Page 19 of A Montana Fake Marriage (Sagebrush Ranch Sweethearts #1)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

When Caleb had asked Sammie what she wanted to do with the money she’d be getting from her inheritance, she’d been stunned to realize she didn’t have any plans.

A year ago, she might have told him that she wanted to get a car or that she wanted to spend it on an apartment in the city.

A year ago, she loved to spend money on clothes and purses.

Now?

Now, she was different. She found value in other things.

Sammie found joy with the animals she looked after. She’d found lasting friendships with people who didn’t expect her to spend money on them—not that Caleb was that sort of person to begin with. But most surprisingly, she’d realized that she found a purpose in her work.

While she adored the smaller critters, she couldn’t deny how she’d been drawn to calving season. She’d been intrigued with how the babies were cared for and what to look for when the vet did the checkups. It was the same when a horse had given birth.

And when she’d realized that was where her heart was, she knew she couldn’t keep it to herself.

Caleb was speaking with his father and the local vet when she rushed over. She slowed her steps, and when she caught his eye, she smiled. He winked at her, making her insides melt all over again.

“So far, I think these are the best results you could have asked for. Have you gotten any word from the patent office?” the vet asked.

Caleb shook his head. “It’s tricky. We can’t simply patent a recipe. It has to be something that’s never been done before. I’m hoping that with the way we’ve put it together, they’ll see this feed can serve multiple purposes.”

“All we can do is wait,” his father nodded. “If they don’t grant it, then Caleb is still planning on partnering with a manufacturer and possibly some veterinarian offices.” He gave the vet a pointed smile.

“I’m all for that,” she said. “Sounds like a smart move.”

Caleb’s father clapped him on the back. “We think so.”

Caleb nodded to his father then shook the vet’s hand before he headed toward Sammie.

With one leg between the corral bars first, he glided to the other side to stand beside her.

He slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her into him, kissing her deeply.

“To what do I owe this pleasure?” he murmured next to her ear.

“I wasn’t expecting to see you until supper. ”

She closed her eyes, pleasure seeping through her at his touch.

They hadn’t been more intimate than with their kissing.

She wasn’t entirely sure when Caleb would be ready, but she was willing to wait.

For now, all she had was her excitement for the future.

But it was moments like this one that made it difficult to continue being patient.

“I thought a lot about your question last week… when we went to dinner.”

He pulled back, his eyes searching hers. With a swift, gentle motion, he tucked her hair away from her face. “What question was that?”

Sammie shivered at his touch. He knew what he was doing, made clear by the devilish grin he wore.

Part of her wanted to swat him away for distracting her.

But the other side of her wanted to lean in and take everything he had to offer.

“About my money…” she whispered. “I know what I want to do with it.” Her breath hitched when he brushed a thumb over her lower lip.

“And what’s that?” he asked, mirroring her tone.

“School.”

He stilled. Then he chuckled. “What kind of school?”

Mercifully, he pulled back so she could gather her wits about her. She grinned. “Training, maybe? So I can work with horses. I want to learn how to work with them the way that some of the other cowboys do. Or maybe veterinarian classes. I think I’d love taking care of the animals we have here.”

His brows lifted. The surprise wasn’t laced with anything other than joy. Perhaps he even looked impressed. “You want to go back to school to get another degree?”

She blushed. “It’s stupid, isn’t it?”

He pressed his lips together for a moment. It was definitely a bad idea. “What was your other degree? Generals, right? With an emphasis in business? Don’t you want to do something with that?”

Sammie couldn’t help the feeling of disappointment she felt that he wasn’t completely on board with her. He was smart—smarter than she was. If he didn’t think it was a good idea, then what made her think she could hack it? “Yes. I’m surprised you remembered.”

Caleb rubbed his jaw. “Is that really what you want to do? School can be expensive.”

“Honestly, I can’t think of anything I need—or want. I’d like the money to go toward something meaningful. And there’ll be plenty of it. I think it would be like investing in my future.”

