(This is an excerpt from my first novel...written long before GSPs were offered in private vehicles, by the way. I was SO ahead of my time! The heroine of this story was a nurse who was hired to take care of a man who was supposedly recovering from an auto accident. In the final chapters, they discover that he was in fact a brilliant scientist, being hidden away by his devious partner who intended to sell his invention...a satellite tracking system...to an Arab nation. Kelby had unwittingly helped continue her patient's amnesia with the medications she gave him daily. When the truth was discovered, she and Mark met many perils trying to track down the partner, and get the satellite system in the hands of the US government, for whom it had been originally designed. This excerpt takes place as Kelby is with the man who hired her, and was now taking her to meet her patient...)

 

    Kelby felt the eyes of everyone they met following her as her little yellow VW led the long silver Porsche down the tree-lined street to her house. She shuddered to think what the gossips would say when they found out that she had left town in that expensive silver car. When she was gone for a whole month, she knew she'd have some explaining to do upon her return.

 

      When they reached her driveway, Thomas got out of his car and opened the trunk to load her luggage.

 

      Kelby apologized for the vast array of suitcases and boxes on the front porch. "I wasn't sure what the weather would be," she explained, "so I had to bring clothes for hot and cold weather, and I had to bring along my crocheting and cross stitching since there won't be TV to watch in the  evenings. I packed in a few books and magazines, too, so I'd have something to read." 

 

      Thomas shook his head as he looked at the seemingly endless ocean of boxes and luggage. "Women!" he said with a smile to soften his words. "You'd think you were going on a six-month fashion cruise instead of one quiet month at a secluded cabin." He grinned again as he reached over and picked up a somewhat tattered box that immediately began to hiss and yowl at him. he dropped the box and sprang backwards, almost falling off the porch steps. "What the heck was that?"

 

      "Oh dear, you've dropped Mr. Briggs," Kelby wailed. She began to croon to the box sweetly, "There there darling. Everything's going to be fine. The nice man didn't mean to drop you. Soon you'll be on a nice big farm with lots of nice fat mice to chase and birds to watch. But you mustn't eat them. Remember our talk." the box began to hum slightly as Kelby picked it up.

 

      "I guess I'd better carry this one out," Kelby said calmly. He doesn't seem to like you for some reason." She picked her way daintily around the other boxes, carefully balancing the humming box as she walked down the path to the car. She opened the rear door and placed the box on the seat. She turned around and looked at Thomas who was still standing on the  porch peering after her with an amazed look on his face.

 

      "Something wrong, Thomas?"

 

      "Wait just a darned minute," Thomas said disgustedly. "What just happened here? What the heck was that, doll? You're the first woman I ever met who talks to a pet box."

 

       "I wasn't talking to the box," Kelby said huffily. "I was talking to Mr. Briggs."

 

      "You even named the box. That's supposed to be more understandable?"

 

      "Of course not, silly. It's not the box. It's the cat inside it that's named Mr. Briggs. See, when I was a little girl our butcher was Mr. Briggs..."

 

      "When you were a little girl you had a butcher who was a cat. That's funny. Our butcher was Italian."  A very confused Thomas shook his head as he sat down on of the suitcases with the dazed expression still clouding his handsome face.

 

      "Would you be still a minute and listen," Kelby rolled her eyes as she shook her finger at him. "We had a butcher named Mr. Briggs. He was a short dumpy little fellow with a long black mustache. He always wore a white apron and dark colored shirt. He loved cats and always saved the scraps from the meat for the neighborhood cats. My daddy was allergic to cats so I never got to have one of my own. I loved to go with mother to the butcher's so I could play with all the cats that hung around there."

She took a deep breath and continued, "Last week, right after Dad's funeral, I came home and there was this big black and white spotted tom cat sitting on the porch swing. his markings looked just like a white apron over his black fur, and he long black spots beside his nose just like a mustache. I named him Br. Briggs. I can't just go away and leave him for a whole month after he chose me and everything, so he'll just have to go with me. There should be lots of room on a farm for one little bitty cat. How much trouble can he be?"

 

      Those were proberbial 'famous last words,' as Kelby soon found out. Mr. Briggs yowled along with the road noise for the first hour, until they found that if they played the radio on the rear speakers of the car it quitened him.

 

      Unfortunately, the only sounds he seemed to like to hear were holy-roller preachers and sports commentators. the next few hours were spent trying to talk above a determined voice warning them abou the fires of hell, or drawling monotones touting the praises of some left-handed pitcher known as the "Whiz Kid."

