Page 7 of Shine On Oklahoma

Dax: I’ll feel sorry for you anyway,though.

“The baby’s not here yet,” Kiley went on,coming up behind her, touching her shoulder with a hand that landedlike a nervous bird ready to take flight if she so much astwitched. “And there’s plenty of time before she does. And I reallywant you to stay.”

“Why?”

“Because I miss you,” she said. And itsounded honest and kind of sad. And since, allegedly, her sisterdidn’t believe in conning people anymore, it probably was. Besides,Kendra always knew when Kiley was lying.

Kendra turned to face her twin. Kiley’s skinwas like a blushing peach, and her eyes shone with a glimmeringcoat of unshed tears.

“I’m not gonna let you tell me how tobe.”

“Maybe we don’t have to talk about that rightnow,” Kiley said.

Kendra rolled her eyes. “Whatarewegonna talk about?”

“Holiday Ranch. Married life. The fact that Ican no longer tie my own shoes.” She bent slightly forward,reaching down with both arms to demonstrate. Her fingertips onlymade it to her knees.

Kendra tried not to laugh, but it burstthrough anyway, as involuntary as a sneeze.

Kiley smiled too. “I’m gonna name her afterMom.”

“Ah hell, just keep pouring on the mush, whydon’t you?” Kendra blinked wet heat from her eyes. “I don’t likebeing judged,” she said. “You don’t get to do that to me,Kiley.”

Kiley lowered her head. Her husband Rob,who’d been standing quietly a few steps behind her, came closer,leaned in, whispered in her ear.

She blew like an agitated mare and metKendra’s eyes again. “Okay,” she said. “Come on, let me show youwhat I’ve been up to around here.”

Sighing, Kendra nodded. To her surprise, Daxfell into step beside her as she followed Kiley and Rob up a prettystone footpath toward the barns. Leaning sideways, he whispered,“I’m sorry I didn’t warn you she was pregnant.”

“Why didn’t you?” Kendra was really pissedabout that.

“Because it was between two sisters. Ifthere’s one thing I’ve learned from Rob and his family, it’s that aman has to be damn near suicidal to meddle in a mess betweensisters.”

“So it wasn’t a little bit of payback forwhat I did to you before?” She looked up at him as she asked thequestion.

He seemed surprised. “Not even a little bit,”he said. “I’m not wired that way, Kendra. I’m not vindictive. Youknow me better than that.”

He was hurt she’d even asked. Well, hell, shewas killing it here, wasn’t she? “You’re right,” she said. “I doknow you better than that.”

He gave a nod and started walking again.

Sighing, Kendra did, too.

She knew what her sister was doing. Kileyprobably figured if Kendra spent some time here in thisgoodie-two-shoes town with her husband’s goodie-two-shoes family,she’d see the light, throw away her entire life, and join thegoodie-two-shoes movement. It was a stupid plan, and a wastedeffort, since she hadn’t run a con in a year and a half.

Until now. She was here for one reason andone reason only.

To save her father’s life.

CHAPTER THREE

Dax couldn’t take his eyes off Kendra. Kileyled them all around the place, moving in a kind of waddle that madeyou just want to hug her. And then maybe carry her the rest of theway. It was a heavy load she was hauling, and she was a littlething. He didn’t know how women did it, to be honest. Rob stayedclose by, and he was watchful, careful, opening doors, pointing outhazards she might trip over, hovering near enough to catch hershould she stumble. It was obvious that Kiley was both irritatedand touched by the attention.

Kendra was pretty well focused on the place,though. And no wonder. It was where she’d spent her childhood, andvery different now from the last time she’d seen it. The largerbarn had been refitted with stables that lined both sides. Thehorses were outside grazing, but the place still smelled like them,and their molasses flavored grain and good straw bedding. He lovedthe smell of a stable.

Kendra seemed to like it, too. He noticed herinhaling nasally, closing her eyes for a second. She had theability to savor life like no one he’d ever known, in those raremoments when she could get out of her head long enough. Sadly, shedidn’t do that very often.

When she opened her eyes again, she caughthim looking and plastered an unimpressed expression on herface.

---