She Was Forced to Marry a Poor Rancher — Not Knowing He Owned Half the Valley
Chapter 7
Gideon visited three weeks later.
He arrived in a fine carriage.
Margaret watched from the porch.
Thomas came out of the stable.
Gideon looked around.
His face changed.
He had expected a poor farm.
Instead, he saw dozens of cattle.
New barns.
Workers.
A large house.
He turned toward Margaret.
“What is this?”
She smiled.
“My husband’s home.”
Gideon looked at Thomas.
“You deceived me.”
Thomas shrugged.
“You never asked.”
“You said nothing.”
“You assumed.”
Gideon stepped closer.
“You married my niece under false pretenses.”
Thomas laughed once.
“No.”
Gideon lowered his voice.
“You don’t understand the agreement.”
“I understand it perfectly.”
“You owe me nothing.”
“I know.”
“Then why marry her?”
Thomas looked at Margaret.
“Because I wanted to.”
Gideon looked between them.
His expression hardened.
“You think money will protect you.”
Thomas answered:
“No.”
He pointed toward the valley.
“People will.”
Gideon looked around.
Farmers stood nearby.
Men who worked Thomas’s land.
Families who depended on him.
Many had once owed Gideon money.
Now they were free.
Gideon understood.
Thomas was not merely wealthy.
He was powerful.
Not because he had money.
Because people trusted him.
Gideon left without another word.
But before he went, he whispered to Margaret:
“You’ll regret choosing him.”
Margaret looked at him.
“I didn’t choose him.”
She paused.
“But I may.”
Gideon stared.
Then drove away.
Thomas looked at her.
“May?”
Margaret smiled.
“You’ll have to earn the rest.”
