The Perfect Couple. Valerie Hansen

of work for Corbett's ranch. But I don't know how accurate his record keeping was. That's why I dropped the idea to sue for the money after Alex died.”

      “You think he may have overcharged the ranch?”

      Kara shrugged. “I hope not. Unfortunately, we'll never know for sure.”

      “But it is possible?” Susan was clearly disturbed by the thought.

      “Oh, yes.”

      “I never dreamed Alex was like that.”

      Kara felt the urge to go on, to tell her sister everything. There was a great deal about Alex Shepherd that had remained hidden in the painful, private core of their supposedly perfect marriage. If she'd spoken out when Alex was living, maybe Susan could have offered some helpful advice. Now, however, the only benefit of confessing would be to know that someone else shared her suffering. Kara didn't want to lay that kind of burden on anyone.

      She pressed her lips into a thin line. That wasn't completely true. She hadn't wanted advice or familial concern when Alex was alive. She still didn't. She'd purposely kept her misery to herself because she'd felt partly responsible for her bad marriage. Even now, that kind of thought kept nagging at the fringes of her consciousness, refusing to be banished.

      Standing as tall as her five-foot-two-inch stature would allow, she said, “My husband is gone. I don't see any reason to discuss him, if you don't mind.” The statement came out sounding so harsh she softened it with a tender smile and added, “Hey. Come on, Susan. It's a beautiful day and we should be praising the Lord that we have our whole lives ahead of us. Let's not dwell in the past, okay?”

      To Kara's relief, her sister returned her smile and agreed. “Okay. It's a deal. So, let's talk about the patients. How's the infamous Road Kill Corbett doing this fine morning?”

      “He's pretty chipper, considering. Last time I looked, he was happily shredding the newspapers we'd lined his cage with and tossing the soggy bits up in the air.”

      “Cute. Kind of like his owner, don't you think?”

      Kara knew exactly what Susan was up to. Her loving but meddlesome older sister had been trying to play matchmaker for her ever since Susan had arrived in Arkansas. It was easier for Kara to pretend she'd misunderstood than it was to talk Susan out of continuing to do so.

      “You'd know more about that than I do,” Kara said sweetly. “You live on the Corbett ranch so you'd be far more likely to notice the condition of Mr. Corbett's newspapers after he's done reading them.” She stifled a giggle.

      “Very funny. You know I didn't mean Tyler tears up the paper with his teeth, like the puppy. What I meant was, don't you think he's kind of cute?”

      “In what way?” Kara was determined to remain emotionally uninvolved. Anything to discourage her sister.

      Susan threw up her hands. “I don't know. His eyes are gorgeous, so dark and brooding. And he has great hair. I wish Mark's was half as thick and nice.”

      “I can recommend a good coat conditioner,” Kara teased. “It works wonderfully for all my dogs.”

      “You just aren't going to take me seriously, are you?”

      “Why should I? You're not making any sense. First you tell me Mr. Corbett is still madly in love with his late wife, then you turn around and ask me if I find him attractive. That's ridiculous.”

      “Well—” Susan cast a sly smile her way “—nothing is carved in stone. Maybe he'll change his mind once he gets to know you better.”

      “No.”

      “Of course he will. You're smart, and pretty, and—”

      Kara interrupted. “I mean, no, I don't intend to get to know the man any better than I already do. I've had enough of Tyler Corbett to last me a lifetime.”

      Susan was grinning. “I notice you didn't say you think he's ugly.”

      “He isn't ugly, he's—” Blushing, Kara broke off in midsentence.

      “Aha! I thought so. You did notice how good-looking the guy is. Maybe there's hope for you yet.”

      “I am not interested in getting involved with another man, no matter how good he looks in a Stetson,” Kara insisted. “Not ever. And certainly not a person as opinionated and short-tempered as Tyler Corbett.”

      “Don't be so sure. After all, just because a man isn't quiet and refined like Alex was doesn't mean he won't be every bit as easy to get along with, once you get to know him.” Susan paused, studying her sister's pained expression. “What's the matter? What did I say? You look like you're about to cry.”

      Kara swallowed hard and steeled herself for the well-rehearsed denial she was ready to recite. Then it occurred to her that to do so would be to perpetuate a lie. What kind of practice of her faith would that be? Instead, she managed a smile and a diversion.

      “I didn't get much sleep last night. I'm over-stressed.” That was certainly true. She eyed the crumpled money Susan was still holding. “I had company, remember?”

      “Did he yell at you?” Susan asked, chagrined.

      “A little. Don't worry about it, okay?” Turning, Kara looped an arm around her sister's shoulders and guided her toward the front desk. “It's almost time to open and you haven't put out the display of flea collars that came in yesterday. Think you'll have time to do it this morning?”

      “Sure. No sweat.” Susan smiled slightly. “I'm sorry if I seemed too pushy. I just hate to see you all alone like this. I feel kind of sorry for Tyler, too, so I thought—”

      “What part of no don't you understand?”

      She brightened, her eyes twinkling. “Hey. I've got an idea. How about the new manager at the feed store? Would you like to meet him? I hear he's single.”

      “Susan…”

      “Okay, okay. But you can't enjoy being a recluse. I know you too well to believe that. There's a man for you somewhere. I'll just have to keep looking till I find him.”

      “Aaargh!” Wheeling, Kara gave up and headed for the kennel. There was no reasoning with Susan when she was in one of her Ms.-Fix-It moods. As the younger of the two sisters, Kara had always looked up to Susan and admired her, even after they'd become adults. But this was one battle Susan was going to lose. No way was Kara going to allow herself to become romantically involved with another man. It was too scary an idea to even consider. She'd had her fill of men. And of marriage.

      Shaking her head to punctuate her decision she made her way between the rows of smaller animal cages, her mind wandering. Yes, Tyler Corbett was good-looking. More than that, his tenderness toward helpless animals had spoken to her heart. But that was the end of her involvement. At this point, she didn't even care if she collected the full amount due for treatment of the injured pup he'd brought in. It would be worth it to write off the remainder of the bill if that meant she wouldn't have to face Tyler again.

      Kara shivered. Truth to tell, she found she was actually starting to like him.

      That inclination scared her far more than anything else had for a long, long time.

      Kara was still insisting she wanted nothing to do with romance a week later, even though she was driving toward the Corbett ranch.

      “This is all Susan's fault,” she said to the drowsy puppy lying on the car seat beside her. “So help me, if she tries anything funny I'm going to disown her.”

      The pup thumped its thin tail and rested its chin on her lap, looking up at her with sad, brown eyes.

      “If it wasn't for you,” Kara told him, “I wouldn't be doing this.” She laid her hand on his head and smoothed his fur. The cut by his ear was almost healed. His broken leg would take longer.

      Recalling her recent conversation with her sister, Kara sighed