Page 43 (1/2)

"Char What do they do in these old places when they have rats?"

"Traps," Darcy said "Or exter in a cat"

"Cat! Precisely"

"Then…"

"Oh, I’ out loud at the moment," he said "Come on, I’m anxious to see this Wayside Inn, the heart of society in Stoneyville!"

As it turned out, Clint’s idea was not a bad one

Matt had disappeared, but Clara Issy had been folding sheets in the laundry roo on his real estate papers in the stables; both were eager to spend some time out Even Sa, since she was heading on home after and Adam never drank alcohol Whether Darcy wanted one or not, he was deter one

When they arrived, the Wayside Inn was ju a cross between rock and country and there were a nuer bared Darcy to a gained that he was certain he could best her in a matter of a at one of the tables when they arrived, and Delilah Dey was there as well, sitting at the bar Since Carter had challenged Darcy, but David had possession of the table, Darcy suggested she partner up with David That way, Carter could ask Delilah to be his partner

Delilah was very pretty, and certainly, she was intelligent and savvy regarding Stoneyville

But she was no pool player

Darcy had thought that she ht be somewhat distracted from the afternoon events, but she wasn’t She sank three balls on the break, and within a ed the winners

"My turn!" Clint challenged

"Who’s partnering who?" Carter asked

"One on one Darcy and h the bar

Darcy laughed, feeling her co

"What’s the bet?" she asked

"Winner takes all, of course," Clint said

"Oh? And ould that be?"

"Let htened "I know You and me Dinner--somewhere other than here And a movie"

"Go for it, Darcy!" Adam told her

"I can beat you, you know," she told Clint

"Maybe And then ain!" Clint teased "What can you lose? A night out"

"That’s if I lose?" she said, laughing

"If you win, you get to pay," Clint told her

She grinned, and bent down to slide her cue

This tih, and it seemed that it went on and on The entire bar seemed to tune in, and even the eht up in the contest, enjoying the challenge Clint was good, very good When she took the first game, he called for two out of three

She lost the second

They started the third

Clint erous play Her only shot would set her dangerously close to the eight ball As she walked around the table judging angles and distances, she becaely familiar, and yet…

Not at all unearthly

Of course, she was being watched Everyone in the bar atching her

And still…such a strange feeling

She hesitated, straightened, and looked around

She was startled to see Matt at the bar But he was the only one in the roo her He was on a stool between Ada to Mae, as behind the counter

She gave herself a shake, unnerved by both the sensation, and the fact that Matt was there

"Ms Treot h spot," he said

"Check--but not checkood tiave her attention to the gaht ball so that she could easily call the side pocket A second later, she sank it as well, and victory was hers

Her effort was ratulations from the friendly folk around her She s fro a good tilanced her way

Clint set his cue down and walked away, but ca two beers, one for her, one for himself He clicked his bottle to hers "I concede With treraciousness, of course"

"Thanks"

They both leaned against the table He looked at her, s his head "So you can play pool, too Who would have known?"