"Mary Goldwin says she thinks Tyler will be a good influence on you. She says he might even convince you to tone down your hair color. She thinks you'll be a pretty good stepmom, with Debbie to guide you, of course. Natalie Hopkins is appalled that anyone would even consider getting involved with a Hamilton, but she supposes you're a good a match as any for them, considering you're an actress, and everyone knows what kind of life they live."

   Jane didn't know whether to cringe or laugh at Sandy's wicked summation of the local gossip. "With friends like you..."

   "I just thought you'd want to know what's being said. But, if it makes you feel any better, most folks around here have gotten to really like you since you've moved back, and they think you and Tyler make a nice couple. I tend to agree with that point of view, by the way."

   Shaking her head, Jane accompanied Sandy out of the church and into the parking lot. "Something tells me Tyler's going to hate this. He seems to have an especially strong aversion to gossip."

   "Can you blame him? He's a Hamilton."

   "Yes, I know. But they have all been model citizens lately. Luke has been cleared of all suspicion of murder, Samantha's a respectably married mother, as are Sally and Sarah. Brent's an air force officer and Tyler's a devoted father and a respected attorney. The old scandals have surely faded in most people's memories."

   "Old habits die hard around here. Folks still talk about Tyler's great-grandfather, who was suspected of running a gang of horse thieves. And the gossips do hate losing their favorite targets. They'll keep watching the Hamiltons and hoping for some juicy new development. They're thinking you might be just that."

   Though she knew Sandy was only trying to be helpful by sharing what was being said about her, Jane didn't like what she was hearing. Tyler was skittish enough about their developing relationship as it was. If he heard that she was the catalyst for renewed gossip about him, he was likely to bolt. And she wasn't ready for that just yet.