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"No, of course not," Darcy agreed "They were just old floorboards"

As they walked through the breezeway to the foyer, the front door opened Matt was back, in unifor the way he looked over her close proximity to Carter Maybe Carter noticed Matt’s look as well His ar lawman," Carter said "Youat Darcy "You feeling all right?"

Sheterrific You were the one who hit the floor, remember?"

"Ah, yes, the valiant, ht that there was just a slight edge to his voice" Of course, Darcy is fine She fell on all that terrificlike that," Matt said dryly

Penny appeared in the foyer "Matt! Great I’m so happy you’re back in tiet to? You weren’t answering the cell, and Shirley said that you’d left the station"

"I had some business out of the county," Matt said si at Darcy Then he turned to Penny at last "Go on and start dinner without e If you’ll all excuse me?"

It wasn’t really a question; more of a statement He headed up the stairs

"Well, ladies?" Carter said He offered them both an arm

Penny smiled and took one "Honestly You and Clint can be thereprobates in history, but then, you can be the ’!" Carter said "Co his free ar,’ Darcy Give me a hand here!"

She smiled and accepted his arm

"You should shave, Carter," Penny told hi and hard on this beard!" he told her

"You’re still such a handsoued

"But I don’t look like Jeb Stuart without it!" Carter protested

Penny sighed and looked around him to tell Darcy, "They called Jeb Stuart ‘Beauty’ when he was at West Point, and not because of his good looks, but because they thought that he was ugly as sin So he had to grow a beard! Carter, it’s just the opposite with you You have a great face The beard should really go What do you say, Darcy?"

Put on the spot, she shrugged "I think he has to do what makes him happy with hi "That’s the whole crust of life, right in a nutshell, don’t you think? We all have to do e all have to do--to be happy with ourselves"

"While we’re living--and e’re dead," Penny said She shivered suddenly "Oh, Darcy! I like you so very much, but I sure do wish that you’d leave I’m so worried about you"

"Penny, there’s an expression that’s not very nice, but it fits the bill, I think," Darcy told her, then quoted, "It’s not happening So live with it"

Penny grimaced "That’s just the point, Darcy," she said, and there was a real shiver to her voice "I want you to live!"

Clint ca room "Excuse me, people, but dinner is served!"

Penny walked ahead, touching Clint’s cheek "We’re co a "

"Well, then, Ms Penny, you come and tell that to the cook!" Clint said

Clint and Penny moved on Darcy started to follow

Carter pulled her back "Darcy, soave me chills, and I don’t believe in chills Maybe you should think about this"

"What are you talking about?" Darcy asked hi of discohost could be after you No, I definitely don’t believe that But still…"

"Still…what?" Darcy asked

"There does seeer here for you," Carter said, his words slow, as if he was struggling to understand his own feeling Then the look of worry left his face "You’re just too gorgeous Which means, of course, we’d like to have you around forever But not as a ghost! We want you to re? Coht in his ar room

Then she was startled herself

An icy chill suddenly swept up around her Cold, so cold

And she felt a strange tug…

As if soet her away from Carter

Keep her back

Have her there…