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Her look was cool and unflinching “You seeo”

Ballard’s eyebrows arched up, his eyes widening in sudden revelation “You’re gettin’ back at hi thatelse The land He’ll never get his hands on it, not even if he leaves Jessy and marries you, will he?”

“What utter nonsense” Tara laughed in derision “You surely don’t believe I’m that devious”

He ignored her response, his thoughts running ahead “It’ll work Not right away maybe, but over ti all friendly-like and helpful Eventually he’ll talk himself into believin’ it’s you he wants and that his decision’s got nothin’ to do with Wolf Meadow”

“You have a very vivid iination, Mr Ballard,” Tara chided

“What are you gonna do about Jessy and the kids?” Hethe answer “You’re gonna have a bit of a probleettin’ them out of the picture”

“Why are you telling nation “Why don’t you go to Ty with all your ludicrous accusations?”

“Si You’d see to that” Everyone else ht underestimate her ability, but Ballard didn’t

He couldn’t prove a single thing At best, he could plant some doubt, delay the inevitable But he couldn’t think of any way that e the outcome

Her eyes widened in a look of sudden alarm “You’re insane,” she whispered andover the brick as she walked hurriedly toward the opposite end of the barn She saw Ty and almost ran the last few steps to his side “You’re back That didn’t take long”

His frowning glance skipped over her, darting to the cowboy still standing in the middle of the alleyway “Did Ballard show you the pens?”

“You surely don’t think he wouldn’t You practically made it a direct order” Tara slipped a hand under his ar in her voice that was a little too bright, a little too dismissive of the question

“Is so?”

“Wrong? Why on earth would you ask that?” Wearing a fixed smile of unconcern, she tried and failed to meet his eyes

“You see out of line?”