Page 33 of Married By Midnight
“What’s on your mind?”
“Sarah mentioned she was looking for a husband pretty quick. What’s that about?”
“Ain’t my place to say. And don’t you go asking her any questions either.” Dell started coiling rope that had fallen from the side of the barn.
“Someone’s coming,” Dusty yelled.
Ian and Dell looked down the road. There were two men dressed in rags. Ian could see them point to the side of the barn.
“I better tell Sarah we got extra folks for dinner.”
Ian didn’t have an opportunity to talk to Sarah until she was doing the dishes after dinner. The guests were two train jumpers that were on their way to New Mexico. One had heard that there was a mining camp south of Santa Fe that was hiring.
As soon as dinner was done, Dell took the men out the barn to get them settled in the hay loft for the night.
“Let me dry that.” Ian took a plate from Sarah and wiped it dry with a towel.
“You don’t have to do this. I can get it done.”
“Honestly, I want to be here with you.”
He thought he saw the makings of a smile on her face, but just as quickly it was gone.
“You can put the dry dishes in the cupboard over there. Normally I just let them air dry in the rack. It is nice to have help.”
“I’ll always help you, Sarah.” She stopped washing the dish in her hand and shoved it back into the water. Ian put the plate and towel down on the table. He moved closer to her, placing his hands on her shoulders and pulling her back to him.
He could see her pulse quicken at the base of her throat and she gave a little exhale.
“Can you tell me what’s going on?”
Sarah dropped her head.
“I’m going to lose the farm.”
“Why do you say that?”
“That man you saw has been wanting to graze his cattle on this land.”
“But you grow wheat, I thought.”
Sarah nodded. “And we have a major track of creek running through our property. He had the nerve to tell me that my father was thinking about going into partnership with him.”
“Partnership?”
“Yes. That after all those years of Arlan trying to get my father to sell, they were going to go into business together. Can you believe that?”
“I don’t know what to think.” Ian rubbed his hands over her shoulders. He moved his mouth to rest against her hair and inhaled. Her scent was intoxicating.
“And then he has the nerve to ask me to marry him.”
Ian stepped back and dropped his hands. “Excuse me?”
Sarah turned and looked at him. “The farm is in default on its taxes. If I can’t come up with either the money or a husband by midnight tomorrow night, then the farm will go to a tax sale. Then Arlan will get everything.”
“But he wants you to marry him?”
“He said it was the only way I could stay on the farm. I can’t leave. This is my home. My parents and sister are buried out back.”
