Page 32 of Married By Midnight
“Well, the only one I saw was you.”
“Your father and I were trying to come to a deal to merge my herds onto his land and split the profits. Your father was one of my closest friends. Now what would I gain from his death? Either way, you’d still be in this position. Working land you can’t afford. You can’t hire hands. You don’t have a clue about farming. Face it, little girl, I’m the best chance you have.”
“You can say what you want, I still don’t believe you.”
Arlan dropped his cigar and crushed it under his boot. “Think what you want, Miss Abrahams. I’m not the boogey-man you think I am.”
“What about that?” Sarah tilted her head towards the men.
“You mean my grand bow?” Sarah nodded. “I have an image to maintain with them. If they even think I have a heart it will be over before it begins.” He gave her another hard stare. “Your time is running out.” He tilted his hat to her and headed back towards the men.
As he rode out of the yard, Dell came running up to her. “I told him it wasn’t a good idea. He…” Sarah put her hand up to stop the old man from speaking.
“Not now, Dell.” She lifted her skirt and headed back to the house.
Chapter 8
Ian watched the whole scene unfold with interest. He couldn’t hear the words, but from this distance he could see that Sarah was upset about something.
Her face was turning red and her arms were in the air. Whoever that man was, he was enough to get her all kinds of angry.
Ian was about to run over and tell the man to back off, but Dell grabbed his arm. “Let her handle it, son.”
Ian nodded and shrugged Dell from his arm. Soon the man crushed his cigar and leaned over to say something to Sarah.
She looked crushed. He wondered what it was about. Dell ran to see her, but she brushed him aside. As she passed the pen, she spied Ian and stopped.
“Did you get settled alright?” She gave him a little smile.
Ian wanted to see more of those smiles. He nodded. “Dell set me up with the farm hands.”
“Good. Did you get your belongings back?”
“Yes ma’am. Thank you for washing my clothes.”
“I’m glad I found something to fit you.” He was wearing her father’s work clothes. Sarah didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “I’m afraid many of the pages in your journal were ruined. I tried to dry them.”
“It’s no bother. It was just a bunch of scribbles.”
“But perhaps it would have helped you remember your past life.”
Ian lifted his chin in the direction that man had gone. “Is he giving you trouble?”
Sarah stepped on the bottom rail and leaned over into the pen. “Nothing I can’t handle.”
“It seemed you were very upset about something.”
“He wants this farm. He’s wanted it since he moved in. That’s all.”
“Anything I can do to help?”
Sarah gave a sharp laugh. “Unless you can find me an honest husband by tomorrow night, then no.” She hopped off the rail. “Dinner will be served in a little bit. Wash up when you hear the bell.”
Ian watched her walk back to the house. Her shoulders were rounded. He remembered someone telling him that was a way folks protected themselves. He wished he could remember more.
So, she was looking for an honest husband? Ian had a thought.
“Hey, Dell,” he called, waving the man over to him.
