Star by Danielle Steel Page A

upset him, and she wanted everything to stay the same, but by February she knew it wouldn't.
    She sat quietly by his bedside night and day, holding his hand, and never leaving him, except to bathe, or to eat something hastily in the kitchen. She was afraid that if she left him, he might die. She stopped going to school, she never even left the house, except for a few minutes to take a deep breath of air on the porch, or walk quickly to the river before it got dark. Tom followed her there once, and he stood leering at her, as she sat in a clearing, lost in thought, thinking of her father, and then of Spencer. She had never heard from him since he'd come to little Willie's christening, but she hadn't expected to. Boyd had had a letter from him at Christmas, he sounded happy in New York and he liked his job, and he told them he'd let them know if he ever came to California. But he was too far away to help her now. No one could, except God. And she prayed daily that He would let her keep her father, but in her heart of hearts, she knew that wasn't going to happen.
    She took her place in the chair beside her father's bedside that night, watching him doze, and after midnight, he opened his eyes and looked around. He looked better than he had in a long time, his mind was clear, and he smiled at Crystal. Her mother was sleeping on the couch in the living room, and Crystal had been sleeping in the chair next to his bed for days, but she woke instantly when he stirred and offered him a sip of water.
    Thank you, baby. He spoke, and his voice sounded a little stronger. You should go to bed now.
    I'm not tired yet, she whispered in the dim light, and she wanted to be there. If she left him, he might die, and as long as she sat there, maybe he'd live ' maybe ' Do you want some soup? Grandma made turkey soup tonight, it's pretty good. The blond hair hung past her shoulders like a gossamer curtain, and he looked at her with the love he had felt for her for all her sixteen years. He wanted to be there forever, just to protect her. He knew how unkind the others were, how jealous, and how petty, even the girl's own mother, and all because Crystal was so lovely. Even the boys in the valley were afraid of her, she was too beautiful to be real, and yet she was, very real. He knew her well, and he was proud of who she had become. She had courage and guts and brains, as well as beauty. And for months now, he had suspected that she was visiting Hiroko, and although he himself had qualms about their friendship, he didn't try to stop her. More than once, he wanted to ask her what she was like, but he decided not to. She had a right to her own life, to a few secrets of her own. She had so few other pleasures. He declined the soup, and lay on his pillows looking at her, praying that life would be kind to her, that she would find a good man one day, and be happy.
    Don't ever give this up, little girl ' It was barely a whisper, and at first she didn't understand him.
    What, Daddy? Her voice was as soft as his own, and her fingers laced with his were so much stronger.
    The ranch ' the valley ' you belong here ' just like I do ' I want you to see more of the world than ' just this ' He seemed to be having difficulty breathing.' but the ranch will ' always ' be here for you.
    I know that, Daddy. She didn't want to talk about it now. It was as though he was saying good-bye to her, and she wouldn't let him. Try to sleep now.
    He shook his head. There wasn't time. He had slept for too long, and now he wanted only to talk to his youngest child, his favorite, his baby. Tom doesn't know how to run the ranch. She knew that much herself, but she didn't say that to her father, she only nodded. And one day, Jar will want to do something else, he doesn't love the land ' the way you and I do ' when you've seen something of the world, and mother is gone, Crystal, I want you to come back here ' find a good man, someone who'll be kind to my baby, he smiled at her and her