“I Thought Nobody Would Come,” She Said. The Cowboy Had Ridden All Night to Find Her
Chapter 7
The Harrow estate stood on a hill overlooking hundreds of acres.
Edmund Harrow was wealthy.
His house was larger than the Whitmore farmhouse by many times.
Stone walls.
Tall windows.
A formal garden.
Stables filled with fine horses.
Clara had been there only once.
She disliked it immediately.
Samuel disliked it more.
They were stopped at the gate.
“State your business.”
Samuel handed the guard the letter.
“We need to see Mr. Harrow.”
“He is occupied.”
“With whom?”
The guard hesitated.
Samuel saw the answer in his face.
“Thomas Whitmore is here.”
The man said nothing.
Clara stepped forward.
“I am Clara Whitmore.”
The guard moved aside.
A few minutes later, Edmund Harrow entered the hall.
He was a tall man in his fifties.
His hair was gray.
His clothing was expensive.
His smile was polite.
Too polite.
“Miss Whitmore.”
“Mr. Harrow.”
He looked at Samuel.
“And you must be Boone.”
Samuel nodded.
“I am.”
Harrow smiled.
“I have heard of you.”
“I doubt it was flattering.”
“Not particularly.”
Clara placed the receipt on the table.
“My father paid the debt.”
Harrow looked at it.
Then laughed.
“You came all this way to show me a receipt?”
“You knew the debt was paid.”
“I knew your father had financial difficulties.”
“You knew he had paid.”
Harrow’s smile faded.
“Careful.”
Clara stood straighter.
“I will not marry you.”
Harrow leaned back.
“You misunderstand.”
“No.”
“I am offering protection.”
“You are offering ownership.”
Harrow’s eyes hardened.
“You are a woman alone.”
Samuel stepped forward.
“She isn’t alone.”
Harrow looked at him.
“Then perhaps you should ask yourself whether you can protect her.”
Samuel’s hand moved toward his pistol.
Clara touched his arm.
Not here.
Not yet.
Harrow smiled.
“You see? Even now she must restrain you.”
He turned toward the door.
“Your uncle will return to the farm this morning.”
Clara’s expression changed.
Harrow continued:
“If you refuse the marriage, the property will be seized.”
“By whom?”
“By the court.”
Samuel laughed once.
“No court will accept a forged debt.”
Harrow looked at him.
“You should be careful, Boone.”
“Why?”
“Because men who interfere in matters above their station sometimes disappear.”
Samuel stepped closer.
“I rode all night to find her.”
Harrow’s expression changed.
“I will ride farther than that to keep her safe.”
For the first time, Harrow looked uncertain.
Clara took Samuel’s hand.
“We are leaving.”
Harrow did not stop them.
But as they crossed the courtyard, Clara noticed several armed men watching from the stable.
This was no longer a dispute over a farm.
It was becoming a war.
