Hallie's Destiny (The Donovans of the Delta) by Peggy Webb Page A

was thoughtful. “In my own way, perhaps I do too.”
    Josh chuckled. “I’d say riding bulls is extreme.”
    “It pays the rent.”
    Her bright and lovely spirit was balm to Josh’s tattered soul. The longing to stay in her presence was a physical ache. But the time had come to say goodbye for real. There was no need for useless regrets and foolish hopes.
    “Hallie . . .” He hesitated for a moment, savoring the feel of her name on his lips. “What will you do now?”
    “I’ll go back to Memphis State and complete my degree. I should finish by the end of summer. Then . . .” Her shrug was eloquent. “. . . who knows? I might even find adventure and excitement in the classroom.”
    “Is that what you want? Adventure and excitement?”
    She answered his question with one of her own. “What do you want? Freedom?”
    “I don’t know anymore, Hallie.”
    “Neither do I, Josh.”
    A silence enveloped them. Neither of them wanted to say goodbye again.
    Finally Josh spoke. “Whatever you do, I wish you the best of luck.”
    “You too.”
    Hallie wanted nothing more than to touch his arm and say stay . But she knew this was neither the time nor the place. In fact, there might never be a time or a place for the two of them. She hated endings. Fortunately, her dramatic nature came to her rescue. Reaching into the backseat, she picked up one of the Stetsons she kept in abundant supply. She set it at a rakish angle on her head and winked at Josh.
    “Nothing beats riding off into the sunset, pardner. Point me in the direction of your rig, and I’ll drop you off.”
    Josh gave her directions, then leaned back in silence, watching her, memorizing her as she drove.
    “Take care, Hallie,” he said as he descended from her lavender El Dorado. He was careful not to touch her, for if he had, he might never have been able to let her go again.
    “You, too, Josh.”
    She gave a jaunty wave and blasted her horn. The Eyes of Texas Are Upon You shattered the stillness as Hallie Donovan disappeared into the sunset.
    Standing in the settling dust her car had spewed up, watching until she was out of sight, Josh didn’t know that she had tears in her eyes.
     o0o
    Three days later Hallie and Hannah received an early morning call from Tanner. They left the ranch and headed to Dallas to meet his newborn daughter. Hallie was driving.
    “Do you always drive like a bat out of hell?”
    “Yes. And so do you.”
    Hannah laughed. “A fellow never gets anyplace going slow.” She had her slim legs propped on the dash, and she was as relaxed and serene as if she were riding down a country lane in a horse-drawn buggy. “You haven’t said a word about what happened between you and Josh Butler at the rodeo.”
    “It doesn’t matter. We both have our reasons for not wanting an involvement. This episode with Josh reinforces my feeling that I am destined to choose the wrong man.”
    “Hogwash!” Hallie had to laugh at Hannah’s choice of words. When she was disturbed, Hannah always reverted to the vernacular learned during their Mississippi Delta childhood. “The only thing Josh Butler has in common with Robert Gilbert is good looks. Robert was a spoiled, selfish man whose only thought was to surround himself with the best of everything. You were his prize possession, Hallie. And he was scared to death of losing you.”
    “I used to wonder about that. He certainly put me in a cage.” She glanced out the window then swung her gaze back to Hannah. “Men of power scare me to death. I’m well rid of Josh. I told you that the first day I returned from the lake.”
    “You did. But the way you looked when you talked about him, I didn’t believe you. That’s why I sent him after you. Hallie, I think he’s the one for you. In my opinion you’re making a mistake to let him go. If I were you, I’d set my sights on Florence, Alabama. No matter what happened between you two, I’m sure he can be persuaded.”
    Hallie threw back her head