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“I’ine she went to let Ty know you’re here We’re in the middle of roundup, you know”

“Yes, Ty ht In fact, I had ather so Noah could have a

bird’s-eye view of a genuine roundup But froet a true sense of the noise, dust, and confusion of the real thing I’ ill have time to slip away for an afternoon so he can see it all up close”

“I’lance slid in the direction of the speeding pickup, a detail Tara noticed with her usual perceptiveness The woman was clearly bothered by Jessy’s sudden and hasty departure Tara’s curiosity over it was aroused as well

Spurred by a nameless fury, Jessy drove at a reckless pace,behind her She was halfway to the Broken Butte area before she reather there andon the brakes, she fishtailed to a stop, threw the truck into reverse, turned around in the ain in the opposite direction

By the tier had cooled to a slow burn Leaving the ranch road, she folloin tracks of flattened grass, left by thepoint Avoiding the branding area, she headed for the cookshack As she neared the picket line, Jessy spotted a weary horse and rider co toward her and rolled down the

“Hey, stranger,” Ballard greeted her with a tuckered smile “It’s been a while since we’ve seen you out and about”

Jessy didn’t waste time with pleasantries “Where’s Ty?”

Ballard reined in his horse, surprise flickering in his expression “You should have passed him on the way here He left about twenty—ht after he saw the plane fly over” If anything, the kindness in his eyes took on an even gentler quality “She’s back, isn’t she?”

His re herwheel in a circle and jammed her foot on the accelerator to jolt back across the uneven grassland to the road

Ballard watched her, recognizing the show of temper for what it was Jessy had her back up That didn’t happen often, and he had never known it to occur without cause

It didn’t take er on where the trouble was, although he was hesitant to put the blaht, one who clearly had designs on sinking her claws back into Ty Everyone on the Triple C saw it Ballard didn’t fault Tara for that; it would be like trying to bla

But Ty—that was another matter Ballard had never put much truck in him Ty was a Calder by birth, born out of wedlock in California He was fifteen years old before he ever set foot on the Triple C to claiht It had taken time, but Ty had eventually adapted to his new home and a neay of life But Ty hadn’t lost all his California ways That was clear to Ballard as well, certain that it had to be California thinking that would prompt a man to welcome an ex-wife into his home

With a susted moveht of the departing pickup and walked it to the picket line

The aro ham, drenched with honey, wafted in the air when Jessy swept into the kitchen The oven door stood open with Sally bent over the roaster pan, basting the halance over her shoulder, when Jessy walked in