Animals to protect that great species of
canine from being exploited in illegal fighting."
Cady
leaned forward in her chair, two coin-size spots of red high in her cheeks.
"Dad, if you could see what happens to these dogs when they're thrown into
one of those fights, it would make you sick. They are literally torn to
pieces." Her chin thrust forward. "And just as Rafe rid himself of
the Greeley faction, I'm going to help sweep that disgusting so-called sport
from our state."
Professor
Nesbitt's stern face softened, his eyes twinkling. "I would certainly run
if you came at me with that martial light in your eye. You're quite a tiger
yourself, Cady."
At that moment
Rafe strolled into the room, his charcoal pin-strip suit looking as fresh as
when he left that morning. Both Cady and her father started—they had been so
absorbed in their conversation that they hadn't heard the click of Rafe's key
in the front door lock.
"No truer
words were ever spoken, Thomas." Rafe chuckled, pulling his tie free from
his neck as he stood in the doorway. "You haven't seen your daughter in
action in the political arena yet. Why don't you come to the luncheon the
Monroe County women are hosting for Cady? She's making a speech that day. The
first time I heard her speak, I didn't even listen to the words. I was too busy
watching the way she curled the audience right into her palm. She's a marvel."
Her husband's voice brimmed with pride.
Cady had heard
Rafe praise her often during the campaign, but it never failed to stir her, to
make the blood rise in her face as it did now. "Rafe, you've already invited
the world to this rally. I hope I won't fall on my face."
"That's
false modesty and you know it, wife. Even Clem Martin, my campaign manager,
said that you are my greatest asset." He walked across the room to lean
down and brush her lips with his. This had become a habit of Rafe's whenever
they greeted each other or parted. Cady knew that it was a mechanical gesture
to him, but for her it was a heart-wrenching experience, and she treasured
every caress. Still, it became increasingly hard to disguise the effect he had
on her, especially since her hands ached to reach for his neck and clutch him
to her.
"I
think I will come." Professor Nesbitt pursed his lips, a faraway look in
his eyes. "Yes, I could drive up in the morning."
"No, Thomas,
I'll send the plane for you," Rafe corrected. "It's a beautiful ride
up the lake. Then you could stay with us in the city and fly back the next
morning."
"Oh,
please do it, Father. I'd like it so much." Cady felt her throat
constrict. "It would bolster my confidence."
"I
thought I was supposed to do that," Rafe observed, his tone wry.
Cady
gave him a quick glance, noting the opaque look of his eyes. "Of course
you do. But I'd like my father to be there, too."
"Of
course." He looked past her to the professor. "We should be leaving,
Thomas. It's a fifteen-mile drive to the house and then it's early to rise
tomorrow."
"Then why
not stay here for the night? It might make it easier for you if I flew into the
city with you in the morning instead of sending the plane for me."
Professor Nesbitt was studying the bowl of his now-extinguished pipe as though
such a scrutiny were crucial.
"Father,
no!" Cady exclaimed in horror, trying to catch the professor's eye.
"My clothes! I have to.. .to get my things... and..."
"Nonsense,
child, you have clothes here and more in the city if you need them, and you
have your briefcase with your speech with you." He looked over his
half-glasses, his lips firm. "You should set an example for energy
conservation and not take two plane trips when you can take one."
Rafe
gave a dry laugh. "Your father's right, Cady. We'll stay the night."
His dark brows arched even further at the glowering look she gave him.
"I'm for a shower and bed." He turned away, striding from the sitting
room. The muffled thumps as he climbed the stairs were loud in the stillness.
"Father,
I..." Cady cleared
canine from being exploited in illegal fighting."
Cady
leaned forward in her chair, two coin-size spots of red high in her cheeks.
"Dad, if you could see what happens to these dogs when they're thrown into
one of those fights, it would make you sick. They are literally torn to
pieces." Her chin thrust forward. "And just as Rafe rid himself of
the Greeley faction, I'm going to help sweep that disgusting so-called sport
from our state."
Professor
Nesbitt's stern face softened, his eyes twinkling. "I would certainly run
if you came at me with that martial light in your eye. You're quite a tiger
yourself, Cady."
At that moment
Rafe strolled into the room, his charcoal pin-strip suit looking as fresh as
when he left that morning. Both Cady and her father started—they had been so
absorbed in their conversation that they hadn't heard the click of Rafe's key
in the front door lock.
"No truer
words were ever spoken, Thomas." Rafe chuckled, pulling his tie free from
his neck as he stood in the doorway. "You haven't seen your daughter in
action in the political arena yet. Why don't you come to the luncheon the
Monroe County women are hosting for Cady? She's making a speech that day. The
first time I heard her speak, I didn't even listen to the words. I was too busy
watching the way she curled the audience right into her palm. She's a marvel."
Her husband's voice brimmed with pride.
Cady had heard
Rafe praise her often during the campaign, but it never failed to stir her, to
make the blood rise in her face as it did now. "Rafe, you've already invited
the world to this rally. I hope I won't fall on my face."
"That's
false modesty and you know it, wife. Even Clem Martin, my campaign manager,
said that you are my greatest asset." He walked across the room to lean
down and brush her lips with his. This had become a habit of Rafe's whenever
they greeted each other or parted. Cady knew that it was a mechanical gesture
to him, but for her it was a heart-wrenching experience, and she treasured
every caress. Still, it became increasingly hard to disguise the effect he had
on her, especially since her hands ached to reach for his neck and clutch him
to her.
"I
think I will come." Professor Nesbitt pursed his lips, a faraway look in
his eyes. "Yes, I could drive up in the morning."
"No, Thomas,
I'll send the plane for you," Rafe corrected. "It's a beautiful ride
up the lake. Then you could stay with us in the city and fly back the next
morning."
"Oh,
please do it, Father. I'd like it so much." Cady felt her throat
constrict. "It would bolster my confidence."
"I
thought I was supposed to do that," Rafe observed, his tone wry.
Cady
gave him a quick glance, noting the opaque look of his eyes. "Of course
you do. But I'd like my father to be there, too."
"Of
course." He looked past her to the professor. "We should be leaving,
Thomas. It's a fifteen-mile drive to the house and then it's early to rise
tomorrow."
"Then why
not stay here for the night? It might make it easier for you if I flew into the
city with you in the morning instead of sending the plane for me."
Professor Nesbitt was studying the bowl of his now-extinguished pipe as though
such a scrutiny were crucial.
"Father,
no!" Cady exclaimed in horror, trying to catch the professor's eye.
"My clothes! I have to.. .to get my things... and..."
"Nonsense,
child, you have clothes here and more in the city if you need them, and you
have your briefcase with your speech with you." He looked over his
half-glasses, his lips firm. "You should set an example for energy
conservation and not take two plane trips when you can take one."
Rafe
gave a dry laugh. "Your father's right, Cady. We'll stay the night."
His dark brows arched even further at the glowering look she gave him.
"I'm for a shower and bed." He turned away, striding from the sitting
room. The muffled thumps as he climbed the stairs were loud in the stillness.
"Father,
I..." Cady cleared
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