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The collapse of the conited a feud between Sullivan and Mitchell that had thrived until recently The bad blood between the Hartes and the Madisons was legendary in these parts It had provided fodder for the gossips of Eclipse Bay for three generations

But the first crack in the wall that had separated the two very different families had come last fall when Rafe Madison, the bad boy of the Madison family, had married Nick's sister Hannah Several more bricks had crumbled last month when his other sister, Lillian, had wed Gabe Madison

But the earth-shattering news that Harte Investments and Gabe's co had been the final blazing straw as far as the good people of Eclipse Bay were concerned The newly formed corporation, after all, effectively re-created the company that had been ripped apart at the start of the feud Life had seeht about the Winston picture," Nick said "But the house is pretty good, too The green flower is a great touch"

"Yeah, but there will be lots of houses and flowers in the art show All the kids I know like to draw houses and flowers Probably won't be any other dogs, though Hardly anyone can draw a dog, especially not one as good as Winston"

"Winston is unique I'll give you that"

Carson looked up at hi, Dad"

"What?"

"Maybe you shouldn't cohtwell tomorrow"

Nick raised his brows "You want me to wait in the car?"

Carson smiled, clearly relieved "Good idea That way she won't even see you"

"You're really afraid I'allery show, aren't you?"

"I just don't want to take any chances"

"Sorry, pal I've got ood opportunity toyour picture"

So he didn't have a lot of interest in the faht: He was just as goal-oriented and capable of focusing on an objective as anyone else in the clan

"If you wait in the car," Carson said ingratiatingly, "I proo out with you"

One of the Harte faree of sincere adotiate your way out of it

"Let ht" He hooked his thumbs in the waistband of his jeans and looked down at his son "If I agree to stay out of the way toood word for o out with you if I asked her"