style="font-size:15px;"> “No. In fact it makes me even more certain I hired the right man. Since I opened my mouth to Parker, you’d better move your gear from the bunkhouse into the main house. Rosa!”
The small Hispanic woman stood framed in the doorway as if she’d anticipated Mona’s call. “Sí, hija.”
“Mr. Bryson will be staying in the house. Would you mind putting fresh sheets on the guest bed?”
The older woman shot Reed a penetrating look. “Are you sure he can be trusted?”
Mona tipped her head to the side and stared at Reed. “Can you?”
With her looking at him with a spark in her dark eyes, Reed wasn’t so sure himself. She was beautiful in both an earthy and exotic way, with no need for makeup or fancy clothing. At that moment, he wanted to leave before he did something stupid like develop a hankerin’ for this woman who insisted on waging a battle against all odds. But to leave her now didn’t sit right in Reed’s book. She was one woman trying to do it all.
“I’m a man of my word.” He shifted his hat to his other hand. “Now let me get this straight. My job is to help find your cattle rustlers?”
“That’s right.”
“What about Parker Lee?”
“If you don’t mind, I’d appreciate it if you’d continue playing the part of my live-in to keep him off my back.”
Not that he wanted anything out of her but his paycheck, but Reed couldn’t help asking, “What’s in it for me?”
“You get to eat Rosa’s good cooking instead of fending for yourself with the boys in the bunkhouse.”
Reed’s mouth twisted. “Having had the opportunity to taste their cooking, I’d be honored to pretend to be your boyfriend.”
Rosa crossed her arms over her chest. “Just remember, there are three people in this house besides you. Don’t try anything with Miss Mona, or you’ll have to answer to me.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He turned to Mona. “Is there anything else I should know?”
Mona chewed her lip for a moment before shaking her head. “No.”
“Yes, there is.” Rosa moved forward to stand beside Mona. “Tell him.”
“No.” Mona’s face flushed and a thin sheen of perspiration coated her skin. “It’s none of his business.”
Curious now, Reed waited.
“If he’s to help protect you and Rancho Linda, he needs to know everything.”
“That’s right.” Reed didn’t like the way Mona fidgeted. What else was she hiding?
“No.” She wrapped an arm around her belly, her face turning a sickly shade of gray-green. “None of the hands know and the fewer people who do know the better.”
Rosa grabbed Mona’s arms. “You can’t continue to ignore the fact and, if you’re not careful, you’ll hurt yourself and…others. Look at you. You can’t even keep food down.”
“It doesn’t change anything. I still have a job to do and I will find the cattle rustlers.”
“You need to tell him.”
“No.” Tears welled in her eyes and she shot a panicked look at Reed. “Ah hell.” Mona clamped a hand to her mouth and ran from the room.
Reed could hear her being sick in the bathroom and he started to follow her.
A hand on his arm stopped him.
“Let me go. She’s obviously sick.” When he tried to move past the woman, her grip tightened. “What’s wrong with her? That’s the third time since we met she’s lost it.”
“Mr. Bryson. If you really want to help Miss Grainger, you need to understand…she’s pregnant.”
Chapter Four
“Good afternoon, Miss Grainger.” Jeffrey Kuhn stood in the doorway of his office and waved her over. His graying blond hair and green eyes were set off by the light gray tailored suit he wore.
Something about his tanned skin and broad shoulders didn’t fit the suit and tie. Having known the man for most of her life, Mona didn’t understand why, all of the sudden, she’d think Kuhn didn’t belong in the bank. “Hello, Mr. Kuhn.”
“If you’d step into my office, we have matters to discuss.”
“We do?” Mona had come to Prairie Rock to make the monthly mortgage payment on her land, not chat with the bank president. She had a lot of work to do back home. An uneasy twinge gripped her belly as if the baby tried to warn her something was amiss.
“Yes, we do.” He waited until she entered his office and then closed the door behind her.
If she’d known she was going to have a business meeting with the bank president she’d have worn something other than her usual jeans and denim shirt. Hell, she’d have left her hair loose instead of pulling it back into a juvenile ponytail. Mona resisted the urge to pat the dust off her clothing before she took the seat opposite the banker, a massive mahogany desk between them. “What is it you wanted to discuss?”
He stared at her for several seconds before beginning, as if sizing her up. “I understand you’ve had troubles out at the Rancho Linda?”
Mona fought to keep her expression blank. Cattle rustling in the area couldn’t be kept a secret. Not when everyone knew everyone’s business and the sheriff’s blotter in the local newspaper was the highlight of the week. “Nothing we can’t handle.” She hoped. The rustlers had to slip up soon and be caught. Preferably before she went out of business.
“I couldn’t help but notice your advertisement in the local gazette for a ranch hand.” He planted his elbows on his desk and laced his fingers. “Or should I say, gun for hire?”
Mona sat up straighter. “Why do you ask?”
“As you well know, the bank has an interest in everything that goes on with their investments. If something were to happen to you or the ranch, we stand to lose money.”
“That’s true. But nothing is going to happen to me or the ranch.”
“We at the bank disagree.” He leaned forward. “Advertising a gun-for-hire only reinforced our opinion that you’re in over your head.”
Did the man think her stupid? Was he carrying a mouse in his pocket? “We, or you, Mr. Kuhn?” Mona stood, anger pushing her blood pressure skyward. Not good for the baby.
His brows rose and he eased to his feet. “The bank, of course. Not me personally.”
“Right.” Mona held out the check she’d come to deliver. “I came to make my mortgage payment.”
The man stuffed his hands in his
