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frustrated because Jillian got one of the waitresses to start putting cakes out for her in the display
case.
 They haven t been selling, Jillian said sadly.  They used to be very popular, and now hardly
anybody wants slices of them. I guess Davy has convinced people that they shouldn t eat my cooking
because I m such a bad person.
 Oh, that s not true, Ted said at once.  Don t you know about the contest?
She frowned.  What contest?
 You don t read the local paper, do you? Rourke chided her.
She shook her head.  We already know what s going on, we only read a paper to know who got
caught. But I have him, she pointed at Ted,  to tell me that, so why do I need to spend money for a
newspaper?
They both laughed.
 The mayor challenged everyone in Hollister to give up sweets for two weeks. It s a competition
between businesses and people who work for them. At the end of the two weeks, everybody gets
weighed, and the business with the employees who lost the most weight gets a cash prize, put up by the
businesses themselves. The employees get to decide how the money s spent, too, so they can use it for
workplace improvements or cash bonuses.
Jillian perked up.  Then it isn t about me!
 Of course not, Ted chuckled.  I ve heard at least two men who eat in that restaurant complain
because they couldn t eat those delicious cakes until the contest ended.
 I feel so much better, she said.
 I m glad, Rourke told her.  But that still doesn t solve your problem. Harris bought a Bowie
knife and he doesn t hunt. He let the implication sink in.  He s facing at least ten to fifteen on the
charges if he goes back to trial and is convicted again. He s been heard saying that he ll never go
back to that hellhole voluntarily. So basically he s got nothing to lose. He glanced at Ted.  You know
that already.
Ted nodded.  Yes, I do, he replied. He smiled at Jillian.  Which is why we re getting married
Saturday.
She gasped.  Saturday? But there s not enough time& !
 There is. We ll manage. Meanwhile, Ted said,  you re going to take Sassy s invitation
seriously and stay out at her ranch until the ceremony. Right?
She wanted to argue, but both males had set faces and determined expressions. So she sighed and
said,  Right.
Ten
Not only did John and Sassy Callister welcome Jillian as a houseguest, Sassy threw herself into
wedding preparations and refused to listen to Jillian s protests.
 I ve never gotten to plan a wedding, not even my own, Sassy laughed.  John hired a
professional to do it for us because so many important people came to the ceremony. So now I m
taking over preparations for yours.
 But I can t afford this store, the younger woman tried to complain.  They don t even put price
tags on this stuff!
Sassy gave her a smile.  John and I agreed that our wedding present to you is going to be the
gown and accessories, she said.  So you can hand it down through your family. You might have a
daughter who d love to wear it at her own wedding.
Jillian hadn t thought about that. She became dreamy. A child. A little girl that she could take on
walks, cuddle and rock, read stories to. That was a part of marriage she d never dwelled on before.
Now, it was a delightful thought.
 So stop arguing, Sassy said gently,  and start making choices.
Jillian hugged her.  Thanks. For the gown and for letting me stay with you until the wedding.
 This is what friends are for. You d do it for me in a heartbeat if our situations were reversed.
 Yes, but I could have gotten you killed that night by running to you for help, Jillian said.  It
torments me.
 I was perfectly capable of handling Davy Harris. And now I ve got John, who can handle
anything.
 You re very lucky. He s a good man.
 Yes, he is, Sassy agreed with a smile.
 I ve never seen anything as beautiful as these dresses, Jillian began.
 I hear you re getting married Saturday, Jilly, came a cold, taunting voice from behind her.
Both women turned. Davy Harris was watching them, a nasty look on his face.
 Yes, I m getting married, Jillian told him.
 There was a time when I thought you d marry me, he said.  I had it all planned, right down to
what sort of dress you d wear and where we d live. I d lined up a full-time job with a local rancher.
Everything was set. His lips twisted.  Then you had to go and get outraged when I tried to show you
how I felt.
 I ll show you how I feel, Sassy said pertly.  Where s my shotgun?
 Terroristic threats and acts, Mrs. Callister, he shot back.  Suppose I call the news media and
tell them that you re threatening me?
Jillian was horrified.
Sassy just smiled.  Well, wouldn t it be a shame if that same news media suddenly got access to
the trial transcripts? she asked pleasantly.
His face hardened.  You think you re so smart. Women are idiots. My father always said so. My
mother was utterly worthless. She couldn t even cook without burning something!
Jillian stared at him.  That doesn t make a woman worthless.
 She was always nervous, he went on, as if she hadn t spoken.  She called the police once, but
my father made sure she never did it again. They put him in prison. I never understood why. She had
him locked up. He was right to make her pay for it.
Sassy and Jillian exchanged disturbed looks.
Harris gave Jillian a chilling smile.  He died in prison. But I won t. I m never going back. He
shrugged.  You enjoy thinking about that wedding, Jilly. Because all you re going to get to do is think
about it. Have a nice day, now.
He walked out.
The shopping trip was ruined for Jillian. Sassy insisted that they get the gown and the things that
went with it, but Jillian was certain that Davy had meant what he said. He was going to try to kill her.
Maybe he d even kill himself, afterward. In his own mind, he was justified. There was no way to [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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