The moment Rollins sat down behind his desk, Sallie felt comfortable with him. From time to time he scribbled a note on a legal pad, his eyes on both the men in front of him. "Let me make sure I have all of this straight. Mrs. Thornton owns a ranch seven miles outside of town. She also owns the acreage that surrounds the ranch. You are going to remodel the main building as well as the two outer buildings. One of the outer buildings will be Miss Ruby's private home. The other buildings will be added on to; you said seven rooms plus a living room, kitchen, and three bathrooms on the first floor, and five rooms on the second floor. A little over ten thousand square feet in the second building, am I right?" The contractor nodded, as did the architect. "Miss Ruby's house will have a front porch, a flower garden, six rooms, and two bathrooms, one upstairs and one downstairs. The ranch itself will be totally remodeled. There will be a gaming room, a solarium, a small theater with a stage for entertainment purposes that have nothing to do with the business at hand. A bar complete with handrails, stools, small tables, and whatever else Miss Ruby wants, will be in the back of the house. There are now twelve rooms that are to be remodeled ... for ... business. Two wings branching out left: and right will make for fourteen additional rooms. A swimming pool will be added somewhere between the two wings. It sounds to me like a very profitable undertaking. The deed to the property will revert to Miss Ruby after one year. The ... ah ... fine details of the contracts between Miss Ruby and her... employees will be a separate matter. A special fimd for... for those who can no longer .. . participate ... will be monitored by Mrs. Thornton and myself The percentage of the profits is yet to be decided. I guess that pretty much covers things with the exception of the monies to be paid out as the work progresses. Did I miss anything?"

"I'll be putting all my work crews on the project. We anticipate a completion date of ten months. Since we already have existing structures and Mr. LeVoy's blueprints are finished, I think we can safely say, Miss Ruby's ... establishment will be operational by our target date."

As one, the men rose, shook hands, and walked through the office to the waiting room, where they held a brief conversation.

The two women stared at one another. "Why?" Red asked.

"Sometimes, Red, you have to give back a little. You're Philip's fiiend, and I know for a fact that he treasures your friendship. Snowball . . . Well, he wanted me to look after you. Not that you need looking after, think of it more as . . . as ... you have a friend you can count on if things get... you know."

"I know you're the one who's been sending things and the money 126 Fern Michaels during the holidays. I wanted to thank you a hundred different times. I do thank you, Sallie."

"This isn't as simple as you think, Red. As you know, there are a lot of strange people in town, and more keep coming every day. Zeke McCabe at town hall calls every day when one of those people comes in to check the land records. The hoods, the thugs, the gangsters are coming, whether we like it or not."

"And you, one woman, you think you're a match for them, Sal-lie? My God, they use machine guns. Those kinds of people just.. . pop you. If you don't give them what they want, they kill you. I have ears. My girls tell me everything they hear. I'm more than wiUing to pass it on, but I have to tell you, SaUie, the fear is going to eat me aUve."

"That's why I'm moving you out to the ranch. You're going to be running a classy estabUshment, Red. Clean, healthy girls who get seventy-five percent of the take. You'll put Doc Clayton oh your payroll. You need to get some new clothing. Appearances are very important. That's why Beaunell Starr did more business than you. Sometimes, Red, you have to spend money to make money. I learned that the hard way. You are also going to charge outrageous prices. When something is expensive or out of a person's price range, that person wants it so bad he can taste it. I learned that, too. Your outrageous prices will pay for the swimming pool."

"I don't know if I can pull diis off, Sallie. What's that saying, you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."

"In this case that particular saying is all wrong. Do you know anything about chickens, Red?"

"They lay eggs, and the roosters crow very early in the morning. That's it, why?"

"Aside from your own, ah . . . business, you are going to raise chickens, lots and lots of chickens. You'll sell those eggs and chickens to the hotels in town. Think about all that acreage that surrounds the ranch. You can raise cattle and a truck garden, too. I know hundreds of Chinese who can grow anything, but you have to pay them a decent, fair wage. I'll set it all up, it will be a second thriving business. On the books. All you have to do is oversee it. You hire people to take care of the rest. Mr. Rollins will handle the paperwork. You're going to have so much money you're going to get dizzy counting it."

