I just I couldn’t stand there and let them treat us like we were nothing.

Us.

Yates repeated the word softly.

You said us.

Olivia looked at him confused.

We’re married.

It is us.

In name only.

That was the arrangement.

The arrangement is that I’m your wife and you’re my husband.

That means when someone insults you, they insult me.

When someone threatens this ranch, they threaten my home.

I know I’m new here.

I know I don’t understand all the politics and history, but I understand loyalty, and I understand that if we don’t stand together, we’ll fall separately.

” Yates reigned his horse to a stop.

The afternoon sun was low, turning the prairie gold.

He looked at her with those steady gray eyes, and for the first time since she’d met him, she saw something unguarded in his face.

No one stood with me like that since my mother died.

His voice was rough.

Most people would have stayed quiet.

Played it safe.

I’m not most people.

No.

A real smile touched his mouth.

Small but genuine.

You’re really not.

They rode back to the ranch in companionable silence, and Olivia realized with surprise that the pain in her thighs had faded.

Or maybe she’d just stopped noticing it.

Either way, she felt something she hadn’t felt in months.

Strong, capable, like maybe she could survive this after all.

That feeling lasted exactly until they reached the ranchard and found the sheriff waiting.

He was a tired-l looking man in his 40s, sitting on his horse with the patience of someone used to long rides.

When he saw them approach, he dismounted and pulled a paper from his saddle bag.

Yates Sloan.

That’s me.

Got a complaint here from Robert Hutchkins.

Says your wife threatened him and made false accusations of theft.

He’s demanding an apology and compensation for emotional distress.

Olivia felt the blood drain from her face.

That’s absurd.

He stole our cattle.

The sheriff looked at her with something like pity.

You got proof of that, ma’am? Because Mr.

Hutchkins has three witnesses who say your cattle wandered onto his land through poor fence maintenance and you showed up making wild accusations.

His wife cut our fence.

Can you prove that? Silence.

Olivia looked at Yates, saw the resignation in his face.

They had nothing except suspicion and timing.

Didn’t think so.

The sheriff handed the paper to Yates.

I’m not saying you have to do anything about this complaint.

I’m just saying Mr.

Hutchkins has filed it officialike.

If you want to avoid court, might be wise to smooth things over.

And if we don’t, Yates’s voice was ice.

Then I expect I’ll be back here in a few weeks with a summons.

Your call.

The sheriff remounted.

For what it’s worth, I’ve known Robert Hutchkins a long time.

Man’s got a talent for making life difficult for people who cross him.

Just something to consider, he rode off, leaving Yates and Olivia standing in the yard with a complaint in hand and the sinking realization that her brave stand might have cost them everything.

Yates read the complaint twice, then handed it to Olivia without comment.

His face had gone back to that stone mask she’d seen on their first meeting.

I’m sorry.

Her voice was barely a whisper.

I thought you thought right.

Hutchkins was bluffing.

Problem is, he’s better at it than we are.

He’s got lawyers and witnesses and enough money to drag this through court for years.

Yates took off his hat, ran his hand through his hair.

We can’t fight him.

Not like this.

So, what do we do? I don’t know.

For the first time since she’d met him, [clears throat] Yates sounded defeated.

I built this ranch from nothing.

Survived drought and thieves and every kind of hardship.

But I can’t survive being bled dry by legal fees.

If Hutchkins pushes this, we lose everything.

Olivia looked at the house, the barn, the land stretching out in every direction.

3 days ago, she’d thought this was just a business arrangement, a practical solution to mutual problems.

But standing here watching the sunset paint the ranch gold, she realized it had become something more.

This was her home.

This man beside her, this hard, stubborn cowboy who’d offered her safety when she had nothing.

He was her partner and she just destroyed it all because her pride wouldn’t let her back down.

Then we fix it.

She forced strength into her voice she didn’t feel.

Tomorrow I’ll ride back to the Hutchinson’s place.

I’ll apologize.

I’ll smooth whatever needs smoothing and we’ll get through this.

You shouldn’t have to do that.

Yates’s voice was tight.

You were right.

They did steal our cattle.

You shouldn’t have to apologize for telling the truth.

But I will because keeping this ranch matters more than my pride.

She met his eyes.

You gave me a home when I had nothing.

