Free The Lionhearted Cowboy Returns by Patricia Thayer

already.”
     
    Hours later, Lacey was still pacing the office at the house. Colin was up in his room and Emily was in the family room playing with her dolls.
    That gave her too much time to wonder about the bank’s next move. Would they evict her in two weeks?Would she have time to find a place for the horses, as well as an apartment? She began to shake, knowing she couldn’t do anything to stop her world from falling apart. She’d already used most of the auction money to cover Trevor’s hospital bills.
    Anger and fear took over. “Oh, Trevor, how could you leave me with this mess?”
    “Lacey?”
    She turned around to find Jeff standing in the doorway. What was he doing here? “Jeff.”
    “Your back door was open and I called out, Colin let me in,” he explained. “What was so important you needed to see me about?”
    Now that he was here, she was quickly losing her nerve. “Oh…I didn’t mean you had to rush over.”
    “That’s not how you were acting a few hours ago.”
    He was right. “I just needed to tell you I’ve decided against the partnership.”
    His expression didn’t change. “So what made you change your mind?”
    She shrugged, unable to look him in the eye. “It’s just a lot of work, and we’re not sure it will pay off. I’ll be taking a big chance. We both would. You should go into business with your uncle.”
    She was hoping he would get angry and walk out. Instead, he came further into the one-time pantry, which had been converted into an office. “What are you really afraid of, Lace?”
    Those dark eyes bored into hers, not letting her hide. “A lot of things, Jeff. Businesses fail all the time. We could lose everything, and I can’t afford that. I have my children to think about.”
    “I thought that was one of the reasons you considered doing the partnership? So your kids would have their mother around, and a chance at a better life.”
    She didn’t have an answer so she shrugged. “I may just sell the ranch altogether.”
    “The hell you will,” he said and took her shoulders. “Tell me the truth, Lacey. Is it me? You afraid I can’t pull my weight?”
    His strong grip held her close, making it hard for her to think, to talk. “No, Jeff! This has nothing to do with you.”
    “Then prove it. Trust me to make this work.”
    “Trust?” she questioned. “I don’t know if I can, ever again. Not after what Trevor—” She closed her eyes, hating her weakness.
    He released her. “Trevor? What did he do?”
    She shook her head. “Nothing that concerns you. I’ll deal with it.”
    Jeff didn’t budge, taking up too much space. His scent engulfing her.
    “Like you told me this morning,” he began. “I’m not leaving until I know you’re okay.”
    When she didn’t offer to tell him, he looked over the desk as if he had every right, then picked up the bank notice.
    “Give me that,” she demanded as she tried to take it away.
    His strength won out. Lacey gave up and he read the paper. “How long have you had this?”
    She sighed. “It came today.”
    “Is this why you had the auction?”
    Lacey shook her head. “The money that made was for medical bills and the little that left is for the ranch operation. This took me by surprise.” She took a breath.“It seems Trevor took out the loan. He had kept money in an account to make the monthly installments, but there’s not enough for the upcoming balloon payment. He never told me,” she said in a whisper.
    Jeff wanted to believe his friend had a good reason for doing something like this without his wife’s knowledge, but it was hard. The problem now was paying it off so she and the kids wouldn’t lose anything.
    The amount wasn’t so large he couldn’t handle it himself. He’d saved a lot in the military, but he knew without asking that Lacey wouldn’t take his help.
    “Let me talk with the bank.” He found the name of the guy. “This Mr. Dixon.”
    “I tried and it didn’t do any good.”
    “If he