Read Online Heather Graham by Maverickand the Lady - Free Book Online Page B

are you—a bank?” She flared up at him, glad that at least when she was seated on Cheyenne, she could look down on him. “I’m not sure I want to borrow any more money from you.”
    He arched a dark brow in surprise. “Why? There are no strings attached.”
    “Aren’t there?” she demanded. “It seems you’ve already forgotten that I own the ranch. You’re the foreman, the employee.”
    “You hired me to do a job,” he told her, and she saw the firm set to his jaw. “I’m doing it my own way.”
    “Ah. And would you lend me more money if I asked you to leave the ranch?” Martine asked caustically.
    “No,” he said flatly. “I’m not that generous.”
    “We’ll discuss it later,” she said coolly. She backed Cheyenne away from him, then turned the buckskin smoothly and nudged him into a gallop.
    At that particular moment she couldn’t get away from Kane Montgomery fast enough.
    She read the promissory note Kane had written up in the office. It looked good—too good. His interest rate was only eight percent, and she had more than four years to make the loan good.
    Tapping her foot with irritation, she saw that his signature had been notarized. Joe Devlin had vouched for him, so what was her problem?
    She didn’t know, but as she continued to tap her foot she decided she’d pay Joe a surprise visit—without Kane Montgomery.
    Martine decided to drive the distance rather than ride, so even in her ancient Ford truck she was at Joe’s door in thirty minutes. Serita, Joe’s housekeeper, led her into the foyer, giving her a firm tongue-lashing for staying away so long.
    “When the senator is away, it is no reason for you to be a stranger here!” Serita said chidingly. She was a slim woman with huge dark eyes and a very, very maternal attitude.
    “I’ve had a few problems lately,” Martie told her dryly.
    “And you did not come to tell me all about them?” Serita demanded angrily. Martine lowered her head to hide a chuckle. She had solved problems many times in Serita’s kitchen: She’d cried there when her first pony died; she’d gone there when she’d had her heart broken for the very first time in seventh grade; Joe’s son, Bart, had been one of her best friends growing up. This place, this ranch, these people—all meant a great deal to her.
    “Serita, I promise I’ll come cry on your shoulder more often in the future,” she said solemnly.
    Serita gave her an indignant sniff. “Come out to the pool. The senator is relaxing. You want a margarita?”
    “Sounds good. Thanks.”
    Joe was on one of the lounge chairs by the pool. He seemed startled by Martine’s appearance and looked behind her as if he hadn’t expected her to be alone.
    Martine bent down and kissed his cheek. “Hi, Joe. I’ve missed you.”
    He gave her a nice hug. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you needed me.”
    She shrugged. “Well, it seems to be working out now.”
    “But to sign such a ridiculous note over to Lander, Martine. You should have known it would only cause trouble, honey.’
    Martie sat on one of the lounges next to him and thanked Serita when she was handed a margarita. Serita sat down with a pile of mending. “I never did think your daddy to raise no fool, child, but that was sheer stupidity!” Serita said, giving her opinion.
    Martine laughed dryly. “My Lord, this sounds like Peyton Place ! Does everyone know what I did?”
    “Probably,” Joe told her good-naturedly.
    “You sent Kane Montgomery over because you knew exactly what was happening, didn’t you?” she asked accusingly.
    White lashes fell over the senator’s striking blue eyes. “Maybe I did. I didn’t know if you’d get yourself out of it or not. Don’t begrudge me—”
    “Who is he, Joe?”
    He gazed at her, startled. Martine thought that Serita’s sewing needle suddenly went very still.
    “He’s a … ranch foreman,” Joe said.
    “You’re lying to me. Why?”
    “Young lady,” the senator said huffily,