away to boarding school, too. In some respects Troy’s been—been like a brother to me. But there is nothing, never has been and never will be, anything romantic between us,” she said fiercely, meeting Ally’s glance with a burning brown gaze that refused to waver. “Believe me, because I’ve never meant anything more.”
“I believe you.” Ally did—concerning Misty’s feelings, anyway. But as to how Troy might feel about Misty.
“Thank you, Ally.” Misty smiled at her and, reaching over, gave Ally’s hand an impulsive squeeze. “I just wish that stubborn brother of yours had believed in me, too.”
“Maybe if you try again—”
“I refuse to take the blame for something I didn’t do. He refused to even listen to me. He’d made up his mind and that was that.” Determined pride lifted Misty’s chin, but hurt was clear in her eyes as she added, “Besides, like I said, Troy was just an excuse. What Cole really can’t tolerate is the fact that my daddy is rich.”
Ally drew a troubled breath, unable to deny that Misty was probably right. “Cole can be stubborn,” she admitted.
“No kidding.” Misty gave an unamused laugh and swiped rather savagely at the dampness lingering on her cheeks. “I don’t know why I’m even crying over the mule-headed male. What’s past is past, and heaven knows, I have more important things to worry about like—-” Impulsively she turned to face Ally, her eyes glimmering with tears once more. “Oh, Ally, my daddy is sick. Really sick.”
Ally’s throat tightened in sympathy. “Is it his heart again?”
Misty nodded. “The doctors aren’t saying much, but—” She choked back a sob and gave Ally an apologetic look. “I didn’t mean to blurt all this out. No one knows. It would hurt his business badly—our stock would plummet even more than it has. You know how it is …”
Ally nodded. She did know. Raymond Sanderson was his company. Without him, Sanderson Technology would most likely cease to exist. “I’m sorry.”
Misty forced a smile. “No, I’m sorry—about crying and all. It’s just, since I can’t talk to anyone about it, I guess I get scared sometimes and feel kind of alone—but Daddy will be fine,” she said stoutly. “I know he will.”
“I’m sure he will, too,” Ally agreed, with more certainty than she felt. “And you can talk to me anytime. Really. I promise I won’t say a word, not to anyone. But, Misty, if Cole knew you’re having trouble—”
“No!” Misty turned fierce again, her petite figure immediately stiffening. “If he didn’t want me before, I certainly don’t want his pity now.”
Ally understood how Misty felt. If Cole loved Misty—and Ally was sure he did—then it was up to him to reach out to her.
But she felt sorry for Misty. Losing a parent was hard at any time, but Misty was all alone. At least Ally had had her brothers. Especially Cole.
“I just don’t know what’s gotten into Cole lately,” she said, worrying aloud.
“What do you mean?” Misty asked, her dark eyes still bright from her tears.
Ally hadn’t intended to tell anyone about her plans to gain control of Bride’s Price. But her remorse at hurting Misty, her sympathy about Misty’s father and the knowledge that the other woman cared about Cole and had confided in her, had Ally explaining her own dilemma in return.
By the time she finished, Misty was wide-eyed with amazement. “You really intend to do it? Ask some guy to marry you?”
“What other choice do I have?”
“None, if Cole won’t budge—and I doubt that he will. But still … how long do you need to stay married?”
“I’m not sure,” Ally admitted. “Not long at all if Cole gives in, I suppose. If he doesn’t, then at least long enough for him to legally be removed as trustee for Bride’s Price. Whether that happens immediately upon the marriage, I don’t know. Do you?”
“Haven’t a clue,” Misty admitted.
Ally sighed. “I guess I’ll have to find out from a lawyer.
Before I do that, I want to line up some guy to help me out. Maybe, if he sees I’m serious, Cole will back down and I can save the lawyer’s fee.”
“Or Cole’ll convince the guy to back down,” Misty prophesied dryly. “Or one of your other brothers will. You have to admit, they can be formidable.”
“Yeah, but I’m hoping money might make the difference. I thought I’d offer some of the lease money Troy’s willing to pay as incentive to my prospective groom.”
Misty looked impressed. “That’s a good idea. Who are you thinking of asking?”
“I’m not sure yet. Maybe Dave Sarten.”
Misty shook her head. “He just got engaged to Pam Watkins. What about Jack Ryder?”
“He got a job managing a ranch up in South Dakota. Left last week. I was thinking maybe Travis Wesley …”
“Nope. He’s got a steady girlfriend in Abilene. Buck Boulter might do it, except—”
“He’s good friends with Cole,” Ally finished for her.
They lapsed into gloomy silence, staring out the bug-splattered windshield. The cab was hot and smelled like cigarettes, gasoline and rotting vegetables—not too overwhelming when driving, but not especially pleasant when sitting in the blazing sun.
Misty picked up a crumpled fast-food bag by her feet. She looked inside, and wrinkled her nose. “So that’s what stinks. These fries are just about petrified. Ally, your brothers—”
“I know,” Ally said glumly, batting at a fat fly that wandered in. “They’re all slobs.”
Misty tossed the bag over the seat. “You let them get away with too much. You need to—” She tensed, her eyes widening as she stared past Ally’s shoulder at someone across the street. “Hey, Ally! What about him?”
Ally turned and lifted her hand, shading her eyes against the sun as she studied the figure walking away. “Dwayne Cronk?” she asked doubtfully. “I guess, since he just bags groceries at the Piggly Wiggly he could probably use the money, but he always smells like cooked cabbage—”
“Not him—him! The guy who bought the Laundromat and turned it into that antique store! What’s his name? Tim? Tom?”
“Theodore—Theodore Bayor,” Ally told her, a vague memory surfacing. She squinted to read the fancy gold-and-black script scrawled on the store window across the street. “Of Bayor’s Antiques and Collectibles. What about him?”
Misty’s face shone with enthusiasm. “He’d be perfect! After all, he’s new in town, and Tammy told me that though the store’s been open two months now it isn’t making much—so he probably needs the money.”
Ally studied the man arranging a pair of silver candlesticks in the store’s front
