"You watch your eyes," she teased.

"Shy?" he asked. "I haven't seen anything that pretty in a long time."

She laughed, but it was an uncomfortable laugh. She didn't know why she was feeling uncomfortable with Randy. They had always made little jokes like that. Yet she couldn't get over the feeling that something had changed between them.

"I bet this little job will run," he said.

"It will," Judy said. She was glad to get his thoughts on something else besides her legs. "You want to find out how fast? I bet you a dollar I can make you holler whoa."

"You're on," he said.

She didn't make him holler whoa but it was the fastest she had ever driven before. She took chances she didn't normally take but it was exciting. She was a little out of breath when she slammed on the brakes and skidded to a stop in her front yard.

"Well," he said. "It certainly can go."

"I owe you a dollar," Judy said. She got out of the car and motioned with her arm. "This is it. As far as the eye can see it all belongs to us."

"So you really are a farmer's wife," he said. "I just couldn't believe it when I heard about it."

"What's wrong with being a farmer's wife?" she cried.

"Oh," he said. "I don't know. It's just that I couldn't picture the prettiest girl in town living way out here in the sticks."

She flushed a little under his penetrating gaze. Randy always did read her thoughts better than anyone else. But she quickly gathered her courage because she didn't want him to see just how really unhappy she was. She didn't want anyone to know that.

"Come on," she said. "Let me introduce you to Bill. You'll like him."

Bill was in the barn puttering with some machinery. Judy was right about the two of them liking each other. There was real warmth in the clasp of their handshake even though they were far apart physically.