LITMIR.BIZ

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time her heart plummeted straight to her toes. “Married?”

      “You sound surprised. Ranch life’s a whole lot easier if there’s a woman you love by your side. Besides, he’s not getting any younger. I’m sure he wants kids.”

      “I suppose,” she said as her heart thudded dully. “Who’s he marrying?”

      “I didn’t say he had anyone special in mind, just that he was thinking of it.”

      Lizzy stared at her father’s innocent expression and chuckled. She should have known he was up to something. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

      He grinned. “Yep. Worked, too.” His expression sobered. “Why don’t you just break down and see the man, Lizzy my girl? You know you want to. You were always crazy about him. For a few years there, you were thick as thieves. It made me hope that you’d settle down right next door. I never did figure out what happened between the two of you.”

      “Nothing happened.” Which, of course, was the whole point. She stood up and leaned down to kiss her father’s weathered cheek. “Stop manipulating, Daddy. I’d already planned to see Hank while I’m here.”

      His expression brightened. “Whooee! It’s about time you showed some sense.”

      “Daddy! Don’t make too much of this.”

      “Okay, okay. You going to see him today?”

      “I don’t know when I’m going to see him.”

      “Don’t waste too much time. Spring break’s short.” He regarded her wistfully. “Or were you thinking of sticking around?”

      “Daddy,” she pleaded.

      “Okay, okay,” he said again. “I’m an old man. I’m allowed to indulge in a little wishful thinking.”

      “Don’t pull that old-man garbage with me. You’re going to outlive all of us. You’re too ornery not to.”

      “Sooner or later, age catches up with all of us.” He caught her hand in his and clung to it “Don’t let life pass you by, Lizzy. I know you love medicine, but I know something else, too. You’ve always had a soft spot in your heart for that man up the road; Don’t pretend you don’t, not with me. I’m just saying whatever you do, don’t wake up one day with regrets.”

      “I told you I was going to see him, didn’t I?”

      “No need to get defensive, darling girl. I can’t help doing a little prodding. It’s my nature.”

      Lizzy sighed. “It surely is.” She leaned down and planted a kiss on his forehead. “Now, get some rest and leave Hank Robbins to me.”

      Harlan Adams grinned, the color in his cheeks getting better every second. “Something tells me the poor man doesn’t stand a chance.”

      “Maybe you’re overestimating my charm. Hank didn’t have a bit of trouble saying goodbye when I went off to Austin to college or down to Miami for med school.”

      “Maybe he was just wise enough to let you go after what you wanted. That’s not the kind of thing you should blame a man for. In fact, maybe you ought to take a good hard look at what it cost him to let you leave.”

      Lizzy touched a finger to his lips to silence him. “You’re overselling, Daddy. I already know what a paragon of virtue Hank Robbins is. I fell for the man when I was sixteen years old and he bought the old Simmons place. Nothing’s changed in the eight years since.”

      “Then what are you waiting for, girl? Go find him and tell him straight-out what you want.”

      “I suppose you know what that is, too,” she said, wishing she had so few doubts. Loving Hank had been complex enough years ago. Now, with medical school convincing her that she’d chosen exactly the right career for herself, loving him had gotten a whole lot more complicated.

      “You want a husband and babies,” her father said without hesitation.

      “If only it were that simple,” Lizzy murmured.

      “What was that?”

      “You left out medicine, Daddy. I want to be a doctor, too.”

      “So? You won’t be the first doctor to get married and have babies.”

      “You seem to forget that I have to finish medical school, an internship and my residency. Do you think Hank’s going to wait all that time? You’ve already said he’s in a hurry to have a family.”

      “Darlin’ girl, that’s what compromise is all about.”

      Lizzy hooted at that. “What do you know about compromise?”

      “Hey, your mama and I don’t agree on every little thing. We work things out.”

      “I’ll remind you of that the next time you’re trying to bully her into letting you have your way.” She squeezed his hand again. “Now get some sleep. I’ll be back to see you later.”

      “After you’ve seen Hank, right?”

      Lizzy rolled her eyes and left the room without answering. She found her mother lurking in the hallway.

      “How much did you hear?” Lizzy asked.

      “Enough to know that he’s trying to marry you off before you go back to school,” her mother said with a rueful smile. “Thank you for not arguing with him too ferociously.”

      “What would be the point? He knows I want to see Hank. He’s just trying to make sure I do it on his timetable. There’s nothing new about that.”

      “No, that’s your father, all right. When he gets an idea into his head, he can’t wait to set it into motion.”

      “That’s how he got you to marry him, isn’t it?” Lizzy reminded her. “He wheedled and cajoled and finally wore you down.”

      Janet Runningbear Adams chuckled. “It wasn’t a case of wearing me down,” she insisted. “I fell in love with him too quick for that to be necessary. I just held out to keep him on his toes.”

      “That’s not the way Jenny tells it,” Lizzy said. “She says the two of them had to conspire to get you to walk down the aisle.”

      Janet winked. “And I’ve always let them think that It gives me a good bit of leverage around here. Now come on into the living room and tell me all about school and Miami. Did you know I went there a couple of times when I was married the first time and living in New York? Jenny’s father liked to go there on vacation, but from all I’ve read, it’s changed a lot over the years. In those days, there were still old people rocking on the porches of those hotels in South Beach. Now, if the pictures I see are to be believed, the place has been overrun with sexy models in bathing suits and in-line skates.”

      Lizzy grinned. “That’s not so far off, but can we talk about it at supper? I’d like to go for a ride. It’s been way too long since I’ve been on a horse.”

      “Of course it can wait. Are you going to see Hank?”

      “You, too?”

      “Sorry.” Her mother studied her intently. “Well, are you?”

      Lizzy shrugged. “I’m not sure. I suppose I’ll make up my mind while I’m riding.”

      “Well, in case you decide that the answer’s yes, Cody tells me Hank is working in his south pasture today. You know, the one that conveniently butts up against ours. I believe he’s replacing a fence that Cody swears was just fine the last time he checked it.”

      “I’ll remember that.”

      “Be back by suppertime,” her mother reminded her. “The whole family’s coming for dinner to welcome you home.”

      “I’ll be back,”

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