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She hoped Luke wouldn’t start a fight after that comment, but he seemed deep in thought and maybe hadn’t even heard what the teddy bear said.

Hallie was really getting tired of people telling her who to go out with.Even though Jessica was bound to try to give her another lecture after this incident, Hallie would not put up with it anymore.

***

“FINALLY, WE CAN TALK,” Terry said to her husband after they had dropped the unhappy police officer home.

Bill peered into the darkness of the highway as he drove.“I’m sorry I suspected you of cheating.I actually thought you were after Hallie’s boyfriend.”

“What?!”

Terry knew Bill had been a jealous guy from the start.Even before Luke showed up, Bill had always accused her of eyeing this or that man, causing endless arguments.Maybe it was because he wasn’t making all that much money that he felt insecure and worried she would run off with someone else.

Terry had feared her marriage was breaking up, but maybe if she could secure their financial future, everything would be back to normal.

“It seemed like you were always watching him,” Bill said.

“That’s because I suspected him, you idiot!”she snapped.

“Of cheating?”

“Well, actually yes, but there’s something else about him that’s suspicious, and I’m trying to find out what it is.While you were spying on me and trying to catch me cheating, I was looking after our interests.”

“You mean like playing golf?”

“No!The kind of interests we have in keeping the family ranch?”

“Oh!”Bill said, “You’re always thinking ahead, my honey-bunny.That’s what I love about you.But what can we do about the ranch?”

“Believe me, there’s lots we can do,” Terry said, feeling more confident about her marriage already.“The only reason mama and daddy are favoring Hallie now is because of Luke.I’ve already found some dirt I can use on Hallie, but if I can find something on Luke, it would be perfect.”

“But what can you find?”

“I don’t know!Maybe if you helped me instead of following me around and spying on me, we could manage to find something.”

“I’ll do whatever I can to help,” Bill resolved.“We’ve worked harder than anyone on this ranch, and we deserve to keep it.”