 

      When they stopped to eat a late lunch Thomas laughed as the got out of the car. "For the first time I can remember, I think I'm ging to play the countriest song I can find on their jukebox. Anything but Reverend Doright or Baseball Bob!"

 

    Kelby apologized again for Mr. Briggs. "Honestly, I didn't know he didn't like to ride in a car or I would have found someone to keep him for me. I just thought he'd go to sleep and enjoy the ride." She looked up at him, her green eyes wide and pleading, "Can you forgive us? Please?"

 

      Thomas held the door open for her as they entered the rustic diner. "Actually, doll, it's been rather a unique experience. I can't remember when I've enjoyed myself as much as I have today. Getting to sharpen my claws on your Mr. Leavy was actually a lot of fun. I don't get one-on -one interviews much lately. All of my business is taken care of my associates, or over the telephone, or by mail. I'd forgotten how interesting dealing with actual people can be."

 

      He grinned at her teasingly. "Then of course getting to meet a character like your Mr. Briggs is icing on the cake. it has indeed been quite a day, and it's only half over."

 

      "How much longer will it take us to get there?"

 

      "Anxious to get rid of me already, doll?"

 

      "Of course not. I just wondered if we'd get there before dark. I can't wait to see the house and the farm. You've got to tell me all about it. And about your friend."

 

      Thomas pulled the ladder-back chair out from the table for Kelby, then seated himself across from her. "What do you want to know first? About the farm or Mark?"

 

      "Mark? Is that your friend?"

 

      "Yes. Mark Payne. He's a free-lance writer, but you wouldn't have

read anything he's written. It's mostly technical stuff for corporate

magazines. He started a novel once, that I hope he'll start again with

all this time to recuperate." 

 

       He sighed as he stirred cream slowly into a cup of coffee. "The farm is probably easier to describe than Mark. It's on seventy-five acres. Some in woods up behind the house, the rest in pasture. The house is actually nestled right in the side of the bottom of the hill...does that make any sense?" At Kelby's interested nod he went on. "There's a big old barn of some kind around to the side. There's some old rusting tractors or some kind of machinery under a shed there. I think the trees are actually an orchard of some kind, maybe apple or cherry. They should be blooming pretty soon shouldn't they? The house, actualy it's more of a cabin than a house, has a big porch across the front with a couple of porch swings and a rocking chair. I hate both of them" He shuddered and made a face, "...makes me carsick.

 

     "Downstairs there's a large living room and kitchen with a little laundry room attached. Upstairs are two bedrooms and a bathroom. It's kind of small. I just hope you don't get cabin fever."

 

      Kelby turned to look at him with eyes that sparkled in anticipation. "It sounds wonderful," she breathed. "Straight out of the pages of a novel. The barn. The fruit trees. The woods and the little cabin. I can't wait to get there," she said wistfully.    

 

      "Don't make it sound too romantic, doll. Remember Mark's had a tough time of it. He may be really hard to live with. Dealing with a bear for a patient is a whole lot harder in a cabin than in a hospital." He leaned across the table. "Besides. Don't forget that you promised to think of me a little while you were there."

 

      "Sorry it took me so long to get to you. Can I get you folks something to drink while you look at the menu?" The arrival of the waitress covered Kelby's confusion at Thomas' statment. After knowing Thomas such a short time she was already sure that he would occupy her thoughts quite frequently over the next few weeks, and that knowledge unsettled her more than she would have thought possible.

 

      "I'd like a glass of unsweetened tea, please."

 

      "Just make that two," Thomas agreed. "What is the special today. We may not even need to look at that menu if you can tempt us well enough."

      "We've got chicken and dressing just coming out of the oven and

Belle's just putting the top on some cherry pies that should be done by the time y'all get ready for something sweet."    

 

      "I'm tempted," Thomas said. "Sound good to you, doll?" At Kelby's affirmative nod he patted his stomach and said, "I'm going to have to be measured for some new suits if you keep introducing me to all these southern culinary delights. A fellow could eat himself to death around here." He smiled wistfully, "But oh! What a way to go."

 

      He looked suspiciously at Kelby. "Hey, how come you're so thin? I've seen you eat you know. Where do you put it all?"

 

      Kelby smiled, "My dad always said I must have a hollow leg." Her eyes grew sad, remembering her loss, "He was always afraid it would catch up with me someday. Guess I'd better plan on taking some long walks and    ward off those deadly pounds."