Caleb nodded. “Yeah, I can see that.”

Sammie watched him. Waited for him to tell her that there were better ideas. Charities were always a good way to spend money a person didn’t really need.

“I think it’s a great idea.”

“You do?” Her breath caught in her chest, a flicker of hope coming to life within her. “But you said?—”

He nodded, taking both of her hands in his. “It’s your money. I wouldn’t dream of telling you not to do it. But that doesn’t mean I won’t stand back and try to take a look at the bigger picture. You never can tell if you might need to save it for something else.”

His explanation was very much like every other explanation he’d given her on how to budget.

If she prepared for the future now, then if something bad happened, she’d have the means to take care of herself.

It made her wonder how much Caleb had saved.

He’d never talked about finances with her.

Every time money came up, he brushed it off.

We have enough for what we need .

Wasn’t that what he always said?

And she didn’t need to go to school. “Are you sure you think it’s a good idea?” she asked hesitantly.

He tilted his head slightly. “Would it make you happy?”

“I know it will.”

“Then do it.” He smiled at her, and all those worries started to fade away.

“And you’re not just saying that?”

He chuckled. “Sammie, if I say something, I mean it. The only drawbacks to going back to school would be your schedule. You’re going to be busy—especially if you’d like to keep working.” Caleb shrugged. “I guess we’d need to figure that out, too. Do you want to keep working?”

She nodded vehemently. “I love it here. I just… want to be of more help.”

He pulled her close again. “You’re perfect the way you are. You don’t need to worry about fulfilling any expectations.”

Sammie didn’t miss the implications of his words. He was telling her that she was safe. Her father wasn’t going to make her feel less because he wasn’t here. She wrapped him in a tight hug. “I don’t know how I got to be so lucky to have you in my life.”

He chuckled. “I hardly call it luck. You practically bought me outright in college when I had nothing.”

She snickered. He wasn’t wrong. She’d spent almost as much money on him as she did herself when they’d gotten close. Sammie pulled back and patted his cheek. “Well, you’re one of my best investments.”

Over the next couple of weeks, Sammie started collecting brochures for different programs that would give her the certifications and the degree she needed to work in the veterinarian field. They varied in location and price, but for the most part, the cost was comparable.

She had them all spread out on the coffee table like she might have had bridal magazines had her wedding been more traditional. There were two in the running as top contenders that she continued to go back to.

None of it would matter, though, if she didn’t get her inheritance.

She hadn’t heard anything from the law office yet, but she’d had her fair share of calls from her father—not that she answered any of them. If her father wanted to speak to her, he could go through their lawyer.

Caleb had insisted.

And for the most part, she’d agreed.

Anytime she’d spoken to her father, he’d put doubts in her head—about herself, about her career, about her future. She just knew that the second he heard about her marriage, he’d do the same thing with Caleb.

As if simply thinking about him was all it took for him to appear, her phone on the table rang. She saw his name on the screen before she even reached for the device.

Her hand hovered over the phone, itching for her to just pick it up and see what he wanted. Was he aware of their marriage? Was he upset with her?

Probably yes—on both counts.

Caleb glanced at her from across the room. “Your dad?”

She nodded.

“Don’t answer.”

“I know,” she mumbled.

The phone rang again, and she sighed. “But what if he’s got information about my inheritance? Our wedding anniversary was last week.”

Caleb shook his head. “He can go through the lawyer. I don’t want him speaking to you.”

She frowned. It seemed like it would be easier if she just gave in and spoke to him. Caleb might be wrong.

A knock sounded at the front door, and Caleb put down the book he’d been reading on the couch as he stood. He pointed at the phone. “If he calls back again, just turn it off. You don’t owe him anything.”

She dragged her eyes to the phone the second Caleb trailed a hand along her shoulder. He reached the front door and opened it.

Silence was the only thing that reached her. Then Caleb’s low, angry voice.

“What are you doing here?”

“Where is she?”

