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

and roared with laughter. “Hannah, what is it about you that makes you always want to run things?”
    “Who me? You know I’d never tell a soul what to do. I’ll leave that to Aunt Agnes.” Hannah gave a wicked grin, so like her sister’s. “What do you suppose Tanner and Amanda will call this baby? I think they should name her Hannah. That’s what I’m going to suggest.”
    “Maybe you should save that name for your own babies.”
    “I’m too busy doing whale research and training my huskies for the Yukon Quest to bother with domestic matters.”
    “Don’t let Aunt Agnes hear you say that. She’d consider it a challenge.”
    “I only give advice,” Hannah said serenely. “I never take it.” She dropped her feet from the dashboard and looked at her sister, her face becoming serious. “I’m here, you know. Whenever you get ready to talk about what happened at the rodeo, I’ll listen. I might even forego the intense pleasure of telling you what to do.”
    “I can’t think about what happened right now.”
    “You’ll have to face it sometime, Hallie. In my world life holds such immediacy, I can’t afford the luxury of putting off a decision.”
    “This is Texas, Hannah, not Alaska. I’ll think about it tomorrow.”

 
     
    CHAPTER SIX
    Herb Williams was more than Josh’s advertising manager; he was a good and longtime friend.
    Two days after his return from Dallas, Josh sat in his office watching with his usual amusement as Herb softened a huge wad of gum in his mouth and blew an enormous bubble.
    “I keep expecting one of those bubbles to lift you off your feet.”
    Herb tucked the gum into one corner of his mouth before answering. “Keeps me sane.”
    “I won’t knock anything that does that.” Josh tipped back in his swivel chair. “I want to thank you again for helping take care of Dad and George while I was gone.”
    “Always glad to. I keep hoping things will change with them.”
    “Perhaps if I had more time to spend with them—”
    Herb interrupted him. “Don’t you dare go blaming yourself. You work like a dog down here. Where in the hell would George be without your money for those fancy clinics? Who would pay his rent? Who would take care of Hiram?” He blew a small bubble and sucked it back in with a loud, angry pop. “Don’t you give me that superman routine. You’re only human, just like the rest of us.”
    Josh chuckled. “That’s why I keep you around. To remind me.”
    “You keep me around because I’m a genius— the best ad man in the business.” He swung his gaze around the office. “Speaking of the best, where’s The Woman in Red?”
    “I moved it.”
    Herb eyed him closely. “Just like that?” He snapped his fingers. “Out of the blue. After five years you up and stuff that piece of art in the closet somewhere? What in hell’s going on?”
    Josh bought time by reaching into his desk drawer and bringing out a file folder. The day before, when he’d returned to Florence and seen the poster again, he’d felt as if he’d been socked in the gut. He’d actually had to sit down to regain his composure. Reason told him he’d been right to let her go, but instinct screamed that he’d been wrong. He’d sat in his chair for an hour rehashing his decision, but in the end he’d been no closer to an answer. Matters of the human heart puzzled him, as they’d puzzled all the Butler men.
    Thinking about the poster, shut up in his closet, made him dizzy with the desire to see her. “Let’s talk about that magazine layout for our line of silk teddies.” He flipped open the folder.
    Herb held up his hand. “Not so fast. Tell me why you got rid of The Woman in Red.”
    Josh’s grin was lopsided. “I should fire you for insubordination.”
    “The man who saved your butt more times than a person can count? Who would have been the high scorer in all those high school basketball games if I hadn’t made the rebounds and passed them back to you? Who would