!y last night. Then, they would have had a han e to dis uss things alone. "u h as a man who was o!viously a!le to sire hildren thought he was sterile. Tate? #old out your hand so Adam an $ut the ring on your finger, Carth said. %hat ring$ Tate thought. With this ring I thee wed, Adam said. #e sli$$ed the turBuoise ring he usually wore on his little finger on the third finger of Tates left hand. Tate was lost. What had ha$$ened to the rest of the eremony? #ad she said I do?

??

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, *everend Wheeler said, I now $ronoun e you man and wife. &ou may kiss the !ride. When neither of the newlyweds moved, 8aron said in a BuietHsome might have said

gentleHvoi e, Its time to kiss your !ride now, Adam. Adam wanted to refuse. It was all a sham, anyway. But when Tate turned her fa e u$ to him she looked so !ewildered he felt the urge to take her in his arms and $rote t her. Carth leared his throat at the delay. Adams Aaw tightened. Tate already had three very effi ient guardians. "he didnt need him. But he found himself una!le to resist the tem$tation of her li$s, still swollen from his earlier kisses. #er eyes slid losed as !e lowered his head. #e tou hed his lightly to hers, taking the !arest taste of her with ti$ of his tongue. If this had !een a real wedding he would have wanted to herish this moment. 8rom the shuffling sounds a ross the ta!le, Adam was reminded that it was real enough. "o !e took what he wanted from Tate, ravaging her mouth, letting her feel his fury and frustration at what her !rothers had ro!!ed them of when they had insisted on this for ed marriage. As soon as he lifted his head Adam saw that Carth had rossed around the ta!le. Instead of the $un h in the nose Adam e>$e ted, Tates eldest !rother held out his hand, to !e shaken. To Adams further sur$rise, Carth had a grin on his fa e. Wel ome to the family, Carth said. #e gave Tate a fier e hug. Be ha$$yI he whis$ered in her ear. 8aron was ne>t to shake Adams hand. #ow a!out a drink to ele!rate? he asked. Ive ham$agne on i e outside in the $i ku$. I guess that would !e all right, Adam said, still stunned !y the a!ru$t hange in attitude of Tates !rothers. 8aron headed outside as 5esse a$$roa hed Adam. The two men eyed ea h other warily. At last 5esse held out his hand. Tru e? When Adam hesitated, 5esse said, #oney will kill me if we dont make $ea e. When Adam still hesitated, 5esse added, 8or Tates sake? Adam shook hands with Tates middle !rother. They would never !e good friends. But they were neigh!ors, and now !rothersGinGlaw. 8or their wives sakes, they would tolerate one another.

?3

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, The wedding ele!ration was a lively affair. 0ow that Adam had done the right thing !y

Tate, her !rothers were more than willing to treat him like one of the family. As the morning wore on and Adam had a few glasses of ham$agneH and more than a few glasses of whiskeyH he !egan to think may!e things hadnt turned out so !adly after all. 0ow that he and Tate were married, there was no reason why they ouldnt make the !est of the situation. #e ouldnt feel sorry a!out the !a!y, even if it meant Tate had lied to him a!out slee$ing with Bu k. #e had always wanted hildren, and this one would !e es$e ially !eloved !e ause it would !elong to him and Tate. After he made love to his wife, Adam would tell her that he loved her. They ould forget what had ha$$ened in the $ast. Their lives ould !egin from there. Tates !rothers might have stayed longer, e> e$t #oney alled to make sure everything had turned out all right. When 5esse hung u$ the $hone, he said to his !rothers, I know you dont want to !e reminded, !ut I have work that has to get done today. 8aron guffawed and said, Tell the truth. What youre really on erned a!out is getting home to your wife. The three !rothers kidded ea h other good naturedly all the way out the door. 'n e they and $rea her were gone, Tate losed the door and leaned her forehead against the ool wood frame. Im sorry, Adam. #e rossed to her and sli$$ed his arms around her waist from !ehind. Its all right, Tate. It wasnt your fault. Theyre my !rothers. They only did what they thought was !est for you. %es$ite the fa t he was a vi tim of their mani$ulation, Adam ould sym$athiJe, with her !rothers. If 6elanie had livedQ if !e had found her in the same ir umstan es... he might have done the same thing. And ho$ed for the !est. As Adam was ho$ing for the !est now with Tate. #e kissed her na$e and felt her shiver in his arms. +ome to !ed, Tate. Its our wedding day. "he ke$t her fa e $ressed to the door. "he was too intent on giving Adam !a k his freedom to hear the message of love in his words arid his aress. I ant stand itHknowing you were ta$$ed into marrying me. "he felt his !ody stiffen, and said, I $romise Ill give you a divor e. As soon as the !a!y is !orn IH

3:

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Adam gra!!ed her !y the am and Aerked her around to fa e him. Is that the reason you

agreed to marry me? "o you an have a name for you !astard? )lease, AdamH %ont !eg, Tate, it doesnt !e ome you. Tate had sla$$ed him !efore she was aware she had raised her hand. "he gas$ed when she saw the stark im$rint her fingers had left on his heek. Adam gra!!ed her wrist. Tate ould feel him trem!ling with rage. "he waited to see what form his retaliation would take. All right, Adam said in the harshest voi e she had ever heard him use. Ill give you what you want. &our !a!y will have my name and you an have your divor e. But theres something I want in return, Tate. What? she !reathed. &ou. I want you in my !ed every night./ #is gras$ on her wrist tightened, Warm. And willing. %o I make myself understood? 'h, she understood, all right. "he had offered him the divor e ho$ing he would refuse. #is ultimatum made it lear what he had wanted from her all along. Well, she would Aust show him what he was so willing to give u$I /Believe me, youre going to get what youre asking for, Adam, she said in a silky voi e. #nd a whole lot more! #e started for the !edroom, his hand firmly lam$ed around her wrist, Tate hurried to at h u$, afraid that if she fell, he would sim$ly drag her !ehind him. When they arrived in the !edroom he losed the door !ehind her. 'nly then did he release her. Cet undressed, he ordered. #e rossed his arms stood there, legs wides$read, staring at her. Tate held herself $roudly ere t. "ooner or later Adam was going to realiJe the truth. The hild she arried was his. 6eanwhile, he was going to get every !it of what he had demanded HGand $erha$s even more than he had !argained for. Tate had never stri$$ed to tease a man. "he did so now. The TGshirt ame off first. "lowly. "he let it hang !y one finger for a moment !efore it dro$$ed to the floor. "he looked down at her !reasts and saw the aureoles were $ink and full. "he rea hed down to !rush her fingerti$s a ross her ni$$les, then returned to tease the $ink !uds until they stood ere t.

