Free Reuniting With the Rancher by Rachel Lee

month.”
    “How long did that work?”
    “For about two weeks. Then the bank would be calling. Then she’d be whining or screaming. Honestly, Holly, if I’d had any inkling I’d never have married her.”
    Holly frowned, looking down at the ground and kicking at a tuft of wild grass. “Some of that is straight up abusive behavior. I’ve watched men cut their girlfriends and wives off from everyone until they hadn’t a friend or family member left to turn to. I’ve seen men, and women, who’d spend all the money as soon as a spouse’s paycheck arrived and leave nothing for food, nothing for the kids. It’s common enough, sad to say.”
    “I guess. My friends started dropping away because Lisa was always there, then three of my hands quit because she treated them like her personal servants and was always asking them to do things they hadn’t been hired to do, and Jean began to feel like a maid....” He sighed. “I’ve never seen anything like it. But I guess you have.”
    “Some of it anyway. It’s never a happy situation.”
    “So anyway, my reputation began to suffer, my business began to suffer and by the time I figured out just how bad it was all really getting, Jean threatened to leave. So I made my choice.”
    Holly wanted to reach out and touch his arm in a gesture of sympathy, but resisted. Lisa might be watching, and there was no telling what that might precipitate.
    “Well,” she said after a moment, “I did offer her a room. I don’t want anyone to sleep in a car if I can avoid it. Since I’m not in love with her, dealing with her ought to be easier for me. I’ve met the type, if not the exact version.”
    “You’re kindhearted,” he said. “You took her in so she wouldn’t have to sleep in a car?”
    “Anyone would.”
    “A stranger? But apart from that, don’t be so kindhearted that she takes advantage of you. And don’t let her know Martha left you any money, or she’ll find a way to wheedle something out of you.”
    Holly laughed. She couldn’t help it. “News flash, Cliff. I’ve dealt with manipulative people before. The hardest part of being a social worker in the early days, aside from the horrors you see, is realizing that some of those cute, sweet kids you want to help are master manipulators. It’s survival and they learn it early.” She paused. “I take it Lisa didn’t grow up here?”
    “No. She came to town with her parents. Her dad was a lawyer and he was working for some big development company.”
    “The ones who have the sign outside town about the ski resort?”
    “Yeah, the ski resort that’s never going to happen. Anyway, he was here about three months trying to work things out with the county and forest service. Long enough for me to get in serious trouble.”
    “I wonder why she came to you instead of Daddy.”
    “I haven’t a clue. Maybe he had enough of her, too.”
    “Did she give you any idea of why she came here now?”
    “Apparently she’s not only between jobs but between marriages.” He sighed. “I swear I’ll try to find another arrangement for her. I’d already told her she could stay for a few days with me. I figured that would give me time to sort something out.”
    Holly felt a grin split her face. “Did you have to beg Jean?”
    “Practically. Which reminds me, she sent over dinner for the two of you. She figured Lisa wouldn’t do anything about it and she thought it was a damn shame you should have to.”
    “That’s really nice! I always thought Jean was a sweetheart.”
    “She is. She was also a good friend of Martha’s.”
    They started walking back toward the house and Holly couldn’t resist saying, “I guess Martha left out all the good gossip.”
    “Martha never gossiped,” he said drily. “It’s probably why she had so many friends all her life. Listen, call me if Lisa gets to be too much.”
    “What can you do?”
    “Throw her over my shoulder and carry her out of here? Hell, I don’t know. Just