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“Vivi Ann? Are you paying attention?”

She looked up from her notes

Ten eager faces stared back at her The girls of the Bits and Spurs 4-H group were seated around the living rooon wheel coffee table, in clusters on the worn oak flooring Their ages ranged froular passion in common: horses

For the next hour, the girls talked about their horses and the fair and the barrel-racing clinic Vivi Ann was teaching next week They were still talking and laughing and battering her with questions when Vivi Ann heard the first car drive up Headlights flashed through the kitchenand snapped off

“Oh, no,” so “Our , Vivi Ann”

She went to the door and opened it, surprised to find a stranger standing on her front porch He was tall and lean, with a shock of precisely co in a starched, buttoned-doay; or ot from his yellow polo shirt and pleated khaki Dockers “May I help you?” she said, struggling to be heard over theroom

He swept her into his arht as it was surprising When he said, “You don’t remember me, do you?” it all clicked into place

“Luke Connelly,” she said when he put her down “Back from the wilds of Montana”

He sure it out if I picked you up”

She didn’t quite knohat to say to that Did he have a ain”

“You, too” He glanced past her to the houseful of giggling girls “Why do I think your dad isn’t home?”

“Sadly for you, you’ve missed him, but my Bits and Spurs 4-H Club would love to hear a real live veterinarian talk to theirls?”

A chorus of approval greeted her question

Luke irls as he talked to the a horse He patiently answered questions until the girls’ an to show up

At nine o’clock, when the house was quiet again, Vivi Ann grabbed two beers froood sport about that”