Page 22 of A Montana Fake Marriage (Sagebrush Ranch Sweethearts #1)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

The next couple of weeks, Sammie would have to be available for an official interview and a few drop-in visits.

Though they’d spent preparation time with their lawyer, she still didn’t feel ready to go through all this.

She’d heard from Caleb that some of his family members were being interviewed as well.

Guilt wracked her body as she thought about how everyone had been dragged into this situation. While Caleb wanted to blame her father, all she could do was blame herself. She couldn’t help it. This was her mess, and she’d set it into motion when she’d agreed to marry Caleb in the first place.

Her fears and anxiety ate at her to the point that she couldn’t stand being at the ranch.

There was something about being in a place where she didn’t feel she deserved the love and affection of those who resided there.

Every time she saw Caleb’s mother or spoke to his cousins, she hated herself more.

It didn’t matter how many times Caleb had insisted that she was perfectly fine—that his family was nothing like her father—she couldn’t bring herself to get past the ache she felt.

That was why she’d borrowed Hallie’s car and gone to town.

She’d needed some time and space to work through what was going on.

Ever since her father had tracked her down, all she could hear were those dreadful words he’d flung at her.

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

At first, she’d thought that her father was judging her; that he wanted her to know that someone as handsome and strong as Caleb was better than she was, that her value was nonexistent.

But the more she thought about it, the more she realized her father had always been judgmental of those who had less than him. And she’d finally connected the dots.

People with less always wanted more.

People with plenty always wanted more.

And what would she be bringing to the table that he couldn’t?

More.

The thought had sat in her stomach, sour and all consuming. Whenever Caleb looked at her, all she could do was question the why. What else besides money did she bring to the table? She knew what he could bring.

He was smart. He was strong. He knew how to care for his family. There was not a single doubt in her mind that he would make a good husband and father.

But Sammie?

She didn’t know how to manage her money. Up until a year ago, she hadn’t even had a job. She didn’t know how to be a mother, and she wasn’t even sure she was a good wife.

Sammie leaned her head back in the car and closed her eyes. She’d sat in this car for the better part of a half hour trying to get up the energy to go into the bookstore she’d passed a hundred times.

Normally, she would have already been inside and had an armful of things she wanted to purchase. Normally , there would have been half a dozen bags from other stores in the back seat.

The truth was, Sammie wasn’t the same person she’d been a year ago. She’d lost her ability to just spend money for the heck of it. Everything she picked up and considered purchasing, she’d ask herself if she really needed it.

And the weirdest part was that she didn’t feel like she was missing out on anything. She simply didn’t have any desire for things that would ultimately gather dust.

Perhaps she was growing up.

Sammie heaved a sigh and stared at the bookstore through her front window.

Caleb would be proud of her for the self-control she’d managed to gain.

Heck, he probably would have told her she earned the chance to splurge a little—because heaven knew he liked to get her a little something here and there.

That’s what made his gifts so special, she’d realized. Caleb would pick something simple, and it would mean so much more to her than anything she would have bought herself.

While she didn’t have any desire to purchase anything, she still didn’t want to go home. She needed to clear her head.

With a huff, she shoved the car door open and headed out into the summer heat.

Groups of people and couples wandered in and out of the bookstore.

It was busy for a Friday afternoon, or at least it felt that way.

The daily temperatures had risen to the high seventies these days, and it was nice to have an excuse to wander a business with air conditioning.

She loved the bookstore more than the other boutique places on the street. It was quiet here, more like a library than anything else. There was a small coffee shop in the center of the store, and the smell of fresh ground coffee filled the space.

Without a second thought, Sammie moved toward the coffee bar and got in line. She wouldn’t be buying a book, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t splurge on a little treat. She’d only been in line for five minutes before she felt his presence.

Sammie didn’t know what it was that tipped her off to her father’s company, but she wasn’t surprised when she turned around and found him standing behind her.

