Brazen (11 page)

"Marry your daughter?" Frank remembered the run-in
Michael had had with her down at the river. "Honestly,
after what happened between them in the past, I don't
think he's too fond of her."

"This isn't about the past," Jack said somberly, meeting
Frank's gaze again. "It's about the future the future of
the Bar T and the Circle D.Think about what I've said. I
don't have much time, and I can't say anything to Casey
until I know what you're willing to do."

Frank said nothing more. He was lost in thought.

Jack turned and let himself out. He drove away slowly,
still unsure of what the future held.

"You want me to do what?" Michael stared at his father
in disbelief as he faced him in his bedroom later that
afternoon.

"You heard me. You have to many Casey Turner."

"You can't be serious."

"I've never been more serious in my life," Frank said
somberly and explained everything Jack had told him.

"It makes more sense for you to buy the Bar T."

"Not to Jack. He's worried about his daughter."

"He should be," Michael remarked sarcastically.
"Surely they've got a relative somewhere who would take
her in."

"No, they've got no other family. When he dies, she'll
be left on her own."

"Somehow, I think Casey will be able to take care of
herself."

"Jack doesn't. He wants to make sure she's protected.
With no close relatives to rely on, getting her married off
before he dies is the only way."

"This is ridiculous. Tell him to find somebody else. I
don't want anything to do with her." Michael couldn't
believe what his father was asking of him.

"Michael-" his mother put in gently. She'd been sitting
quietly in the room with them, listening to their exchange.
"Your father wouldn't ask this of you unless he thought
there was no other way. If John McQueen gains control
of the Bar T and cuts off our water..."

Michael looked between his parents and suddenly realized how serious the situation was.

"I'll be back later," he told them.

He needed time to think. Without another word he
strode from the bedroom.

Nick was waiting for him in the parlor, but Michael
didn't stop to speak with him. He just called out that he'd
see him later as he left the house. Getting his horse from
the stable, he rode off, desperate for time alone.

Michael spurred his horse to a gallop. He raced mindlessly across the miles of Donovan land. When he finally
reined in, he was on a hilltop that overlooked the boundary of the Circle D and the Bar T.He sat there, staring out
across the countryside.

When he had come back home, he had not intended
to stay forever. He'd believed his future was in the East.

Until now.

Finally in that moment, Michael acknowledged to himself that he loved this land. His love for the Circle D was real. It was a part of him that could not be denied.

As the reality of his feelings took hold, he accepted full
responsibility for the ranch's survival. Success rested on
his shoulders. He would make whatever sacrifice was
necessary to keep the Circle D going.

He wondered again if there was any way to protect the
ranch without agreeing to the marriage, but he already
knew the answer. Jack Turner was a hard man, a proud
man. Just the fact that he had come to the Circle D to
speak with his father showed how desperate he was. Michael knew that if he refused to many Casey, Jack would
probably sell to McQueen just to spite them.

Marry Casey.

Michael thought of the wild young woman and
frowned. He couldn't even begin to imagine what being
married to her wouldbe like. She was a wildcat --a troublemaker--an untamed female, and it was going to be
up to him to tame her.

Man that he was, Michael accepted what he had to do.

To save the Circle D, he would go through with the
marriage to Casey Turner.

Jack was exhausted as he ate dinner with Casey that evening. The trip to the Circle D had worn him out, and he
was nervous as he awaited Frank's answer.

Jack was tempted not to say a word to Casey about his
plan until he had heard something, but he knew that
wasn't fair.

He had to warn her.

He had to tell her what he'd done.

Jack looked up at: his daughter and girded himself for
what was to come. He was certain her reaction wasn't
going to be pretty. He was glad she was so busy wolfing
down her food like a starving ranch hand that she was
unaware of his scrutiny.

He took the time to study her. After a day of riding and
roping, Casey was as dirty and unkempt as any of the
men. When she washed her hair and took a bath, she did
look a little like her mother God rest his beloved Emily's
soul. Right now, though, Casey bore little resemblance to
the beautiful young woman he knew she had the potential to be.

"Casey," Jack began, for the time had come.

"Yeah, Pa?" She kept eating as she looked up at him.

"We need to talk. It's important."

Casey was instantly alert. "Are you feeling all right?"

"This isn't about me It's about you."

"Me?"

"That's right. There's something you need to knosomething I've done."

"I don't understand." She stopped eating to stare at him.

"I didn't figure you would." Jack was hedging, trying to
avoid the explosion that was coming. "There may be
some big changes in our future."

"You're not thinking of selling the ranch, are you?"

"No. No."

"Good. I can keep the place going. I know I can, and
I've been thinking of ways to come up with the money in
time to pay off the bank loan."

"That's exactly what I have to tell you. I've already figured out a way to do it."

"You have?"

