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your information, I have a man waiting to marry me—right now, in Arizona. I have the tickets to getthere. I might even be married before you are,” she added, not knowing how long it took to get to Arizona.
    “But where did you meet this man?”
    “I…I haven’t actually met him. We corresponded through the mail.”
    “What?”
    “Don’t look so shocked. It’s done all the time. There is a shortage of women in the West, you know. How else are those brave men to get decent wives?”
    Stephanie was saying whatever sounded logical, defending herself. Actually she knew as little about the West or about mail-order brides as Sharisse did. But she didn’t want her sister to know that, or to know that she was dreading going to Lucas Holt.
    “You mean you were planning to marry some man you don’t even know? To travel across the country…Steph, how could you even think of such a thing?”
    “How could I think of staying here after you marry Joel? I can’t. I won’t. I’ll leave tomorrow, and don’t you dare try to stop me.”
    “But I can’t let you go. You’re such an innocent, Steph. Why, you’d probably get lost before you even got to the train station.”
    “Just because you’ve been to Europe doesn’t mean you’re the only one who knows how to travel,” Stephanie snapped. “I’ve gone to Aunt Sophie’s. I’ll manage.”
    “You’ve gone to Aunt Sophie’s with Father and me. You’ve never been anywhere alone. And…my God, to actually consider marrying a stranger! No, I can’t let you.”
    Stephanie’s eyes narrowed angrily. “You would force me to stay here and watch you marry Joel? You would be that cruel?”
    “Steph!”
    “I love him!” A new flood of tears gathered. “I love him, and you’re going to marry him! You know,” she added bitterly, “the only thing that would prevent that wedding next week is if you weren’t here to attend it. But would you think of leaving instead of me? Of course you wouldn’t. You certainly gave up on Father soon enough. I couldn’t expect you to have the courage to defy him by running away.”
    “He said he would take a strap to me,” Sharisse said quietly.
    “Oh,” Stephanie said, all accusation dying.
    “Wait a minute,” Sharisse said impulsively. “Why couldn’t I leave? It would solve everything. Father would see that I am serious about not marrying Joel, and I would only have to stay away until he gave in.”
    “Do you mean it, Rissy?” Stephanie asked, daring to hope. “Would you really do that for me?”
    Sharisse was thoughtful. Her father would be furious. She might have to stay away for months. But at least she wouldn’t be responsible for her sister’s misery.
    “Why not?” she said courageously. “I can go and stay with Aunt Sophie.”
    Stephanie shook her head. “That’s the firstplace Father will look. You don’t think he’s going to let you go without trying to find you, do you?”
    “Oh, dear.” Sharisse frowned. “Well, let me think for a moment.”
    “You could use the tickets I have.”
    “Go to Arizona? That’s ridiculous, Steph. I won’t have to go that far.”
    “But where else could you stay? At least Lucas Holt will take care of you until I can get word to you that it’s all right to come home.”
    “Take care of me?” Sharisse gasped. “The man is expecting a wife, not a guest. And he’s expecting you, not me.”
    “Well, actually, he doesn’t know what he’s getting. I did send him a picture, but it was the one of you and me and Father, the one taken after you got back from Europe. I…ah…I forgot to tell him which of us was me.”
    If Sharisse was going to be good enough to go away, she wanted her far enough away that their father would have no chance of finding her. Arizona was far enough.
    “When I wrote to him,” she continued, “I signed my name only S. Hammond. So, you see, he wouldn’t know the difference if you went in my place. And he doesn’t have to know that you have