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Her heart jumped into her throat. What?
He said
Bodie? Mallory interrupted.
She turned, torn between wanting to know what Tank had been about to tell her and being rude to
Mallory. Yes? she stammered.
Cane wants to talk to you.
Bodie s eyes widened, but she didn t move. What, he s thought up another insult and wants to share
it? she asked, trying to sound facetious.
He said to apologize again for his bad manners, Mallory replied with a smile. If he insults you,
throw it right back at him. He s a man who walks all over people he can buffalo. Don t let him get
away with anything.
She drew in a long breath. I do try. He s very forceful.
We all are. Tank chuckled. But you can cope.
You think so? I wonder. She handed Tank the container with the chicken feed. Can you finish
feeding the girls? she asked. And watch out for Charlie.
He blinked. Charlie?
She indicated a preening red rooster nearby. I always carry a stick when I come out here. He s
spurred me a couple of times. Lucky for me, jeans are thick. She indicated the stick, which was a
small broken limb. I use that for protection. Doesn t hurt him, but makes him back off, she said.
I ve had to use it a time or two, because Morie and Mavie have stopped coming out here at all,
Mallory confessed. Until you came along, I had to feed the girls. Nice to know Charlie s met his
match.
You should give him to somebody and get a nicer rooster, Tank commented.
No such thing as a nice rooster, Mallory said dryly. I ve never seen one who wouldn t attack
anything moving, especially around a flock of hens. They re very protective.
Also very tasty, Tank said with pursed lips. Remember when we were kids and that big white
rooster attacked me and drew blood?
Mallory laughed. Dad went right out and wrung his neck. We had him for supper that night.
He said wasn t any rooster hurting his baby, Tank reminisced. He sighed. Best chicken dinner I
ever had.
Well, you can t eat Charlie, Bodie said firmly. The hens would mourn.
We can always get another rooster, Tank teased.
She made a face at him. I ll go see what Cane wants. She sighed. She glanced at Mallory. Should I
take the stick with me? she wondered aloud.
Both men laughed.
* * *
CANE WATCHED BODIE ENTER the room. She hesitated at the door, her brown eyes worried and
uncertain.
I won t bite, he said quietly. His black eyes scanned her face with an intensity she didn t remember
from any past encounters. Come on.
She moved into the room, to the foot of the bed and stayed there. How are you? she asked softly.
Better. Ribs still hurt, head s still rocky, but I m better.
She nodded. I m glad. Everybody was worried.
You left me.
She flushed. The way he said it was like an accusation, as if it mattered that she hadn t gone back to
see him in the hospital after the night she d stayed by his bed. That was sheer fantasy. Cane didn t care
about her. He never had.
I was just upsetting you, she stammered. You didn t need that.
His black eyes stabbed into hers. They narrowed with speculation. You talked to me.
She went scarlet. She swallowed, visibly upset. The nurses were worried, I think, she hedged. I
just told you to get better. That s all.
Is it?
She didn t like the look on his face. It was different. She felt suddenly vulnerable. How much did he
remember? Had he heard her embarrassing speech?
He took pity on her. He didn t want to make her feel any worse than he already had. She thought her
feelings were a well-kept secret. He decided it might be better to let her keep her illusions, especially
since his own feelings were so conflicted. He didn t really know what to say to her. He just liked
looking at her, for some odd reason. She gave him peace.
I don t remember any of it, Cane lied with a straight face. Mal told me you sat with me most of
the night.
She looked relieved. Just for a few minutes. The nurse let me in. I think they were concerned that
you were slipping.
I was, he confided. I felt it. Then I heard your voice, he added in a deep, velvety tone, telling
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