The Rancher's Prospect by Callie Endicott Page A

and Tara Livingston in Paris, the Eiffel Tower behind them.
    Just then the door opened behind him, and he turned around. It was Lauren.
    â€œHi, Carl,” she said as she came into the room. “Karen mentioned you needed to see me. Is there a problem?”
    â€œNot at all. I was driving past and wanted to touch base with you about tomorrow evening. We’ve tried some places here, so how about going to Windy Bluffs for dinner? There’s a steak house, an Italian place, Mexican and Chinese. The Chinese place isn’t as good as it could be, but it’s edible. Does one of them sound okay to you?”
    â€œAll of them, I guess.”
    â€œDo you have a favorite?”
    â€œUh...usually Chinese,” she told him, looking nervous. “But if it isn’t that good, maybe it would be best to go elsewhere. How about the...um, Mexican restaurant?”
    â€œFabulous,” he answered, pleased. Deep inside he’d wondered if she would say she didn’t want to go out with him again after all. “Maybe after dinner we could see a movie, or perhaps take a walk along the river.”
    â€œEither would be nice. The trail beside the water is pretty, though I’m uncomfortable going there alone.”
    â€œIt isn’t a good idea to go into isolated areas by yourself,” Carl agreed. “Let’s see what appeals once we finish dinner. Okay?”
    â€œSure.”
    â€œI won’t keep you—I know how busy this place is. How about tomorrow at five?”
    â€œSure.”
    â€œSounds like a plan.”
    Carl walked out, refraining from whistling. She hadn’t canceled and seemed to be okay with his suggestions for the following evening.
    Eating in Windy Bluffs had been his top choice, since he preferred going someplace where fewer people knew them. He had yet to eat a meal out in Schuyler without townspeople stopping to chat. As a rule he welcomed it, since law enforcement in a small community was partly about building relationships. But it had made his first dates with Lauren awkward to have so many interruptions.
    Carl let loose a whistle as he climbed into his cruiser. Life in Schuyler was good.
    * * *
    L AUREN ’ S HAND SHOOK as she picked up the chart for her last patient of the day. When Carl had asked what restaurant she preferred, she’d forced herself to say something definite as a preference. She’d read that men usually wanted women to be clear about their choices.
    After dealing with Mrs. Whittier’s “sore” ear—the elderly widow mostly came to the clinic for company—Lauren walked to the Roundup Café to meet Tara for supper.
    â€œHi,” she greeted her twin. “How was your day?”
    Tara smiled, an impish expression on her face. “I had a very interesting afternoon. Walt Nelson hired me to work in his ranch office, and Josh McGregor did his best to end the job before it began.”
    â€œHe fired you?” Lauren asked, dismayed. She’d be sick if someone did that to her, but Tara didn’t seem disturbed in the least.
    â€œNope,” her sister answered cheerfully. “He asked me to quit. I refused and we argued like seven-year-olds grabbing for the same ice cream cone.”
    Lauren was amazed her sister could be so nonchalant. She wished she could be equally at ease with confrontation, but she’d learned at a young age how destructive arguments could be. Her adoptive parents had loved her, but they’d also hoped having a second child would heal their marital woes.
    She’d been six when they’d taken her in. Her new mother had dressed her in pretty clothing, and her new daddy had proudly introduced her as his daughter. But they hadn’t stopped arguing, and her new family had always appeared to be crumbling. Then when she was in high school, it fell apart completely.
    She had responded by avoiding any sort of conflict. Her brother had responded to their parents’