LITMIR.BIZ

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by the raw anguish in Misty’s eyes, Ally dropped her dress to chase after her. Misty sped outside and Ally reached the door just as Tammy called out, “Wait! Where y’all going?”

      “To get coffee.”

      She caught up with Misty in front of Virgil’s Hardware two stores away, and grasped the other girl’s arm to stop her, aghast at the sight of the tears on Misty’s cheeks. Misty had always appeared so sophisticated and in control to Ally. And smiling— Ally couldn’t remember a time when perky Misty had been sad or upset. But Misty was definitely upset now. Sobs shook her slender shoulders as she leaned against the hardware’s brick siding, tears seeping from beneath the trembling hand she’d lifted to cover her eyes.

      Ally felt terrible. “I’m sorry, Misty,” she said softly. Not knowing what else to do and afraid Tammy would appear at any moment, she added, “Look, can we go someplace and talk? Have coffee?”

      Misty hesitated, then nodded.

      Breathing a sigh of relief, Ally steered the smaller girl toward the truck she’d parked a few yards away. Ally unlocked the passenger door for Misty to climb in, then went around to the driver’s side. Once inside, Ally rolled down her window to relieve some of the relentless heat, and Misty listlessly followed suit as Ally started the motor and put the truck in gear. They traveled the four blocks up Main Street to Daisy’s Diner, passing the Deer Processing Plant and the bank without exchanging a word.

      When they reached the diner, Ally parked beneath a withered pecan growing by the curb. The shade of the tree was welcome, easing the heat, and for a minute or two after Ally cut the motor, the two sat while a hot breeze drifted through the cab, Misty cried, and Ally tried to decide what to do.

      She glanced over as Misty sat up a little straighter to open the handbag in her lap. The blonde fumbled around inside, then pulled out a tissue to stem the tears still trickling from her eyes. It didn’t help; the tears kept coming, and the sight of her obvious distress finally shattered the reserve Ally’d been determined to maintain.

      “If you still care so much, Misty,” she blurted out, “then why did you break up with him?”

      “Is that what he said?” Misty whipped around to face her so fiercely that Ally shrank involuntarily against the door. “That I broke up with him? Because if he did, your brother is nothing but a liar!“

      The door handle was gouging Ally’s back but she stayed put, alarmed by the hot flare of anger in Misty’s eyes. “Yes—well, no. Cole never talked about it. I just assumed—”

      “You just assumed I was the kind of woman who would dump a man on a whim weeks before the wedding.” Misty’s lips quivered and she pressed them firmly together. “Well, I didn’t. I love—loved Cole with all my heart. There was nothing I wanted in this world more than to be his wife.”

      The sorrow in Misty’s voice, the hopeless yearning in her face, was unmistakable.

      Ally said helplessly, “But I know Cole loves you….”

      “Apparently not.” Bitterness tainted Misty’s sweet Texas twang as she added, “Or at least, not enough to marry me.”

      “But he does, I know he does,” Ally insisted. “I just don’t understand why he broke up with you.”

      “Oh, don’t you? Well, his excuse was Troy O’Malley.” Misty blew her little nose defiantly. “He refused to believe me when I assured him there’s nothing at all romantic between Troy and me.”

      She must have seen the doubt on Ally’s face because she added impatiently, “Yes, there’s a bond between us. After all, Troy’s father was killed in the same car accident as my mother, and that’s always been a tragedy we shared. And he had to go away to boarding school, too. In some respects Troy’s been—been like a brother to me. But there is nothing, never has been and never will be, anything romantic between us,” she said fiercely, meeting Ally’s glance with a burning brown gaze that refused to waver. “Believe me, because I’ve never meant anything more.”

      “I believe you.” Ally did—concerning Misty’s feelings, anyway. But as to how Troy might feel about Misty.

      “Thank you, Ally.” Misty smiled at her and, reaching over, gave Ally’s hand an impulsive squeeze. “I just wish that stubborn brother of yours had believed in me, too.”

      “Maybe if you try again—”

      “I refuse to take the blame for something I didn’t do. He refused to even listen to me. He’d made up his mind and that was that.” Determined pride lifted Misty’s chin, but hurt was clear in her eyes as she added, “Besides, like I said, Troy was just an excuse. What Cole really can’t tolerate is the fact that my daddy is rich.”

      Ally drew a troubled breath, unable to deny that Misty was probably right. “Cole can be stubborn,” she admitted.

      “No kidding.” Misty gave an unamused laugh and swiped rather savagely at the dampness lingering on her cheeks. “I don’t know why I’m even crying over the mule-headed male. What’s past is past, and heaven knows, I have more important things to worry about like—-” Impulsively she turned to face Ally, her eyes glimmering with tears once more. “Oh, Ally, my daddy is sick. Really sick.”

      Ally’s throat tightened in sympathy. “Is it his heart again?”

      Misty nodded. “The doctors aren’t saying much, but—” She choked back a sob and gave Ally an apologetic look. “I didn’t mean to blurt all this out. No one knows. It would hurt his business badly—our stock would plummet even more than it has. You know how it is …”

      Ally nodded. She did know. Raymond Sanderson was his company. Without him, Sanderson Technology would most likely cease to exist. “I’m sorry.”

      Misty forced a smile. “No, I’m sorry—about crying and all. It’s just, since I can’t talk to anyone about it, I guess I get scared sometimes and feel kind of alone—but Daddy will be fine,” she said stoutly. “I know he will.”

      “I’m sure he will, too,” Ally agreed, with more certainty than she felt. “And you can talk to me anytime. Really. I promise I won’t say a word, not to anyone. But, Misty, if Cole knew you’re having trouble—”

      “No!” Misty turned fierce again, her petite figure immediately stiffening. “If he didn’t want me before, I certainly don’t want his pity now.”

      Ally understood how Misty felt. If Cole loved Misty—and Ally was sure he did—then it was up to him to reach out to her.

      But she felt sorry for Misty. Losing a parent was hard at any time, but Misty was all alone. At least Ally had had her brothers. Especially Cole.

      “I just don’t know what’s gotten into Cole lately,” she said, worrying aloud.

      “What do you mean?” Misty asked, her dark eyes still bright from her tears.

      Ally hadn’t intended to tell anyone about her plans to gain control of Bride’s Price. But her remorse at hurting Misty, her sympathy about Misty’s father and the knowledge that the other woman cared about Cole and had confided in her, had Ally explaining her own dilemma in return.

      By the time she finished, Misty was wide-eyed with amazement. “You really intend to do it? Ask some guy to marry you?”

      “What other choice do I have?”

      “None, if Cole won’t budge—and I doubt that he will. But still … how long do you need to stay married?”

      “I’m not sure,” Ally admitted. “Not long at all if Cole gives in, I suppose. If he doesn’t, then at least long enough for him to legally be removed as trustee for Bride’s Price. Whether that happens immediately upon the marriage, I don’t know. Do you?”

      “Haven’t a clue,” Misty admitted.

      Ally sighed. “I guess

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