” She had dressed in shorts and a tee shirt now. “Gerald, I could have been drying off from a shower!”“I’m sorry, Beth. I wasn’t really aw...ke and wasn’t thinking. I need to use the toilet for a moment and then I’ll get out.”She walked out smiling. “I’m finished. It’s yours.” I emptied my bladder and washed my hands and face. Refreshed and thinking, I went to my room to dress. I pulled on shorts and a tee shirt with sneakers and socks. I went into the kitchen and poured coffee. I looked at Beth. Merle would be so proud of you, Joss. He’s the one who suggested we change the name once you returned to take over. He told us before he passed, to never give up hope ... Merle knew in his heart when you left, that you’d return.”“Ruby, I have had that very name in mind for many months now. For you and your daughters to change the name of this ranch to honor me, makes me even more proud that I’ve come back here to make my home.“I want to hang new signs at all the entrances to each of our ranch. I did not understand what he meant.-“I am talking about the other day, in your place" - he addedMy blood ran cold, not only he had the nerve to remind me that morning but he assumed I was doing it consciously!He must have read my face because I was passing from shocked to outraged and all kinds of colors should have flown through my face, so he added before I could say anything:-"Please excuse my presumptuousness, I thought we could have that level of confidence after having shared such a. The answer to the first question, she was certain, had something to do with another incident, one at the college library.Nothing had been made public about the actual circumstances of the museum robbery. The guard and poor Sharon had remembered almost nothing about what had happened, beyond their descriptions of their assailant but Maxine had been there when they had found the guard, half stripped of her uniform, and she had seen how confused Sharon had been about the whole incident. She was.