The least I can do is swallow my pride to protect it.

Yates looked at her for a long moment.

Something complicated moving across his face.

Then he nodded once, sharp and final.

Tomorrow then we’ll go together.

Partners, remember? Partners, Olivia agreed, and tried not to think about how much that word had started to mean.

That night, neither of them slept much.

Olivia lay awake, staring at the ceiling, rehearsing apologies she didn’t mean, while downstairs, Yates paced the main room until the floorboards creaked protest.

They left at dawn without breakfast, Mick’s worried face watching from the kitchen window.

The ride was silent except for hoof beatats and the occasional call of a hawk overhead.

Olivia’s stomach twisted tighter with every mile.

Let me do the talking.

Yates finally broke the silence when the Hutchkins ranch came into view.

Whatever they say, whatever they do, I handle it.

We handle it.

Olivia’s jaw was set.

I started this.

I’m not hiding behind you.

You’re not hiding.

You’re being smart.

Robert wants blood.

No point giving him yours, too.

But when they rode into the yard, it wasn’t Robert who met them.

It was Sarah Hutchkins alone.

Her face stre with tears.

You need to leave.

Her voice shook.

Please just go.

He’s in town filing more complaints.

He’s not going to stop until he destroys you.

Yates dismounted slowly.

Why are you telling us this? Because this is wrong.

Sarah wrapped her arms around herself.

Mother wanted you to marry me when you didn’t when you married her instead.

She looked at Olivia with something like apology.

Father decided to teach you a lesson, but it’s gone too far.

He’s not just after your cattle anymore.

He’s going after your reputation, your credit, everything.

He told the bank president, “You’re unreliable.

He’s spreading rumors in town that your marriage is a fraud.

That you hired a woman to pretend to be your wife to manipulate business deals.

” Olivia felt her breath stop.

“That’s insane.

That’s my father.

” Sarah’s voice cracked.

“I’m sorry.

I’m so sorry.

I didn’t want any of this.

I never wanted to marry Yates.

I’m in love with someone else, but father won’t allow it because he’s just a ranch hand with no money.

This whole thing, it’s about control.

Father wants to control me, control you, control everyone around him.

Sarah.

Margaret’s voice cut across the yard like a whip.

She stood on the porch, her face twisted with fury.

Get inside this instant.

No.

Sarah straightened her spine.

I’m done being part of this.

These people never did anything to us except exist.

And you and father are trying to ruin them for spite.

You ungrateful little Margaret started down the steps, but Yates stepped between her and Sarah.

Mrs.

Hutchkins, we came here to apologize and settle this peacefully.

But if what Sarah says is true, if your husband is spreading lies about my marriage and my business, then we’ve got bigger problems than stray cattle.

My husband is protecting this community from frauds and opportunists.

Margaret’s voice dripped venom.

Everyone knows what she is.

She pointed at Olivia.

Some desperate woman from Boston who tricked you into marriage.

How much is she paying you to pretend to care about her? or did she offer other incentives? The insinuation landed like a slap.

Olivia’s hands clenched into fists, but before she could speak, Yates move forward so fast Margaret stumbled backward.

Say one more word about my wife and I’ll forget you’re a woman.

His voice was deadly quiet.

Olivia is worth 10 of you.

She’s got more courage, more intelligence, and more integrity in her little finger than your entire family combined.

And our marriage is real.

More real than whatever performance you and Robert put on for society.

How dare you? How dare you? Yates’s voice rose for the first time.

You come to my ranch making threats.

You steal my cattle.

You try to extort money.

And then you spread lies because I had the audacity to choose my own wife instead of letting you pick one for me.

Well, here’s the truth, Margaret.

I wouldn’t have married Sarah if she was the last woman in Wyoming.

Not because there’s anything wrong with her, but because I don’t take orders from bullies.

And that’s what you and Robert are.

Bullies with money who think you own people.

Margaret’s face went white, then red.

You’ll regret this.

My husband will make sure you lose everything.

Then he better be prepared to fight dirty because that’s the only kind of fight I know how to win.

Yates turned to Sarah.

You want out? You want to leave this place? Sarah’s eyes went wide.

I What? I’m serious.

You want to run to be with whoever it is you love? I’ll hire him at the Elorn.

both of you and I’ll make sure your father can’t touch you.