 

      "By the way," she added. "Will Mr. Payne be able to go walking with me? you still haven't told me what he can and can't do. Shouldn't I talk with his doctor?"

 

      "No." Thomas almost shouted, then smiled at her stunned look. "I'm

sorry. I didn't mean to snap, but I wanted to be sure to warn you not to

even use the word "doctor" around Mark. He has always had a thing about them. Just saying the word is enough to bring on a tantrum from him. That's why I thought it better just have a trained nurse around in case he developed problems. I don't think there'll be a problem though.  I've discussed his case with his physicians and they assure methat the only real problem he has is getting some light in his poor foggy mind."

 

      He leaned forward and  patted Kelby's hand. "Don't worry about anything. Just see to it that he gets his medicine twice a day, and he can do anything he feels l ike doing, or wants to do. Don't worry about him getting tired or sick, just let him alone and be there for him if he does need you."  

 

      Kelby nodded. "Sounds good to me." A thought niggled inside her

mind. "You said he didn't like doctors. What about nurses." She frowned. "He is expecting me isn't he?"

 

      Thomas was silent and looked uncomfortable.

 

      "Well..." she prodded.

 

      "Well Kelby, not exactly." At her exasperated look he added hurridly. "He's expecting someone, he just doesn't know you're a nurse. I told him I was finding someone to look after him...you know the cooking and cleaning and stuff. You do cook don't you?"

 

      "Yes. I cook and clean and 'stuff'. But, what do I tell him if he asks me what I do when I'm not cooking and cleaning and 'stuff' for him?"

 

      "Just tell him you do it for somebody else. It's the truth isn't it? I'm sure you'll know the right thing to say when the time comes. Just remember he doesn't remember anything about his past. I had my secretary type up a brief synopsis, but it must be pretty frustrating to have to read in black andwhite about things you've done and places you've been."

 

     He reached into the briefcase he had brought inside with him and pulled out a thin file folder which he handed to her.

 

  "Here. I had a copy made up for you, too, in case you need to answer any questions for him."

 

      Kelby took the folder from him and began to read the neatly typed pages aloud. "Name, Mark Payne. Address, Route 2 , Box 113, Greensboro, Tennessee. Phone, not applicable." Suddenly the pages  blurred in front of her eyes. "I'll have to wait until later to read it," she said. "I've been trying to ward off a headach all day, and it looks like I'm

losing."

 

      She thought for a brief moment that Thomas looked relieved, but

decided she was imagining things. She reached into her purse and found

a small bottle of aspirin. She swallowed two of the white tablets then

leaned back and closed her eyes. A few minutes later she reopened her

eyes and smilingly declared herself cured.

 

      "I'm glad you're a quick healer," Thomas said with a genuine sigh of relief. "I'd hate to spend the rest of this drive with a cranky, headachy woman." He sat there for a moment looking at her with an expression Kelby had not yet seen in his eyes. She blushed as he spoke again, "Actually, doll. I'm beginning to think that a Kelby in a bad mood beats all the other women I've known before when they were in a good mood."

 

      Again the arrival of the waitress saved Kelby from having to make an embarrassed reply. As the woman in the freshly starched apron set plates of steaming food down in front of them Kelby's mind was racing. Things were going way too fast. Thomas was unlike any man she had ever known. He was worldly, yet seemed to fit in with these everyday country people they were meeting with ease and charm. She smiled at him across the table. He was so busily devouring the delicious country fare that he was unaware of her attention.

 

      Kelby began eating her own food, stealing glances from time to

time beneath her eyelashes.

 

      After finishing their lunch and thanking the cook personally for the delicious pie, Thomas and Kelby took Mr. Briggs for a short walk. Since Kelby hadn't rmemebered to bring a leash for him , they had to use Thomas' belt. He grumbled the entire time, but Kelby decided that he was indeed enjoying the situation.

 

      the rest of the day passed swiftly as they chatted away about their lives; their likes and dislikes. They discovered they had quite a bit in common, and found themselves making future plans without realizing they were committing themselves to a future relationship after their working relationship was over.     

 

      Once when she mentioned that she never attended the opera Thomas

said casually, "When you come to Washington we'll go see a really good

one. I'll check their schedule and we can plan around it." And the same

for the ballet, "The ballet company near my apartment is fabulous. We'll

be sure to get tickets when you come."

