without a single button on your blouse. I saw it all knotted up and stuffed in your bag. That story about falling in the creek didn’t quite ring true since your pants weren’t the least little bit damp. I like the little midriff effect you tried so it wouldn’t look quite so much like Harlan Patrick’s shirt. Some people might never guess what happened. Of course, none of those people are inside.”
Laurie groaned. “They know?”
“They’re not blind. If the blouse hadn’t been a dead giveaway, the color in your cheeks would have been.” She studied Laurie intently. “Are you crazy? The man worships you. Why are you making things so difficult for him? Is there something I’m missing?”
“How many times do I have to explain that this isn’t about Harlan Patrick? For that matter, why do I have to explain anything to you? You work for me.”
The color drained out of Val’s face. “I thought I was also your friend,” she said quietly. “My mistake.”
She started to leave, but before she could go, Laurie caught her arm. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. You know you’re more than an employee. I don’t know what I’d have done without you the last couple of years. You’re the best friend a woman could ever have.”
“May I make a suggestion, then?”
“Of course.”
“You might want to get a lawyer.”
Shocked, Laurie stared at her. She could feel the blood draining out of her face. “Why do you say that?”
“My impression of this family is that they fight fair, but they fight to win. Unless you and Harlan Patrick reach some sort of compromise about your daughter, I’d guess that he’ll have you in court so fast, it’ll make your head swim.”
“Has he said that?” Laurie demanded. “Is that what the two of you have been huddling about? Has he been making threats?”
“No, our conversations have been about Slade mostly.”
“Then why would you say something like that? How did he get you on his side?”
“I’m not on his side,” Val said patiently. “But Laurie, wake up. Face facts. You’re keeping his daughter away from him. He’s suggested you let her stay here while you finish your tour. You said no. He’s asked you to marry him. You’ve said no.”
“How do you know all that?”
“I listen. In this crowd it doesn’t take long for word to get around.” She regarded Laurie intently. “How long do you think it’s going to be before he tires of taking no for an answer and sets his own agenda?”
The truth was he had already hinted at it more than once. She’d even asked him about veiled threats earlier, but he’d denied he was making any. “What should I do?”
“Work it out. Be reasonable. Now, personally, if it were me and I had a guy like him that crazy about me, I’d be at the courthouse taking out a wedding license, but that’s me.”
“He knows why I can’t marry him,” Laurie said defensively.
“No, he knows why you won’t marry him,” Val corrected. “If you wanted to make it work, you could.”
When Laurie started to protest, Val held up her hand. “Never mind. It’s between the two of you. I’m butting out.”
“That’ll be a first.”
“Well, it may not last, so be grateful for now.” She grinned. “As for me, I think I’ll take a little stroll down by the bunkhouse.”
Laurie regarded her with amusement. “Slade wouldn’t be down there, by any chance?”
“Could be.”
“Since when do you go chasing after a man?”
“Believe me,” Val said ruefully, “this one will not come chasing after me. I’m compromising. You might want to watch. It’s easier than you think.”
“Very amusing.”
“I meant it to be instructive.”
Val had walked about ten yards when Laurie realized that she was no longer wearing the sneakers she’d borrowed and put on earlier. She’d changed back to a more typical pair of slinky, totally inappropriate high heels. Laurie was pretty sure she knew why.
“Hey, Val, be careful. You’re wobbling,” she taunted.
“I am not wobbling. I’ve been walking in heels my entire life,” Val called back.
“Not on a ranch. What happened to your sneakers?”
Val grinned. “They don’t do nearly as much for my legs.”
“I hope he’s worth breaking your neck for.”
“That remains to be seen.”
Laurie watched her go, struggling between amusement and wistfulness. There had been a time when she had been just as giddy, just as eager to impress Harlan Patrick. For a little while earlier, she had recaptured that feeling by being in his arms again. All of