Page 31 (1/2)

"We’re practically walking now," Gloria said "Why don’t we talk--that’ll distract you"

"What do you want to talk about? Chad?" Linnette asked

Once again, Gloria ignored the mention of his name "What do you hear from Cal?"

"Not much I talked to hiround music was any indication" Linnette frowned at the s, but even as a greenhorn she was bright enough to recognize that there weren’t a lot of wild horses hanging around in bars Rethinking the conversation, she recalled a nus that had bothered her "While ere talking, Cal began to stutter again That tells "

"Maybe he just needs to get back to the speech therapist"

"Maybe" Still, Linnette didn’t think that was the proble her They hardly talked any of an obligation than any desire to talk to her A recent article in the Cedar Cove Chronicle stated that local veterinarian Vicki New at the ranch earlier and the odd sensation that had co to Vicki She’d felt threatened, and she couldn’t figure out exactly why Vicki was so…ordinary Linnette hated to say it, but the veterinarian, with her sharp facial features, lank hair and ht unattractive She seeh, Linnette supposed But Cal hadn’t told her Vicki was going to Wyo their last call, Linnette had told him how much it dised the subject

They never argued Cal would walk away froreement rather than talk about it rationally It didn’t help, she told herself, that he had a difficult ti his speech when he was upset, which only made him more disinclined to discuss probleain, rather than focus on her own relationship "You talk about Chad and I’ll discuss Cal"

"There’s nothing to talk about"

"Why aren’t you going out with hied "Should I be?"

"No, I guess not," Linnette said reluctantly And yet the two of theether

"If anyone isn’t interested in Chad, it’sher feelings out of misplaced loyalty to her

"Then why are we discussing him?"

"Because I kno he feels about you"

Gloria increased her pace, and Linnette had to struggle to keep up "Hey, sloould you?"

"Not if you want to talk about Chad"

Linnette frowned, blinking as the sweat slid down her face "A here?"

"No" Gloria’s response wasin her effort to keep pace with her sister, who see to break a world speed record "Maybe it’d be best if we didn’t talk," she suggested, breathing heavily

"Maybe," Gloria agreed and immediately slowed to a kinder pace

"This was supposed to be a lazy mile," Linnette reminded her

Round tas completed, and two ed four full laps

"A lazyto crawl," Gloria snapped

"You’ve had more practice at this than I have" Linnette tried not to sound apologetic

"I thought eren’t going to talk"

"I have to talk" Linnette couldn’t stop, much as she’d prefer to If she did, then all she’d think about was how much her body didn’t want to do this Her calf muscles were about to spasun to churn with nausea "How often do you come out here?" she asked

"Every day I run between three and five roaned "You just said that to hed, raced ahead, then spun around and ran backward, facing Linnette "Hey, are we having our first sisterly disagreey, Linnette would’ve laughed, too "Yeah, I think we are" Seeing that she was holding Gloria up, she gestured for her to run on "Leave me," she panted "I’ll walk these last two laps"

"You sure?"

"Go, before I require resuscitation"

Gloria grinned and took off at a speed that would’ve caused Linnette to have a cardiac arrest As she’d pro, astonished at Gloria who literally ran circles around her Actually, now that she wasat a relaxed speed, Linnette found she didn’t object to exercising

Without Gloria there to distract her, though, her mind was free to roahts was an uncomfortable one

Cal