SaUie walked over to the place where she'd slept, eaten, and cried during her early years. She reached out to touch the sagging wall, turned, nodded to the contractor. She walked away, a red cloud of dust following her in little puffs.

Hours later, after all the meetings, after all the words were said, Salhe took a late-night flight back to Las Vegas, secure in the knowledge the Ragtown Memorial would be a fitting tribute to all the poor families who had once hved there.

Sallie stepped from the plane, her eyes searching for Devdn. Instead she saw her husband waiting at the gate. She started to run 252 Fern Michaels the moment she saw him. Please, God, don't let him have bad news. Let my sons be safe. "What is it, Philip?" she screamed.

"Sallie, Sallie, it's not the boys. They're fme. It's Ash, but it's good news."

"Say it, Philip, what is it? You scared me to death. What? Why are you here?"

"Because I wanted to be the one to tell you. Ash got married."

"Married? Ash? How do you know this, Philip?"

"Because his wife arrived here today, just hours ago."

"His wife? Did you meet her? How did she find you?"

"Ash called before she arrived. Devin was here at the airport, waiting for you, when she arrived. He took her back to town. I told him I'd wait for you. I did talk to her for a few minutes."

"What's she like? Is she nice? Ash got married without telling us? That's unforgivable, Philip. How old is she? Do you like her? Am I going to like her? Answer me, Philip."

"You already know her and like her. She said Ash wanted it this way. It's Fanny Logan, Sallie."

"Fanny! Devin's secretary^ Philip, how can that be? I don't understand any of this."

"I don't either, but our son is married, and we now have a daughter-in-law. When the shock wears off, it's very easy to accept the fact."

"Philip, this is all wrong. Ash isn't marriage material, and we both know it. Fanny ... I don't believe that sweet girl . . . how did this happen?"

"They've been writing one another for months. They met when he was home on leave. You remember. It's my understanding they got to know one another through their letter writing."

"I wanted ... I thought she would be perfect for Simon. I even mentioned him to her, showed her his picture. This is very upsetting, PhUip."

"She loves our son, Sallie."

"I want to go on record, Philip, right here and now, that this marriage is a mistake."

"I'll remember you said that, Sallie. Fanny said she was going to continue working for Devin and will stay at the boardinghouse until Ash returns."

"That's not right either. How can we allow her to live in a boardinghouse? Do you know if she has any money?"

"If she wants to continue living in a boardinghouse, who are we to insist otherwise? It's a shock, Sallie. Let's go home and sleep on it. The morning will be time enough to come to terms with it all."

"They aren't suited to one another."

"We aren't either, but we're still married. Ash sounded happy on the phone. Fanny had stars in her eyes. She doesn't strike me as the kind of girl that would rush into marriage. In all the excitement, I forgot to ask you if Seth Coleman turned out to be your brother."

"Yes he is. Let's go home, Philip. I'm very tired. It's all wrong, terribly wrong."

"It's done. We have to make the best of it. Look at it this way, you now have the daughter you always wanted. She even resembles you."

On the ride back to the town house, SaUie kept repeating over and over, "it's all wrong, terribly wrong," to which Philip repeated, "it will work out."

12.

Fanny snuggled beneath the covers, her arms clutched around the soft, downy pillow. She squinted at the small alarm clock at the side of the bed-fifteen minutes before she had to get up and go to work. Fifteen, long, wonderful minutes to do nothing but think about Ash and Hawaii and the ten glorious days she'd spent there. She inched her hand out from beneath the pillow to stare at her wedding ring. It was plain and gold. Ash had promised a better one when he returned home, but she was never, ever, going to take off this ring. Nothing, not diamonds, not rubies, not emeralds, could tempt her. This was the ring Ash put on her finger, and this was the ring that was going to stay on her finger. She thought about the sharp words they'd had when she offered to buy a ring for him. He'd flat out refused. Fanny thought she'd taken his rejection rather well. Her father didn't wear a wedding ring. Philip Thornton didn't wear one, although that was a joke in itself. Perhaps one day. Ash would change his mind when he saw what a good wife she was going to be. She squinted at the clock again.

The buzzer on the alarm clock sounded. This was the real world, not that paradise of warm sunshine and glorious flowers. Today, in 254 Fern Michaels the real world, she knew she must call her father again to see if the shock had worn off. She was going to have to talk to Bess and prepare herself for another long discussion with her boss and her new mother-in-law. WTiat was Sallie Thornton going to say? ^^h had said his mother wouldn't be pleased, that she didn't beUeve in hasty marriages because she had married in haste. "Just be yourself, Fanny," was his addce. He'd gone on to say that his mother would either avoid her like the plague or smother her with love and money. "She thinks money can buy amthing." His voice had been so tormented she'd reached out for his hand to comfort him.

Fanny applied her hpstick, checked her stockings to be sure the seams were straight, spritzed some perfume on her neck and wrists. Mrs. Ash Thornton was ready for her first day back at work. Mrs. Ash Thornton could handle anything that came up. Mrs. Ash Thornton longed for the lunch hour so she could meet Bess with her news. Mrs. Ash Thornton was deliriously happy.

"Mrs. Thornton, how are you this fme January morning?" Devin Rollins greeted her. "I hate to ask this, but will you be sta^ang on or must I start to look for a new secretary?"

