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“You probably heard ht Ishe wants, do anything she wants—I’ll support her I’ive her everything I have, go anywhere she needsI don’t care about her That could have been the biggest mistake of my lifetime”
Walt smiled in spite of himself “Learned your lesson, did you, boy?”
Luke didn’tcalled a boy by this military icon, but the truth hit hi his head “You have no idea”
Walt leaned back “I like seeing you humbled a little bit, Riordan What if I withhold my permission?”
“Oh, I’ll ask her anyway I’ll tell her you disapprove and ask her to overlook that But I’d like to do this right, sir I’ve h mistakes—I don’t want to make one more”
“Huess I can still be surprised…”
“Sir?”
“I didn’t figure you for intelligence”
Luke just shook his head Well, this was no less than he deserved He’d taken the general’s niece into his bed, telling her he just wasn’t the kind of man who could settle down He used every rationalization he could think of toto be real tough for the general to s He also knew if Shelby were his niece, he wouldn’t have stood for it Now Walt was obviously going to torture him for a while Luke supposed it was his just due
The front door opened and Shelby breezed in Bothan ar?” he asked quietly
“Uh-huh,” she said, sin River without saying goodbye to Luke’s helper, Art That in itself wasn’t such a crime, but Art was a thirty-year-oldwithout an explanation or goodbye could seery with me—just worried”
Then she went to her uncle “I’ back, Uncle Walt I had business to take care of with Luke first”
Walt looked at her beautiful, shining face Her hazel eyes glowed, her cheeks were flush with love But looking at Shelby wasn’t the startling part One look at Luke told the rest of the story Luke had always had that bad-boy edge, an aura of danger and a short fuse No round down and his expression was docile as a puppy
Walt just laughed as he pulled Shelby into his ared her fiercely “Shelby, Shelby,” he said He held her away fro, he said, “Looks like you’ve taht left in him”
“Thank God,” she said “I don’t think I could take much more He’s been a real handful But Luke still needs a little work, so I’ with him now I’ll be over to help you with the horses every day, just like always”
“That would be nice, honey,” he said “There are a lot of horses Muriel’s out of town and I’ve got the dogs and horses”
Shelby reached down and gave each Lab a little scratch “Where is she?”
“She’s gone back to Hollywood for a while Going to make a movie”
“Really?” Shelby asked, grinning hugely, her eyes lighting up “Woesome”
She would find that exciting news, Walt thought He had told Muriel she had his devoted support in achieving everything her heart desired, but in fact he wasn’t feeling real supportive He was feeling jealous and lonely and out of sorts And this news about Shelby and Luke just added to his misery
He shook it off “Luke?” he asked, looking at the ave his chin a firm nod And that was all it took to h beacons shone from within
At 1:00 aht first of Shelby; she’d thrown her lot in with Luke and Walt hoped nothing had gone wrong He thought next of Vanessa, Paul and little Matt, his grandson Young Toht phone call frohly unlikely
“Walt?” caather his wits and say hello “Darling, I’m sorry—I knohat time it is”
Darling? Did she call hi? Oh, those Hollywood types probably called everyone darling “It’s all right,” he said sleepily “Are you okay?”
“Oh, I’m okay This is honestly the first chance I’ve had to call in days But it’s not going to stay this crazy I hope”
“What’s going on?”
“Well, everything The production co s to create so castso lines they’ll only rewrite the second I have the at wardrobe and set sketches with the production designer, and generally going out to lunch, drinks, dinner, drinks, and talking till ht Then I fall into bed and sleep like a dead woet up and jump on the treadmill”
He just shook his head in confusion “What’s the tread?”
She laughed “I have to be in good shape And I don’t have the dogs or horses to help s up a bit I know it doesn’t sound like it, but I’ my ass off”