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“Why don’t you give us a raincheck?” Ty suggested “Then later, if the auction is as successful as we believe it will be, we can sit doith you again”

“Flabbergasted” was not an adjective that normally would be applied to Tara, but it described her reaction perfectly “But signing the lease doesn’t require any financial coives you control of the land Surely you want that?”

“Wanting so able to afford it are two very different things But I doubt you have had , Ty reached across the desk, slipped the lease back in its folder, and offered them to Tara “I hope this hasn’t inconvenienced you too much”

“Inconvenienced ued “What about the winter hay you always got from Wolf Meadow? You will need it And the water, too”

“We have already committed to buy our hay from an outside source And without additional cattle, we don’t need the water” Ty’s s about this before, I could have saved you fro a lease drawn up”

“I believe Buck is still outside waiting to drive you back to town,” Chase inserted “Ty, why don’t you walk Tara to her car?”

Short of creating a scene, Tara realized she had no choice but to leave As furious as she was over her plans being thwarted, she longed to indulge herself with a nasty scene But both men had beenher with no opening

Keeping an iron control on her temper, Tara accepted the folder froain so “At least tell ry withthis?”

“Naturally we understand You explained things very well” Chase nodded in assurance “And ays try to get along with our neighbors Which is what you will be, right?”

“Right” Try as she ht, Tara didn’t knohat to enial It worried her Did they know so she didn’t?

PART THREE

The wind, it’s blowin’ dry through the grass

Trouble’s brewin’ a-plenty

You hear its hum,

But where will it come?