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“It’s a pity you aren’t staying longer” Maggie was reluctant to comment on Tara’s assertion of remorse

“Perhaps ” She hesitated deliberately and glanced at her father, as shrewdly observing heryet coame, to be played without his help “If it wouldn’t be toolook on Maggie—“I could stay here a couple of days until Daddy and Stricklin finish their business in Calgary Then I’d have a chance to speak to Ty” Her boldness in inviting herself to stay at the ranch was a calculated risk Wisely Tara didn’t press for an immediate answer Instead, she let her attention come back to her father “Would you

ain on your way back from Canada to pick me up? I know you didn’t plan on it”

“Naturally I can coht,” he replied “It won’t be any great inconvenience to me I think it’s a question of whether the Calders would care to have an uninvited houseguest at such a busy time of the season”

“I’htless of their work schedule There was still no reaction frootten how busy you are with the roundup and all It just seems so awful to be so close and not have the chance to see Ty again”

“Of course you ie insisted without consulting Chase But if she expected hih tiot her out of his system once and for all

The rain had turned the churned-up ground into a thick gu mud that wore down horses and men The mire sucked at their feet with each step; no foot could ever be sure it was planted firmly There was many a slip and spill of man and horse in the pursuit of a calf Thepace considerably as mud-spattered and -smeared men and horses worked harder and accomplished less

A s the mud into stiff crusts on man and beast alike Ty’sas he walked it to the picket line where a fresh horse fro

“Hey, Calder!” Big Ab Taylor yelled at hi boss wants ya!”

With a certain weariness, Ty lifted a hand in the cowboy’s direction, acknowledging the e He’d noticed the pickup truck that had arrived a few o but hadn’t paid anyit into a reluctant jog

The truck was parked near the motorized cookshack on wheels His father stood in front of it, a cup of coffee in his hand, his long, husky fra his horse, Ty brought it to a halt beside the front tire and leaned on the saddle horn, pushing his hat to the back of his head

“Ab said you wanted to seeon his face; his pantlegs were stiff with kicked-up clods

“There’s someone here to see you”

“Who?” His brows puckered together in a curious frown Visitors were soet, and roundup ti

“Tara”