"What do you get out of it, Sallie?"

"Security. When this town takes off, and it is going to boom wide open, I want the power to control it. This is my town, I bought it and paid for it, and no one is going to give me trouble. I own all the land, and my sister Peggy is about to marry the Ueutenant governor of this fine state. What do you think of that?"

"God Almighty! Where'd you learn to be so smart?"

"I read. Red. What I'm going to need now is a good set of ears. That's where you come in. Men talk when they're drinking, or in bed. I need an edge, and you're going to give it to me. Can you do it. Red?"

"As long as me and my girls have a place that's ours, I can do whatever you want. Were you serious about giving me the deed? I think about my old age a lot. I don't want to have to scramble and pick pockets when I'm sixty years old."

"That will never happen. Red. You have my word."

"Then that's all I need."

"Good. I want you to go back to your place, pack up, and go out to the ranch. You can all live there while the renovations are going on. I'll have someone bring out food on a weekly basis. Think of it as an extended vacation. Mr. RolHns will put some money into an account for you. You might want to give some thought to going to Los Angeles to get some new things. He can arrange all that for you."

"What about BeauneU Starr?"

"Beaunell will be moving to Reno very shortly, within the week. Of course she doesn't know that yet. I'm going to be making her the same offer I made to you. She might resist at first, but she'll come around. That's what power is all about, Red. Is there anything else you want to ask me?"

"One question. What happens to all of your plans, to all of us, if something happens to you? I hope you've given that some thought."

"I've given it a great deal of thought. I am doing everything legally, so I don't run afoul of the law. The governor is a personal fiiend of mine, and he knows everything that is going on. He has some very influential friends. I'm going to do my best to ensure that there is no violence. If that does happen, we'll deal with it. This is my town, and no damn gangster is going to take it away fi-om me. We'll talk, discuss it, negotiate if we have to. I'm not so naive that I don't know I may have to bend a little, and so will they. This town wiU be someplace you want to come to on Saturday night. Red."

"Is that before or after I pluck the chickens?" Both women doubled over laughing. "I owe you big time, Sallie. Thanks."

"My pleasure, Red."

128 Fern Michaels "Would you ladies allow me to take you to lunch?" Devin asked, coming back into the office.

"I can't. Thank you for the invitation, though," Red said poHtely.

"I would be delighted," Sallie said..

"You would!"

Sallie laughed. "Did you ask me thinking I'd say no?"

"Not at all. Let me get my jacket and we can be on our way."

"I'll be in touch, Red. By the way, the ranch is going to be called the R & R Ranch. For Red Ruby of course. You do know where it is, don't you?"

"Of course I know where it is. Snowball used to take me on buggy rides out there."

"I know," Sallie said quiedy.

"It figures." Red grinned.

"Mrs. Thornton," Devin said, holding out his arm.

"Mr. Rollins," Sallie said as she linked her arm with his.

As they strolled down Fremont Street, Devin said, "I have some business I'd like to discuss with you over lunch. However, I need to know if I'm going to be your full-time attorney. You never did say, you simply showed up."

"I studied your credentials. Mr. Waring thought very highly of you. I see no reason not to use your services. I think we can get along."

"As long as I do exacdy what you say, we'll get along, is that what you mean?"

"Pretty much so."

"Then, why do you need me? Why don't you just handle your business yourself?"

"Because I'm not a lawyer. I read everything three times, and then I chew on it for a while, so don't try to put anything over on me. I had this same exact discussion with your uncle at one time. I trusted him. Implicidy. If you want me to trust you, you'll have to earn that trust."

"He adored you, you know. He wrote me a very long, wonderful letter that I will treasure forever. When I finished it, I knew him and you as well. I want to know you better, Mrs. Thornton. He also left a letter for you. He said I was only to give it to you if you hired me. If you didn't, I was to destroy it. I think my uncle was in love with you. His main passion in life, especially during the last ten years, was to make you the richest woman in the country. From everything I've seen and read, it looks to me like he succeeded."

