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“First you have to want to work it out” The relationship between his parents had been strained for a considerable time now, ever since they had taken opposite sides on the issue of his college education Maybe his Gather’s solution had been to take a mistress

“If you’re hinting at soed “Otherwise, don’t be trying to give advice on so about”

The reprimand forced Ty to contain his half-forly As a twenty-one-year-old adult, he wanted to respect their privacy Yet, as a son, he could not stand aside indifferently He lifted the glass of beer, feeling sick and angry inside

The other waitress came by the table with the coffeepot to refill Chase’s cup, but he covered the top of it with his hand “No ie decides I’ve lost my way” He reached for the meal check that had been left on the table as he stood up “The dinner’s on ht”

After his father had left, Ty sat alone at the table a while longer The beers he’d consu a run of thoughts going Hisback and forth from his father to Tara He wanted to talk to her—to hear her voice

Standing up, he shoved his hand inside his pants pocket and took out his change The h hiood, all loose and untrae to his nerves, a little testiness, then it just heightened the other feelings

The restaurant and bar had filled up So while local cowboys and ranch workers filed into the cafe in twos and threes Most of thereetings which he returned as he worked his way to the pay telephone on the wall outside the rest rooms

A cue stick was drawn back by its shooter bending over the pool table Ty sidestepped it and jostled a towheaded boy of eighteen, his freckled face sunburned except for the white band of his forehead

“Sorry, Andersen,” Ty apologized to the son fro the south boundary of the Triple C There was a passel of kids, and Ty could never keep their naht

“It’s okay” The lanky boy shifted, giving Ty a gliirl with him

“Hey, Jessy” There was so in his lazy smile as he slipped into the local dialect “Hell, I ain’t never seen you without a hat” He olden streaks “Looks like the best damned roper on the Triple C has finally lassoed herself a date”

“Maybe soood as me,” she retorted

Ty nudged the Andersen boy with his elbow “Better watch her She’s a sassy thing” He took no notice at all of the white jeans she wore or of the plain cut of her shiny blue blouse

Without waiting for a response froain for the telephone When the operator caave her the number in Texas and dropped in the amount of coins required for the call

“Hello, I’d like to speak to Tara” He put a hand over his ear, trying to shut out the noise from the jukebox and the bar area