 

      Although no certain dates were set, Kelby was certain that this was the start of a very exciting relationship. She almost regretted that it couldn't begin right away, but would have to wait until her month's work was finished. Then, thinking about the little cabin awaiting her, she was sorry she had passed it off so blithely. One adventure after another. My how quickly one's life could change. Literally overnight too.

 

      "Goodness," she exclaimed suddenly. "Do you realize that this time

yesterday I was taking a break in the hospital cafeteria, trying to figure out how to say 'No' to Doctor Garrett in a way he could understand. Now, look at me today. Driving across Tennessee with a handsome escort in a silver Porsche, being paid fifty thousand dollars to what I usually do for three hundred dollars a week." She nestled back further into the luxurious seat. "Imagine that." She sighed contentedly and looked across at Thomas. "You know I could get used to this life."

 

      She caressed the car upholstery and remembering Thomas' first description ofhis car asked, "Did she really cost seventy thousand dollars?"

 

      "'Fraid so," he said with a smile. "And it was a steal at that. She was a special order that some Arab shiek wanted to have ready for him to drive during an American visit. The car wasn't ready, so he lost his down payment and left a seventy thousand dollar balance which I was happy to pay. It has lots of extras that you wouldn't believe. Did you notice is has one hundred and fifty mph on the speedometer?" He chuckled. "What does the 'Duck" have on hers?"

 

      Kelby looked at him scornfully, "I don't really know. I guess about eighty mph. Although, I don't think I've ever let her go faster than fifty-five though. I'm always afraid something will fall off if we get to going to fast. I've never had a speeding ticket either though!," she added defensively.

 

      Thomas pointed his finger at her playfully, "Ah ha! But I haven't either. This little radar screen right here..." he touched a round dial on the dashboard, "...picks up signals so I can avoid speeding tickets too.  And besides all the regular add-ons like cruise, tilt, power windows and stuff, I have this little gadget as well." As he spoke he puched a button and a little keyboard appeared on the dash. A panel opened up to show a screen where the radio had been moments before.

 

      "Good afternoon, Mr. Collier."

 

      Kelby jumped. "What was that?"

 

      "The computer."         

           

      " The computer? Who's Mr. Collier?"

 

      Thomas grimaced. "That's the only bug in this darned thing. Apparently some practical joker named Collier invented this thing and as a joke the dratted machine always says hello when it's first activated."

 

      Kelby laughed, "If you ever do get a ticket, don't activate this in front of the cop. he'll be sure you stole it from poor Mr. Collier."

 

      Thomas looked startled. "Good idea, Kelby. I'll remember that." He looked questioningly at her for a moment then asked, "Want to see some of her other tricks?"

 

      Kelby leaned forward, her eyes sparkling. "Sure. This is fun." She

looked at Thomas and said teasingly, "Wonder how much it'd cost to get

one of these for the 'Duck'?"

 

      "You might have to stay with Mark for two months." He laughed and

punched a button on the bottom of the screen. Suddenly the outline of a

tiny car appeared on the screen. "See that? That's us. I can punch up any location in the world and it will tell me how long it would take to drive there at our present speed with required stops for petrol, food and pit stops."

 

      "Wow. I'm impressed." Kelby shook her head. "I can't believe this is real. It looks like something out of a sci fi movie." She touched Thomas' arm.  "Ask it how long it'll take us to get to the farm now."

 

      Thomas punched in the information, and soon the tinny voice spoke

again, "Estimated time of arrival, four twenty five, PM."

 

    "What time is it now?" Kelby asked Thomas but before he could answer the mechanical voice spoke.

 

      "Time is four oh one, outside temperature fifty eight, inside temperature seventy four. Do you need further information?"

 

      "No thank you," Kelby giggled. "But do give my regards to Mr. Collier."

 

      Thomas flipped a switch and the screen and keyboard slid quietly

from view.

 

      "That was absolutely marvelous, Thomas. Thanks for sharing it with me." She looked up at the sunroof, "It's such a pretty day, do you suppose we could open this up?"

 

      "Sure. No problem." With the deft flick of a switch the tinted glass slid away to let the late afternoon sunshine into the car.

 

      "Mmmm. Don't you just love the way spring smells." Kelby closed her

eyes and inhaled the fresh air coming in from the sunroof.

 

      "I never thought about it much, doll. I'm sually stuck away in a stuffy climate controlled office most of the day, and there isn't really a safe place to get out and wak around at night anymore."

