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“What?” Both Drew and Maisie said in unison. Drew added, “I was joking. I mean, it could probably fit in the back of the livestock trailer, but—”
“You got that with you?” Cheryl demanded, a no-nonsense glint in her eye, prompting Drew to straighten up and adjust her shirt collar.
“Well, yes—”
“Does it have any livestock in it?” Donna asked in an equally intimidating manner.
“Not at the moment,” Drew admitted, a sense of fate settling over her like a wet wool blanket. It was clear Maisie’s friends would not take any shit. “I dropped them off on my drive here.”
“Then it’s settled.” Cheryl wiped the palms of her hands together like she was brushing off some dirt. “Maisie’s car is already packed and ready to go. All you need to do now is load it up in that trailer you mentioned and take her home.”
“You got her into this mess,” Donna pointed out mercilessly to Drew before turning to Maisie. “And Cheryl’s right. You need a lawyer, even if we have to loan you the money for it. You could be sitting on millions.”
“Millions?” Both Drew and Maisie asked at the same time, though Drew’s tone was scoffing while Maisie’s was filled with breathless wonder.
Donna pointed a finger uncomfortably close to Drew’s face. “That’s right, cowgirl. I know all about ranches. I’ve binged all fourteen seasons of the originalDallason Prime, so I’m not a fool.”
“And I saw the reboot,” Cheryl chimed in. “Everybody knows ranchers are loaded.”
“Loaded?” Drew nearly choked. Maybe ranchers on television were rolling around in swimming pools filled with gold, but in real life, every rancher Drew knew in Rock Creek Valley was perpetually living on the knife’s edge of ruin. But it was no use trying to explain.
Drew’s goal had been to make this quick, but it was clear she wasn’t getting Maisie to a notary now. Not after these two bulldogs she called friends had influenced her. Besides, leaving a wife, even an accidental one, with nowhere to go and no roof over her head didn’t sit right with Drew.
But what to do?
She really did need to get back to the ranch. Taking more time off wasn’t something she could afford. Instead of a simple fix to an obvious mistake, Drew’s only alternative appeared to be to load up this surprise wife of hers, and all her belongings—including her car, apparently—before hitting the road. At least, that would get Drew back to the ranch before calving started.
But if Maisie thought she had hit the jackpot in this deal, well, she would see for herself soon enough. The city girl was in for one rude awakening about the reality of ranch life.
Gritting her teeth, Drew said, “Fine. I’ll take you to the ranch so at least you have a roof over your head. You can deal withmylawyer when we get there.”
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
A sharp crackagainst the side of Maisie’s head brought her to full consciousness. “Ouch!”
“Sorry. Roads are bumpy.”
Maisie’s neck was stiff from sleeping with her head against the window, the same window she’d just smacked her skull into with the force of a sledgehammer. Half her face was freezing from the glass, the other half on fire from the heat blasting through the truck’s vents. How long she’d been traveling that way was a mystery, but the sound of Drew’s voice brought recent events rushing back to her.
We’re married.
Rubbing her head, Maisie shot a sideways glance at Drew, who was sitting behind the wheel of the pickup truck, perfectly upright and alert, like she didn’t require sleep to function. It was intimidating as hell, especially given Maisie’s own sleepy state. Even the woman’s vehicle was daunting, so large it almost felt like they were traveling separately.
If only.
Maisie blinked rapidly, letting her eyes adjust to the bright daylight as the truck proceeded down a dirt road that had more rocks and holes than surface. “Where are we?”
“The ranch.”
The ranch.If Maisie hadn’t known better, she would’ve sworn she was still dreaming. She closed her eyes again, picturing it in her mind. The big ranch house. The herd of cattle. The rolling green pastures and miles of pristine white fences.
At least, that’s what Maisie assumed ranches looked like. Donna had said so, and that the land was worth millions. It stood to reason, the way Drew had spent money like it was water while they were in Las Vegas. The woman hadn’t even blinked as she paid for a multi-course dinner at one of the most expensive restaurants in town and then booked the best suite at the hotel.
It all made sense now.
Her wife was a flippin’ millionaire.
A thrill ran through Maisie, making her body tingle. Not that she expected a fortune—she wasn’t a gold digger, after all—but if she could get a small sum, only enough to cover tuition, and Drew wouldn’t miss it anyway, what was the harm? It was only right for Drew to help her out, considering she’d gotten her into this mess in the first place.