Sammie knew that voice. She’d grown up hearing the disappointed tone and the way he could slice through her with one word.

Her head snapped up, and she stared at where Caleb stood.

She couldn’t see past him to where her father was likely standing on the front porch, but she knew he was there.

She got to her feet but couldn’t bring herself to move a step farther.

“You’re not welcome here. You need to leave.”

“She’s my daughter. I deserve to speak to her.”

“Deserve?” Caleb snorted. “She stopped being your daughter the second you started treating her like an asset and not your own flesh and blood.”

More silence.

Sammie moved toward the door. One step. Then another.

“I have business with her.”

“Then tell me,” Caleb shot back. “I’m her husband, after all.”

It was then that she peered over Caleb’s shoulder to see her father standing beneath the porch lights. He looked haggard, older, worn down despite his thousand-dollar suit. His eyes flicked to meet hers, and Caleb stiffened.

Sammie pressed her hand into Caleb’s then whispered, “It’s fine.”

“Sammie—”

“Didn’t you hear her? She said she was fine.” Her father narrowed his eyes at Caleb. If looks could cut, Caleb would be bleeding out.

Caleb glanced at Sammie, fury, concern, and disappointment in his own gaze. She flinched at the sight of it. Then he glanced from her to her father. “I’m not leaving.”

Before her father could say another word, Sammie turned to face Caleb. “You don’t have to go upstairs. Just… wait for me? In the living room?” She leaned closer, and her lips nearly brushed against Caleb’s ear. “Trust me? I think I need to settle this. Just one conversation.”

A muscle in his jaw flexed. There was a slight twitch near his eye. But the worst part was how hard he held to her hand. It was like he expected her father to steal her away from him. She gave it a squeeze and then jerked her head toward the living room.

Caleb stalked a few steps away, but she could feel him hovering.

Sammie turned to her father and folded her arms. She waited, not wanting to give him any additional ammunition to fling her way.

“Is that how you let him treat you?”

She flinched.

“Is this what you’ve been doing for the past year? What were you thinking, Sarah Ann? I thought we taught you better than this.”

“What did you come here for, Dad? I seriously doubt it was to insult my husband and me, but then sometimes you surprise me.” Her voice was weak, and she knew he could hear it.

He took a step closer, his voice lowering. “There’s only one reason why someone like him would marry you, you realize that, right?”

She looked away. “I’m not discussing my marriage with you. If you want to go over the terms of my inheritance, then I’m more than happy to confirm anything you need help on.”

“No reason to discuss any terms about any inheritance. I’m not ready to let you have it. I’m not sure I’ll ever be in favor of releasing it.” He frowned with disdain.

“Mom wanted me to have it. Why would you keep it from me?”

His lips curled into a sneer, his eyes growing dark. “If you think?—”

“That’s enough,” Caleb barked.

Sammie jumped at the sudden sound of him behind her. He stepped in front of her, pushing her behind him gently as he did. “If you didn’t come to congratulate us on our marriage, then you can leave. There’s no reason for you to be here tonight.”

Sammie wasn’t looking at her father. She cowered behind Caleb like the run-away she’d become.

That’s all she was. She hadn’t been able to stand up to her father a year ago, and she still couldn’t.

There was something that had been ingrained in her so deeply that there was no killing it.

Caleb had been right. She should have stayed away.

Because now, all she could think about was what her dad had started to say.

There’s only one reason why someone like him would marry you, you realize that, right?

One reason.

Not love.

Oh, definitely not love.

Her father was insisting there was a more sinister reason why Caleb would want to call her his wife.

And he was also reminding her that she’d been nothing but a disappointment for just about all her life.

Of course no man would love her for who she was.

The only reason a man would be with her was for her family’s money.

As much as she’d tried to push his negativity away, over the years it had been next to impossible to make herself believe her father was wrong.

At some point, the door had been slammed shut, and Caleb had walked her back to the couch. He’d pulled her into his lap and brushed a hand over her hair as she curled into him and let silent tears fall.