"Did he really leave me a letter? How kind of him. When will you give it to me?"

"After lunch. I thought v^e were going to call each other by our fu-st names?"

Sallie leaned across the table, her eyes directly on Devin's. "I'm a married woman, Mr. Rollins. What we have is a business relationship like I had with your uncle. I'm Mrs. Thornton, and you are Mr. Rollins."

Devin leaned across his side of the table v^th only inches to spare between the two of them. "You're flirting with me."

Salhe smiled. "No, I'm not. You want me to, though. When and ^l ever flirt with you, you'll know it."

"Might that happen?" His grin was so contagious, Sallie laughed.

"Probably not. I told you, I'm married."

"My uncle told me all about your marriage. He felt I needed to know. He put it all in my letter. Don't get angry, a lawyer needs to know things like that so he can represent his client knowing the good as well as the bad. He didn't betray a confidence, he merely passed on his observations to me. Like my uncle, I'm bound by the same legal oath."

"I see." Sallie leaned back against her chair. "Tell me about the business you wanted to discuss."

"A year or so ago my uncle called me and asked me to do some research on an aviation company. A small company with some very lucrative government contracts. It seems the company could use some investment capital to expand. He thought it would be a good idea for you to get in on the ground floor. You could make millions. Airplanes are the wave of the future. I would be more than happy to drop you off, or you can stop by and take all my research back with you. The company is in Austin, Texas. As I said, it's a fledgling business at the moment, but it will take off, with or without your investment. The man who owns the firm is hard as nails. I spoke to him several times. I personally don't like him, but personalities cannot interfere in business. I know for a fact that he will not do business with a woman. He thinks women should be seen and not heard, and they should bake bread, can pickles, and wear aprons."

"I don't own an apron," Sallie said.

"I figured that out myself It was the pickle part I wasn't sure of" Devin laughed then. Sallie found herself giggling.

"You haven't had much fun in your life, have you?"

"Fun?" Sallie made the word sound obscene.

130 Fern Michaels "I guess what I'm trying to say is, it appears you didn't have a childhood filled with play and laughter. Which is just another way of saying you never had a real childhood."

"I don't care to discuss my childhood, Mr. Rollins. Are you recommending I invest in the aviation company?"

"Based on what I know, I'd say yes. Air travel will be for everyone, not just the rich. Everything goes in cycles, Mrs. Thornton. First it was the railroad, then it was the automobile. Now it's going to be airplanes. Remember the fortune you made on your railroad stock? The same thing could happen with the aviation stock. I guess this all sounds like I'm trying to influence you. I plan on investing myself"

"Is there a time limit on my answer?"

"No. Considering that we're at war, I'd say the government contracts will increase. If the firm doesn't have the capital to buy materials, it could lose out. The sooner the better would be my advice. By the way, just for the record, I don't know a thing about chickens."

"I guess you're going to learn. I want the ranch to be productive, so that no one can take it away from Red. The same goes for Beaunell."

"If I'm doing all this, when will I have time to do my lawyering and see you?"

"Do you have any other chents?" SaUie asked.

"No. That doesn't mean I won't get some at some point."

"Why do you suppose that is? That you don't have any other clients, I mean?"

"Hell, I don't know. All my uncle's clients are dead. The younger people seem to take care of their own problems. Maybe the people in this state don't like lawyers, or maybe they have a preconceived notion that we charge too much."

"You do. I've been meaning to talk to you about that very thing."

Devin groaned. "I'm every bit as good an attorney as my uncle. Possibly better because I'm up on all the latest laws and jurisprudence. No, there is no room for negotiation."

"Okay," Sallie said. "How is it you never married?"

"Whoa. Where did that come from?"

"If you thinkyou know everything there is to know about me, then I should know everything about you. Talk."

"I was married when I was twenty-three. My wife drowned in a boating accident. We had no children. I was in law school at the time. I was so devastated I took a year off and literally drank myself into a stupor every day. Uncle Alvin came East and gave me a blistering lecture. He hauled me back to law school and that was it. I never married again. I regret not having children. It would be nice to have a son to carry on the name. I channeled all my energies into my work and made a name for myself in the legal profession back East. I'm more than solvent if that's your next question. I inherited a princely sum of money from my parents, and Uncle Alvin left me his estate. Since I've worked all my life, I have a considerable bank account. Tell me about your sons, Mrs. Thornton."

