Lauraine Snelling Read Online Free Page B

take cream and or sugar with your coffee?”
    “No. Black will be fine.” The fragrance of the rolls was making her mouth water. Would that she could learn to bake like that someday. Not just bake but cook in general. She sank down into the leather chair, not allowing herself to relax against the back. After all, she was really there on business and things could go all wrong in an instant.
    Mavis passed the plate of rolls, and Cassie took the one on top. Manners said one should never eat until all were served, but when Lucas took the first bite of his, she followed suit.
    “My mother makes the best rolls and apple pie anywhere.”
    “Lucas, whatever happened to not talking with your mouth full?” Ransom glared at his brother.
    Cassie took a small bite, to make the treat last longer. So there was more than a bit of hard feelings between the two brothers. The thought that her presence might be causing the rift made her want to leave without showing them the deed. She set her roll down and picked up the cup, something to hide behind. When she glanced at Mrs. Engstrom, the gentle and welcoming look nearly undid her. How could she be so gracious when she knew the reason Cassie was there?
    “Go ahead and enjoy your roll,” she said with a smile. “Sometimes ignoring a conversation is easier than answering.”
    “Maybe we’d better get the hard talking over with right away.”
    “Are you in a hurry?”
    “N-no, but . . .” The coffee now tasted bitter, something like the fear in her heart. Obviously Ransom did not want her there at all. Lucas was charming, but this was still his ranch, and Mrs. Engstrom made her want to be part of this family, even more so than wanting to live on the ranch. A home. All she wanted was a home. She’d not thought about having a family, other than her three traveling companions, with that home.
    “I have the deed and all the papers of my father’s that I could locate.” She laid the packet on the table. “I mean, to prove who I really am.”
    Ransom looked like someone had carved his face in stone. Lucas leaned forward, but the smile had disappeared.
    Cassie slid the deed from the papers and laid it on the little table before Mrs. Engstrom. “As far as I know, this is legal. I do know that is my father’s signature.”
    Mavis laid a matching paper beside it. The other deed. “And I know that both those signatures are the real thing. According to the deed, you own half of this ranch. There is no mention of including all the improvements we have made through the years. When Adam and Ivar bought this land, the first thing they built was the log cabin up by the mine. They both lived there while they were digging for gold. They used the gold to pay for the land, with plans to build two houses. When Lockwood left with the Wild West Show, he said he would return one day.”
    “But he died before he could realize that dream. I always thought the valley was just a dream, one that I wanted to find. But only when I discovered the deed in the show wagon did I know he already owned a part of the land. I do not want to take what you have created. I only want a place to live and some pasture for the animals I have. My father dreamed of raising Appaloosa horses and herds of cattle. I don’t know anything about breeding horses and raising cattle. I am willing to learn if someone wants to teach me, but the only world I know is the show world that I came from.”
    “What will you live on?” Ransom’s eyes never softened. “Feeding cattle, the few you have, takes pasture and hay and some grain, especially for the horses.”
    “I know. I’ve thought of that. I am sure that once I inform show people of where I am and that I would be interested in participating in shooting matches, I can perhaps earn enough to support us.” She met his eyes, stare for stare.
    He turned those granite eyes away from her. “No need to go getting all stiff and upset. But building a house takes time, and winter is