Free Love, Lies and High Heels by DEBBY CONRAD Page A

dismissing Luke’s words. “You know women, they overreact. Once you get to know Rusty better, you’ll like her. She has a good heart, that one. Gonna make some lucky man a fine wife. Trust me.” Sam rearranged his pillows and leaned back against them, then plucked a cigar from the nightstand table, unwrapped it and lit up. After a few puffs, he said, “I can’t wait to get out of this damn bed.”
    Luke took the tray off Sam’s bed and moved it to the top of the dresser. “Well, then you should have listened to Bill and let him do one foot at a time.” He glanced at Sam’s bandaged feet.
    Snorting, Sam said, “You know how I feel about hospitals. I just wanted to get it all over with.” He blew a few smoke rings in the air and watched them hover above his head.
    In other words, Sam was chicken, Luke thought.
    Sam reverted the conversation back around to his daughter. “She used to love horses, you know.” Luke acknowledged the statement with a slight shrug of his shoulder. After a few moments of silence, Sam said, “You know, maybe it’s time for me to retire. Maybe I should think about finding a wife, someone to grow old with.”
    “You’re already old.”
    “Hah, what the hell do you know? Fifty-six isn’t old. I’m in the prime of my life.”
    “Then why the hell are you talking about retiring?”
    “I don’t know. Maybe I’m bored. What would you say if I told you I wanted out?”
    “I’d say you’re crazy. Besides, even as well as we’ve been doing lately, you know I can’t afford to buy you out.” Last year’s winnings had been invested in the business and used to build a new stable and barn.
    “I wasn’t talking about selling you my half. What if I gave it you? Would I still be welcome to live here? I mean, this has been my home forever. I’d like to see my grandkids running around outside … riding the horses.”
    Luke paced the room for a moment, wondering why Sam would want to give everything away. He also wondered why was it so important to Sam that Luke like Rusty, that he stay around while she was here. And then it hit him. He turned to look at Sam. “Don’t be getting any ideas about your daughter and me getting together, because it isn’t going to happen. I pick my own women.”
    “Yeah, well, you haven’t been picking so well. It’s time you were married with a couple of kids.”
    Luke walked over to the dresser and picked up the dinner tray. “I’m serious,” he warned. “And for God’s sake, don’t be putting that kind of guilt trip on Rusty either.” He turned and walked toward the door, then stopped in his tracks and spun around. “That’s what this is all about! You want Rusty to stay, and you want a couple of grandkids running around, so you think you can push the two of us together. Well, it’s not going to work, damnit. I wouldn’t marry your daughter if you gave me your half of the business and a million dollars to go with it.”
    After Luke stomped from the room and slammed the door, Sam smiled. “Wanna bet?”
    Rusty had been half asleep when she sensed someone standing over the bed, watching her. She awoke fully with a start and almost screamed.
    “Shhhh,” Galloway whispered. “It’s just me.”
    The light in the hall burned brightly, outlining his body. After blinking several times, her eyes finally adjusted.
    “What do you want?” she asked in a shaky breath.
    She was almost afraid of his answer. What if he said he wanted her? Would she have the strength to resist him? Would she even try? Remembering his scorching kiss she doubted it. In fact, she wanted him to touch her again. To show her what she’d been missing all these years. She wanted to feel him deep inside her. Oh dear God, she thought. When had she become such a nymphomaniac?
    “I brought you something to eat,” he said, startling her from her lusty thoughts. “Can I turn on the light?”
    He’d brought her something to eat? She managed a weak, “Yes.”
    He reached for