32

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Adam hissed in a !reath of air. Tate didnt dare look at him, afraid she would lose her nerve. Instead she smoothed her

hands over her !elly and down a ross the delta of her thighs, s$reading her legs so that her hand ould u$ the heat there. "he glided her hands !a k u$ the length of her !ody, feeling the te>tures of her skin, aware the $ri kles as her flesh res$onded to the knowledge that Adam was wat hing every move she made. "he shoved her hands into her hair at the tem$les and then gathered her hair and lifted it off her na$e, knowing that as she raised her arms her !reasts would follow. "he ar hed her !a k in a sensuous urve that thrust !reasts and !elly toward Adam. "he a tually heard him swallow. Then she made the mistake of looking at himHat his !are hest. #is ni$$les were as turgid as hers. As she rela>ed her !ody into a more natural $ose, she met !lue eyes so dark with $assion they were more the hue of a stormy sky. #is nostrils were flared to drink in the s ent of her. #is !ody was wired taut as a !owstring, fists len hed at his sides. #is manhood was a hard ridge that threatened the seams at the rot h of his Aeans. As his tongue rea hed out to li k at the $ers$iration his u$$er li$, she felt her groin tighten with answering $leasure. Tate felt e>ultant. )owerful. And oh, so mu h a woman. ,n ouraged !y her su ess, she rea hed down for the sna$ of her Aeans. Adams whole !ody Aerked when it $o$$ed free. The ras$ of her Ji$$er as she slid it down was mat hed !y the harsh sound of Adams !reathing. "he slowly turned down ea h side of her Aeans in front, reating a . through whi h the white of her $anties showed. Then she s$read her legs, stu k her thum!s into her $anties and let her fingers slide down inside the Aeans, $ulling her underwear down and slowly e>$osing a . of flesh on her !elly. Adam swore under his !reath. Bui he didnt move an in h. Tate took a dee$ !reath and shoved !oth $anties and Aeans down low on her hi$s, revealing her hi$!ones and !elly and a hint of dark urls at the rest of her thighs. "he $ut her hands !ehind her and ru!!ed her !utto ks, easing the Aeans down a little more with ea h ir ular motion. "he stu k her thum!s !a k in the front of the Aeans, and met Adams gaJe !efore skimming her fingers a ross her $u!i ar h. A $ulse in his tem$le Aum$ed. #is Aaw len hed. But otherwise he didnt stir from where he was standing.

3=

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Tate smiled, E feminine smile of enAoyment and satisfa tion. "he gave one last little

shove and !oth $anties and Aeans !egan the slide down to her ankles, where she ste$$ed out of Aeans, $anties and mo asins all at on e. At last Tate stood naked !efore Adam, her !ody felt languid, gra eful as it never had. "he realiJed it was !e ause Adam adored her with his eyes. Be ause he desired her with his !ody. "he made no move to hide herself from him. It wasnt until she took a ste$ toward him that Adam finally moved. #e gilded toward her like a stalking tiger. Tate felt the se>ual energy radiating from him long !efore their !odies met. #is kiss was fier e, onsuming. #is hands seemed to !e everywhere, tou hing, demanding a res$onse. "he ar hed against him, feeling the swollen heat and hardness !eneath the denim. Adam didnt !other taking her to !ed. #e !a ked her u$ against the wall, unsna$$ed his Aeans to free himself, then lifted her legs around him and thrust self himself inside. Tate lung to Adams ne k with her arms and to his hi$s with her legs. #is mouth sought hers, and his tongue thrust in rhythm with his !ody. #is hand sli$$ed !etween them and sought out the tiny nu!!in that was the sour e of her $leasure. #is thum! aressed her until he felt the waves of $leasure tightening her inner mus les around him. #e threw his head !a k in e stasy as his own $owerful orgasm s$illed inside her. Then his head fell forward against her shoulder as he struggled to regain his !reath. #e finally released her legs so that she ould stand, !ut found he had to hold her to kee$ her from falling, her knees were so wo!!ly. #e lifted her into his arms and arried her !ed, throwing the sheets !a k and setting her down gently !efore Aoining her there. #e $ulled the overs u$ over them !oth and found he ould !arely kee$ his eyes o$en. But there was something he wanted to say !efore he fell aslee$. Tate? Are you awake? 6mm. I guess so, she murmured against his throat. &ou an admit the truth a!out slee$ing with Bu k. It isnt going to make a differen e in how I feel a!out you. -r the baby, he thought. Tate $ushed herself u$right. The sheet that overed her fell to her waist. Im telling the truth, Adam, when I say I never sle$t with Bu k. Why wont you !elieve me? Adam levered himself u$ on his el!ow and met her gaJe with a flinty one of his own. Be ause I have the medi al tests to $rove you wrong.

34

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Then your tests are mistakenI Tate retorted. "he leaned !a k against the head!oard and

yanked the overs u$ to her ne k. Tate had never looted more !eautiful. Adam had to lie !a k and $ut his hands !ehind his head to kee$ from rea hing for her again. The three hours 6aria had $romised to stay gone were nearly u$, and he had no dou!t the housekee$er would ome looking for him to find out whether !e had told Tate that he loved her. #e was glad now that he hadnt. At least he had !een s$ared the hum!ling e>$erien e of onfessing his love to a woman who had married him only to have a name for her hild. Adam lay there trying to figure out why Tate $ersisted in lying a!out the !a!y. %oes Bu k know a!out the !a!y? he asked. #e guessed, Tate admitted. Bu k had known from the glow on her fa e that something was different and had onfronted her a!out it. "he had told him the truth. I su$$ose he refused to marry you !e ause hes still in love with .elma, Adam said. Tate lur hed out of the !ed and stom$ed over to where her lothes lay in a $ile on the floor. "he ke$t her !a k to Adam as she !egan dressing. Where are you going? !e asked. Anywhere I an !e away from you, she retorted. 5ust so long as you stay away from Bu k, I dont areH Tate whirled and said, Bu k is my friend. Ill see him when and where and as often as I $lease. Adam shoved the overs out of the way and yanked on his Aeans. &ou took vows to me that I dont intend to see you !reak, he said. &oure a fool, Adam. &ou ant see whats right in front of your fa e. I know a whore when I see one. Adam was sorry the instant the words were out of his mouth. #e would have given anything to take them !a k. #e was Aealous, and hurt !y her a$$arent devotion to Bu k. #e had said the first thing that ame into his head that he knew would hurt her. And he was sorry for ft. Tate, IH %ont say anything, Adam. 5ust get away from me. 6ay!e someday Ill !e a!le to forgive you for that.

39

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Adam gra!!ed his shirt, underwear, so ks and !oots and left the room, losing the door

Buietly !ehind him. Tate sank onto the !ed, fighting so!s that made her hest a he. This was worse than anything she had ever imagined. "he had am$le eviden e in Bu ks ase of how sus$i ion and mistrust ould make a man a t irrationally "he had Aust never e>$e ted to see Adam !ehave like a Aealous Aa kass. What was she going to do now?

3<

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%,

Ten
Adam had am$le time all through the day and overnight to regret his out!urst. Tate had s$ent the rest of the day in the offi e, then retreated to her own !edroom for the night. #e had de ided it would !e !est to meet her over the !reakfast ta!le and try to mend fen es when 6aria was thereto a t as a !uffer. But morning si kness had on e again !rought Tate to the kit hen early. Instead of waiting to have offee with Adam, she left the house to go for a walk, ho$ing it might settle her stoma h. Bu k waved to her from the loft of the !arn, where he was forking down hay. After looking !a k on e at the house, Tate headed toward the !arn to talk to him. "he had !etter give him fair warning that Adam was on the war $ath and looking for s al$s. Adams mood wasnt im$roved when he realiJed, after sitting at the ta!le for half an hour alone, that Tate wasnt oming to !reakfast. #e had sna$$ed at 6aria like a wounded !ear when she started asking Buestions, and now she wasnt talking to him, either. #e shoved his hat down on his head and headed out to the !arn to work off some steam !y leaning out stalls. Adams eyes had !arely adAusted to the shadows in the !arn when he s$ied Tate standing ne>t to the ladder that led to the loft. #is heart gave a giant lea$Hthen !egan to $um$ with adrenaline when he realiJed that Bu k was standing right !eside her. And that the lanky ow!oy had his arm around Tates shoulder. Adam mar hed over to Bu k and ordered, Cet your hands off my wife. Bu k grinned, 5ealous, huh? &ouve got no reasonH Adam thought he had damned good reason to !e Aealous. After all, his wife was arrying Bu ks hild. #is fist swung hard and fast, straight for Bu ks nose. Bu k fell like a stone, his nose sBuirting !lood. Tate Bui kly knelt !eside him, gra!!ing the !andanna out of her !a k $o ket to staun h the !leeding. &ou idiotI she sna$$ed at Adam. Co sti k your head in a !u ket of water and ool offI Adam wanted to yank Tate away from the other mans side, !ut it was $lain he would have a fight on lands if !e tried. #is $ride wouldnt allow him to ask her ni ely to ome with

