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One shuddering breath and her face became as blank as her inflection. “Word has it you’re looking to buy a small spread around here.”
“If you’re about to offer me the Rocking C, I got to tell you, it’s way out of my pocket. I’m looking for something smaller, around a couple hundred acres.”
And it’d taken him all of fifteen years to save the money for that dream. Fifteen years of working cattle, hauling in bounties, and busting his butt, doing any job that would yield close to an honest buck.
“But, if you could afford it, you’d be interested?”
“Sorry, ma’am.” He tipped his hat in her direction. Lord, that woman had guts. “As tempting as the prospect is, there’s no way I could stretch my earnings to cover a couple thousand acres.” But he would someday. He would. And when he did, no man would look down his nose at him, spit when he passed, or keep their daughters from his company.
“What if I said it wouldn’t cost you anything?”
He pushed his glass away. “Then I’d say there was something fishy about this deal. Especially as the ownership of this property is in some dispute.”
“If you agree to my terms, there’ll be no dispute.”
“Pardon me, but I don’t think you can guarantee that.”
“Jesse Graham assures me that my legal husband will have full and complete title to the land.”
“It would appear to me you already have more husbands than you know what to do with.”
“I know exactly what to do with Brent, Mr. MacIntyre. The question is, do you know what to do with the Rocking C?”
“I know what to do with it. I’m just going to have to think on it.”
“Please, reach a decision quickly.”
“I’ll do the best I can.” He raised his glass of whiskey, noted the nearly indiscernible tremor in his hand, and took a steadying sip. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! First, the Crull brothers and their hefty bounty had fallen into his hands like ripe plums and now this! He was on a lucky streak, for sure.
“Mr. MacIntyre?”
“I’m ruminating as fast as I can.”
“Perhaps if you confided your reservations, I could help you reach a decision.” When he didn’t respond, she prodded some more. “It’s true we’ve had problems with rustlers recently, but I’m sure, once the men have someone they respect in charge, the rustlers will leave the Rocking C alone and search for easier game.”
“I’m not worried about rustlers, ma’am. No matter what a man has, there’s always someone looking to take it away.”
“Is it Brent then? I assure you he has no legal claim.”
Asa smiled, shooting the now quiet man a disgusted glare. “That little piss-ant isn’t worth the effort it would take to squash him.”
“Surely you’re not afraid of marriage?” she asked in patent disbelief.
Asa sighed. “I’m afraid you found me out, ma’am.”
“But marriage is nothing more than a piece of paper to a man. It doesn’t curtail any of your rights! As a matter of fact, you gain quite a few.” Her fine lips thinned as she conceded. “Over me.”
“And that’s an awful lot of responsibility for one man to own.” He looked pointedly at the gun in her hand. “You don’t appear the cooperative type.”
“That’s your problem?”
“Yup.” He took a last sip of his whiskey. Lord! If he took this woman for wife, not only would he have the biggest ranch around, but any children he had would have a lady for a mother, guaranteeing they’d grow up respected. “This territory is a dangerous place. One of the prime qualities I plan on looking for in a wife is the ability to stay put when I tell her to.”
“You want my obedience.”
“Wouldn’t go amiss.”
“You have it.”
“Have what?”
“My obedience.”
Still that same deadpan expression backing that deadpan voice. What would it take to rattle this woman? “Well, I thank you, and as soon as I decide whether to take you up on the deal, I’ll be asking for your word on it.”
“I’d appreciate it if you’d hurry up.”
He wondered if she was afraid of the gambler. “Why?”
“My arms are getting tired.”
And here he thought she’d admit to something like fear. He laughed at his own idiocy and rolled to his feet. In three strides, he was at her side. “Well, put the gun down, darlin’. I think I can keep this varmint contained for you.”
He had her full attention. “You’ll marry me? You’ll take on the Rocking C?”
“You’re promising me obedience if I do?”
“I promise.”
“Then I’m considering it.” He caught a whiff of vanilla through the smell of smoke and sweat. Like a breath of spring after a long hard winter, the scent swept from her to him, uncovering longings he’d thought permanently snowed under.
“I’ve always had a hankering to take myself a genuine lady for a wife,” he admitted. “Always thought it’d be out of my reach, though. Sorta like a spread the size of the Rocking C.”
