Page 20 of A Montana Fake Marriage (Sagebrush Ranch Sweethearts #1)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Caleb could have predicted that something was going to go wrong. In his gut, he knew it would. There had never in his life been a time of happiness when fate hadn’t decided to rear its ugly head and tear his happiness to shreds—or the happiness of those he cared about.

He’d seen it when he was a kid. His grandfather had fallen on hard times and had moved in with their family. His parents had gone from purchasing all the fun name brand cereals and clothes he’d liked to generic and no name brands. Sometimes clothes came secondhand from Goodwill stores.

He would never say that his grandfather was a burden on their family. He was loved, and Caleb wouldn’t have wanted to leave him out on the street.

But that experience had settled with him in ways that shaped who he was. He’d vowed that he would always be able to provide for his own family.

That wasn’t the only instance he’d experienced. There were many. Somehow life had a way of knocking people to their knees when they least expected it.

Sammie had been brought to hers more than once while Caleb knew her.

She had long since fallen asleep, her head in his lap. He stared down at her peaceful face and traced his fingers through her hair. Gone was the torment from her father’s visit, but the second she roused, it would return.

Sammie had lost her mother. Then her inheritance. Now her father was threatening to take away the happiness she’d found with Caleb.

A knot of worry formed in his chest. He could tell her father meant to do just that. All he’d have to do was sow the seeds of doubt in his daughter for her to go running home to him. This was all about control. Caleb’s father-in-law fed off it.

The more Caleb watched Sammie sleep, the more his anxiety grew. He could feel his own sense of control slipping. He’d thought bringing Sammie here and marrying her would solve their problems. But apparently, they couldn’t hide forever.

“Caleb? What are you still doing up?”

Caleb turned to find his mother standing a few feet away. The only light offered to him was that of the dying embers in the fireplace. She was dressed in her pajamas, a glass of water in her hand. Her eyes took him in and then swept over Sammie before her features softened.

“How is she doing?”

He wasn’t sure how much his mother knew of Sammie’s father. He’d told her only a couple things, and it appeared that no one in his family really liked the man—but that was understandable with how he treated his own blood. Caleb let his attention drift to Sammie. “I don’t know,” he whispered.

His mother moved farther into the room and took a seat near him.

She frowned as she watched Sammie sleep.

She didn’t know the full truth about the inheritance.

And there was no way he’d ever admit to her that they’d gotten married without the intention of staying together.

All she would ever know was that they were in love.

Finally, she glanced up at him. “What did he want?”

Caleb shrugged.

At her look of disbelief, he sighed.

“He wasn’t happy that we’re married.”

Her brows lifted with surprise, but she didn’t make another comment, making it clear she wanted him to continue.

He sighed again, this time raking a hand through his hair before he whispered, “He never approved of me. He thinks that she deserves better—someone who can give her everything. You know how rich people can be.”

She offered him a sympathetic look, but he didn’t let her try to make him feel better.

“And he said he’s not going to release her trust to her.”

At that, his mother’s expression went blank. “How could he keep something like that from her?”

He blew out a long breath. How was he going to make this sound like they hadn’t been aware of the rules?

“I guess… there were some conditions put in place for the money to be released to her. She was supposed to get it after she was married or after she’d worked for him.

There are a couple other things.” He waved a dismissive hand.

“I’m not one hundred percent sure on how it all works.

We hadn’t expected to see him show up, so it’s all news to me.

” Caleb refused to maintain eye-contact with his mother.

She was a master at reading him, and this blatant lie would most definitely get him in trouble.

“I don’t mean to butt into your business, but have you spoken to a lawyer?

I know it’s a bit uncomfortable for Sammie to go after her father through the legal system, but he does have a history of dishonesty with her.

That might be the best plan.” His mom nodded as she stated what was obvious to both of them.

He peeked at her. “As hard as it was to do it, we’ve started a suit. I’m sure Mr. Michaels will hit the roof when he finds out.”

She nodded. “Well, I know it was a hard decision. If you need any help just let me know.”

“Thanks, Mom, but I don’t…” His voice trailed off as his thoughts shifted to his grandfather. “I don’t want you to worry about us. You have so much on your plate as it is.”