3@

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%,

him. 0ot that he ould have for ed the words $ast the lum$ in his throat. %o as you $lease, he snarled. &ou always have. With that, he turned and mar hed right !a k out of the !arn. They heard the gravel fly in the drive as he gunned his $i ku$ and drove away. Who $ut a !urr under his saddle? Bu k asked, da!!ing gently at his nose with the !loody !andanna. #ow did you like the way he treated you? Tate asked. %amn near hated it, Bu k re$lied. Think a!out it the ne>t time you see .elma with another man and de ide to take a $un h at him. Be ause thats what an unreasona!le, mistrustful, $aranoid sonofa!it h looks like in a tion. Bu ks li$s Buirked at the orners. Are you saying thats the way I a t around .elma? Bingo. Bu k tested the !ridge of his nose to see if it were !roken. 6ay!e this !loody nose wasnt su h a !ad thing after all. 'h? Adam might have kno ked some sense into me. I know damn well he has no reason to !e Aealous, even though he thinks he does. #e should have trusted you. Bu k struggled to his feet. 6ay!e Ill Aust go see .elma again. Is there any han e shell s$eak to you? If shes !een as misera!le as I have the $ast few weeks, she will, Bu k said, a determined light in his !rown eyes. I wish you lu k, Tate said. I dont think Im going to need lu k, Bu k said. Ive got something even !etter. Whats that? I think I Aust might have had some trust $ounded into me. Tate gave Bu k a hug, whi h he was Bui k to es a$e with the e> use of dusting the hay off his !rit hes. I may have !e ome a trusting soul, he said, !ut Adams still raJy as a loon. 0o telling when hell turn right around and ome looking for you. Id feel a mite safer if you go on !a k to the house.

3;

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Tate did as he asked. "he ho$ed Bu k e>$erien e with Adam had shown Bu k on e and

for all the folly of !eing needlessly Aealous. Be ause if Bu k ould learn to trust .elma, there was some ho$e that Adam would one day ome to trust her. 6eanwhile, Adam had driven north toward 8rederi ks!urg and was almost into the hill ountry !efore he almed down enough to look around and see where he was. #e made a (G turn in the middle of the highway and headed !a k the way he had ome. .ealousy. Adam had never !efore had to o$e with the feeling, and he had !een doing a $retty rotten Ao! of it so far. #e ould s$end the little time he and Tate had together !efore she sought out a divor e ondemning her for what was $ast. 'r he ould sim$ly enAoy the om$any at the irre$ressi!le, lively hoyden he had ome to know and Dove. Between those two hoi es, the latter made a whole lot more sense. When Adam arrived !a k at the ran h house he sought Tate out first in the !arn. #e found Bu k working there. The lanky ow!oy leaned on the $it hfork and said, &ou finally ome to your senses? Adam grinned ruefully. &eah. A!out that $un hH 8orget it. Bu k had !een working out how he ould use his swollen nose to get .elmas sym$athy, and then e>$lain to her the lesson it had taught him. Believe me, I an understand how you must have felt when you saw me with Tate. Be ause of .elma? Adam remem!ered how devastated Bu k had !een when he had found out his wife was heating on him. &eah. (h, have you seen Tate? Adam asked. "he went !a k to the house. Dook, Adam, you dontH &ou dont have to e>$lain, Bu k. It doesnt matter. Adam turned and headed !a k to the house. #e found Tate working in his offi e at the om$uter. Busy? Tate Aum$ed at the sound of Adams voi e. "he looked over her shoulder and found him leaning negligently against the door frame, one hi$ o ked, his hat in his hands. The an>ious way his fingers were working the !rim !etrayed his nerves. 0ot too !usy to talk, she said. "he turned the swivel hair in his dire tion, leaned !a k, $ut her ankles on the desk and rossed her arms !ehind her head. It was a $ose intended to !e eBually arefree. In Tates ase, her !are toesHwhi h wiggled onstantlyHgave her away.

3?

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, In his younger days, Adam had ridden !u king !ron s in the rodeo. #is stoma h felt now

as it did when he was on the !ron and the hute was a!out to o$en. Dike the ham$ionshi$ rider he was, he gave himself eight good se onds to make his $oint and get out. Im sorry. I was out of lineHwith what I said last night and today with Bu k. Im not asking you to forgive me. Id Aust like a han e to start over fresh from here. Tate sat there stunned. #dam a"ologising$ "he had never thought she would see the day. But like .elma, on e !urned, twi e hary. %oes this mean youre res inding the !argain we made? Adam swallowed hard. 0o. "o, he still wanted her, even though he was onvin ed the !a!y was Bu ks. And he was willing to kee$ his mouth shut a!out her su$$osed indis retionHand give his name to Bu ks hildHin return for favors in !ed. A woman had to !e out of her mind to a e$t a !argain like that. All right, Tate said. I a e$t your a$ology. And I agree to a!ide !y the !argain we made yesterday. Adam noti ed she hadnt forgiven him. But then he hadnt asked for forgiveness. 6ore to the $oint, she had agreed that their marriage ontinue to !e onsummated. Tate thought she must !e an eternal o$timist, !e ause she took Adams a$$earan e at her door as a good sign. "he hadnt given u$ ho$e that she ould somehow onvin e him of the truth a!out the !a!y, and that they would live ha$$ily ever after. It might and never ha$$en, !ut at least now they would !e living in amity while they tried to work things out. Its !eautiful out today, Adam said. #ow would you like to take a !reak and ome hel$ me? I still have to move those attle from one $asture to another. Work that hadnt !een done yesterday !e ause they had gotten married instead. A !road smile a$$eared on Tates fa e. Id like that. 5ust let me save this material on the om$uter. "he dro$$ed her feet and swivelled !a k around to fa e the interru$ted when Adam loudly leared his throat. (h. I didnt think to ask. %id %r. -owalski say everythings okay with the !a!y? Theres no medi al reason why you ant do strenuous e>er ise, is there? Tate turned and gave him a !eautiful smile. Im fine. The !a!y will enAoy the ride. om$uter. "he was

