Page 64 (1/2)

“Why did I keep on stopping by to see her?” Chase knew the question she hadn’t wanted to ask, strangely attuned to her thinking when he hadn’t been for so long “She offered co you”

“Losing me?” There was blankness and confusion in her face at the i him

“I’m not sure I can explain” His mouth crooked ruefully “Maybe it’s your sophistication I don’t know But I saw less and less of Maggie and ht, when Ty went to college, you ishing for your old life Thatinto the café tonight, ready to do battle to keep your rew tensely serious “I am your man, aren’t I?”

“Yes” She was so happy she hurt

When he kissed her long and deeply, their renewed passion flowed freely She wrapped her ar on to this feeling they’d almost lost

Their lips parted, but they stayed in the eiddy rush of young love reborn His hands uely irritated with the coat and the cold when he wanted nothing to interfere with this special closeness

“Maggie, o home,” he insisted huskily

She laughed, love rippling from her throat “Oh, God, yes”

16

Heat shihway and distorted the buildings ahead Speed-zone signs were posted on the outskirts, the first hint of change Ty slowed his pickup as he approached the town, noting the changes four short years since he’d ht

Blue Moon no longer had the look of a half-dead ghost town, crus with their broken backs and bulging sides that had stood forlornly by the two-lane, dying slowly for so one—bulldozed down and their rubble carted away for burial In their place were mobile homes, the weed-choked yards cut down so children could play

Three vehicles were already parked next to the gas punia of Dy-Corp Coal, a subsidiary of Dy-Corp Ltd Blue Moon was a company town, peopled mainly by the heavyequipment and their families

Outsiders were eyed with curiosity, and Ty received his share of looks when he stepped out of the truck Four years had es in him as well Muscles had filled out his chest and shoulders; he was a tall, ihened his face and etched craggy lines into his features The deep-set eyes were hts and feelings And the black brush of a mustache added to his look of hard virility

With those long strides that never seerocery section had been enlarged to carry more items, which left the post-office ded into a s and trying to keep their children cor-raled

As Ty approached the cagedof the post office, he heard voices and recognized thetime residents of Blue Moon The postal area also doubled as the private office for the store and station