Another small smile touched her lips, and she stood. In a few steps, she reached him and cupped his chin in her fingers. “You’re my son. I will always be here for you no matter what.” She dipped lower and pressed a kiss to the crown of his head. “You should get to sleep. It’s late.”

He nodded. The problem he was dealing with was that he didn’t want to rouse Sammie.

She’d cried more than he’d expected her to.

Chances were high she’d wake up with a different kind of hangover.

As he watched his mother leave the room, he considered the temptation to just try to get comfortable and sleep sitting upright on the couch.

His plans were changed when Sammie got restless about a half hour later. She peered up at him in the darkness and placed both hands on her face. “I’m so sorry,” she murmured.

Caleb didn’t hesitate to pull her hands from her face. He wanted her to make sure she was looking at him when he said, “You have nothing to be sorry about. Do you hear me?”

She blinked at him, fresh tears pooling in her eyes. Then she nodded.

“Come on, let’s get you to bed.”

They wandered through the sleeping house.

It was a little past one in the morning, and he was going to be feeling the exhaustion when he had to be up in five hours.

Sammie removed her pants but not her shirt and climbed beneath the comforter.

When he took a step toward his cot, she snatched his hand.

He couldn’t see her face when he turned toward her in the dark. Her soft voice sent a shiver down his spine. “Stay with me,” she whispered.

Caleb wasn’t sure he’d heard her correctly. Since confessing their love for one another, they’d only ever kissed. He could tell she wasn’t asking him for anything more—physically—but this quiet request was something new. He swallowed hard, hesitating, wondering exactly what she wanted from him.

Sammie tugged on his hand. “I don’t want to sleep alone.”

“You won’t be alone,” he murmured. “I’ll be right over?—”

“Caleb,” she pleaded. “Will you… just… hold me?”

Still, he hesitated. They were in the middle of a battleground as far as he was concerned.

He’d be tempting fate if he did as she asked.

To climb into bed with her, even though they were married, seemed like such a big step.

He wasn’t sure he wanted to take it when he got the feeling their lives hung in the balance.

“Please,” she whispered, her voice emotional.

He couldn’t stand the pain in that singular word.

All he wanted to do was pull her close to him and take away all the heartache her father had thrown at her.

Finally, he nodded. Wordlessly, he pulled off his socks and changed into a pair of pajama pants.

Then he climbed atop the bed, the comforter layered between them.

The only blanket that covered him was a throw that had been placed at the foot of their bed.

Caleb faced Sammie, and she scooted into him.

She pulled his arm beneath her head, and he draped his other arm around her waist. He breathed in her scent, soaked up her warmth, and reveled in this moment—because he knew it would be fleeting.

He didn’t know what would change in the coming months, but something would, and he wanted to be able to appreciate what he had while he had it.

Sammie’s phone vibrated on the table between them. Caleb’s eyes snagged on the device before lifting to Sammie’s face. She didn’t even bother to glance at it before she dug her fork into her salad, nor did she look in his direction.

That reaction alone told him everything he wanted to know.

Her father was still trying to reach out to her.

“Why don’t you just block him?”

Her eyes flitted up to meet his, unreadable.

“I’m serious, Sammie. He’s not doing you any favors. He’s trying to sabotage everything you’ve worked for.”

She huffed. “But that’s just it, isn’t it? I didn’t work for a dime of what he’d be giving me. I haven’t earned it.”

His eyes narrowed. Is that what this was about?

She didn’t think she deserved to have the money that her mother set aside for her?

Caleb reached across the table and took her hand, forcing her to abandon the fork she held.

Slowly, her eyes lifted to meet his. “That money is yours, Sammie. Whatever you want to do with it, you should be able to. He can’t stop you.

Everything we’ve done is for our future. ”

Something dangerous flickered in her eyes. He couldn’t tell what it was, and he was honestly scared to ask her what she was thinking. His thoughts shifted back to the night when he’d held her while she’d cried.

Sammie pulled her hand from his and nodded. “You’re right. I know you’re right.”

Even to him, her voice didn’t sound like she believed herself. “Sammie…” he hedged. “It’s your inheritance. Your mother would have wanted you to have that money so you could be happy.”