33

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, 0evertheless, Adam ke$t a lose eye on Tate. When he saw her eyelids !egin to droo$

late in the afternoon he suggested they take a siesta. #e led her to a giant live oak that stood near the !anks of a reek on his $ro$erty. There he s$read a !lanket he had tied !ehind the saddle and $rovided a $i ni he had $a ked in his saddle!ags. Tate $ulled off her !oots and wiggled her toes. Then she lay !a k on the !lanket with her hands !ehind her head and stared u$ at the fre kles of sun visi!le through the gnarled, mossG laden lim!s of the live oak. This is wonderfulI A $i ni I I had no idea you had this in mind when you asked me to ome with you today. A tually, 6aria was res$onsi!le for the im$rom$tu $i ni . Adam had thought of the !lanket himself. The delight on Tates fa e was its own reward. Adam sat down rossGlegged a ross from her and $assed out ham and heese sandwi hes, deviled eggs and $i kles. There was a thermos of i ed tea to drink. I dont usually are for $i kles, Tate said, run hing into the sweet gherkin in her hand. But you know, this tastes $retty good. Adam smiled to himself. In his e>$erien e, $regnant women had odd ravings. #e had on e had a $atient whod eaten liver with $eanut !utter. "oon after she had finished her lun h, Tate yawned. I ant !elieve how tired I feel lately. &our !ody is going through a lot of hanges. Is that a medi al o$inion, %o tor? Tate asked, eyeing him through halfG losed lids. But she didnt his answer. The moment she laid her head on her hand and losed her eyes, she fell sound aslee$. Adam leared away the $i ni and lay down !eside her to wat h her slee$. #e had never realiJed how very long her lashes were, or how very dark. "he had a tiny mole !eside her ear that he hadnt dete ted !efore. And dark ir les under her eyes, whi h he also hadnt noti ed. As a do tor he knew the strain $regnan y $ut on a womans !ody and her emotions. #e made a vow to himself to take are of Tate, to make sure that the dark ir les disa$$eared and that the smile stayed on her fa e. #e knew how she would resent it if she thought he had taken on the role of aretaker. After all, she had her !rothers !e ause they had !een over$rote tive. #e knew he would have to !e su!tle if he were going to get her to rest. Dike the $i ni today. #e was sure she had no idea she was !eing mani$ulated for own good.

2::

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, When Tate awoke, she stret hed languorously, unaware that she had an a$$re iative

audien e. When she !linked o$en her eyes she realiJed it was nearly dusk. "he sat u$ a!ru$tly and made herself diJJy. Adam was !eside her instantly, his arm around her shoulder to su$$ort her. Are you all right? 5ust a little wooJy. I guess I sat u$ too Bui kly. Why did you let me slee$ so long? &ou were tired. Tate leaned her head on his shoulder. I guess I was. #adnt we !etter head !a k now? #e nuJJled her ne k, sear hing out the mole near her ear. I dont have anything $lanned for this evening. %o you? Tate hu kled. /0o, I ant say that I have. Adam slowly laid her !a k down and found her mouth with his. #e !rushed his heek against her long lashes and slid his hands into her hair, smoothing it !a k where the !reeJe had ruffled it into her fa e. As the sun sli$$ed from the sky, Adam made sweet love to his wife. They rode home !y moonlight, and after they had taken are of the horses, Adam made sure Tate went right to !ed. In his room. With his arms around her. Ill have 6aria move your things to my room, he murmured in her ear. Itll !e more onvenient sin e youll !e slee$ing in here. Tate o$ened her mouth to o!Ae t and shut it again. After all, she wanted this marriage to work. It made sense that the more time she s$ent with Adam, the !etter han e she had of making that ha$$en. "he intended to !e ome a!solutely irre$la ea!le in his life. But as the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months, the invisi!le wall of mistrust !etween them did not ome down. Though she made love with Adam ea h evening, the words I love you stu k in Tates throat whenever she tried to say them. It was too $ainful to e>$ose her need to him. ,s$e ially sin e she didnt want to $ut him in the $osition of feeling he had to say the words !a k. Whi h she was afraid he wouldnt. Adam was eBually aware of how mu h he had gained when he had moved Tate into his !edroom, and how little things had really hanged !etween. #e found himself en hanted !y her onstant delight in the !a!y. #e tried to !e ha$$y with ea h stage of her $regnan y. 6ostly he was su essful.

2:2

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, But he wat hed her and wondered if she ever thought of Bu k. The ow!oy hadnt !een

s$ending mu h of his free time around the ran h lately. But Adam was wat hing. Whi h meant that he still didnt trust her not to seek Bu k out if she got the han e. 6eanwhile, he had waited for Tate to tell him again that she loved him. "he hadnt said the words lately. 0ot on e, in fa t, sin e they had gotten married. And !e found he wantedHneededHto hear those words. Tate was still in !ed with Adam when she felt the !a!y move for the first time. "he gra!!ed his hand and $la ed it on her !elly. +an you feel that? -ind of a fluttery feeling. 0o. #e tried to remove his hand. Wait. 6ay!e itll ha$$en again. 8eel here, Adam said, $utting her hand on his arousal. I think Ive got a little fluttery feeling of my own. Tate ouldnt hel$ giggling as Adams !ody $ulsed !eneath her hand. &ouve got a one tra k mind, %r. )hili$s. 'h, !ut what a lovely tra k it is, he murmured, kissing his way down her !ody. #is head lay against her !elly when he felt a slight movement against his heek. #e ame u$ off her like a s alded at. I felt itI I felt the !a!y moveI Tate smiled trium$hantly. I told you soI Adam found himself suddenly un omforta!le. As a do tor he had des ri!ed the stages of $regnan y to his $atients hundreds of times. &et he found himself overwhelmed !y the reality of it. That featherGlight tou h against his heek had !een an a tual human !eing. Crowing inside Tate. A !a!y that would have his name. A !a!y that Tate $lanned to take away with her when she divor ed him. Adam was reminded why he shouldnt let himself are too mu h a!out either Tate or the !a!y. It going to !e !ad enough when Tate left him. #e wouldnt !e a!le to !ear it if he got atta hed to the hild, as well. Adam didnt say anything a!out what he was thinking, !ut from that night onward Tate noti ed a distin t differen e in his !ehavior whenever she mentioned the !a!y. Adam seemed indifferent. 0othing she said got him e> ited or !rought a smile to his fa e. It was as if the !a!y had !e ome a !urden too heavy for him to !ear.

2:=

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Tate had onveniently forgotten that she had $romised Adam a divor e as soon as the

!a!y was !orn. "o she was ertain the only $ossi!le e>$lanation why Adam wasnt allowing himself to get involved with anything having to do with the !a!y was !e ause he !elieved it wasnt his hild. "he de ided try, on e more, to onvin e him that he was the !a!ys father. "he hose her moment well. "he and Adam had Aust made love and were lying with their !odies still tangled together. Their !reathing had eased and Adams nose was nuJJled against her throat. The !a!y was a tive now, and she $ressed her !elly against his, knowing Adam ouldnt hel$ !ut feel the movement. Adam? #mm. The !a!ys ki king a lot tonight. #mm. "he threaded her fingers through Adams hair. &ou know, I think hes going to !e a lot like his father. "he felt Adam stiffen. Dike you, Adam. #es going to !e a lot like you. Adams voi e was weary as he said, &ou dont have to do this Tate. Its not ne essary to try make me !elieve the !a!ys mine, IH Ill love it anyway. Adam !it his li$ on that admission. 0o sense revealing the $ain she would !e ausing him when she took the hild away. But the !a!y is yours, Adam. Tate, weve !een through this !efore. I took testsH What a!out your wife? %id she take tests, too? 6ay!e it was her fault and not yours. Anne was tested. There was nothing wrong her. 6ay!e they got your test results mi>ed u$ someone elses, Tate $ersisted, I mean, youre a do tor. &ou know those things ha$$en. %id you see the results yourself? Anne alled me from the do tors offi e, Adam said. &ou mean you werent there? I had a medi al emergen y. 2H Then she ould have liedI Tate said. Why? "he wanted hildren as mu h as I did. What earthly reason would she had to lie?

