It was hard to meet her keen old eyes.
"Too much, I'm afraid," he said frankly. "You see, I've felt rather touchy about the thing. I want people to know that you and I have agreed on making Terry the heir to the ranch. I don't want anyone to suspect that we differed. I suppose I talked too much about the birthday plans."
She sighed with vexation and weighed the letter in her hand.
"I've half a mind to open it."
His heartbeat fluttered and paused.
"Go ahead," he urged, with well-assured carelessness.
She shook down the contents of the envelope preparatory to opening it.
"It's nothing but printed stuff, Vance. I can see that, through the envelope."
"But wait a minute, Elizabeth. It might anger Terry to have even his business mail opened. He's touchy, you know."
She hesitated, then shrugged her shoulders.