Free The Bounty Hunter's Bride by Victoria Bylin Page B

but—”
    “No.”
    Her words came faster. “Did you see the lumber by the barn?”
    “What about it?”
    “It’s for a silo. My father built one six years ago. It’ll hold enough feed for the entire winter. I sent Patrick the plans before I left.”
    He spread his boots in the dirt and crossed his arms. “That’s all well and good, but—”
    “The cows should have been bred a few weeks ago. Did you check his records?”
    He stared in disbelief.
    Dani had no time to be shy about nature’s ways. “If a bull didn’t visit, we’re in trouble. Without calves, the cows won’t have milk.”
    Mr. Morgan looked amused. “Is that a fact?”
    “Of course.” Dani didn’t see the humor. “A second cheese factory is opening. Have you gotten prices?”
    He said nothing.
    “Denver’s booming. With a daily train, we can sell twice as much dairy as we do now.” Dani saw boundless opportunity, but Beau Morgan looked like a man with a headache.
    He put his hands on his hips. “You’re obviously knowledgeable, Miss Baxter. But my answer is still no.”
    “Why?”
    “Who’s going to do the heavy lifting?”
    “I’ll do what has to be done.”
    “That’s foolish.”
    She wanted to quote Proverbs, the verses about the woman who bought land and sold it, fed her family and worked tirelessly into the night, but Beau Morgan had made it clear that he didn’t feel close to God. Quoting scripture would serve no purpose, but neither would she apologize for telling the truth. After years in the dairy business, she knew how to bargain.
    “I’ll make you a deal, Mr. Morgan.”
    “What’s that?”
    “The way I see it, you have a problem. You have three little girls in your care, and you don’t know the first thing about children.”
    “That’s true.”
    “You’re an honorable man. You want to provide for their future.”
    “Right again.”
    Dani’s heart pounded. “The problem is your demeanor. You showed up looking like a grizzly bear, then you scared the daylights out of them by sitting on the porch with your guns. They don’t like you, but they like me.”
    “What’s your point?”
    “I know I can run a dairy farm. Give me two weeks. If you’re not convinced that it’s best for the girls to stay with me in Castle Rock, I’ll take them to Minnesota myself.”
    Beau Morgan shook his head. “I can’t allow it.”
    “Why not?”
    “Like I said, the girls will get attached to you.”
    “They already are.”
    He rubbed the back of his neck, a sign of frustration.
    Dani decided to press. “I know my way around a kitchen, Mr. Morgan. Just think…fried chicken and biscuits as light as air.”
    He glared at her. “That’s not fair.”
    “I thought you said Emma was a good cook.” Dani knew from the child’s letters that her biscuits were rock hard. Even Patrick had complained. Emma tries, but she doesn’t have a knack for cooking.
    Beau’s grimace showed he held the same opinion, but his eyes twinkled. “I lied and you know it.”
    She smiled. “There’s a peach tree on the side of the house. Do you like cobbler, Mr. Morgan?”
    He looked ravenous but said nothing.
    “How about peach jam?”
    Laughing out loud, he pushed back his hat. The shadow dividing his face disappeared, leaving only light. “You win. But on one condition.”
    “What’s that?”
    “I like raspberry pie.”
    Dani thought of Adie’s story about Beau’s last meal in Denver. “I’d be glad to make it for you.”
    “In that case, we have a deal. You have two weeks to prove yourself and my word that I’ll be fair.”
    “I never doubted that you would be.”
    Dani held out her hand. Beau glanced down, then gripped her fingers, engulfing them in his. The handshake sealed the deal, but the future was far from certain. She didn’t doubt Beau’s integrity or her ability to run the farm, but today had taught Dani a lesson. Anything could happen to anyone at any time.
    She looked into Beau’s eyes and saw the same