 

      "That's why I think everyone should live in a town like Briscoe, I guess," Kelby mused. "But if everyone lived in small towns they wouldn't be small anymore would they?" She looked at Thomas. "We'll just keep

country living a closely guarded secret. You won't tell will you?"

 

      Thomas smiled at her. "And risk some 'city slicker' coming and stealing away all the national treasures like your Edith? No way! I want to have some place to escape to, to get away from it all. Now that I've found out about these little roadsice diners, you may never find me in Chez Louisa's again."

 

      They rode several more miles in silence, enjoying the quiet spring

sunshine. Suddenly Thomas turned on his right turn signal and began

slowing down. Kelby's heart leaped into her throat. "Is this it? Are we

there?"

 

      "You're as bad as my little sister used to be on family vacations." He raised his voice into a little girl whine and said teasingly, "Are we there yet? How much further? Are we having fun yet?" He grinned at her. "It won't be long now, just five or six miles." He grimaced as the car rolled across the bumpy edge of the road and began crunching the chert rocks of the dirt road. "I don't think anything could ever tempt me to live with roads without paving." At Kelby's beginning protest he held up a hand, "No, Kelby. Not even good country cooking. The car hit a pothole and he swore beneath his breath. "This is positively barbaric."

 

      Kelby ignored his grumblings and began to nervously prepare for her arrival. realizing she still held the file about Mr. Payne, she reached under the seat for her purse intending to tuck the file into it for later research. Instead of her purse, her fingers clasped the edges of an unfamiliar object. She pulled it out and looked at it. "Is this your book, Thomas? It was under the seat." She turned it over and read the title aloud. "Today's Defense, Tomorrow's Peace by Marcus Collier."

 

     She turned to Thomas excitedly. "Collier. Is that the same guy that

designed this car? How interesting! Does it mention this computer in here anywhere?"

 

      She started to open the book, but Thomas took it from her. "Doll, you're really not interested in all that scientific mumbo jumbo are you? I know you're a smart girl, but even I can't follow that stuff, and I have to do legal work for those people." He tossed the book over his shoulder into the back seat and said, "Besides here we are at Sam's."They drove a few yards further down the dirt road then pulled over into a graveled yard at the front of a building whose hand-painted sign crookedly proclaimed it to be 'Sam's Radiator Service. A Good Place to Take a Leak!' Kelby grimaced at the crude advertising slogan, but couldn't help chucking at the creativity of the owner.

 

      As they pulled into the yard a man cameauntering out of the house

that sat across the road from the building. "Howdy there, Mr. Grey. You and the little lady are right on time. Me and Sarry have been looking for you. I've got the truck all primed up and ready for you."

 

      "Thanks, Sam. If you can help us unload all this luggage, we'll be

on our way. I'll stop back for the car on my way out."

 

      He opened the trunk and began putting Kelby's luggage on the ground behind the car. Kelby got out and walked around behind the car with him. "What are you doing, Thomas." She looked at the small white frame house and the barn with the sagging roof. "Surely this isn't the lovely rustic farm you described."

 

      "No doll. But I won't take the Porsche over the next mile or so of

rough road, so I've worked out a deal with Mr. Wiley here to borrow his

truck to go the rest of the way in. i'll pick up my car on the way out. You'd better get your cat out of there. But be careful, if he gets loose out here, we'll never find him."

 

      Kelby  picked up the box containing a now-quiet Mr. Briggs from the back seat and carried it across the road to a battered red pick-up that had been parked at the front of the building. She sat the box in the middle of the seat and climbed into the passenger's side of the cab. She watched Thomas take out his billfold and press some bills into Sam's hand, then he brought over the last of the luggage and pit it into the back of the truck. Soon he, too, climbed into the cab.

 

      "This is a disgusting way to have to travel, isn't it?" he complained. "I think maybe even your 'Duck' would be preferable to this darned thing." He sighed. "it's better than putting my car through this hell though. Like I said, I just don't think I could live in a world that didn't have blacktops and freeways."

 

      Suddenly he looked pensive. "Do you think you could live anywhere

else doll? You know, like another country. There are some beautful undeveloped areas in a lot of other countries. The USA doesn't have a

corner on country living you know."

 

      Kelby shook her head. "No. I woulnd't give up my Kentucky hills for anthing. Not because I think we've got a monopoly on beauty, but because it's home."

 

      "But, doll, wouldn't home be with the man you loved no matter where he lived?"

