During their exchange, she’d been ready to crawl underneath one of the tables. But then Mr. Hallock had spun around. It had only taken a moment for her to place his face with the picture he’d sent her, a daguerreotype she still had at the bottom of one of her bags.
While he appeared older in person, his kindness remained constant. She could immediately sense in him a gentle spirit, one that had come across in his letters and convinced her to accept his marriage proposal.
It was the same one now that told her she couldn’t spurn him, that to do so would be too cruel after all he’d done for her. Yet how could she leave Wyatt? How could she live without him?
Those same questions had been plaguing her during the entire ride into town. Even if they’d forgiven each other, and even after all the things he’d said about loving her and wanting her in his life, she’d known deep inside she still had to do the right thing for Astrid.
And that meant going to McLaughlin’s Livery to purchase two stagecoach tickets for Astrid and her to ride back to Denver.
As hard as it was to imagine leaving Wyatt, she had to persist in her plan to get Astrid more help. She guessed Wyatt had every intention of accompanying them to Denver. But he belonged here working his land, buying more steers, and building the addition onto the cabin for his family. While she wanted to promise him she’d come back from Denver, she couldn’t guarantee that either, not without knowing how Astrid would fare.
Pain had wedged into each part of her heart during the ride into town. She’d decided to make the arrangements for the ride back to Denver before she could change her mind—or Wyatt convinced her otherwise.
But now . . .
She glanced from Mr. Steele back to Phineas, who lifted his curious gaze to her once more, then rapidly dropped it and shifted his feet.
She couldn’t do as Mr. Steele suggested and marry Phineas in place of Wyatt, could she? But she certainly couldn’t just walk away, not after Mr. Steele’s reminder of how much Phineas had paid for Astrid and her to travel to Fairplay.
With all eyes suddenly focused upon her, her face heated. “I’d like the chance to talk with Mr. Hallock privately. If that’s agreeable to him and everyone else.”
Wyatt’s features hardened. “Nope, it ain’t agreeable to me, but I’m guessing I don’t have much say in the matter.”
As conversations erupted around them, she squeezed Wyatt’s arm and leaned in. “Please try to understand, Wyatt.”
“Understand what?” His voice was low and his eyes filled with hurt.
“I won’t let Astrid and me be the reason you lose your ranch.”
“Without cattle, I’m bound to lose it eventually anyway.”
“No.” She shook her head, refusing to believe he’d have to give up everything he’d worked so hard for. He couldn’t. She wouldn’t let him.
Determination surged and chased away the embarrassment that had been strangling her. “Mr. Steele, you were wrong.” Her voice drowned out the commotion in the room.
At her accusation, Mr. Steele’s conversation with a man next to him stalled. He shifted his attention to her, his mouth half open and his brows lifted.
“You were wrong,” she said again, as silence descended. Her nerves quivered, making her legs weak, but now that she had everyone’s attention, she had to speak. “The day I arrived in Fairplay destitute and homeless, I realize you were trying to help a desperate lady out of a desperate situation. And I do appreciate your concern. You were kind to both Astrid and me.”
At the mention of Astrid’s name, more brows rose.
“Astrid is just fine,” she assured them. “We found her this morning at a hot spring. She is unharmed and as well as can be.”
Some of the men nodded, their expressions relieved.
“And I thank each of you for your help in searching for her. Your kindness means more than you will know.”
Again the men began to speak, and Greta was afraid that she was losing her opportunity to try to help Wyatt. And once lost, she doubted she’d regain it. “You’ve all been kind.” She raised her voice again. “And Mr. Steele in particular.”
The gentleman shifted his attention back to her, his expression wary. No doubt he was wondering where she was going with the conversation.
“Mr. Steele, I know you were looking out for Astrid and me when you brought up marriage to Wyatt. But you were wrong to make me a part of the cattle bargain.”
“Greta, don’t,” Wyatt softly pleaded.
“I don’t think you understand,” Mr. Steele said.
“Maybe not everything. But I do know Wyatt’s one of the hardest-working men I’ve ever met. He’s got more willpower in one finger than a lot of men have in their entire bodies.”
Wyatt tugged on her. “It’s alright. Let it go.”
Mr. Steele’s gaze shifted to Wyatt, frustration flashing across his suave face. “That might be true, but—”
“He deserves a deal of his own, for being a man of integrity as well as for being so hardworking. The fact is, if you loan him the money he needs to invest in a herd, you’ll be the one who stands to gain a profit off his hard work. And if I’m not mistaken, the profit on beef will only increase as the access to eastern markets gets easier with the building of more railways.”
Wyatt released an exasperated breath, but she kept her attention fully upon Mr. Steele. She couldn’t show any signs of weakness or hesitation now, or she might lose his interest. “As a matter of fact, any mine owner in the area willing to invest in the cattle will stand to earn a hefty profit.”
If no one else took the bait, she’d plead with Phineas to loan Wyatt the money. It was the least she could do for Wyatt after everything he’d done for Astrid and her.
She lifted her chin. “If you don’t want to give Wyatt the loan, then he’ll need to start asking around for another investor. And I have a feeling that someone else, perhaps Mr. Hallock himself, would be more than eager to invest.”
“Indeed, indeed,” Phineas said in a high, shaky voice. “I should very much like that.”
The men began to talk again, throwing out suggestions for other wealthy mine owners who might be willing to help Wyatt out.
“Be quiet, everyone!” Mr. Steele waved a hand for attention. “I never said the deal is off. I’ve already contacted the breeder in Missouri, and I’m not planning to bail out now.”
Next to her, Wyatt tipped up the brim of his hat, his expression guarded.
Mr. Steele locked glares with Wyatt. Silence filled the space between the two. Finally Mr. Steele picked up his hat from the table, settled it on his head, then pushed in his chair. “McQuaid, I’ll meet you in my parlor in thirty minutes. We’ll talk cattle, and I’ll also have my assistant draw up annulment papers.”
Annulment. The word hit Greta like a blast of winter air, just as it had the first time he’d mentioned it.
Mr. Steele stalked past them without waiting for a reply.
Wyatt stood rigidly as the other men milled around the room.
“You’ll get your cattle, Wyatt.” She forced the words past her tight throat. “And your ranch is going to grow and become very successful. I just know it.”