She sucked in sharply, mostly out of shock that he was in Rocky Ridge than anything else. The last time he had reached out to her had been two weeks ago. He’d sent her a message letting her know that she would be getting word from her lawyer regarding her inheritance.

Then nothing.

He stared down at her, his eyes a mixture of hardness and… was that a glint of concern?

Sammie shoved that thought aside immediately.

Her father had only ever been hard on her.

He’d only ever judged her for the decisions she’d made.

There was a reason she didn’t like being in the same house as him—especially after her mother had passed.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded, hating the way her voice wavered.

Her father arched a brow. “I’ve been trying to figure out a way to get you to speak to me.”

She snorted, turning away from him. “Caleb said to go through our lawyer.”

“He’s the one I want to talk to you about.”

That tickle of fear immediately wrapped around her neck, cutting off her ability to breathe.

She didn’t want to talk about Caleb. She already knew what he was going to say.

He’d tell her it was a bad idea to be married to a guy who didn’t have anything financially, and she didn’t want to have to argue with him—mostly because she knew she was going to lose.

“I don’t have anything to say to you,” she whispered.

He must have heard her because he gently touched her upper arm. “Sarah Ann,” he said. “Will you just have a coffee with me?”

She stilled. Perhaps if she agreed to speak to him, then she’d be able to get him to leave her alone. Slowly, she turned. “And if I do? Will you drop all this interview nonsense and let me live my life the way I want to?”

The planes of his face hardened once more. “I’m not going to let you make a mistake?—”

“Then I don’t want to talk to you.”

“Sarah Ann,” he said, firmer this time. “We need to have an adult conversation about what you’re doing and the danger you’re putting yourself in.”

She scoffed, turning to face him once more. “Danger? I’m not in any danger, Dad.”

“Well, you’re not being smart about any of this.”

A derisive laugh escaped her throat. “And that’s what this all boils down to, isn’t it? I’m not smart. I’ve never been smart enough for you. I’m well aware that you think you deserved a much better daughter than the one you got.”

A few people glanced in their direction as her voice rose a little louder than she’d intended. Her father took note and ducked his head. “This isn’t the place to?—”

“You know what? Fine. We can have a drink and move this conversation to where people aren’t judging you for being a bad father. But after we’re done, I don’t ever want to see you again.”

He stiffened. She didn’t know why she was surprised when he gave her a curt nod and motioned to a couple of tables that were over by the windows that lined the shop. “I’ll be over there.”

With each passing second, she grew more anxious.

Part of her wanted to grab her coffee and escape.

Another part of her screamed that this was wrong, and she should be calling Caleb or her lawyer to have them mediate such a conversation.

In the end, she wanted to show her father that she was brave and strong.

She wanted him to know she didn’t fear him anymore.

Sammie yanked out the chair a little too forcefully before she took a seat in front of her father. His flat expression didn’t change one bit even as she glowered at him. “You’ve got five minutes.”

A wry smile tugged at his lips. “I doubt five minutes will be nearly enough to?—”

“Four minutes and fifty seconds.”

Her father’s eyes narrowed, and he leaned forward. “Fine. I’ve looked into your husband, Sarah Ann, and do you know what I found?”

She stiffened. Caleb wasn’t a criminal, so she couldn’t imagine that he’d find a record of any kind.

“While his extended family has done well for themselves, Caleb’s family has struggled at best. His grandfather lost his house about fifteen years ago—foreclosure.

His folks moved here a couple years ago after they sold their house for far less than they’d paid for it.

They were upside down on their mortgage and had to pay the bank the difference. ”

Her mouth hung open. “You can’t seriously be telling me that you looked into their finances. I don’t even know how you did?—”

“If that young man comes from a family who struggled as much as they have… think about where he probably stands financially.”

Sammie folded her arms. “It doesn’t matter.”

“It should,” he snapped.

“Why?” she demanded. “As long as we have food on the table and clothes on our backs, what does it matter?”

He leaned forward, and his voice lowered. “Because you weren’t raised to live in squalor.”