2:4

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, I dont know, Tate said. All I do know is that a hild is growing in my !ody, and the

only man whos $ut his seed inside me is youI 8or an instant Adam felt a wild surge of ho$e. 6ay!e there had !een some mistake. 6ay!e Anne had not lied, !ut !een mistaken. #e ouldnt !elieve she would have lied a!out a thing like that. #e had seen her tests himself. The $ro!lem did not lie with Anne. "o something must have !een wrong with him for them to remain hildless for eight years. #e felt the ho$e die as $ainfully as it had !een !orn. &oure making wishes that ant ome true, Tate, he said. This hild isnt mine. Im sterile. Tate ould have s reamed, she was so frustrated. Is that why you refuse to get involved with anything having to do with the !a!y? she demanded. Be ause you think it isnt yours? #ave you forgotten that you $romised me a divor e as soon as its !orn? Adam reminded her. What if I said I didnt want a divor e? Would you feel differently a!out the !a!y then? Tate $ersisted. What do you want me to say, Tate? That Ill !e a father to your hild? I will. What more do you it from me? The words seemed torn from some$la e dee$ inside him. Tate felt froJen inside. It was lear Adam wouldnt ever !e a!le to a e$t the !a!y she arried as his own. And she wouldnt su!Ae t her hild to a lifetime of reAe tion !y its father, the one $erson who should love and $rote t it a!ove all others. That knowledge, on to$ of her dou!ts a!out whether Adam loved her, made it $lain that she would !e !etter off away from here. "he didnt say another word, Aust allowed Adam to $ull her into his em!ra e and hold her one last time. 'n e he was aslee$, she arefully disentangled herself. "he turned and looked at him on e !efore she left the roomHand his lifeHforever.

2:9

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%,

%le#en
Carth and 8aron were sho kedHto $ut it mildlyH when Tate showed u$ on the doorste$ at #awks Way. /What ha$$ened? Carth demanded. What did that !astard do to you? &ou look awful. Tate, 8aron said, $utting an arm around her shoulder and leading her inside. If that man hurt you IllH %ont, CarthI Tate $leaded. 5ust leave it alone. Adam and I are !oth !etter off this way. %o you want to talk a!out it? 8aron asked. I Aust want to go to !ed and slee$ for a week, Tate said. 8aron and Carth e> hanged a so!er look. There were dee$ shadows under Tates eyes. #er fa e looked gaunt and unha$$y. #ell $ay for the way hes treated you, Carth said. 0oI Disten to meI Tate said, her voi e shar$ with fatigue and an>iety. &ou have to trust me to know thats !est. There it was again. That word trust. This marriage was a horri!le mistake. Im going to file for a divor e. %ont !e hasty, 8aron urged. &oure dead on your feet. &ou have go idea what youre saying, Carth ountered. "to$ itI Both of youI Im a grown woman. "he laughed hysteri ally. %ont you see? Im going to !e a mother myselfI "urely its time for you to admit that I an manage my own life. &ou have to love me enough to let go. Tate didnt wait to hear whether they were willing to on ede to her wishes. "he was too distressed to deal with them anymore. "he ran u$ the stairs to her !edroom, her rigid !earing, defying either one of her !rothers to ome after her. "hes hanged, 8aron said. And not for the !etter, Carth noted.

2:<

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, 8aron frowned. Im not so sure a!out that. "hes grown u$, Carth. "hes not a little girl

anymore. "i> months ago she wouldnt have stood u$ to you like that. I think she had to !e in a lot of $ain to leave here in the first $la e, and a helluva lot more $ain to ome !a k. I think may!e were at least $artly res$onsi!le. I !lame the !astard who got her $regnant, Carth said. 0one of this would have ha$$ened if she hadnt run away from home. And she wouldnt have run from away from home if we hadnt ke$t su h a tight rein on her. It was for her own good. It doesnt seem, that way now, does it? 8aron asked. I think may!e our little sister grew u$ in s$ite of us. And I, for one, am not going to interfere anymore hi her life.

Adam had !een s owling ever sin e he had woken u$ to find Tate gone from his !edH and his life. The first thing he had done was to go hunting Bu k. #is fury had !een !oundless when the lanky ow!oy was nowhere to he found. 8inally, one of the other hands told him Bu k had !een s$ending rights with his e>Gwife. That news !ad onfounded Adam. #e had doggedly made the tri$ to .elmas house and kno ked on the door in the early hours of the morning. Bu k had answered the door wearing lowGslung Aeans and s rat hing a head of au!urn hair that stood out in all dire tions. AdamI What are you doing here this hour of the morning? Wheres Tate? #ow the hell should I know? Bu k retorted. By now .elma had Aoined him, wearing a flashy silk ro!e, and with her red tresses eBually tangled. Whats going on, Adam? It was o!vious to Adam that Tate wasnt here. But he didnt know where else to look. %o you mind if I ome in? +ome on in and Ill make us some offee, .elma. said. &ou an tell us whats got you running around at this hour like a hi ken with its head ut off. While .elma was in the kit hen making offee, Adam $ut his el!ows on the ta!le and wearily ru!!ed his forehead. Bu k waited $atiently for Adam to s$eak his $ie e. Tates gone. *un away, Adam said at last.

2:@

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Bu k whistled his sur$rise. Thought that little filly loved you too mu h ever to leave

you. Adams head ame u$ out of his hands. What? /"ure. &ou and that !a!y of yours was all she ever talked a!out. ,y !a!y? "ure as hell wasnt mineI Bu k said. Adams eyes narrowed. "he s$ent nearly the whole night with you. Twi e. Bu k laughed in Adams fa e. We were here at .elmas house the first night. And we fell aslee$ on the !anksG of the 8rio after .elma and I had an argument on the se ond. Theres only !een one woman for me. And thats my wife. &ou mean your e>Gwife. Bu k grinned and held u$ his left hand, whi h !ore a gold wedding !and. I mean my wife. .elma and I got married again last "unday. +ongratulations. I guess. Adam was onfused. But if youre not the father of Tates !a!y, then who is? Bu k $ursed his li$s and shook his head, I would think that has to !e $retty o!vious even to a !lind man. But IH Adam swallowed and admitted, I ant father hildren. Whoever told you that, Bu k said, is a who$$ing liar. ButH Adam shut his mouth over the $rotest he had !een a!out to make. Was it really $ossi!le? +ould Anne have lied to him? It was the only answer that would e>$lain everything. Adam Aum$ed u$ from his hair Aust as .elma !rought in the offee$ot. &oure not staying? she asked. Ive got to get in tou h with someone in "an Antonio. #e was going to see the do tor who had done those fertility tests and find out the truth for himself. When youre ready to go after Tate, I have a suggestion where you might look, Bu k said. Where? I figure she went home to her !rothers. &oull $ro!a!ly find her at #awks Way. %amn

2:;

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Bu k laughed. Id like to !e a fly on the wall when you try to take her out of there. Adam wasnt a!le to think that far ahead. *ight now he had a do tor to visit in "an

Antonio. ,arly the ne>t afternoon Adam ame out of a glassGwalled offi e !uilding feeling like a man who had !een $olea>ed. &our s$erm ount was low, the do tor had said. But ertainly still within the range that would allow you to father hildren. /But why didnt Anne and I ever on eive hildren? he had demanded. The do tor had shrugged. It was Aust one of those things that ha$$ens with some ou$les. #nne had lied to him. Whatever her reasonsH may!e she Aust hadnt wanted to kee$ on tryingGshe had lied to him. Im going to be a father! Tate is "regnant with my child! The realiJation was only Aust hitting him. Adam was floating on air. #e !ad always intended to love the hid !e ause it was Tates, !ut the knowledge that the !a!y Tate was arrying was a $art of him filled his u$ to overflowing. There was only one $ro!lem. Tate was at #awks Way. And he was going to have to fight her !rothers to get her !a k. An hour later, he was in his $i ku$ traveling north. Adam shouldnt have !een sur$rised when he dis overed the vastness of #awks Way, !ut he was. The liffs and anyons in northwest Te>as were a startling ontrast to the rolling $rairies found on the DaJy ". The ran h house was an im$osing twoGstory white frame stru ture that looked a lot like an ante!ellum mansion with its four, twentyGfootGhigh fluted olumns a ross the front and its railed firstG and se ondGstory $or hes. The road leading to the house was lined with magnolias, !ut the house itself was shaded !y the !ran hes of a mossGladen live oak. Adam was glad to see that the !arn and out!uildings were a good distan e from the house. #e was ho$ing to at h Tate alone and talk with her !efore he had to onfront her !rothers. #e went around to the kit hen door, kno ked softly and let himself inside. Tate was standing at the sink $eeling $otatoes. "he was wearing an a$ron, and sweat from the heat of the kit hen made her hair url dam$ly at her na$e.