You can’t do that.

But Sarah’s voice held hope instead of certainty.

Watch me.

Yates looked at Margaret.

That’s your choice.

Keep pushing this fight and lose your daughter.

Or drop the complaints, return my cattle, and we all pretend this never happened.

You’ve got until sundown to decide.

He mounted his horse, waited for Olivia to do the same, and they rode off, leaving Margaret speechless and Sarah crying with something that looked like relief.

They were half a mile gone before Olivia found her voice.

Did you mean that about hiring Sarah and her man? Every word.

But that would make the Hutchkins family your permanent enemies.

They already are.

Yates’s jaw was tight.

At least this way.

Sarah gets free and we get workers who’ll be loyal because we save them.

It’s practical.

It’s kind.

Olivia’s throat felt thick.

You’re a good man, Yates Sloan.

I don’t think you let people see that enough.

Good men finish last on the frontier.

But his voice was softer than usual.

Besides, what Margaret said about you about our marriage being fake, that got under my skin.

People can say what they want about me, but nobody talks about you like that.

Something warm unfurled in Olivia’s chest.

Why do you care? It’s not like we married for love.

It shouldn’t matter what people think.

Yates was quiet for so long, she thought he wouldn’t answer.

Then maybe it started as business, but somewhere along the way it started feeling like more than that, at least to me.

Olivia’s heart stuttered.

What are you saying? I’m saying I like having you at my table.

I like hearing your ideas about the ranch.

I like how you stood up to Robert Hutchkins even though it scared you.

I like how you help Mick in the kitchen even though you don’t have to.

I like He stopped.

Seemed to struggle.

I like having a partner, a real one.

And that wasn’t part of the arrangement, but it’s what’s happening anyway.

Yates, you don’t have to say anything.

I know the contract.

Separate rooms, marriage and name only.

Option to dissolve.

Nothing’s changed legally.

I just wanted you to know where my head’s at.

Where my He couldn’t finish.

Where his heart was.

That’s what he meant.

Olivia stared at him.

This hard man who’d offered her survival and was now offering something far more dangerous.

I need to think.

Her voice came out strangled.

This is It’s a lot.

Take all the time you need.

But something in his face had closed off.

Gone back to that stone mask.

We should get back.

Town meeting tonight.

Everyone will have heard about the Hutchkins situation by now.

Need to do damage control.

The town meeting was held in the church, a small building that smelled of old wood and older prayers.

Every rancher within 20 m was there, their faces ranging from curious to hostile.

Olivia felt their eyes on her like brands.

Yates stood at the front and told the story simply.

The fence, the cattle, the confrontation.

He didn’t mention Margaret’s insults or Sarah’s offer to help.

He just laid out facts and waited.

Thomas Warren, who owned the ranch adjacent to Hutchkins, stood up.

Robert’s been pulling this kind of stunt for years.

He did it to me back in ‘ 83.

cut my fence, stole six head, demanded payment.

I paid because I couldn’t afford a fight.

Sounds like you folks did the right thing standing up to him.

Or you made yourselves targets.

That was James Porter, a banker who did business with Hutchkins.

Robert’s got friends in the territorial government.

He can make life very difficult for people who cross him.

Let him try.

Yates’s voice was flat.

I’m not paying extortion.

Anyone else who’s been victimized by Hutchkins, now’s the time to speak up.

Safety in numbers.

Three more ranchers stood up with stories of similar incidents.

The mood in the room shifted from hostile to angry, but not at Yates, at the Hutchkins family, who’d apparently been running a protection racket for years.

We should file a group complaint.

Warren’s face was hard.

Get the territorial marshall involved.

Hutchkins can’t bully all of us.

Plans were made.

Documents would be gathered.

Witnesses would testify.

For the first time since the sheriff had delivered that complaint, Olivia felt like they might actually win this.

Then she heard the whispers.

She’d gone outside for air, needed to escape the crush of bodies and the smell of tobacco.

Two women stood by a wagon, their voices low, but not low enough.

I heard she trapped him, got herself in trouble, and forced his hand.

That’s not what I heard.

I heard she’s running from the law.

Some scandal back east.

He married her, not knowing what kind of woman she really is.

Poor Yates.

