Free Larkspur by Dorothy Garlock

money—”
    “Yes, it is. If managed right, it will keep you comfortably in your own house for the rest of your life.”
    “I know.” Kristin began to smile, and she called on all her acting abilities to keep the look of loathing out of her expression.
    “It’s a simple process, my dear. All you have to do is sign the paper Mr. Lee has prepared, and you’re a rich woman.”
    “Papa had certain rules about things.” Kristin called up what she hoped was a dreamy expression. “One of them was—don’t be impulsive. He used to say, ‘Always sleep on a big decision.’ My brother, Ferd, thinks I’ve no business sense at all, but when I go back with all that money, and tell him that I didn’t do anything impulsive, that I slept on the deal like Papa always said was the smart thing to do, he’ll sit up and take notice. I’ll see you in the morning, Colonel Forsythe.”
    “If you feel that’s what you must do, my dear.”
    Kristin stood. “I’d like to stay a few days after we get things settled. Do you know of a rooming house suitable for ladies?”
    “As a matter of fact I do.” Forsythe placed the money back in the drawer. “A friend of mine, Mrs. Bartlett, has rooms to let. I saw the sign this morning. She’s on the first street west of here. Big house with gables and beautiful stained-glass windows. But, my dear Miss Anderson, you’ll be able to afford the hotel—”
    “No, sir. I’m going back to River Falls with my inheritance intact. You don’t know how much satisfaction it will give me to wave it under my brother’s nose.” Kristin reached for the will to pull it from Lee’s hand. He held on to it and put it back in an envelope along with another paper. “I just want to look at it, and look at it.”
    “Mr. Lee will have it when you’re ready to sign.” The colonel chuckled, moved close to her and instead of clasping her elbow to escort her to the door, his fingers surrounded her lower arm.
    “Your hotel bill has been paid by Mr. Lee. Tell the clerk to see that your trunk is delivered to Mrs. Bartlett. We’ll see you in the morning.”
    “You sure will, sir.” Kristin offered her hand and he clasped it warmly.
    As she went down the steps, the smile she had been holding slid off her face. The shysters! The bald-faced liars! She had been around Ferd’s business friends enough to recognize a couple of connivers when she met them. Of course, she might not have caught on so fast had she not been warned by Bonnie, Bernie and Cletus.
    The charming colonel thought he would get her under the watchful eye of his friend, Mrs. Bartlett! He really was a slick operator, but was he as dangerous as her new friends believed him to be?
    Kristin turned into the mercantile, approached the man at the counter and asked for directions to Mrs. Gaffney’s rooming house.
     
    *  *  *
     
    In the upstairs office Colonel Forsythe turned back into the room after seeing Kristin to the door.
    “We’ve landed our pigeon. Not many women can resist that impressive stack of bills.” He chuckled. “They were mostly fives with a few twenties on top.”
    “She wanted the will.”
    “Well, she didn’t get it. She’ll be back in the morning. We didn’t even have to show her the map . . . or tell her about the Indians.”
    “It seemed to me that she folded awfully easy.”
    Forsythe slapped Mark Lee on the back and offered him a cigar.
    “Trust me, my friend. You underestimate my power over women. Especially the love-starved ones. Even though she’s young enough to be my daughter, I’ll bet you a five-spot I’ll be in her bed before she leaves town.”

     

Chapter Six
    M rs. Gaffney was short and plump with a twinkle in her eyes and a twist of thick gray hair fastened to the top of her head.
    She was also very hard of hearing.
    When the drayman brought Kristin’s trunk and box to the back porch, she told him to put them in the hall. When he offered to carry them upstairs, she walked away as if she had