"You're just like your uncle," Sallie said tartly. "One minute you're talking about one thing, and then you switch in midsentence. I really don't want to talk about Ash and Simon. This was a lovely lunch. I enjoyed everything."

"What did you eat, Mrs. Thornton? No, no, don't look at your plate. Tell me."

"Why ... I had . . . I. . . Veal," she said triumphantly.

"Wrong. You had lamb with mint jelly."

"It tastes the same."

"It does not. Lamb has a very distinctive taste that cannot be confused with veal. So there, Mrs. Thornton. You're trying to figure out how I fit into your life, and you're confused at what you're feeling forme."

"That's not true. Thank you for lunch." It was true. It was almost as though he could read her mind and see into her soul. Sallie took a deep breath as she got up from the table.

"My mother always told me it was a sin to tell a lie," Devin said lighdy.

"My mother told me the same thing."

"What is it you want from life, Mrs. Thornton?" Devin's voice was a whisper. But it was his dove gray eyes that stirred Sallie.

"I don't know. I wish I did." She turned so he wouldn't see her tears.

"I've had enough of that Mrs. Thornton/Mr. Rollins nonsense. It's okay to cry, Sallie. Anytime, anyplace. If it makes you feel better, do it. Don't worry about what I think or what anyone else thinks. Be true to yourself and you'll never go wrong. Come on, I'll give you the aviation packet to study. Thanks for joining me. I'll get on that chicken business right away. It's a damn good thing I don't have any clients; this is going to take all my time. I might even have to raise my rates."

132 Fern Michaels Sallie smiled through her tears as they walked back to Devin's office.

"I could fall in love with you ven^ easily, Mrs. Thornton," Devin blurted.

"Please don't. I told you, I'm married."

"And I told you I know all about your marriage. TeU me the truth now, when you saw me that day at the cemetery, what was your first thought? I'm referring to the moment when we spoke."

Because she'd been taught to be truthful aU her life, Sallie didn't think twice before she ansv^^ered. "I thought I was seeing my destiny."

"Wonderful! That's exacdy what I thought. My uncle thought we would be a perfect match. He said so in my letter. How can you stay married to a man you don't love? What kind of life is that for either one of you? Don't you want to be happy?"

"Phihp and I are friends. We have a commitment to one another. We've discussed divorce. It hasn't happened. I owe Phihp so much. There may not be passion between us, but we have that wonderful thing called friendship. I know I can count on him, and he can count on me. I don't expect you to understand that. It's the way it is. It's all my fault, you see. I married Phihp when I didn't love him. I guess I did it because I didn't want to lose my best friend, and he was going to go back to Boston. I told him the truth, and he accepted it.

"All I ever wanted in my life was to be warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and to have a good dress for church. I wanted a family, the kind you read about in storybooks. When good fortune came my way I wasn't prepared. Everything went wrong after that. Money, Mr. Rollins, does not make for happiness. It can bring comfort, security, and possessions, but not happiness. Money allows me to do things for other people. I renovated this town. I consider it mine, but it truly isn't mine. I was just the instrument that modernized it." SaUie paused and took a deep breath. "Define the word happiness, Mr. Rollins."

"It's the feeling you have when you wake up in the morning knowing something wonderful is going to happen. It's doing something kind and good for someone else. Like you just did for Miss Ruby. Now, there was one happy lady."

"I'm promoting prostitution," Sallie said.

"If it wasn't you, it would be someone else. In a town that's going to boom like this one, the profession could get out of hand. You're taking care of the situadon by moving it outside of the town. Think of it as a separate entity. You aren't going to benefit monetarily. It's the oldest profession in the land, and it is never going to go away. People have choices. Accept the fact that there are things in this world you can't change. You can make them better or worse, but you can't change them. Lunch tomorrow? You will read this report tonight, won't you?"