 

      Kelby stopped to think for a minute. "I guess that would make a difference, but I sort of think that if a man loved me, he'd love me because of what and who I am. And those hills are part of me. I don't think I could love someone that would ask me to leave them. At least not leave them for good." She signed as she smiled sideways at him, noticing how incongrous his well-groomed good looks were with the well-worn truck

interior. "Oh well. It's not likely that some foreigner is going to find" me stuck away in Briscoe and sweep me off my feet."

 

      Butterflies suddenly hatched in her stomach, and she was filled with the apprehension of the moment. "Tell me more about Mr. Payne, Thomas. I didnt' get a chance to read his file. Is there anything important I should know about him? Any likes and dislikes...other than doctors?" Her fingers gripped the edge of Mr. Briggs box. "What if we don't get along. What if he doesn't like me, or I don't like him? I mean, I'll be happy to put up with just about anything to hold up my end of the deal, but what if he throws me out or something?"

 

      Thomas expression grew taut and pained. "There's no danger of that

at all, doll. You see, Mark Payne is the last of a dying breed. A gentleman to the core. He would never throw you out, because it's just not done." His attention turned to the truck and trying to make a sharp turn into a driveway on their right, a feat made even more difficult with the lack of power steering.

 

      Kelby looked excitedly around her. This was it. Let the advernture begin. So far she wasn't disappointed. The driveway was long and winding, edged on either side with three strands of rusty barbed wire hanging loosely from old cedar posts that leaned to and fro.

 

      "This is lovely. Just what I expected." She turned to see Thomas

watching her, his face looking sad and somehow lonely. "What's the matter. You look like you just lost your best friend."

 

      Thomas drew a ragged breath. "Doll. I really hate to do this to you."

 

      "Do what?" she asked suspiciously, her eyes narrowing at the tone  of his voice.

 

      He turned away and looked out the window. "Damnit!" he struck the

steering wheel with a fist, then shrugged as he turned back to her. "Please believe me, doll. This was the only way." He turned back towards the window and said evenly, "The reason I know that Mark won't throw you out is because he thinks you're his wife."

 

    "Oh," Kelby said, then gasped as his words sunk in. "His wife!?" she snapped then narrowed her eyes and looked at him coldly. "What do you mean he thinks I'm his wife. Where would he get an idea like that, Mr. Grey." She practically spit the words out, and they were coated with a venom that struck Thomas in a spot he had never been sure he had until

now...his heart.                      

 

         "From me, doll," he admitted. "You see his wife was killed in the wreck. He doesn't remember her, but one of the doctors at the hospital metioned Mr. Payne to him. He picked up on it and asked me about her. I told him that she had been out of the country on vacation and was just coming home. She was supposed to meet him here. It's perfect really, doll,"  he added pleadingly. "You see, you'll get to stay here with him and take care of him, and he can't complain about it if he thinks you're his wife. He'll never guess that I hired someone to keep an eye on him. Don't worry. It'll turn out fine."

 

      "Fine for you maybe, Thomas. But, I can't do this." Her eyes snapped fire at him. "You know if you had told me this to begin with I wouldn't have done it." Her voice cracked with fury and Thomas gave a wry grin.

 

      "I know. That's why I didn't tell you."

 

      Thomas reached across Mr. Briggs box and touched her shoulder. At Kelby's look of contempt he pulled his hand back as if it had been scorched. "Look doll. Things won't really be that different. He's not the type of man to try to force his 'husbandly rights' on you, and he wouldn't try anyway if he doesn't actually remember that you're his wife. He really is the last true gentleman. Besides we took care of that at the hospital. The doctor told him to abstain from connubial bliss for at least a month. By then, you'll be long gone."

 

      "Yes, I'll be long gone leaving behind a man who hates me for lying to him for a whole month about the most important thing in his life." Her voice wavered as she added quietly, "I just can't do this, Thomas."

 

      Thomas voice grew hard. "You can do it, Kelby. As a matter of fact, you have to. I don't think Mr. Leavy would take it too well if that check should turn out to not be any good."

 

      "I can't believe you're doing this to me. I don't like being lied to, and I don't like the idea of being a liar. My Lord! How on earth can I act like a wife to a man I've never even met!"

 

      Thomas looked toward the house and gestured to the lone figure standing on the porch. "Well," he said with a sad sigh, "You'd better find a way pretty quick, doll. There's your hubby all ready to greet the little woman."