Free Callie's Heart by Cia Leah Page B

reason.
                He
rode for an hour before they reached his place.   He owned it all legal too even though he had to lie about his
name.   He had the signed deed and that’s
all he needed to prove his worth.   He
reined up before the house, helped Callie dismount, then rode to the small
coral by the barn and unsaddled his horse.   He opened the coral gate so it could get some feed and water before
turning back to see Callie standing there waiting for him.   “Well, aren’t you going to go inside?”
                “Yes,
but I didn’t want to be rude and walk in without an invite first.”
                Clint
reached around her and pushed the door open.   “Go on in.”   He said, walking in
behind her.   He saw her look around and
knew she must think it a pretty meager place to live, but he’d done a find job
building it.   He had a living room with
a huge fireplace and a kitchen table and chairs and a pump with running water,
two bedrooms, a storage cellar, and a small room in back for the chamber pot
and a metal tub to take a bath in.   “What do you think?”
                “It’s
really nice.   Why even Uncle Ned and I
don’t have a place this big and we don’t have boards on the floor to walk
on.   You must be mighty rich!”
                He
puffed out his chest.   “Not rich, but I
have funds available.   Your room is back
here,” he said, walking across the living room and down a hallway.   Mine’s on the left and yours is on the
right.   Which reminds me, where’s your
stuff?   You didn’t get a bag off the
stage.”
                “There’s
just me.   I just got the clothes on my
back, my guns, and hat.   Oh, and Uncle
Ned said I was supposed to give you this and you’d take care of the rest.   He told me not to open it and I didn’t
although it was mighty tempting on the way here.”
                Clint
watched her reach inside her shirt and take out a piece of cloth tied with a
string.   He reached out and took it,
untied the string from around it and saw the stack of notes inside.   There was a note.   Don’t let Callie read this, but this is her dowry.   I’ve been saving for a long time.   By the time she gets to you and you read
this, I won’t be here anymore.   You’re
the only person I could think of that would take good care of her.   She’s a good girl.   Ned.
                “What
does it say?”
                He
crumbled up the piece of paper and stuck it in his pocket.   “Just that you’re a good girl and to take
care of you.”
                “I
can take care of myself.   I miss Uncle
Ned so much, though.   He’s been my ma
and pa for a long time.”  
                Clint
watched her turn around and look at the room.    Old Ned had seen his days and was now gone.   He loved the old coot too and it made him sad, but he’d take care
of Callie as best he could.   “You like
it?”
    “Yes.   What a big bed with iron posts, a mattress,
and springs.   It’s purty too with the
Indian blanket on it.”
    “Well, it’s your room now,
so you do what you want with it.   Move
the bed and dresser whichever way you want.   I want you to feel at home.”
    “Won’t we be getting
married?”
    “Not right now.   I want to get to know you first.”
    “That’s good, but what
happens if you don’t like me?”
    “I can’t see that
happening,” Clint grinned.   “You’re as
pretty as a filly and all that gold hair is downright tempting to touch.”
    “Won’t be no touching before
we get married.   Uncle Ned brought me up
to be a good girl and I ain’t going to become no loose woman!”
    He laughed.   “No need to worry, Callie.   Are you hungry?”
    “Sure am.   I lived on beans and jerky all the way
here.   What do you got for me to cook?”
    “You cook too?”
    “Uncle Ned said I was the
best cook in the entire