2:?

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, #ello, Tate. Tate dro$$ed !oth $otato and $eeler in the sink and turned to fa e Adam. 'n e she had

wi$ed her hands dry, she ke$t them hidden in the folds of the a$ron so Adam wouldnt see hew mu h they were trem!ling. #ello, Adam, she said at long last. I was Aust $eeling $otatoes for tonights $ot roast. &ou look tired, he said. I havent !een slee$ing mu h the last ou$le of days, "he swallowed over the a he in her throat and asked, What are you doing here. Adam? Ive ome to get you. Co u$stairs and $a k your things. Im taking you home with me. I am home. Dike hell you areI This is where you grew u$ Tate. It isnt your home. &our home is with me and our hild. Tate felt her heart ra ing with e> itement and with ho$e. Adams words now were a far ry from what she had heard a mere fortyGeight hours ago. It a$$eared he intended to !e a father to the !a!y after all. Before Adam ould say more, the kit hen door o$ened and Tate remem!ered she had told her !rothers to ome to the house early for lun h ause she wanted to take a long afternoon na$. "he Buailed at the onfrontation she knew was oming. What the hell are you doing here? Carth demanded. Ive ome for my wife. Tates not going anywhere, Carth said. Adam wasnt a!out to !e said nay. #e gra!!ed Tate !y the wrist. 8orget your things, he said. We an get them later. #e dragged her two ste$s !ut ould go no farther. 8aron and Carth, were !lo king the way out. Cet out of my way, Adam said. Dook, Adam, 8aron !egan in a reasona!le voi e. If youll AustH But Adam was in no mood to !e reasona!le. #e twisted around to shove Tate out of the way then reversed the ar with his fist. 8aron was felled !y the $owerful !low, whi h aught him om$letely un$re$ared to defend himself. Adam stood s$readGlegged, fa ing Tates eldest !rother. Im telling you to get out of my way.

2:3

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, &oure wel ome to leave, Carth said. But Tate stays here. Im taking her with me. That remains to !e seen. Tate knew her !rothers strength. #e had at least three in hes of height and thirty more

$ounds of mus le than Adam. Carth, $lease dontH "hut u$, Tate, Adam ordered. I an handle this on my own. #e was fighting for his lifeHthe right to herish his wife and raise his hildHand he ha no intention of losing. The fight that followed was vi ious, !ut mer ifully short. When it was finished, Adam was still standing, !ut it was a near thing. #e gra!!ed Tates wrist and hel$ed her ste$ over Carths !ody on the way out, letting the s reen door shut !ehind her. 'n e Tate and Adam were gone, the two !rothers, still s$rawled on the floor where Adam had left them, had trou!le meeting ea h others eyes. Two against one and they were the ones dusting themselves off. Carth radled his ri!s as he sat u$ and leaned !a k against the kit hen u$!oards. #e $ulled his shirttail out and $ressed the loth against a ut over his heek!one. 8aron stret hed his legs out in front of him as he leaned !a k against the refrigerator. #e ru!!ed his sore hin, then o$ened his mouth and moved his Aaw around to make sure no !ones were !roken. Cuess our little sister is married to a man loves her after all, 8aron said. 'ne with a damned fine right hook, Carth agreed, da!!ing gently with his shirttail at the !ruised skin around his eye. The two !rothers looked at ea h other and grinned. Carth yel$ed when his s$lit li$ $rotested. Cuess thats one suitor you ouldnt s are off, 8aron said. I always said Tate would know the right man when he ame along. "eems you were the one needed onvin ing, 8aron said, eying Carths !attered fa e. Carth guffawed, then moaned when his head $rotested. By the way, who do you thinks going to !e godfather to that !a!y of hers? 6e, 8aron said, hauling himself off the floor. &ou get to !e godfather to 5esses first!orn. 5esses ne>t oldest. It ought to !e him.

22:

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, 5esse and Adam dont get along. Im a !etter hoi e, 8aron said. The two !rothers headed out to the !arn, arguing all the way. 0either of them mentioned

the fa t that they had !een relegated to a new role in Tates life. Their little sister had found a new $rote tor. 6eanwhile, Tate was aware of every move Adam made, every word he s$oke. "he had him sto$ at the first gas station they ame to with the e> use she had to use the !athroom. "he used the o$$ortunity to lean the !lood off his fa e and !ought some !andages in the onvenien e store to $ut a ross the uts on his heek and hin. 'n e they were !a k in the ar, she said, &ou were wonderful, you know. I dont think any!odys ever !eaten my !rother Carth in a fight. I had more at stake than he did, Adam mum!led through his s$lit li$s. Tates s$irits soared at this further eviden e that Adams attitude toward !oth her and the !a!y had somehow hanged. It was a long ride !a k home to the DaJy ", !roken freBuently !y sto$s to allow Tate to use the rest room fa ilities. Its the !a!y, she e>$lained. I know a!out these things, Adam re$lied with an understanding smile. Im a do tor, remem!er? It was dark !y the time they arrived !a k at the DaJy ". 6aria greeted them !oth at the door with a !ig hug. It is so good to see you !a k where you !elong, se*ora! In "$anish she said to Adam, I see you have $ut the smile !a k on her fa e. &ou will tell her now you love her4 yes? When the time is right, Adam said. 6aria frowned. The time, she is right now. Adam refused to !e $ressed. #e e> used himself and ushered Tate to his !edroom. #e lifted her into his arms and arried her a ross the threshold. 'ur marriage !egins now, hE said, looking into her eyes. The $ast is $ast. Tate ould hardly !elieve this was ha$$ening. I love you, Adam. "he waited for the words she knew he would say !a k to her. But they didnt ome.

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T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, There was nothing very diffi ult a!out saying those three little words, !ut Adam felt too

vulnera!le at the moment to admit the de$th of his feelings for Tate. #e hadnt really given her a hoi e a!out oming !a k with him. It seemed more a$$ro$riate to show her that he loved her, rather than to tell so in words. #e made love to her as though she were the most $re ious !eing in the world. #e kissed her gently, indifferent to his s$lit li$, tasting her as though he had never done so !efore, teasing her with his teeth and tongue. #er soft whim$er of $leasure rolled through him, tightening his !ody with need. #is hand slid down to her rounded !elly. 6y hild, he whis$ered in her ear. 'ur hild. &es. &es, our hild. Tate agreed, glad that he was ready to a e$t the !a!y as his own. I mean, I know its mine, Adam said. Tate was Aerked a!ru$tly from her eu$horia. What? "he turned to fa e him, her eyes still wide and dilated with $leasure. What did you say? Adams thum! aressed her !elly as his eyes met hers. I went !a k to that do tor in "an Antonio. The one who did the fertility tests on Anne and me. Im not sterile, Tate. Anne lied to me. Tates eyes widened in horror as she realiJed what this meant. 0o wonder Adam hadnt said he loved her. #e hadnt ome to #awks Way for her at all. #e hadnt fought Carth for the $ur$ose of getting her !a k. #e had fought to get !a k his hildI

