Page 31 of Cowboy's Sinful Bargain

"I'm what?" Miko asked.

I chuckled at the bewildered look on his face. "Between your inheritance from your father and our marriage, buying things we need and occasionally want, isn't a problem. You can't buy a gold plated toilet or anything, but you don't have to really worry about money."

Miko pointed to himself. "I have money?"

"You do, and I am sure Monty planned to discuss with you at some point. He's made a lot of investments over the years, so much so that the cattle business is almost a hobby for him. When he dies, most of that goes to you."

Miko quickly shook his head. "Don't want father to die."

"I'm pretty sure Monty intends to stick around for a lot more years, so you don't have to worry about that. I also don't want you to worry about the expense of taking care of your new puppy. There's money there to do that."

Again, I thought this would make him happy. When he frowned, I reached over and took one of his hands. It was ice cold. I held it between both of mine and gently stroked his skin with my thumbs.

"Can you tell me why that upsets you?"

Maybe it was a cultural thing I didn't know about.

"How can it be my money?"

"Because Monty is your father."

"I didn't earn it," Miko insisted.

An inkling of an idea was beginning to form in my head and I didn't like what it was. "Miko, did you have to work for things back in Japan?"

"Yes." Miko nodded. "Worked for food, home, clothes, and education. If I didn't work every day, I didn't eat and had to sleep outside."

And there would be the problem.

God, I wanted to kill these people.

"Here, there will always be food, you will always have a warm dry place to sleep, and you will always have whatever you need. If you never worked another day in your life, you'd still have this stuff. However, if it would make you feel better, I am sure we can find you a job here on the ranch and you can earn your own money."

Miko's eye brightened. "I can work?"

I had no idea what kind of job I could find him, but I wasn't going to tell him no. Not when he looked at me so eagerly.

"I'll talk to Monty and we'll find you something. I just don't know what you might be interested in doing."

"Can do many things," Miko said quickly. "Can cook, clean, know acupuncture, and—"

"Acupuncture? Like what you did with the dog?"

"Yes, it is calledKanpo. It uses herbs primarily, but also focuses on acupuncture."

"And you've been trained to do this?" I hoped he wasn't just practicing for fun.

"Yes, Grandfather was a master. He trained me since I was a baby."

"And the herbs you mentioned, what do they do?" I wasn't too keen on having needles stuck in my body.

"All sorts of things," Miko replied. "That is why I was interested in yourHoundstongue.I was curious what medicinal purposes it might have."

My heart climbed into my throat. "Miko,Houndstongueis toxic."

"Most herbs are toxic if you take too much or misuse them," Miko stated. "But I would never use anything that hadn't been fully researched first. That can cause more harm than good."

Okay, at least he knew that much.

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