Read Online Heart of Mine (Bandit Creek) by Michelle Beattie - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Michelle Beattie
Ads: Link
did it hide the man's smirk when he looked at Laura. He was smart enough, however, to show a neutral expression when Jake turned back to him and reiterated what he wanted.
"Of course, Sir. I'll only be a moment." The teller slipped from his post behind the counter to fetch the necessary documents.
Jake leaned forward so as not to be overheard by the other patrons who remained rooted to the floor. "I won't argue about this. You're my wife. You've proven to me that you're not after my money. Besides that, I think it's important you have your own money."
"I would rather work," she said, hoping he didn't take offense.
He didn't. Instead his lips rose in a smile. "Which is exactly why I'm doing this."
His words shocked her. More, they touched her. "I won't ever take any without asking," she said.
Jake's eyes softened and he lowered his head. Laura hitched a breath and her heart gave a hard knock. He was going to kiss her! She opened her lips. His hand curved gently around her arm.
"Mr. Evans?"
Jake blinked. His gaze refocused. Unlike Laura who felt the burn in her cheeks from almost kissing in the middle of the bank, Jake seemed more amused than embarrassed. "Yes?" he answered when he'd given his attention back to the teller.
"I can arrange the documents so that any withdrawal requires both your signatures, as opposed to just one, if you like."
Jake frowned. "Why would I want that?"
"Well, um." The teller swallowed hard. "It's for your protection, really. That way your money can only be accessed with your approval."
Jake went rigid. He leaned forward, his words snapped from his lips. "By being here, I'm giving my wife approval. Now show me where to sign."
The man had the good sense to look contrite. Once Jake had signed the papers, the teller slid the papers her way. "I'll need your signature as well, Mrs. Evans. There and there," he added as he pointed.
Mrs. Evans. It was the first time she'd been addressed as such and it meant more to her than all Jake's money, more than all the gold from Ellis Mine and Hawes Mine combined.
Once the papers were signed, Jake insisted on a withdrawal and refused to leave the bank until she had the money tucked into her pocket. It was more than she was used to making in a week and it didn't sit well with her to have so much. She knew the moment she got back to the ranch she'd tuck it away where it was safe. Then only when she needed food or something for the house, would she dip into it.
Satisfied, Jake took her hand and they strolled back outside. With no breeze to speak of, the sun bathed its warmth on Bandit Creek. Laura tipped her face up and sighed.
"It's a beautiful day, isn't it?" he asked.
Her smile stretched her cheeks. "It's perfect."
She wasn't sure what to think of the steady look he gave before he asked, "Ready to go?"
"I am." Thinking surely now he'd take her back to the ranch, Laura was in for yet another surprise when, instead of helping her into the wagon, he skirted around it. Stopping only long enough to let two lone riders and a carriage pass, Jake guided her across the dirt road and into Mather and Son General Store.
Excited to watch him shop, Laura led the way, maneuvering past the shelves of food items and household goods to the back corner where the men's clothing was situated. Not sure what he needed, Laura browsed the shirts. A dark blue flannel caught her attention. Moving closer, her fingers stroked the fabric. She imagined Jake's chest underneath it. Then she imagined him without it.
"I don't think it'll fit you," he said, laughter in his voice.
Laura yanked her hand back. "I was thinking it would look nice on you."
"Were you?" He stepped around, took the garment. "Maybe I should get it, then." After verifying the size, he tucked it underneath his arm. "We'll add this to the lot, but it's not what we're here for."
The lot? What else could he possibly need? She'd been cooking in his kitchen for days and there was still more than enough. It truly
"Of course, Sir. I'll only be a moment." The teller slipped from his post behind the counter to fetch the necessary documents.
Jake leaned forward so as not to be overheard by the other patrons who remained rooted to the floor. "I won't argue about this. You're my wife. You've proven to me that you're not after my money. Besides that, I think it's important you have your own money."
"I would rather work," she said, hoping he didn't take offense.
He didn't. Instead his lips rose in a smile. "Which is exactly why I'm doing this."
His words shocked her. More, they touched her. "I won't ever take any without asking," she said.
Jake's eyes softened and he lowered his head. Laura hitched a breath and her heart gave a hard knock. He was going to kiss her! She opened her lips. His hand curved gently around her arm.
"Mr. Evans?"
Jake blinked. His gaze refocused. Unlike Laura who felt the burn in her cheeks from almost kissing in the middle of the bank, Jake seemed more amused than embarrassed. "Yes?" he answered when he'd given his attention back to the teller.
"I can arrange the documents so that any withdrawal requires both your signatures, as opposed to just one, if you like."
Jake frowned. "Why would I want that?"
"Well, um." The teller swallowed hard. "It's for your protection, really. That way your money can only be accessed with your approval."
Jake went rigid. He leaned forward, his words snapped from his lips. "By being here, I'm giving my wife approval. Now show me where to sign."
The man had the good sense to look contrite. Once Jake had signed the papers, the teller slid the papers her way. "I'll need your signature as well, Mrs. Evans. There and there," he added as he pointed.
Mrs. Evans. It was the first time she'd been addressed as such and it meant more to her than all Jake's money, more than all the gold from Ellis Mine and Hawes Mine combined.
Once the papers were signed, Jake insisted on a withdrawal and refused to leave the bank until she had the money tucked into her pocket. It was more than she was used to making in a week and it didn't sit well with her to have so much. She knew the moment she got back to the ranch she'd tuck it away where it was safe. Then only when she needed food or something for the house, would she dip into it.
Satisfied, Jake took her hand and they strolled back outside. With no breeze to speak of, the sun bathed its warmth on Bandit Creek. Laura tipped her face up and sighed.
"It's a beautiful day, isn't it?" he asked.
Her smile stretched her cheeks. "It's perfect."
She wasn't sure what to think of the steady look he gave before he asked, "Ready to go?"
"I am." Thinking surely now he'd take her back to the ranch, Laura was in for yet another surprise when, instead of helping her into the wagon, he skirted around it. Stopping only long enough to let two lone riders and a carriage pass, Jake guided her across the dirt road and into Mather and Son General Store.
Excited to watch him shop, Laura led the way, maneuvering past the shelves of food items and household goods to the back corner where the men's clothing was situated. Not sure what he needed, Laura browsed the shirts. A dark blue flannel caught her attention. Moving closer, her fingers stroked the fabric. She imagined Jake's chest underneath it. Then she imagined him without it.
"I don't think it'll fit you," he said, laughter in his voice.
Laura yanked her hand back. "I was thinking it would look nice on you."
"Were you?" He stepped around, took the garment. "Maybe I should get it, then." After verifying the size, he tucked it underneath his arm. "We'll add this to the lot, but it's not what we're here for."
The lot? What else could he possibly need? She'd been cooking in his kitchen for days and there was still more than enough. It truly
Similar Books
