Free Second Chance Cowboy by Sylvia McDaniel Page A

up with a frown marring his features. “I can’t think straight. I just lost my father, and I have a cattle drive to worry about. I never. . . we never . . . I’m honored that you asked me, but. . . .”
    “Before you refuse me—think about it. I could help you, Sabrina. I’d take care of getting the cattle sold. I’d pay off the loan at the bank. Most of all, you’d be my wife!”
    “How do you know about the bank loan?”
    Trey patted her hand. “My father knows just about everything that is happening in this town.”
    Stunned, Sabrina stared at Trey. He was asking her to marry him and promising to pay off the bank loan. All her worries would be over. She wouldn’t have to make that long cattle drive. But could she live with this man for the rest of her life? Did she want to? “Why do you want to marry me, Trey?”
    He stood up and walked around the veranda. “Someday I’m going to be elected governor of this state. I’ll need a wife by my side, helping me, presiding over state dinners and teas.” He turned back to her. “You’re cultured; you’re beautiful. You’re everything I’m looking for in a wife.”
    A flood of irritation filled Sabrina. Not only was he blind, but a fool. He seemed to have forgotten the single most important element in a marriage. Love.
    She’d demand that sentiment of the man she married.
    “I don’t want you going on this cattle drive.” Trey sent her a stern look.
    Was nothing in this town a secret? “Who told you I planned to go?”
    “Matt. All I could think about was you out on the trail with Patrick.” Trey spit the last words out as if they left a bad taste in his mouth.
    Sabrina sat stunned. She hadn’t seen Patrick since the night of the funeral. Evidently Patrick had found Matt, but he hadn’t told her Matt was not going on the drive.
    “Patrick is taking the cattle to Dodge City. I have no choice but to depend on him.”
    Green eyes stared intently into hers. “If you married me, I’d take care of you.”
    A shiver of revulsion swept through Sabrina. She put her hands up to her face. “Stop! My father just died; the ranch is in trouble, and you want me to consider marrying you!”
    Trey pressed on. “You can’t trust Patrick with the money from the sale of your cattle. Matt told me your father suspected Patrick of stealing cash from his cash box.”
    “Why should I believe Matt? And as a matter of fact, why should you believe him?” Sabrina replied tensely. How did Trey know about the cash box?
    “Matt has done a lot of bad things, but I’ve never thought of him as a liar. He told me your father suspected Patrick because of the trial. Patrick knew where your father kept his cash hidden.”
    Sabrina wondered at his words. Could they be true? Or was this just another one of Matt’s tricks? Patrick had seemed to care for her father, even after the broken engagement. Would he steal from them for revenge? If that were possible, how could she let him travel five hundred miles with her cattle?
    “Marry me, Sabrina. You’re a woman. You need someone who can run the ranch and take care of you. I want to be that man.”
    Sabrina stared at Trey. Once again, he had not mentioned love, only marriage. She loved this house and the land. It would kill her to part with them. Should she marry him to save the ranch, and give up love?
    Laughter suddenly vibrated the air around them, causing Sabrina to jump. Patrick sat on his horse, cackling with merriment. Neither Trey nor Sabrina had heard the horse ride up, but there before them was Patrick. Sabrina watched Trey’s face change from white to pink, then red. Patrick jumped off his horse and bounded up the steps.
    Obviously, Patrick had heard Trey’s proposal. A smile was on his face, but the look in his eyes was no laughing matter. “Well, Sabrina, we’re waiting. Are you going to marry this kid?”
    Embarrassment, then anger, filled Sabrina as she glared at Patrick. He had heard and expected a response.