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His lack of an immediate response prompted Tara to add, with a downcast look, “You probably have an appointment” Head down, she started to turn away

“It won’t hurt anything if I’ the door behind him

“Thank you” Her soft voice was husky with gratitude

A brisk wind stirred through the da ones into sravestones It was a cold and daray clouds

Ty kept a steadying hand around Tara as they round, past the orderly rows of ancient markers With one hand, she clutched the up-turned fur collar tight around her neck, co the frame of her cale Texas-yellow rose

Their destination was just ahead, Dyson’s final resting place ular mound of freshly turned earth, a sharp contrast to the winter-brown grasses When they reached the site, Ty re his hair, as it was doing to Tara’s

They stood silently beside the new grave for a long run of seconds For all of Dyson’s Texas-flash while living, his granite headstone was an unusuallyno more than his name, date of birth, and a blank space for the date of his death to be engraved

Stepping forward, Tara bent down and placed the yellow rose atop the dirt The wind ie clod and stayed in place

Rising, Tara brushed back a strand of hair the wind had whipped across her face “Daddy left written instructions that ere to move heaven and earth, if necessary, to see that he was buried here He said he wanted to lie a real Texans, not a bunch of newcomers Silly, isn’t it?” she mused

“He was proud of his Texas roots”

“I know” With a turn of her head, she looked up at Ty Just for a leam of the old Tara in her eyes “Whereas the Calders rarely mention theirs at all”

It was the kind of subtly flirtatious look that invited a suess we’ve been in Montana too long”

Tara watched the s sexy in the laziness of it that still had the power to snatch at her breath There was a tile, inviting more than his smile But she was much too wise to try that ploy this tiaze wander over the old cemetery

“Do you reht randfather was buried We were both still in college” At a leisurely pace, she began to stroll in the direction of the car, dr

awing Ty with her, arm in arm