Page 50 (2/2)

“It’s good to have you on board, Mr Haskell,” she said, sending a clear signal that theirwas concluded

Slipping the bills into his inside jacket pocket, Buck stood up and shook her hand, sealing their bargain “It will be interesting, ma’am It surely will be that”

The first stars glea headquarters, towering yard lights cast pools of aing light to the darkness and deepening its shadows

But Ty noticed none of it as he leaned his shoulder against a pillar and bent his head to light a cigar He puffed on it until the tip glowed, then shook out the match, pinched the burnt sulfur end until it felt cool, then tossed it away

Behind hiht onto the veranda Then it closed and light footsteps approached He recognized the gliding tread of them as Tara’s and didn’t turn

“I didn’t know you were out here, Ty,” she declared as she joined hi a cigar, I see Do you remember how much I hated the s in a house without a ” She turned her face to the night air “Isn’t it unusually warm for April?”

“Yes,” he replied through the cigar, accepting her presence and the underlying sexual tension that always accoain over the last year

“I thought so Oh, Ty, look at that fullfat pu on the lip of the horizon”

He glanced at the reed, but there was a perfunctory tone to his reply

Catching it, Tara studied hi, Ty? You were so preoccupied at dinner tonight And now?” She left the phrase unfinished,a question of it

He felt the probe of her gaze and avoided it by exaar “Just tired It’s been a long day”

She released the breath she had been holding “That’s a relief For a ht you bad news today And I couldn’t i in unless they had so to respond “It has been a long day, but it’s been a good one, too The photographer was absolutely certain that he captured soes on film, both of the ranch itself and the life on it I know it’s been inconvenient having them underfoot for the last three days, but a picture spread will reater impact than an article alone”

“I’ll take your word for it” The subtle fragrance of her perfu, like its wearer

“Good, because it’s true,” Tara declared and again perused the nightscape before theet back and start developing all the rolls of filive you an idea of just how excited he was, he wants to coreened up”

“God, no,” Ty snapped emphatically