Free Montana Wife (Historical) by Jillian Hart

was too bad the clatter of wagons and the drum of hooves on the busy street made too much noise for him to hear what Dayton said to Rayna. But there was no missing how tight she set her jaw as she nodded curtly to Dayton and slipped into the nearest store.
    Dayton knuckled back his hat, emitted a look of great satisfaction and headed off toward the alley.
    What had that lowlife said to her? A bad feeling settled like a lead ball in his gut. He dismounted, wrapped one of the reins around the closest post and hopped onto the boardwalk.
    There she was—he could see her through the wide front windows at the postal counter window. Looking composed, she counted out change from her reticule,exchanged a polite nod to the postmaster and headed for the door.
    One thing she couldn’t hide were the circles beneath her eyes. They were so bruised, she looked as if she’d been hit. The strain showed on her face and in the curled ball of her fists.
    She saw him through the glass door, the bell jangling as she walked through it. Frowning at him as he held the door, she said, “Mr. Lindsay. I’d hoped to see you next. Seeing you here saves me a ride out to your place.”
    â€œI noticed you on the boardwalk.” This was business, nothing more, but that didn’t explain the return of the emotions aching like arthritis beneath his ribs. “I spoke to Wright at the bank. What I have to say isn’t easy. Maybe you’d want a more private place—”
    â€œThe bank is my next stop. It’s best to say what’s on your mind.” Along the side wall of the mercantile she spotted an empty bench washed in the wan sunlight that speared through the gray streaks of the clouds above. “Shall we sit?”
    â€œSure.”
    Good. It was a start. She released a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. Oh, she was overset with all this worry. She was depending so much on his ability to purchase the ranch. The mountain of debt was staggering.
    If he could buy the place, it would be the best solution. He’d certainly earned the right, he would be good to the land and she couldn’t think of a more deserving rancher. Anticipating Mr. Lindsay’s answer, she settled on the rough wooden bench.
    All she had to do was to glance up into his face. His honest face. But he wasn’t smiling, and surely that wasa poor sign indeed. His dark eyes were troubled, and she knew. While he didn’t say a word, the last smidgen of hope died along with the last of the sunlight.
    â€œThe banker would not accept my offer.”
    â€œI see.” A cold gust of wind left her catching her breath. “That’s too bad. I think Kol would have approved of you farming the land. He’d always thought well of you.”
    â€œAnd I of him.” Towering over her, a long, lean man in a black overcoat, he seemed as bleak as the rain that began to fall. As severe as the days ahead to come. “You haven’t heard what I have to say.”
    â€œI already know. There are notes on everything. The house, the land, the livestock. The buggy. There is no chance of coming out with cash in hand. It’s obvious, but somehow I had been hoping—”
    â€œI was hopeful, too. There is too much debt on the land. I cannot buy it for the total of what is owed. It would be beyond what cash I could fork over.”
    â€œOf course, it would be a poor investment for you. What will happen when the bank takes it?”
    â€œLikely there will be an auction. The land will go to the highest bidder.”
    â€œYou’d do better to try then.”
    â€œI’m likely to have stiff competition. Dayton, for one, has his eye on it.”
    â€œYes, and a half dozen others.” To think that was to come of the life she and Kol had built. That it could disappear as suddenly as he had vanished from her life. That other people would live in their home. Another man would till and harvest their