22=

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%,

Twel#e
Tate $leaded fatigue from her $regnan y as an e> use not to make love to Adam, and the damned man fell all over himself !eing understanding. 0aturally he wanted to make sure she took good are self so his child would !e !orn healthyI But the ne>t morning, when Adam stood !lo king her way into the offi eH!e ause she shouldnt have to work in her deli ate onditionHTate let him have it with !oth !arrels. Im Aust as a$a!le of working with your growing inside me as I was when it was Aust my hildI she sna$$ed. ButH 0o !utsI Ill eat right, get enough rest and ome through this $regnan y with flying olors. ,ven if it is $artly your hild growing inside me and not Aust mine. Adam wasnt sure what he had done wrong, !ut Tate o!viously had a !ee in her !onnet a!out something. Whats all this your hild and my hild !usiness? What ha$$ened to our hild? That was !efore you found out you an father as many hildren as you want. Well, you an go father some other fool womans kids. This !a!ys mine! With that, she shoved him out of the offi e and slammed the door in his fa e. Adam ould hear her rying on the other side of the door. #e tried the handle and found it was lo ked. #e $ounded on the door. Tate, let me inI I dont want to talk to you. Co awayI #e $ounded on the door again, If you dont o$en this door, Im going to !reak It down, he threatened. #e had Aust turned his shoulder toward the door when it o$ened, and he nearly fell inside. Thats !etter, he said, walking in and shutting the door !ehind him. I think may!e we !etter talk a!out this...differen e of o$inion. Whats im$ortantH Im not a !a!y that needs oddling. Im fully a$a!le of taking are of myself. &ou have to trust me toHoh, whats the use? she said, throwing u$ hands in disgust. Trust was

224

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%,

never a $art of our relationshi$ the $ast. I dont su$$ose that Aust !e ause youve found out I didnt lie to you a!out the !a!y, its going to hange anything !etween us. What does trust have to do with this? )verything! Tate was Buivering she was so u$set. Bu k and .elmaH Whoa thereI What do Bu k and .elma have do with this? Adam was getting more onfused !y the minute. It doesnt matter, Tate said. Adam gra!!ed her !y the shoulders. It o!viously does matter. 0ow I want an e>$lanation and I want it nowI &ou sure a!out that? 8ood for thought gives some folks indigestionI Adam shoved Tate down in the swivel hair and settled his hi$ on the desk in front of her. "ettle down now. This kind of agitation isnt good for !a!y. IH Tate lea$ed out of the hair and $oked a finger at Adams hest. The baby! The baby! she mimi ked !a k at him. Thats all you really are a!out, isnt it? Im nothing more than a vessel for your seed. I ould !e a test tu!e for all the differen e it would make to youI Well, Ive got news for you, buster! I want more than a father for my hild, I want a hus!and to love me and hold me andH Tate hoked !a k a so!. Tate, I do loveH %ont say itI If you really loved me, youve had $lenty of o$$ortunities to say so. If you say it now Ill know youre Aust doing it to alm me down for the sake of the !a!y. Im telling the truthI "o was II When I told you months ago that this !a!y was yours and mineH ours! But you didnt trust me then. And I dont !elieve you nowI 5ust like Bu k and .elmaH Are we !a k to them again? &esGsGsI she hissed. Be ause Bu k and .elma are a $erfe t e>am$le of what ha$$ens when theres no trust in a relationshi$. &ou hurt ea h other, and youre misera!le and unha$$y together. If you love some!ody you have to !e willing to trust them enough to !e honest with them. To lay yourself o$en to the $ain of reAe tion !y admitting how you really feel a!out them. And you have to trust in their love enough to know that they would never do anything $ur$osely to hurt you. Dike lying to you. 'r slee$ing with another man.

229

T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Without trust, love will Aust wither and die. Tate swallowed another so! and said,

Dike it did with Bu k and .elma. Are you finished? Adam asked. Tate sniffled and wi$ed her nose with the hem of her TGshirt. Im finished. 8irst of all, I think you should know that Bu k and .elma got remarried on "unday. Tates eyes went wide. They did? "e ond of all, whether you !elieve me or not, I do love you. Ive loved you for a long time. I never said anything !e auseQ Be ause you didnt trust me, Tate finished in a small voi e. #e ouldnt deny it, !e ause it was true. I guess its my turn to $oint to Bu k and .elma, Adam said ruefully. Why? Arent they $roof that $eo$le an hange? That mistakes arent irrevo a!le? Tates !row furrowed. I su$$ose. Then will you give me a han e to $rove how I feel? To $rove that I do love you enough to trust you with my heart? Tate felt her throat swelling losed with emotion I su$$ose. +ome here. Adam o$ened his arms and Tate walked into them. #e ti$$ed her hin u$ and looked dee$ into her eyes. We start from here. 'ur !a!y, our marriageH 'ur trust in ea h other, Tate finished. They shared a tender kiss to seal the !argain. But it turned into something mu h more. 'r would have, if 6aria hadnt interru$ted them. "eMor Adam, there is a man here with the rodeo !ull he says you must sign for. Im oming, 6aria. Adam gave Tate another Bui k, hard kiss. (ntil tonight. (ntil tonight. Tate managed a smile as he turned and left her. #e had given her an awful lot to think a!out. But it was !etter to onfront these issues now, !efore the !a!y ame, than later. Carth had always, said, If you have a hill to lim!, waiting wont make it smaller. As Adam !egan to realiJe over the ne>t several weeks, it was one thing to !elieve yourself trustworthyK it was Buite another thing to earn someones trust.

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T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, #e made love to Tate ea h night, revering her with words and gestures. But he never told

her that he loved her. It was $lain from the autious way she wat hed him when she thought he wasnt looking, that she wasnt yet ready to hear the wordsHan !elieve them. 6aria got thoroughly disgusted wat hing "eMor and "eMora Tate ti$toe around ea h other. "he nagged at him in "$anish to tell "eMora Tate he loved her and !e done with it. If you say it often enough, she will !elieve it, 6aria advised. %o you think so? Adam asked. ,ven if she thinks Im lying through my teeth? But you would not !e lyingI 6aria $rotested. "he will see what is in your eyes. And she will !elieve. Adam truly wished it were that sim$le. #e was !eginning to des$air of ever onvin ing Tate that he loved her enough to want her !oth as his wife and the mother of his hild. The situation might have gone on unresolved, with !oth Adam and Tate less than ha$$y, if 6aria hadnt de ided to take matters into her own hands. As far as 6aria was on erned, it was as $lain as white so ks on a sorrel horse that "eMor Adam loved the little seMora, and that she loved him. The $ro!lem was getting the two of them to re ogniJe what was right in front of their noses. "o right after lun h one day she sent "eMor Adam off to the store to !uy some s$i es she needed for dinner. "he waited a half hour, then ra ed into offi e where the seMora was working. "eMora Tate, ome Bui kI Theres !een an a identI "eMor AdamH By the time Adams name was out of 6arias mouth, Tate had already left her hair. "he gra!!ed hold of 6arias sleeve and demanded, #ow !adly is he hurt? What ha$$ened? Where is he? It was the new Brahma !ull, the one he has $enned in the far $asture, 6aria said. #e was not wat hing losely enough and H The !ull stom$ed him? 6y CodI #ow did you find this out? I never even heard the $hone ringI #as some!ody alled an am!ulan e? We have to Adam to a do torI "eMor Bu k has already alled the do tor. #e is with "eMor Adam now. 6aria smiled inwardly. "he hadnt even had to invent an inAury for "eMor Adam. The se*ora had done that herself. "he said, "eMor Bu kH Thank Cod, Bu ks with himI Tate headed for the kit hen to get the keys to her $i ku$ from the $eg where she usually left them. But they werent there.

