“That’s how it got its name,” he continued. “My ancestors moved here from the South and called it White Pines, just like the plantation that had been burned to the ground by Yankee soldiers. Texas seemed like a land of opportunity back then, I suppose. They came here with very little, but with grit and determination the next generations added to that beginning until it became what you see today. The Mexican settlers in the area named the town Los Piños after the ranch, which provided work for so many of the families.”

At some point as he talked, a change came over Janet’s face. Suddenly she was more aloof than ever and a kind of seething resentment burned in her eyes.

“Is something wrong?” he asked, thoroughly bemused by the change in her.

“Not really,” she said, and stood, brushing off her jeans.

The innocent gesture drew attention to her shapely rear end and had Harlan’s blood sizzling like an adolescent boy’s. But he was too puzzled by the abrupt change in her demeanor to enjoy his reaction for very long.

“Janet?”

“We’d better be getting back.”

“You’ll stay for supper,” he said, making it more a matter-of-fact statement than a question.

She hesitated for just an instant, clearly wrestling with indecision, her expression uncertain, then shook her head. “No. That wouldn’t be a good idea.”

“Why?”

“It just wouldn’t, that’s all. We’ve taken up too much of your time as it is.”

Harlan frowned. “What the devil is that supposed to mean?”

“Forget it,” she muttered. With that, she bolted in the direction of where Jenny was swimming in the creek. “Jenny, come on now, sweetie. It’s time to go.”

Janet’s strange mood lasted all the way back to the house. For the life of him, Harlan couldn’t figure out what had gone wrong. One thing was certain, though. Janet was far more of a mystery than the woman who’d been his mate for more than thirty-five years.

She was strong, as Mary had been. But she was also fiercely independent, burned by what he could only guess had been a lousy childhood and an even lousier marriage. There were apparently other dark secrets he hadn’t even begun to discover.

Whatever those secrets might be, he had the feeling her heart had turned to ice in the process. Knowing that might have discouraged some men, but not him. He had a hunch that melting it was going to be downright interesting.

8