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“And I was thinking if there was anything left over, Iroundup,” he teased

“You’re kidding right now, but when the tiie retorted

“Why is this letter by itself?” The idle inquiry was followed by his hand reaching to pick it up

Maggie tensed at his action “It’s for Ty” Out of the corner of her eye, she watched him stiffen as he read the return address on the envelope

“What’s this?” A frown narrowed his eyes as he shot an accusing look at her “Why is he getting a letter from a university in Texas?”

“E J Dyson happens to be an alumnus of the University of Texas When he was here this last winter, he talked to Ty about it Ty expressed soe there” It was impossible to explain casually when she was so conscious of the gathering thunder in Chase’s expression “EJ pulled a few strings to see if he could get hiine that letter is the answer”

“Why wasn’t I told?” he deerously low pitch

“You were there when the discussion took place,” she reminded him tensely

This clash of wills had been brewing for a long tie education, and Chase was just as adamantly opposed to it This was an issue to which she doubted they would ever find a mutually acceptable co ti do

“I was there,” Chase adone beyond ait in half “Daie There are experts on the Triple C who know e professors This is where he needs to be!”

“He is entitled to the best education we can give him,” she countered with equal force “And that doesn’t et from the back of a horse And he needs ti you and I never had! It was alork and struggle and hardship of one kind or another I don’t want Ty to grow up as fast as we had to”

“You want to make him soft,” he accused “He can’t be soft and run the Triple C! A man ale of e All he’s had is three years, and it’s only been within this last year that he’s developed enough skill to be considered even an average ranch hand He needs a lot of seasoning and training and experience in the operations of a ranch this size How the hell do you expect hiet it out of a book!”

“There is a lot that can be learned froive rein to her temper “Some member of the Calder family believed that, too, or all those shelves in the den wouldn’t be lined with books!”

“It’s too soon, Maggie,” Chase insisted gri the ranch Practically all tha

t he’s learned will be lost Let me have him here year-round for at least three more years Don’t take him from me now”