Free Suspicions of the Heart by Rita Hestand Page A

been talking about her for nearly an hour and
she's just a neighbor?"
    George moved to comfort his wife.
"Sorry, honey, we weren't deliberately neglecting you. Miss
Arnold's land has the whole community in a stir. They found water
there last month, and everyone in the Panhandle wants to buy it out
from under her."
    "And I'm afraid that puts Miss Arnold
in a bad situation right now," Joe explained, moving away from
Lisa.
    "Water?" Lisa persisted trying to make
sense of all the conversation.
    "Yes, darling, it seems her land
contains the only real natural water rights that haven't been used,
and she owns all the mineral rights to it. She's sitting on a gold
mine and doesn't know it," George explained, his arm going
affectionately around his wife's waist as he pulled her against
him.
    "They finally found water, here in
Channing?" Lisa shrieked. "That's unbelievable."
    "Yes, but there's a problem, it's very
deep. We'd have to drill with heavier equipment than we've seen in
this area to get it up. Besides, Candy Arnold isn't about to sell
us those rights, once she finds out what she has," Joe informed
them.
    "Maybe we could persuade
her."
    "Well, don't look at me, friend. She
doesn't trust me." Joe sat down at the table and glanced up at
them. "So, are we going to eat or let all this food get
cold?"
    "Well, yes, but…someone else is coming.
She should be here any minute," Lisa fussed, and then ran into the
kitchen to check the biscuits.
    "She?" the men chimed with a knowing
laugh.
    "Yes, and both of you be nice. She's a
new member of our church and she doesn't know many people here,"
Lisa defended.
    But Debbie Fletcher was more than a
local stranger in town. She was definitely a woman on the prowl for
a husband. Joe had a second sense about these things and instantly
shied away from them. Something about a female on the make just
turned him totally off.
    What on earth was wrong with him
tonight? First Lisa looked different to him. Then, there was this
gorgeous brunette with a body that wouldn't quit. And he didn't
want either of them.
    Lisa tried her best to throw them
together at every opportunity. After supper she put them to work
cleaning the dishes, which George instantly fussed at her for. Joe
spotted her ploy and decided not to say anything.
    Alone, Debbie was quite different than
at the table. Joe felt no urge to advance on her. He didn't have
to. Debbie pretended helplessness, asking him to tie her apron. Joe
tied it and moved away. He deliberately thwarted her every attempt
to flirt. However, as he drove her home, she caught his attention.
"Want to tell me about her?"
    Something about the resigned voice had
him talking once more. "Her? Her who?"
    "No man totally ignores a woman unless
he has someone else on his mind. Who is she?'
    "Oh, it's not a woman, Debbie. I've
just been caught up in my work lately. 'Fraid I've forgotten a lot
of my social graces."
    When he reached her small house on the
outskirts of town she purred sweetly, her full red lips pouting.
"Want to come in for a drink?"
    He cleared his throat as he eyed her.
"I better not tonight Debbie. But maybe I'll take a
rain-check."
    "Am I doing something wrong? Or don't
you like me, Joe?"
    Joe squirmed. He didn't want to go
there. Sure, she was sexy as hell, but there wasn't anything there
for him except the basic urge to explore. "No, you aren't doing
anything wrong, Debbie. You are a very attractive woman."
Attractive didn't cover it; she was a bombshell and, any other
time, he wouldn't hesitate to take what she so generously offered.
"But--" what could he say. "I guess I just don't like being set
up."
    Debbie grinned. "Yes, Lisa wasn't very
subtle, was she? I'm afraid I didn't help much either. I don't
always go around throwing myself at men. But I've been so lonely
since I moved out here from Canton. I mean, I knew everyone there.
Here, it's so different. If you weren't born here, they sort of
treat you like an outsider. But I do like you, Joe."
    "Thanks. I