Free Montana Wife (Historical) by Jillian Hart Page A

fields.
    And Kol had let it happen.
    She tamped down her anger. She couldn’t bear grieving him and being furious at him, too. She’d give anything to be able to hold him in her arms, debt or no. And it was impossible, of course, and her arms felt so empty. Her heart wrung dry.
    She did her best to clear the lump of emotion from her throat. “I would like to offer you the load of wheat we managed to save.”
    â€œI’ll sell it for you.”
    â€œNo. I meant to give it to you. You lost your crop, as well, and of the two of us, it’s my hope that at least you can remain on your land.”
    A muscle twitched in his jaw. “I will take the wheat.”
    â€œOh, thank you.” Why that seemed to lift away a part of her burdens, she couldn’t say. But it felt right to cancel out the obligation she felt to this man.
    No, she wouldn’t be beholden to any man. Look at how Dayton had viewed a woman’s need. Shivering, forcing the ugliness from her mind, she clutched her reticule, stood and smoothed her skirts.
    Daniel Lindsay looked ten times more muscular than her rude neighbor did, and Daniel gave the impression of a good and upright man. Yet it wasn’t right to be in his debt. She had enough debt to handle as it was. “Please come and fetch the wheat when you can. Perhaps tomorrow, after a good night’s rest. You look as exhausted as I feel.”
    â€œI wish I could’ve done more, ma’am. If you need money—”
    â€œNo!” She answered too quickly, startling them both. Seeming so rude. And how wrong that was, when he was only being kind, she was sure of it. “I only mean, I have enough to get by on for now. You have repaid Kol’s kindness twofold already.”
    â€œIt’s my opinion I have not.”
    â€œThere is nothing more to be done, Mr. Lindsay.” She gripped her reticule so tightly, her knuckles hurt. “Good day to you, sir.”
    With all the composure she possessed, she walked carefully away from the tall, somber man watching after her. One foot placed in front of the other until the boardwalk led her to the busy corner.
    Over the din from the busy street, she swore she could hear him call her name, but when she turned, he was gone from the corner.
    It was just as well. Daniel Lindsay had his life. And her future…why, it lay in an unknown direction. For the first time in fifteen years, she was truly on her own.
    Alone, she crossed the street. Marched right up to the front door of the bank and didn’t let her terror lead her as she lifted her chin, pushed wide the door and asked for Mr. Wright. She waited, fighting the cold trembles that were taking root in the pit of her stomach.
    How long would the process take? Would she be allowed to take the savings from the bank without Kol, for the account was in his name? Wondering what on earth she would do if she couldn’t, she saw a familiar pinto passing by the side windows and she twisted in her chair to watch the man riding the mustang.
    Daniel astride the horse rode nimbly, straight and strong and dark in the shadows as the rain fell in earnest against the glass panes of the bank’s many windows.
    In a blink, Daniel was gone, leaving the sight of the street as other riders and horse-drawn wagons scurried by, hurried along by the change in weather.

Chapter Six
    T here had been no mercy from the bank.
    Rayna sidestepped the worst of the puddles and tried to hold no ill will against Mr. Wright, who’d only been doing his job. But with her feet aching in her new shoes that were not meant for a mile and a half of walking, it was plain impossible. He could have waited to repossess the horses and buggy. They had a buyer and in these hard times felt as if they couldn’t let the opportunity pass by.
    Fine, she understood that, she didn’t have the funds to cover the debt, but did it have to be today, when the rain was only getting worse?
    The rattle