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“I’ to decide where to put this chair,” she replied and pushed his hands ahen he tried to slip the to work this out”

“You’ve been rearranging the furniture,” he observed with a glance around the roo ready for a party”

“It won’t hurt if we’re late” She impatiently waved aside his re both his hands “You don’t kno good I feel” She looked around the spacious roo pride “This is our own private corner of the house, co it up”

“You’ll have to wait, because you have to get ready for the party It was very generous ofsitting roorip of their hands to pull her close enough to kiss

After a brief touching, she drew back “You so shower before I sine sounded outside the“That must be Daddy and Stricklin” She dashed to the“Remind me to have him ship that antique secretary up here It will (it perfectly in this corner”

Sheriff Potter had found a place in the shade where a breeze blowing in from the river could reach him From his chair, he had a view of the tent and the wood pits, the cluster of tables, andhi that went on Thin-chested and wide-hipped, he was sprawled over the chair, his legs stretched in front of him with his feet crossed The hair on his head had thinned to white wisps Always on the edge of laziness, age had slowed him down still more

Although he observed Chase Calder’s approach, he neither straightened nor shifted his position He continued sucking at his teeth, occasionally poking a toothpick between one gap or another He waited until Calder had stopped in front of him before he bothered to nod

“Glad you could make it, Potter” An eht it around and sat down

“Wouldn’t have ain, then sucked out the bit of food “I wanted to see the boy’s gal, too I’ve known four Calders in my time Wonder if I’ll be around to see the fifth one born”

“I wouldn’t be surprised,” Chase y and keeping hih

“I’ve seen a lot” He slid hietout of hisfella Belton that’s got his trailer parked there by Sally’s? Ion his company Found out who hired him”

The initial check had co the man to be reputable Since no trouble had been reported, Chase had pushed the matter to the back of his mind The sheriff obviously hadn’t

Chase glanced at him, mildly interested “Who was it?”

“Another Texas outfit A company outa Fort Worth, named Dy-Corp” He continued to watch the croith the ease of one accustoo by “That’s the same company that drilled them oil wells on your land, ain’t it? Your son’s new father-in-lans it, I believe”

“Yes” Chase turned his gaze to the crowd and searched out the Texan He didn’t recall Dysonin the area