Read Online Wild Is My Heart by Connie Mason - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Connie Mason
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forecloses and sells property all the time.”
“Not this property!” Calvin thundered, a vein in his temple throbbing dangerously as his face turned a mottled purple. “Where can I find Mr. Colter? Perhaps all isn’t lost yet.”
“I…I don’t know,” stuttered Klaus. “I got the impression he was leaving town immediately because he left instructions allowing Miss Howard and her brother to remain on the ranch until he appeared to take possession.”
“Dammit, you’re fired, Spindler! Gather up your things and clear out of here.”
“That’s fine with me, Herr Logan. I only came back this morning to tell you I quit. I’m leaving for New Orleans on the ten o’clock stage.”
Without a backward glance he spun on his heel and marched out the door, grateful to Herr Colter for giving him the opportunity to strike out on his own.
Vern Logan fared no better in his father’s treatment. Standing meekly before the raging man, he was alternately cursed, condemned, and disinherited. His only chance to atone for his irresponsible behavior, according to the elder Logan, was to settle down with a good wife and give him a grandchild. Until that child rested in Calvin’s arms his money would go to a cousin in Chicago. Calvin expressed his intention to alter his will immediately to include those conditions.
Vern knew his father meant to follow through with his threat. Many times in the past Calvin had threatened to cut Vern off without a cent if he didn’t mend his ways, give up gambling and whoring, take a greater interest in his job, and get married. Vern suffered his father’s rampage in silence. When the older man finally exhausted himself, he suggested Vern might partially redeem himself by persuading Samantha Howard to become his wife. With her property gone she might be more amenable to Vern’s suit.
Vern was thoroughly puzzled as to the identity of the new owner of the Circle H Ranch. To the best of his knowledge, he knew no one named Steven Colter. Obviously the man was a charlatan and wanted the property for the same reason his father did, else why would he lie about their being acquainted? If it weren’t for Steven Colter, he would still be in his father’s good graces. He hated the man without knowing him.
Samantha knew the reason for Vern Logan’s early morning visit without being told. No doubt he wanted to inform her that she had to leave the ranch. She already knew that. Colt had irrevocably altered her life the moment he interfered with her plans to rob the stage.
“Can you hear me, Samantha? I know you’re in there.”
“I’m coming,” Sam replied with a small sigh of resignation as she levered herself out of her chair.
“What kept you?” Vern asked after Sam let him inside. He eyed her unfeminine garb with obvious distaste.
“It’s early,” Sam replied with a hint of reproval.
“I know, and I apologize. But I had to see you. It’s been weeks since I’ve seen you and I’ve been hankerin’ to talk to you.”
“Just two weeks.” Sam knew exactly when she had seen Vern last. He was the one who had told her about the gold shipment.
“Seems longer.” He moved closer, and automatically Sam retreated. “You know why I’m here, don’t you?”
“I reckon,” Sam said shortly. “You’ve come to tell me the ranch no longer belongs to me and Will. I know the date and that your father foreclosed last night.”
“Daddy is a businessman, Samantha, you can’t fault him for callin’ in the note. You know there was absolutely no hope of your repayin’ your father’s loan.”
“I’ll leave tomorrow,” Sam said.
“Where will you go?”
“I…have a place to stay,” Sam hedged. No need to elaborate, he’d find out soon enough that she had lodging in the town jail.
“Marry me, Samantha. I’ll provide everythin’ you’ll ever need, and your brother will always have a home with us.”
“Can you give me back my property?”
“You know that’s
“Not this property!” Calvin thundered, a vein in his temple throbbing dangerously as his face turned a mottled purple. “Where can I find Mr. Colter? Perhaps all isn’t lost yet.”
“I…I don’t know,” stuttered Klaus. “I got the impression he was leaving town immediately because he left instructions allowing Miss Howard and her brother to remain on the ranch until he appeared to take possession.”
“Dammit, you’re fired, Spindler! Gather up your things and clear out of here.”
“That’s fine with me, Herr Logan. I only came back this morning to tell you I quit. I’m leaving for New Orleans on the ten o’clock stage.”
Without a backward glance he spun on his heel and marched out the door, grateful to Herr Colter for giving him the opportunity to strike out on his own.
Vern Logan fared no better in his father’s treatment. Standing meekly before the raging man, he was alternately cursed, condemned, and disinherited. His only chance to atone for his irresponsible behavior, according to the elder Logan, was to settle down with a good wife and give him a grandchild. Until that child rested in Calvin’s arms his money would go to a cousin in Chicago. Calvin expressed his intention to alter his will immediately to include those conditions.
Vern knew his father meant to follow through with his threat. Many times in the past Calvin had threatened to cut Vern off without a cent if he didn’t mend his ways, give up gambling and whoring, take a greater interest in his job, and get married. Vern suffered his father’s rampage in silence. When the older man finally exhausted himself, he suggested Vern might partially redeem himself by persuading Samantha Howard to become his wife. With her property gone she might be more amenable to Vern’s suit.
Vern was thoroughly puzzled as to the identity of the new owner of the Circle H Ranch. To the best of his knowledge, he knew no one named Steven Colter. Obviously the man was a charlatan and wanted the property for the same reason his father did, else why would he lie about their being acquainted? If it weren’t for Steven Colter, he would still be in his father’s good graces. He hated the man without knowing him.
Samantha knew the reason for Vern Logan’s early morning visit without being told. No doubt he wanted to inform her that she had to leave the ranch. She already knew that. Colt had irrevocably altered her life the moment he interfered with her plans to rob the stage.
“Can you hear me, Samantha? I know you’re in there.”
“I’m coming,” Sam replied with a small sigh of resignation as she levered herself out of her chair.
“What kept you?” Vern asked after Sam let him inside. He eyed her unfeminine garb with obvious distaste.
“It’s early,” Sam replied with a hint of reproval.
“I know, and I apologize. But I had to see you. It’s been weeks since I’ve seen you and I’ve been hankerin’ to talk to you.”
“Just two weeks.” Sam knew exactly when she had seen Vern last. He was the one who had told her about the gold shipment.
“Seems longer.” He moved closer, and automatically Sam retreated. “You know why I’m here, don’t you?”
“I reckon,” Sam said shortly. “You’ve come to tell me the ranch no longer belongs to me and Will. I know the date and that your father foreclosed last night.”
“Daddy is a businessman, Samantha, you can’t fault him for callin’ in the note. You know there was absolutely no hope of your repayin’ your father’s loan.”
“I’ll leave tomorrow,” Sam said.
“Where will you go?”
“I…have a place to stay,” Sam hedged. No need to elaborate, he’d find out soon enough that she had lodging in the town jail.
“Marry me, Samantha. I’ll provide everythin’ you’ll ever need, and your brother will always have a home with us.”
“Can you give me back my property?”
“You know that’s
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