Free In His Will by Cathy Marie Hake Page A

of land or portion of cattle hers. Miller dangled it in front of Dylan to ensure his capable assistance. Sondra wanted him to succeed—not only so she’d be able to stay, but also because Dylan worked with incredible diligence. He deserved what Miller bequeathed him.
    But then why is he fretting over the baby?
    The next morning, Sondra fumbled to open her car door. She needed to go apologize.
    “Ain’t gonna open unless you unlock it,” Edgar drawled.
    Sondra’s face twisted in chagrin as she realized she’d locked her keys in the car. Her moan brought Edgar closer.
    “Don’t get yourself in a tizzy. It’s no big deal.” Edgar whistled and waved. Chris Ratliff pulled up. “Perfect timing. The lady’s locked herself out. How’s about you helping her?”
    “No problem.” Chris pulled a metal strip from beneath the front seat of a battered-looking green work truck. Seconds later, he opened Sondra’s door with a flourish.
    “How’d you do that?” She gaped at him.
    “I repair cars for a living. It would be too embarrassing to call up customers and tell them I locked myself out of their cars.”
    Sondra ventured, “If I made both of you your very own treat, would that suffice as hush money?”
    “No need to,” Chris said.
    Grinning from ear to ear, Edgar shook his head. “Ma’am, if you’d offered that yesterday, I’d take you up on it in a hot second. I can’t now.”
    Dread iced down her spine. “Just what do you mean?”
    “I can’t rightly say.” He rubbed the back of his neck and looked guilty as sin.
    Chris chuckled and drove toward Nickels to pick up the eggs.
    “Edgar—”
    Her steely tone seemed to amuse him. “You may well be mad at me, but I’d rather suffer your wrath than Dylan’s any day. ’Specially since I’ve tasted your pies.”
    “Argh!” she said theatrically. She may as well make fun of herself. “I have a sneaking suspicion I’m never going to live that down.”
    He thumbed his hat back a tad. “Now that’s probably a fact.”
    Rats.
    “Then again, good as I heard tell the other pies were, I suspect we’re all gonna hold Dylan to blame for costing us one.”
    Sondra laughed at his hangdog expression. “Didn’t you get a slice?”
    “Mournful fact is I barely got a taste.”
    “I see. Give me a day or so, and I’ll make it up to you.”
    His eyes locked in on her belly. “I’d be much obliged, but I’m not sure you ought to be going to such trouble.”
    “It’s no trouble. I like being in a kitchen.”
    He shook his head. “Never did see me a woman who kept as busy as you do. Suspect it has to do with you being on the nest, so to speak. Between you peekin’ and peckin’ into everything ’round the ranch and Dylan gettin’ antsy ’bout trying to tie you down, a body could be rightfully entertained.”
    “The show’s over for today.” She scooched behind the wheel and headed toward Dylan’s spread. L AUGHINGSTOCK , proclaimed the sign over the gate. Sondra winced. That’s me, all right. I’ve managed to let go of my temper and make a fool of myself.
    One of Dylan’s men said he wasn’t there, and he didn’t know where to find him. Sondra thought about calling him, but she wanted to apologize in person. Driving on, she went to Lawton and parked at the first store she found. After a month and a half of poring over the computer and tending to bills, Sondra knew full well that her financial state might be characterized as exceedingly stable. As a matter of fact, she’d never imagined that Miller Quintain possessed such staggering wealth. Though she didn’t particularly want anything for herself, she knew the time had come to buy things for the baby.
    ❧
    Accustomed to the sight of Sondra traipsing around with a couple of the hounds scrambling at her feet, Dylan missed seeing her that morning. Pressing business matters forced him away from the ranches until noon.
    Last night, he’d tried to call her to apologize, but she wouldn’t answer the