Finally builds something worthwhile, and this gold digger shows up to take it all.

Mark my words, within a year she’ll have cleaned him out and disappeared.

Olivia stood frozen, her chest so tight she couldn’t breathe.

These women didn’t know her, didn’t know anything about why she’d come here or what her life had been, but they decided she was garbage anyway.

Ladies, Yates’s voice cut through the darkness.

He’d followed her out.

If you’ve got something to say about my wife, say it to my face.

The women startled, faces going guilty and defiant at once.

We were just talking, Yates.

No harm meant.

No harm.

His voice could cut steel.

You’re calling my wife a gold digger and a criminal.

That sounds like harm to me.

Well, you have to admit the timing is suspicious.

A stranger shows up.

you marry her within a week.

The timing is none of your business.

My marriage is none of your business.

And if I hear you spreading gossip about Olivia again, I’ll make it my business to ensure your husbands know exactly what kind of Christian charity you practice.

The women fled.

Yates turned to Olivia and she realized her face was wet.

She hadn’t even felt herself start crying.

Hey.

His voice went soft.

Don’t let them get to you.

They’re just bored housewives with nothing better to do than tear down people they’re jealous of.

Jealous? Olivia laughed harsh and broken.

Of what? My fake marriage? My desperate circumstances? They’re right, Yates.

This whole thing is suspicious.

I am running from something.

I did show up and trap you into marriage because I had no other options.

Maybe they see the truth clearer than we do.

No.

Yates grabbed her shoulders, forced her to look at him.

They see gossip and scandal because that’s what they want to see.

They don’t see how hard you work, how you’ve improved the ranch finances in less than two weeks.

How you stood up to Robert Hutchkins when most men would have backed down.

They don’t see any of that because they don’t want to.

But they’re not completely wrong.

Olivia’s voice broke.

I did trap you.

Not intentionally, but that’s what it amounts to.

You needed a wife to satisfy your sisters.

I needed a home.

We made a deal.

But it wasn’t fair to you because I brought my mess with me.

And now the Hutchkins family is trying to destroy you because of me.

Stop.

Yates’s hands moved from her shoulders to frame her face, and the gentleness in his touch nearly broke her.

Listen to me.

You didn’t trap me.

I chose this.

I chose you.

And I choose you again, knowing everything I know now.

The gossip, the Hutchkins fight, all of it.

Because having you here, having a partner who actually gives a damn about this ranch and about me, that’s worth whatever trouble comes with it.

Why? Olivia whispered.

Why would you choose this? Choose me.

Because when I look at you, I see someone who refuses to quit.

Someone who came west with nothing and built a place for herself through pure determination.

Someone who’s brave and smart and honest in a world full of cowards and fools.

His thumbs brushed away her tears.

And somewhere along the way, I stopped seeing you as just a business partner.

I started seeing you as the person I want beside me.

Not because I have to have you there, because I want you there.

The world narrowed to his hands on her face, his eyes on hers, his breath mixing with hers in the cold night air.

Yates, I can’t.

This wasn’t supposed to be.

I know.

And if you want to stick with the original arrangement, we will.

separate rooms, business partnership, nothing more.

But I needed you to know how I feel.

Even if you don’t feel the same.

That’s the problem.

Olivia’s voice shook.

I do feel the same.

I didn’t mean to.

I didn’t want to, but I look at you and I see someone who gave me safety when I had none.

Someone who defended me to Margaret Hutchkins and those gossiping women and everyone else who thinks they have the right to judge.

Someone who’s hardworking and honorable and so damn stubborn he’d fight the whole territory to protect what’s his.

She paused.

And I think I might be falling in love with you.

Which is terrifying because I don’t know how to be a wife.

A real wife.

and I don’t know if I’m strong enough for what that means out here.

Yates’s face transformed.

The hardness melted into something raw and vulnerable and completely unguarded.

You’re the strongest person I’ve ever met.

His voice was rough.

And you’re already a real wife.

You’ve been one since the day you stood up to Robert Hutchkins and told him we were partners.

since you reorganized my filing system and negotiated better supply contracts and helped Mick with breakfast even though you didn’t have to.

You’ve been my wife in every way that matters except one.

Except one, Olivia repeated and her heart hammered so hard she thought he must hear it.

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