At the clicking of hammers on the guns, Greta tensed. No matter how angry she was at Wyatt, she didn’t want the brawl to end in someone’s death.
“Go on now.” Wyatt’s voice was low and menacing. “Time for you and your men to be on your way.”
The silence lengthened until at last the jangle of spurs and harnesses mingled with the thud of horses galloping away.
When silence settled over the barn and outside corral, Astrid pushed up. “Are we gonna be okay now, Greta?”
She wanted to nod and assure her sister everything was fine. But the ache in her chest hurt too much and was growing more painful with each passing moment.
As the barn door swung open and Wyatt stepped inside, he searched the shadows for them, his brows slanted with worry. Astrid stood, drawing his attention. “Are those mean guys gone now, Wyatt? Is it safe for us to come out?”
“Yep. You’re safe.”
Greta rose more slowly, and as she stepped forward, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to walk, at least not without shaking.
Wyatt took his time replacing the rifle on the rack. When he turned, he removed his hat and stared at the ground in front of him, his head hanging and his shoulders sagging, leaving Greta no doubt of his deception.
Astrid took Chase from Greta’s arms and set him down. He sat and stared up at Greta with cute black eyes, as if waiting for her to say something.
What should she say? Could she even speak without crying?
“I’m sorry, Greta.”
“I don’t want to hear it. Don’t apologize to me again.”
“This ain’t what it appears—”
“It appears you married me in order to get cattle. A wife for cattle. Isn’t that right?”
Wyatt jammed his fingers through his hair and blew out a loud breath. “I asked Steele if he’d be willing to invest, to give me a loan, and he said he’d do it if I married you.”
Though Brawley had said the same thing, the words straight from Wyatt’s mouth pierced her. “And he expects you to have a family?”
Wyatt shifted and kept his gaze trained on his boots. “You heard him yourself. He’s fixin’ to make the town a place with other children and families. Figures if he does, then his wife and son will come live here with him.”
“So that’s why you don’t want me to leave and take Astrid to Denver?”
“Take me to Denver?” Astrid said from where she knelt stroking the puppy. “Why are you taking me there?”
“Nope,” Wyatt said. “That ain’t why—”
“Tell me the truth, Wyatt.” Greta stepped forward, the pain radiating into her limbs and somehow giving her the strength she needed to confront him. “If Steele hadn’t offered you the cattle loan, would you have married me? Simply to help me out?”
He twisted at the brim of his hat.
“Why are we leaving, Greta?” Astrid stood, her thin body rigid. “I don’t wanna go.”
Greta put her hand on the little girl’s head, trying to comfort her but unable to reassure her of anything, not when the world was crumbling beneath their feet.
“I don’t want you to go either,” Wyatt said.
“Answer my question, Wyatt. Would you have married me without Steele’s loan?”
He was silent for several heartbeats. Then he shook his head, almost sadly. “I don’t rightly know.”
“Probably not?”
This time he didn’t reply, which gave her the answer she didn’t want. Wyatt hadn’t intended to marry her to help her out or for his old friend Phineas’s sake or even because he wanted the companionship. He’d done it for one reason and one reason alone—for cattle.
Tears stung her eyes. She had to get out of the barn now, before she lost control of her emotions and started sobbing. She didn’t want Wyatt to see how much he’d hurt her.
“Come on, Astrid.” She reached for her sister’s hand. “We need to go pack.”
“No!” Astrid held her arms stiffly at her sides.
“Wait and hear me out.” Wyatt started toward her.
Greta held out her arm to halt him.
He stopped, his beautiful brown eyes tortured. “You gotta believe me, Greta. Things might’ve started out for the wrong reasons, but it ain’t like that anymore.”
She blinked to hold back the tears threatening to spill out.
“I like having you and Astrid around.” His tone was low and sincere. “I like it a real lot.”
Deep inside she sensed the honesty of his confession. He couldn’t have pretended everything.
Even so, how could she trust his motives again? How would she know if he truly cared about her or whether he was trying to win her over to keep Mr. Steele happy?
“It doesn’t matter anymore,” she said more to herself than Wyatt. “I told you I need to take Astrid to Denver, and now knowing you never really wanted us just makes it easier to go.”
“Greta, please.” His expression radiated anguish. “I don’t want to lose you or Astrid.”
“Why?” She forced the question through her tight throat as she slipped off her wedding band. “So you don’t lose your cattle deal with Mr. Steele?”
Without giving him time to answer, she marched to him and thrust the ring into his hand. Then she grabbed Astrid’s arm and headed to the barn door.
Though Astrid struggled against her, Greta held on tightly as she exited and started across the yard. Judd stood silently next to Dolly holding her lead line, no doubt having heard every word of her argument with Wyatt. She could feel him watching Astrid and her with troubled eyes. She suspected he’d known all about Wyatt’s dealings too, and part of her wanted to blame the old ranch hand for staying silent. On the other hand, knowing Judd, he’d likely been an unwilling participant in the whole scheme.
“Wait!” Wyatt strode out of the barn. “Please, Greta, let me say more.”
She picked up her pace, practically dragging Astrid along. She couldn’t fall prey to Wyatt’s charm. If she let him get anywhere near her, he’d sweet talk her into doing whatever he wanted, just as he’d been doing all along.
“We’re leaving tomorrow,” she called. “Please don’t try to stop us.”
Distant gunshots echoed in the stillness of the evening, causing her to stumble to a halt a few paces from the cabin with Astrid bumping into her from behind. Who was shooting and why?
Wyatt and Judd had both grown motionless as well and were staring toward the north pasture behind the barn.
More gunshots resounded in close succession.
Wyatt exchanged a glance with Judd. “You don’t think it’s Brawley, do you?”
“Yep. Has to be.”
“Tell me they’re hunting.”
“More like rustling.” Judd’s lips formed a grim line beneath his bushy white mustache.
Wyatt spun and stalked back into the barn. The moment he disappeared, Greta’s legs turned as wobbly as jam, and she had to hold on to Astrid for balance.
“What’s rustling, Greta?” Astrid stared at the horizon as more gunshots filled the air.
“Stealing.” As upset as she was at Wyatt, she didn’t want him to lose his cattle, not after how hard he’d worked to build up his small herd.