"This is where the Centennial Exposition will be held," Richard announced triumphantly, piquing Josh's interest in the jumble of half-completed buildings and construction materials that had just come into view.

Felicity drew a blank until she recalled something Blanche had told her. "Oh yes, the fair to celebrate America's centennial," she exclaimed, peering out the carriage window. But the confusion before her gave no indication of the glorious triumph Blanche had foretold. "I thought it was going to open soon," she said.

"Well, it was supposed to open in April, but they've moved the date to May now, because of construction delays," Richard explained, giving the buildings another, more serious, inspection. Secretly, he agreed with Felicity's assessment that the fair still did not look anywhere near ready for the scheduled May 10 opening date. The first of March was already past. "Well, well come for the opening-day festivities, and you will see for yourself that Philadelphia can rise to any challenge," he said with false bravado. "They say that President Grant himself is coming to cut the ribbon."

"You mean General Grant?" Josh could not resist asking, reminding Richard that Grant was not well loved in all parts of the country.

"They say that the main building is the largest in the world," Richard reported with a strained smile. Although he was flushing slightly, he refused to acknowledge Josh's barb. "And every country in Europe will have a building displaying their industry and achievements."

As Richard continued to point out items of interest on their tour, Josh recalled Richard's previous offhand remark about coming to the opening day of the Exposition. That was over two months away. Just how long did he think they would be staying? Josh had a ranch to run, and spring was the busiest season of the year. He could not possibly stay in Philadelphia that long.

But Felicity could, he realized suddenly. She had no responsibilities calling her back to Texas. Was that what Richard had in mind? He had already promised to escort them to more plays and to concerts and all the various entertainments offered in this great city. If such a prospect impressed Josh, how much more would it impress someone as innocent as Felicity, a girl who had known no other home but a wagon before coming to Josh's ranch?

And even the Rocking L could not compete with the enticements Richard offered, as Josh well knew. No wonder Josh's mother had been unable to bear living on an isolated ranch in Texas after knowing this kind of life. For the first time, Josh was able to understand the forces that had drawn his mother away from him and his father. But understanding someone's reason for doing something and allowing the same thing to happen again were two entirely different things. If Richard hoped to lure Felicity away with his fancy city life, Josh would be ready for him.

Josh grew more ready in the coming days as Richard made good his promise and introduced them to Philadelphia society on a grand scale, a scale obviously calculated to turn the head of a poor little country girl.

"But we can't leave yet!" Felicity protested, glaring at Joshua from across the parlor. "We only just got here! Grandfather will be so disappointed and-"

"I know, but there's no help for it," Josh insisted. "I have a ranch to run, you know. There's branding and-"

"Grady and the men can do that without your help," Felicity said, growing more desperate by the minute. She knew he did not like the city. Even she could feel the smothering closeness in this place, where she had to strain her neck just to see the sky and where the stars were faint from the glow of gaslight. Loving his land as he did, Joshua must feel the constrictions even more fiercely. He did not seem to get along well with Richard or her grandfather, either, but surely staying just a little longer wouldn't hurt him. Their men could certainly handle the routine task of branding. "Please, Joshua," she pleaded, moving closer to him and slipping her arms around his waist. "Grandfather's dying! I may never get another chance to visit him. Just a few more weeks?"

Josh looked down into her eyes, overwhelmed as always by her beauty. She looked as if she might cry, but he could not let that sway his resolve. "How many weeks?" he asked, wondering if he might be able to placate her with a small compromise. A week or two longer wouldn't hurt.

Felicity's hopes soared. He was going to be reasonable. "I don't know," she began, making some quick calculations in her head. "Another month or two?"

Josh scowled in quick fury. Obviously, his small compromise was out of the question. "Only two months?" he inquired sarcastically. "How about three or four? Or why don't we just hang around until the old man's string runs out? If you're lucky, he'll leave you the house, and then you'll be able to stay here forever!"

Stung, Felicity jerked away from him. "Is that what you think? That I want to stay here forever?" she asked. Apprehension shivered over her as she recognized his worst fear come to life. Was that why he was so anxious to get her away from here? Did he trust her so little?

"It doesn't matter what you want," he declared coldly. "You're going home with me-now, and not two months from now." He turned away, knowing he was being, unreasonable and even cruel, but unable to stop himself.

Just as he had suspected, Richard had woven his spell around her. After only two weeks she was already reluctant to leave. Josh did not dare to let her stay any longer.

Felicity could only stare at his rigid back. What was wrong with him? He had never treated her like this, like a piece of property with no feelings. Even when he had been cold to her during her pregnancy, he had been considerate of her needs and wants. Now it seemed that her needs and wants no longer even mattered to him. Was this the way a man desperate to keep the woman he loved would act? She had no way of knowing, and before she could consider it further, a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Pardon me, Mr. Logan. I have a… Oh, I'm sorry, ma'am," Bellwood hastily apologized from the doorway. "I thought Mr. Logan was alone."

Felicity drew a ragged breath. "He will be, in just a second," she said, whirling in a rustle of skirts and sweeping past the butler out of the room. She needed some time alone, away from this unfamiliar Joshua, to get control of herself and to figure out how to deal with this new situation.

"I hope I didn't interrupt anything, sir," Bellwood said, his usually inscrutable face betraying a hint of unease at Felicity's precipitous departure.

Josh sighed wearily. He was grateful for the interruption. He hated hurting Felicity, even when he knew it was in her best interests. "What is it, Bellwood?"

"There is a letter for you, sir, from Texas."

"A letter?" Josh repeated, forgetting everything else for the moment. He picked up the envelope Bellwood offered to him on a small silver tray and began tearing it open. "Call my wife, will you? She'll want to read it, too."

But instead of responding to Josh's command, Bellwood cleared his throat. "Excuse me, sir, but perhaps you should read it first." At Josh's quizzical look, he explained. "I would not have brought it had I known Mrs. Logan was in the room. You see, the letter is addressed only to you and… ahem, in a woman's hand."

Josh examined the front of the letter more closely. Sure enough, Bellwood was right. The only woman in Texas he could imagine needing to write him a letter was Candace, and she had never learned to write. Alarmed now, Josh finished opening the letter. He quickly scanned the closely written sheet, and when he was finished, he swore quietly and crumpled the paper viciously into a tiny ball.

"Bad news, sir?" Bellwood inquired solicitously.