Call It Destiny

combination,“ Jake agreed.
    „And you, Jake, are just the man to handle that combination. Why else do you think I’ve been pushing this marriage? The two of you are going to make a perfect team.“
    „I think,“ Jake muttered a little, gruffly, „that after we’re officially a ‘team’ I’m going to have her give that dress to the Salvation Army.“
    Paul grinned. „It’s cut a little low in the back, I’ll admit. Ruth did try to say something about it before the party, but these days my daughter does what she wants. Fortunately for all concerned most of the things she seems to want now are what the rest of us want for her. But occasionally she puts her foot down. The difference now is that she draws the line in a very calm firm manner instead of throwing a tantrum. She’s a woman.“
    And she’s going to be my woman, Jake told himself, trying to squelch the reckless excitement that thought brought. One more week.
    „Oh, there you are, dad!“ Liz Strand, the youngest of the Strand daughters, appeared in front of Jake and Paul. „Isn’t it a wonderful party?“ Her lovely face was alight with pleasure. „Of course, every one came to see the prodigal daughter but they’re staying because they’re having such a wonderful time. Heather’s got them all eating out of the palm of her hand. Isn’t it fun?“
    „Great fun,“ Paul agreed on a laugh. „Where’s Ann?“
    „Over there with her husband. I was just on my way to get some more of those luscious canapés Julian fixed. He really pulled out all the stops for this party, didn’t he?“
    „Heather’s got him thinking he’s the greatest chef to come along since the guy who invented the cheese soufflé,“ Jake grumbled.
    Liz grinned. „Well, since it was your idea to hire Julian two years ago, I should think you’d be pleased he’s so charmed by my sister. After all, now that he’s given the Hacienda Strand such a good reputation for fine dining, you’d hate to have him lured off by a competitor.“
    „She’s got a point,“ Paul agreed cheerfully. „Your safest bet is to have Julian under Heather’s spell. Wouldn’t want to lose him.“
    „No. I wouldn’t want to lose him. Excuse me,“ Jake said a little grimly, „but I do appear to have lost track of my fiancée. I’d better go find her.“ With a nod to Liz and Paul, Jake waded determinedly into the crowd.
    Since moving to the sunbelt he had learned to dress in the casual Arizona style, but even though he wore a light-colored sport coat and an open-necked shirt, something about the way he wore his clothes tonight set him a little apart from the other men. The vaguely remote quality that was so much a factor in his nature simply refused to yield to the easygoing effects of the clothing. The people around him responded in kind. They nodded in a friendly manner, spoke respectfully, but there was a faint wariness in them. No one was quite sure how to take Jake Cavender.
    That situation changed, however, when he finally located Heather and moved to take his place at her side. In the course of responding to Heather’s charm, people found themselves feeling more at ease with Jake, too.
    „Good evening, Cavender,“ Cecil Winthrop greeted him in a far more jovial manner than usual as Jake handed Heather the glass of Chenin Blanc he’d procured en route.
    Jake nodded politely. He didn’t fool himself for a minute. Winthrop was generally not this friendly and his cordiality tonight was strictly because of Heather. „Hello, Cecil. I’m glad to see you’re enjoying yourself.“
    Heather smiled brilliantly. „Cecil and I were just discussing the time I used his land to practice riding my motorcycle. I forgot to ask Cecil’s permission.“ She shook her head in rueful apology. „It was just that your land was so terribly convenient, Cecil. I’m not even sure where the Hacienda Strand’s land ends and yours begins!“
    „Jake knows, don’t you, my boy?“ Cecil asked. One bushy gray brow arched behind his wire-frame glasses.
    „I admit I’ve studied the matter,“ Jake replied uncomfortably. This was the last thing he wanted to discuss tonight. After the marriage would be a much better time.
    But Heather was already turning a curious face toward him. „Am I missing something here?“
    „Just a small matter of business,“ Jake assured her quickly. „Nothing to discuss at the moment.“
    „Your husband-to-be has some plans for all that acreage I’ve got that borders