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T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Where are my keys? 6aria, have you seen my keys? 6aria losed her hands around the set of keys in her $o ket. 0o seMora. But your horse,

she is saddled already for the ride you wished to take this afternoon. Thatll $ro!a!ly !e faster anyway. I an go rossG ountry. Thanks, 6aria. &oure a lifesaverI Tate had !arely !een gone ten minutes when 6aria heard "eMor Adams $i ku$ $ull u$ in !a k of the house. "he sniffed the onion she had ready and waiting and went running out to the tru k, tears streaming, waving her hands franti ally to attra t his attention. "eMor AdamI The se*ora! #urryI 6aria hid her fa e in her a$ron and $retended to ry. Whats wrong, 6aria? What ha$$ened to Tate? Is she all right? #e didnt wait for an answer, !ut !ounded u$ the !a k ste$s toward the house. "he it not thereI 6aria ried. Adams fa e !lea hed white. "hes gone? "he left me? 6aria saw she had made a serious mistake and said, 'h, noI But she went riding toward the $asture where you are kee$ing that !igGhum$ed !ull. #er horse must have !een frightened. "eMor Bu k found her there on the ground? "hes hurt? #as she !een taken to the do tor? "he is still there. "eMor Bu k is with herH Adam didnt wait to hear more. #e Aum$ed !a k into his $i ku$ and gunned the motor, heading down the gravel road, hellG!ent for leather toward the o$$osite end of the DaJy ". 6aria da!!ed with her a$ron at the orners of her eyes where the onion had done its work. Well, she would soon see the results of her meddling. If she was right, there would !e more smiles and laughter around this house in the future. When el beb/ arrived, Tia 6aria would tell the story of the day )a$a res ued 6ama from the !ig !ad !ull and !rought her home to live here ha$$ily ever after.

Tate managed to get through the gate that led to the new !ulls $asture without dismounting, !ut she still !egrudged the time it took the mare to res$ond to her ommands as she o$ened the metal gate and losed it !ehind her.

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T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, 'n e she was inside the $asture she ke$t a shar$ lookout for the huge Brahma. "he

wasnt sure what Bu k had done to se ure it after it had stom$ed Adam. The han e that it might still !e roaming free in the $asture made her shudder in fear. Tate hadnt gone far when she heard the sound of a tru k s$inning gravel somewhere !eyond the $asture gate. There was no siren, !ut she thought it might !e the am!ulan e. 6ay!e they would know e>a tly where to find Adam. Tate turned the mare !a k toward the gate and headed there at a gallo$. "he was almost to the gate when she realiJed the huge Brahma !ull, with its thi k horns and hum$ed !a k, was standing there, a$$arently drawn !y the sound of the tru k, whi h usually !rought hay and feed. When the !ull heard the horse !ehind him, he whirled to onfront the interlo$er on his territory. Tate found herself tra$$ed, with no way out. "he yanked the mare to a halt, holding her $erfe tly still, knowing that any movement would make the Brahma harge. Adam swore loudly and fluently when he realiJed Tates $redi ament. #e slammed on the !rakes, gra!!ed a ro$e from the !ed of the tr@u k, and hit the ground running. %ont moveI he yelled. Im oming. WaitI Tate yelled !a k %ont ome in hereI Its too dangerousI Adam didnt !other with o$ening the gate, Aust went over the to$ and down inside. The rattle of the fen e had the !ull turning !a k, ertain dinner was a!out to !e served. #e sto$$ed, onfused when he saw the man on foot inside the fen e. #e nodded his lowered head from Tate to Adam and !a k again, un ertain whi h way he wanted to go. Adam shook out the lasso and started looking for something he ould use as a snu!!ing $ost. 0ot too far away stood a mediumGsiJe live oak. Adam didnt hesitate. #e walked slowly toward the Brahma, whi h !egan to snort and $aw at the ground in agitation. The !ulls attention was definitely on Adam now, not Tate. )lease dont ome any loser, Adam, Tate said Buietly. %ont worry. Ive got this all worked out. If he missed his throw, he was going to run like hell and ho$e he got to the fen e !efore the Brahma got to him. But Adams loo$ sang through the air and landed neatly around the Brahmas horns. #e let out the ro$e as he ran for the live oak. #e ir led the tree several times, enough to make sure the ro$e was going to hold when the !ull hit the end of it.

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T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, By then, Tate had realiJed what he was doing. "he ra ed her mare to the live oak, took

her foot out the stirru$ so Adam ould Bui kly mount !ehind her, then ki ked the mare into a gallo$ that took them out of harms way. The Brahma harged after them, !ut was !rought u$ short !y the ro$e that held it hogG tied to the tree. Tate rode the mare !a k to the gate, where Adam sli$$ed over the horses rum$, and Bui kly o$ened the gate for her. 'n e she was through, he fastened the gate, and rea hed u$ to $ull her off the mare. They lut hed ea h other tightly, well aware of the alamity they had !arely es a$ed. As soon as their initial relief was $ast, they !egan talking at the same time, amaJed !y the fa t they had found ea h other alive and well and unhurt. 6aria told me the !ull had stom$ed youI "he told me you had !een thrown from your horseI I wasnt thrownI I wasnt stom$edI The realiJation dawned for !oth at the same time that they had !een mani$ulated into oming here under false $retenses. Ill kill herI Adam said. I think you should give her a raise, Tate said with a laugh. Why? "he nearly got us !oth killedI Be ause she made me realiJe Ive !een a fool not to !elieve what I know in my heart is true. I do love you, Tate, Adam said. #e $ulled her into his arms and kissed her hard. I do love you. I know. And I love you. When I thought you might !e dyingHor deadHI realised Aust how mu h. When I thought something might have ha$$ened to you, I felt the same, Adam said. I should have !een saying /I love you every day. I love you, Tate. I love you. I love you. Adam $un tuated ea h statement with a kiss that was more fervent than the one !efore. Tate was having trou!le at hing her !reath. "he managed to say, Adam, we have to do something a!out that !ull.

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T#, *A0+#,* A0% T#, *(0AWA& B*I%, Det him find his own heifer, Adam murmured against her throat. Tate laughed. We ant Aust leave him tied u$ like that. Ill send Bu k and the !oys !a k to take are of him and to $i k u$ your mare. We have

more im$ortant things to do this afternoon. Dike what? Dike $lotting how were going to get even with 6aria. As they drove !a k toward the ran h house, Adam and Tate $lotted imaginative $unishments they ould wreak on the housekee$er for lying to them. It wasnt an easy Ao!, onsidering how they had to !alan e her du!ious methods against her very satisfying results. I think the !est thing we ould do is have a!out five hildren, Adam said. Tate gul$ed. 8ive? "ure. Thatll fi> 6aria, all right. "hell have the little devils sitting on her la$ and tugging at her skirts for a good long whileI "erves her rightI Tate agreed with a grin. Adam sto$$ed the $i ku$ in front of the ran h house, gra!!ed Tates hand and went running inside to find the housekee$er. 6ariaI he shouted. Where are you? #e headed for the kit hen, dragging Tate along !ehind him. #eres a note on the refrigerator, Tate said. Whats it say? Tate held the note out to Adam.

%ear "eMor Adam, Tell her you love her. Ill !e gone for twoHno, threeHhours. Dove, 6aria Adam laughed and $ulled Tate into his em!ra eHwhere the first of 6arias little devils $rom$tly ki ked his father in the stoma h.

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