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“Lady Dunhill or Duncan, I’ve forgotten her name”

Tara shook her head “According to the back of this photograph,” she said, indicating the one of the younger woman, “she is Madelaine Calder, Benteen Calder’s mother”

“I was told she ran ahen he was a s Tara’s discovery

“She ran away and obviously ine that, Ty,” she declared with a suppressed eagerness “You are descended froed her shoulders to dismiss the lack of real blue blood “But a little fa, especially when it’s connected to lords and ladies I can hardly wait until the Franklins arrive this weekend so I can tell them They’ll spread the story around like wildfire You’ll be the talk of everyone who is anyone”

“The Franklins?”

His blank look brought a trace of exasperation to her mouth “Ty, I told you at dinner last week that I had invited them for the weekend”

Maybe she had, he conceded Most evenings he had been either too tired or too preoccupied to listen “Sorry It slippedto the hospital on Sunday”

“Surely you can postpone your visit one day,” she urged

“Can’t Spring roundup starts,” he announced The knowledge of the full schedule ahead of him seemed to prod him back to the monthly reports spread across the desktop

“I suppose thatof you all weekend” The i out the drawl that usually softened it “Lyle Franklin could be very helpful to you Put so the number of people you have on the payroll, one of them should be qualified to do it If none of them are, it’s time you hired someone who is”

“It’sto do it,” Ty inforures on the papers “It see with you”

“Problems? What do you mean?” She was quick to catch the troubled note in his voice Her expression was instantly serious and intent

“It appears the ranch operation has been steadily losing ether “And I think it’s ti on, and whether it’s as serious as it looks”

“I can’t say I’ the way your father has run this ranch,” she said, careful to keep her criticis people who are too old to work It’s a very noble gesture if you can afford it, but it would be much cheaper to set up a pension fund for theies around here should have retired years ago”

“They do ork they can” Ty rose from the chair