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"And all your plans?" he asked "Travel? School? A new life?"

"I think it’s ridiculous to even ask," she said "Women don’t have to choose between a relationship and education, Uncle Walt I don’t have to give up anything"

Walt reached out a hand and lifted her thick braid off her shoulder, caressing it between his thuer "I’m not here to bully you, and I don’t think you’re a wuss In fact, I think you’re pretty tough stuff I guess I need to assure myself you’re wise to this Sometimes these adventures can scar the heart"

"I’ her head "I wouldn’t be the first Vanni said her heart was broken a hundred times"

"Her"You’re stuck with uy to be stuck with"

"Just be careful" He reached out and touched her cheek softly "I keep forgetting how strong willed you are Luke Riordan ot himself into this…this…"

"Romance," she finally supplied "Really, I can’t believe you’re having such a hard ti someone, Walt, just like you are It’s not as if he’s " She lifted one eyebrow at hihteen-year-old Toet used to the idea I’m no different than anyone else"

"You’re a little different," he said with a smile "Better, probably"

"Phooey I just want to be noretting at?"

She crossed her ar about"

"I just want to be sure you’re all right," he said "You’re a grooman If you’ve made up your mind, I’ll just hope all this works out for the best" He leaned down and kissed her forehead "Are you going to be hoht?" he asked

"I sincerely hope not," she said "I’ll let you know"

Luke was up on the ladder, scraping old chipped paint off the eaves of nueneral’s Tahoe pulled up to his house He had been expecting this, but he wasn’t sure hoould happen, or when Luke climbed slowly down the ladder He tucked in his shirt and eneral said He did not extend his usual hand

"Sir"

"My niece hasn’t been ho the last few days"

"You aren’t armed, are you, sir?"

"I knehere she was, of course She was considerate enough to tell the faht you and I should have a little talk"

"Go ahead, sir," Luke said He hoped it didn’t show that his stoeneral--he knew Walt wouldn’t really shoot hi Shelby she was otten into this with her; he was a long way froive her up

Walt’s cheeks darkened with a ruddy stain as he said, "She’s been with you every night and she hasn’t been riding I don’t knohat to think--that she’s not sitting a horse"

Luke looked down and found his own cheeks war "Sir, I can honestly say, I haven’t ever been this unco her…"

"Thenunderstood Shelby ht seem shy and sometimes not real sure of herself, but she’s very stubborn She does as she pleases She always has She o at it quietly, but once she’s decided, that’s it I tried like hell to talk her out of putting her life on hold to care for herhome, at least at the end But I didn’t make any headway because Shelby’s mind was made up" He took a breath and shook his head "I wasn’t sure getting involved with you was the best idea, even though I don’t dislike you"

"I didn’t want her involved with me either, sir But as you say, she’s stubborn"

"Well, that gets us straight to the point--I can’t accuse you of coercing e of her I was more than a little aware that she had you in her crosshairs, and I could see she was hell-bent"

"Seeht, sir"

"It appears the die is cast She’s ood deal of time under your roof When she’s here, Riordan, you’d better be a gentleman"

"Absolutely, General"

"I’d be curious to knohat kind of plans you have where my niece is concerned," Walt said

"Due respect, sir, it would be wrong forto Shelby And at the risk of being indelicate, Shelby and I have barely--"

"That’ll do," he said, holding up a hand "I kno that sentence was going to end Leave it at that"