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“I see.” He shifted on his feet, the look in his eyes growing cold. “That is unfortunate, Miss Atwater. As we have a contract, your coming to San Francisco isn’t up for debate. Who you bring with you, of course, is.”
“A contract?” Ben looked from her to Harrison and back again. “You signed a contract?”
Dread filled her belly like a stone. “I did but,” she looked at Harrison, “since no money has exchanged hands, we can just tear it up.”
He smiled. It was the same pleasant smile he’d given her the day he’d flattered her in the back room of the saloon. “I’m afraid that’s not possible, Miss Atwater. I’ve already spent money on your stagecoach ticket, paid in advance for the nurse to watch over Samuel and procured you lodgings in one of the nicest parts of San Francisco and already have a host of seamstress’s making you a wardrobe fit for a queen. You are in my debt, so to speak.”
“How much?” Ben moved away from the door. “How much have you spent?”
Harrison looked around their tiny home, the same pleasant smile on his face. “More than you will be able to pay back, I’m sure.”
“You know nothing about us,” Ben said. “How much to buy her out of the contract?”
When Harrison started listing the prices of everything he’d already spent, Betsey felt sick to her stomach. Her knees went weak when he was finished. If she and Ben gave Harrison every dime they made for the rest of their lives, they’d not make a dent in the debt they owed.
Ben looked at her, fire shining in his eyes. “We’ll get the money,” he said. He turned to look at Mr. McBride again. “When were you leaving?”
“In two week’s time.”
“Fine. In two week’s, you’ll have your money.” He opened the door. “I’ll assume you can be reached at the hotel in town?”
Harrison nodded his head. “I can.” He looked at her, that smile now strained. “I do hope you reconsider, my dear. I can make your every wish come true if you just give me a chance.”
The one thing she wished for the most had already happened. Aaron was back and, even though he hadn’t expressed any sort of feelings for her, it was only a matter of time before he did. Him taking her to see that land and him questioning her on whether or not she liked it was telling as well. He wanted a future with her. No, Mr. McBride couldn’t give her her heart’s desire. Aaron had already done that. “I have everything I want now, Mr. McBride. I’m sorry.” She looked at Ben. “I don’t know how we’ll get you the money, but we will.” She met Harrison’s gaze. “I’ll repay you every penny you’ve spent.”
That strained smile was still in place when he inclined his head and she knew, had Ben not been there, that smile wouldn’t be there at all. The fire shining in his eyes told her that much and getting out of that contract might just be impossible regardless of what he said.
Harrison replaced his hat and started for the door. “I’ll await you at the hotel,” he said when he stepped outside. He gave them both a pointed look. “But if you fail to produce the money, the contract will stand. I hate getting the law involved with my affairs but if the need arises—“
He left the sentence to dangle but she knew what he was saying without those last few words. Either they paid him back in full or he’d force her to go.
Ben shut the door when Harrison was gone and turned tolook at her, anger etched onto every line of his face. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me about this?”
“I didn’t know—“
“Oh, don’t give me that, ‘didn’t know how,’ line. We’ve never had any problem talking to each other before Betsey, and you know it. So why?”
She sighed and sat back down. “I was afraid.”
“Afraid of what?”
“Of what you’d say.”
He laughed. “Well, what I’m about to say now is going to be a hell of a lot worse than it would have been had you told me this last week. Hell, if you’d told me the day you signed that man’s contract. Hell’s bells, Betsey! Where are we supposed to get that kind of money? I doubt all the Avery’s combined could come up with that much in two week’s time.”
Betsey listened to him rant until he woke Samuel, then she ended up yelling back at him when he refused to let the subject drop.
They ate in silence and for once, she was glad Aaron hadn’t stopped by. Telling Ben about Mr. McBride and his contract was painful enough, she couldn’t imagine how difficult it would be to tell Aaron.
She pushed her food around on her plate more than she ate it and wondered, would Aaron go with her if she asked? Would he pull up roots and take off for California with her and Samuel and start their life there instead?
Ben left the table as soon as he’d finished eating and went outside without a word. Taking off for California with Aaron and Samuel would make the trip more bearable but leaving Ben behind—
She pushed her plate away. Her heart hurt just thinking about it. Ben was all the family she had left. He’d protected her, made sure she had food even if it meant he went without and had stood in front of her to keep their worthless father from touching hermore times than she could count. Why had she thought leaving him, and Willow Creek, behind would have been easy?
Samuel gradually went back to sleep. She settled him in his cradle then cleaned the supper dishes. Ben didn’t come back inside. A faint light glowed in their small barn and if she had to guess, she’d say he was out there brooding. As miserable as she felt at the moment, it probably wasn’t a bad idea.
Chapter Fifteen