"Fd like to stay on, Mr. Rollins. Fm going to stay on at the board-inghouse, too, and save all my money. It's much cheaper than an apartment. Ash is going to handle all the military paperwork. Have you spoken with Mrs. Thornton?"

"Yes, last evening when she returned. Phihp met her at the airport and told her."

"Was she upset?"

"I don't think she was upset as much as she was hurt. Women are funny about weddings, especially the wedding of an oldest son. You might want to give some thought to a church wedding when Ash returns. Your family would probably like to see you walk down the aisle."

"It's a thought, but it wouldn't be the same. It doesn't bother me, and I know it doesn't bother Ash. I loved our wedding. We wore leis we made ourselves. I had a circlet for my hair and a bridal bouquet. Ash looked incredibly handsome in his uniform. I don't think I want to negate that wedding with a fancy one. We said the words, 1 have the ring. I told you many times, Mr. Rollins, I'm a simple person. I require very litde. I'll be a good homemaker. I'll be very good to Ash. Mrs. Thornton won't have to worry about us."

"It's a shame she never had a daughter, Fanny. By the same token, you haven't had a mother. Perhaps the two of you will become close."

"I'd like that very much. I think Ash would like that too. I guess I better get to work. Oh, what's all this?"

"The blueprints for the Ragtown Park, and the cottage, and of course a stack of bills. Oh, and Mrs. Thornton is going to come by around noon. She would like to take you to lunch if you don't have other plans."

Fanny's heart leaped into her throat. "I'd like that." Bess would have to wait.

It was eleven-thirty when Sallie Thornton walked into Devin Rollins's office dressed in a wool suit the color of ripe blueberries. A tiny pillbox hat of the same color was perched on the back of her head. "You look good enough to eat," Devdn smiled. "God, Sallie, I missed you."

Sallie leaned into his embrace. "I was only gone a few days, Devin."

"It doesn't matter. You weren't around the comer where I could reach you if I had to. I panic when you're away. I always have this fear you might not return."

"Why do you think I came back so soon? Let's have dinner this evening . . . and . . ."

"You don't have to ask me twice. Is seven okay?"

"Seven is perfect. Where's Fanny? Did she say anything?"

"Just that she's deliriously happy. She loves your son very much."

"I don't doubt that at all. The problem is Ash. Does he really, truly love her? For some reason I don't think so. Mark it down to woman's intuition. Is she going to have lunch with me?"

"She said she would like to. I sent her to the courthouse to leave some papers for the judge. I think I hear her on the steps."

"Mrs. Thornton . . . Sallie, I . . ."

"You don't have to say anything, Fanny. I'm happy for you and Ash. I hope you have many wonderful years ahead of you."

Fanny thought she saw tears glistening in Sallie's eyes as she stepped into her embrace. "I'll do everything I can to make Ash happy, Sallie. I swear I will. I love him so much, I almost feel sick with the feeling. I promise you I'll be a good wife. I know how to keep house and cook and mend. I can sew and garden. I baby-sat a lot, so I know how to take care of children, even infants. I don't want you to ever be disappointed in me. I can try and be a daughter to you. I might make mistakes because I never had a mother."

256 Fern Michaels "Then we'll learn together. I never had a daughter, so it will work out perfecdy. Promise me you'll bring me up short if I start acting like a busybody mother-in-law."

"I promise."

"Now that that's setded, you two beautiful ladies should be on your way so this attorney can get down to work."

"Fanny, I met a wonderful young woman yesterday who's around your age. She's my nephew Moss's wife. The Seth Coleman we spoke about at Thanksgiving really and truly is my brother. I think you two might turn out to be friends. There are no young people at the ranch for her to pal around with. She has a iitde girl, although I didn't get to see her. I'm going to have a party over Memorial Day, and invite the whole family. In the meantime, I'd like it if you'd call her and get acquainted. I suspect, living in that dark, somber house with a mother who rivals an ogre, and my gruff, harsh brother, she could use a friend. Her name is Billie and she's as pretty and wholesome as you are. I'll give you her phone number before we leave the restaurant."

"I'd like that. How was it to meet your long lost brother? Was it everything you wanted it to be?"

"In many ways it was. Seth is ... he looks like my father. He's very gruff. I suspect there's a gende side to him. At first he was suspicious of me. I might be wrong, but I don't think my brother has much use for women. That's the main reason I would like you to call Billie. Here we are, Fanny. I think we should order some champagne to celebrate."

"I never had anything to drink in the middle of the day. Please, if you don't mind, will you tell me all about Ash when he was young? I want to know everything. I want to tell you about how I met him and the letters we've been writing back and forth. I'm so glad it's not a secret anymore."

"We are going to have such a wonderful time, Fanny," Sallie said. She reached across the table and took her brand-new daughter-in-law's hand in hers.

Fanny smiled. It was all going to work out perfecdy.

The two Mrs. Thorntons spoke about many things, particularly about Ash and Simon. They drank toasts to happiness and longevity, to workable marriages, and to a houseful of children and pets. By the end of the two-hour luncheon, the two Mrs. Thorntons knew they would be friends forever. Fanny felt like she'd met her very own mother for the first time in her life. She beamed her happiness.

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