She allowed none of her ambivalence to show in her expression, however, maintaining the blank wall of indifference she presented to the world. Lucinda resumed her seat on the sofa and Roanna walked over to one of the file cabinets to extract a thick folder.
The fax machine beeped and began to whir as a document printed. Webb glanced at it, then at the rest of the electronic equipment that had been installed since he'd left.
"Looks like we're on the information highway." "It was either that or spend most of my time traveling," Roanna replied. She indicated the computer on the desk.
"We have two discrete systems. This computer and printer are for our private records. The other one"-she pointed to the electronic setup in the corner, arranged on a custom built oak computer desk--is for communication." The second computer was hooked up to a modern.
"We have the dedicated fax line, e-mail, and two laser printers. I'll show you the programs any time you want. There's also a laptop for traveling."
"Even Loyal is on computer now," Lucinda said, smiling.
"The bloodlines are thoroughly cross-referenced, and his files include breeding times, results, medical history, and identification tattoos. He'd as proud of the system as he would be if it had four legs and neighed."
He glanced at Roanna.
"Do you still ride as much as before?"
"There isn't time."
"You'll have more time now."
She hadn't thought of this benefit to Webb's return, and her heart gave an excited leap. She missed the horses with painful intensity, but her statement had been the flat truth: there simply hadn't been time. She rode when she could, which was enough to keep her muscles accustomed to the exercise, but not nearly enough to satisfy her. For now she had to devote herself to the intricacies of handing over the reins to Webb, but soon-soon!-she would be able to begin helping Loyal again.
"If I know you," Webb said lazily, "you're already planning to spend your days in the stable. Don't think you're going to dump everything in my lap and play hooky. I'll have my hands full with all this and my Arizona properties too, so you're still going to have to handle some of the work."
Work with Webb? She hadn't considered that he'd want her around, or that she would still be of any use. Her heart gave that little leap again at the prospect of being with him every day.
He concentrated then on studying the diagrams and analysis of stock performances and considering the projections. By the time Sage Whitten arrived, Webb knew exactly where they stood in the stock market.
Mr. Whitten had never met Webb before, but by his startled expression when he was introduced, he'd heard the gossip. If he was dismayed by Lucinda's explanation that Webb would henceforth be handling 0 the Davenport concerns, he hid it well. But no matter what people suspected, Webb Tallant had never been charged with the murder of his wife, and business was business.
The meeting was concluded faster than usual. Scarcely
had Mr. Whitten left than Lanette breezed into the study. "Aunt Lucinda, there's a bag of some sort in the foyer. Did Mr. Whitten-?" She stopped dead, staring at Webb seated behind the desk.
"The bag belongs to me." He scarcely glanced up from the computer, where he was reviewing the history of a stock's dividends.
"I'll take it up later."
Chapter 10
Lanette's cheeks were blanched, but she rallied with a forced laugh.
"Webb! I didn't know you'd arrived. No one told us you were expected today."
"I wasn't."
"Oh. Well, welcome home." Her tone was as false as her laugh.
"I'll tell Mama and Daddy. They've just finished breakfast, and I know they'll want to welcome you themselves."
Webb's eyebrows lifted sardonically.
"Is that so?"
"I'll get them," she said, and fled.
"About the bag." Webb leaned back in the chair and swiveled so he was facing Lucinda, who was still on the sofa.
"Where do I put it?"
"Wherever you want," Lucinda firmly replied.
"Your old suite has been completely redecorated. Corliss has taken it over, but if you want it she can move into another room."
He rejected the offer with a slight shake of his head.
"I suppose Gloria and Harlan have one of the other suites, and Lanette and Greg the fourth one." He slanted an unreadable look at Roanna.
"You, of course, are still in your old room on the back."
He seemed to disapprove of that, but Roanna couldn't imagine why. Left uncertain of what to say, she said nothing.
"And Brock has one of the regular bedrooms on the left side," Lucinda said, confirming his supposition.
"It isn't a problem, though. I've been considering what can be done, and it would be a simple matter to connect two of the remaining bedrooms by opening a door between them, and converting one of the rooms into a sitting room. The remodeling could be done within a week."
"That isn't necessary. I'll take one of the bedrooms on the back. The one next to Roanna will do fine. It still has a king size bed, doesn't it?"
"All of the rooms have king beds now, except Roanna's." He gave her a hooded look.
"Don't you like big beds?" The motel bed where they'd made love had been a double. It should have been too small for the two of them, but when one person was lying on top of the other it reduced the need for space. Roanna barely controlled a blush.
"I don't need anything bigger." She glanced at her watch and gratefully got to her feet when she saw the time.
"I have to go to the county commissioner's meeting, then I'm having lunch with the hospital administrator in Florence. I'll be back by three."