Star Read Free Page B

dressed in his dark blue suit for the wedding. He had an air of solidity and warmth and quiet distinction about him. His family had had money once, lots of it, but they had lost most of it years before, even before the Depression. They had had to sell off thousands of acres, and he had turned the ranch around and made it successful again, by the sweat of his brow, and with Olivia beside him. But he had seen a little bit of the world before he married her. He talked to Crystal about it sometimes when they went on long walks, or sat in driving rains, or waited for a cow to give birth in the winter. He shared things with her that had been long buried and were almost forgotten. There's a big world out there, little girl ' with a lot of beautiful places in it ' not many better than this ' but they're worth seeing nonetheless' . He told her about places like New Orleans and New York, and even England. And whenever Olivia heard him she scolded him for filling Crystal's head with nonsense. Olivia herself had never been farther than the Southwest, and even that seemed foreign to her. And her two oldest children shared her view of the world. The valley was enough, and all the people in it. Only Crystal dreamed of something more, and wondered if she would ever see it. She loved the valley too, but there was room in her heart for more than that. Like her father she loved the valley with a passion and yet she loved to dream of faraway places.
    How's my girl? Tad Wyatt wandered in and looked proudly down on his youngest daughter. Even there, in the kitchen filled with women, in her old blue gingham dress, the sight of Crystal tugged at his heart and her beauty took his breath away, and it was impossible for him to conceal it. He was only grateful that this wasn't her wedding day. He knew he couldn't have stood it. And he wouldn't have let her marry a man like Tom Parker. But for Becky, he was all right. Becky didn't have dreams ' there were no stars in the secret skies of her heart ' she had no secret visions. She wanted a husband and kids and a cottage on the ranch, and an ordinary man like Tom, with no ambition and few dreams, and that was what she was getting.
    Hi, Dad. Crystal looked straight into his eyes with a gentle smile, and without words, the love that they shared spoke volumes.
    Did Mama make you a pretty dress for today? He had wanted her to, he always wanted her to. He smiled, remembering the stockings he had given Crystal to wear to the wedding, even if Olivia did think him foolish.
    Crystal nodded, as he watched her. It was pretty enough. But not like anything you'd see in the movies. It was just a dress. A nice, white dress. The nylon stockings were going to be the best part of her outfit, invisible and sheer and exciting. But Tad knew she could have worn anything, and she would have been lovely.
    Where's your mama? He looked around the kitchen and saw only his mother-in-law and three of his wife's friends, and Crystal.
    Helping Becky dress.
    Already? She'll be wilted before we ever get to the church. They exchanged a smile, the day was already getting warm, and the kitchen seemed to be steaming. Where's Jared? I've been looking for him for an hour. But he looked good-natured as he said it, he wasn't easily ruffled. He had been patient with all of them ever since they were children.
    He said he was going to help you with the wine. Crystal smiled as their eyes met again, and she offered him a slice of the ham she had only moments before begrudged her brother.
    Help me drink it more like. They both laughed and he walked down the hall to Jared's bedroom. Jared's passion was cars and not ranches and his father knew it, the only one who truly loved the ranch, who understood it, who loved the land as he did, was Crystal. He walked past the bedroom where Becky was dressing with her mother's help, and knocked on his son's door. Come and help me move the tables, Son. There's still work to do outside. They had set long tables with