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.“Why did you do that? Haven’t you got sense enough to know you’re in danger over there? Those people may be your family, but—”Deanna placed her hand over Luke’s mouth, silencing him.He glared at her, his green eyes smoldering.“Hush.Please.I know all the reasons I shouldn’t have gone to the Circle A.But I had one very good reason for going.”Deanna eased her hand away from Luke’s mouth, then tenderly caressed his cheek.“I was sure that if I could make myself go back to the stables—”Luke gasped.“Ah, babe, you didn’t.”“I had to,” she said.“And I’m glad I did.I know now that my whole family—mother, Junior, Benita and Eddie—were all there that night.They all know what really happened.Every one of them knows who killed Daddy.”“Are you sure?” Luke asked.“Yes, I’m sure.And I’m sure of something else.”He stared at her quizzically.She gripped his shoulder.“I know that Eddie is the one who tried to kill you.He as much as admitted it to me.”“I’m not surprised.Eddie has been the Atchley henchman for years, hasn’t he?” A cold, angry expression crossed Luke’s face.Deanna shuddered.“What are you not telling me?”“Your old man was the one who used that whip on me,” Luke said.“But it was Eddie who helped him catch me and tie me to the tree.And it was Eddie who later dumped me in the ditch and spit on me.”“Oh, Luke.”“Junior was with them, but he just sat on his horse and watched.I had the strangest feeling that Junior almost felt sorry for me.”“Junior was afraid of Daddy.He never would have crossed him.And he wouldn’t betray Mother, either.”“So, nobody’s going to admit the truth, not even Junior or Benita,” Luke said.“If you don’t remember what happened to your father, we’ll never know who killed him.”“I’m remembering more and more.” She clasped his forearms.“I’m so close—so very close.”“And when you do remember, will you go to Tyler and tell him the truth, even if it means he’ll have to arrest someone in your family?”“You still doubt me, don’t you?”“Family loyalty is a powerful thing.”She wanted to tell Luke that her only loyalty was to him.That if he would let it happen, he would be her family and she his.“Whatever happens, I intend to tell the truth—no matter who Daddy’s real killer is.”Luke grabbed her arm.“Come on.Let’s go.I’ll call a tow truck to get your car out of this field and bring it back to Montrose.”Deanna had persuaded Luke to let her tag along while he rode out to check on the new calves.Springtime was birthing time on the ranch.They talked very little as they covered mile after mile.But just being with Luke was enough.Somehow she felt safe with him, as if nothing and no one could ever harm her as long as he was near.The day drew to a close.Evening came to Montrose.in a warm, humid, unsettling haze.Thunder rumbled in the distance.Lightning streaked the far horizon.They were miles from the ranch house when the first raindrops fell, like giant crystal balls that melted upon impact.“Looks like we’re in for a heavy downpour,” Luke said.“We sure could use the rain,” Deanna commented, keeping their conversation on mundane matters, as Luke had done all afternoon.About two miles from the ranch house, the bottom fell out, sending a flood over the dry earth.Luke eased the truck to a halt and killed the motor.“I can’t see two feet in front of me,” he said.“Best we wait it out here.You don’t need to be in another wreck today.”“Kizzie won’t be worried, will she?”“She’ll know we’ve stopped somewhere until the worst of this storm passes over.” He glanced at Deanna.“It’s going to get warm in here, with the windows up and the air conditioning off.”“I’ll be all right,” she told him.The wind howled as it whipped the rain across the truck in heavy rivulets.Lightning flashed from the gray evening sky to the earth below, followed by explosive thunderclaps.Luke watched Deanna, his eyes hooded and his expression questioning.Perspiration damped her hair, curling it about her face.Moisture coated her blouse, sticking it to her skin in various spots, the most obvious, across her pebble-hard nipples.She was the most beautiful woman on earth.And the sexiest.When his body tightened, he silently cursed himself for his lack of control.Deanna leaned her head back and rested it on the cushioned leather.She wiped the sweat from her face with her fingertips.“I love you, Luke,” she said quietly, calmly, her voice a mere whisper.“I’ve never loved anyone else.And I haven’t had another lover.”She felt the tension in his big body, saw the disbelief in his eyes and heard the sharpness of his indrawn breath.“It’s been fifteen years,” he said.“I certainly haven’t been celibate.Not since I came home from Huntsville.Why the hell should I believe that you have?”“Because it’s the truth.”Studying her intently, he realized she wasn’t lying to him.Not about this
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