"That's right, and if everything turns out the way I hope
it will, the Bar T will be safe."

"What's your plan? Can I help?"

"Oh, yes. I will need your help. That's for sure." Jack
drew a deep breath.

"What do you need me to do? Name it. I'm ready."
Casey was eager to do whatever was necessary.

"While you were working today, 1 went to see Frank
Donovan."

Casey stared at him as if he were crazy. "What? You
promised me you were going to rest like the doctor ordered! Are you trying to kill yourself?"

"No."

"Then why would you go see Donovan?"

"Because making a deal with him is the only thing that's
going to save us."

"What? You made a deal with Donovan?" She was
shocked. "Things are that bad?"

"Yes. They are that bad," he told her in the gentlest
voice he could use. "And if Donovan doesn't go along
with my idea, we will lose everything."

"No, we won't! There's a lot I can do! I told you I was
making plans," she insisted, blindly refusing to accept the
inevitable. "We are not going to lose the Bar T! We can
try to sell horses to the cavalry. They might be interested."

"Casey, listen to me," he interrupted her. "I know you
work hard here. I know you love the Bar T, but we both know the ranch has gone through some rough times
lately. We never had a lot of money to begin with. We
never needed it. Somehow we always made do, but things
have changed now. With the bank pressuring us for such
a quick repayment, I had to do something drastic. The
plan I've suggested to Frank Donovan will help both us
and the Circle D."

"Why would you suddenly start trusting Frank Donovan
after all these years?" she demanded in a worried tone.

"I had no choice." He paused and looked up at her. "I
had to make sure you were going to be protected."

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm worried about your future. After I was ill the other
day, I realized how terrible things would be for you if I
wasn't here."

"I can take care of myself."

"Not if you're left homeless with no family."

"That's not going to happen."

"You're right. It's not going to happen, because I've
made a deal with Donovan. If everything works out the
way I hope it will, you'll be taken care of no matter what
happens to me."

"What's going to happen to you?" She gave him a worried look, wondering if there was something more she
should know about his health. When he'd gotten up and
started moving around so soon, she'd thought he was doing all right.

Jack quickly covered his slip. "Nothing is going to happen to me, but I've started to worry about these things,
just in case."

"Well, I wish you wouldn't."

"I have to, and that's why 1 met with Frank Donovan."

The moment had finally arrived.

There was no way to avoid it any longer. He had to tell
her. Jack met his daughter's gaze straight on.

"I talked to Frank Donovan, and I told him I wanted
Michael to marry you."

Marry Michael Donovan!

Casey was shocked to the depths of her soul.

"You didn't."

She wanted him to deny it.

She prayed he would deny it.

"I did. With the two of you married, the ranches will be
united," he confirmed. "Frank is talking to Michael right
now. We'll have his answer, one way or another, real
soon."

"You offered me up to Michael Donovan? Just like a
steer at market?" Casey demanded in outrage.

"I did what I had to do to protect you and to save the
Bar T.It was the only way."

"Surely there's something else we can do," she raged
in utter humiliation.

Marry Michael Donovan?

"Casey"

He spoke her name so solemnly that she grew silent
and lifted her troubled gaze to his.

"There was no other way. Believe me, if there was I
would have done it. A marriage between you and Michael
is the only way to insure we won't lose the Bar T."

"We can't lose the ranch."

"We will, unless-"

"I many Michael," she finished flatly.

The thought of marrying anyone bothered her, but the
prospect of marrying Michael Donovan was almost frightening to Casey, and she didn't scare easily.

"Michael will never marry me. He hates me," she said
with what little confidence she could muster. She remembered their encounter in town and knew that the animosity between them had not faded during his time away
from Hard Luck. She swallowed nervously.

"I guess we'll find out soon enough. If Michael agrees
to the marriage, I am going to make sure you retain title
to the Bar T.That way I know you will always be protected."

"I don't need the Donovans to protect me," she scoffed,
angry over being perceived as so defenseless. "I don't
need anybody to protect me. I know how to use a gun."

"Casey, I understand how you feel about the Donovans.
Granted, I've had no use for them for years, but there is
one thing about Frank he's smart. He knows a good
deal when he hears one. If he wants control of the water
on the Bar T, he'll find a way to convince Michael to
marry you."

Convince Michael to many you.

Her father's words hurt.

Casey was no romantic. She'd never harbored any
dream of a romantic wedding, but she'd never imagined
that the man she married would have to be "convinced"
to go through with the ceremony, either. She had always
thought she would be in love with the man she wed, but there was one thing she knew for sure. She didn't love
Michael, and Michael harbored no love for her in his
heart.

"How could you even think I'd marry Michael?" she
asked, her emotions in turmoil. She thought of the way
he'd looked when she'd seen him in town. He was a
dandy now, a dude. He probably wasn't even going to
stay on his father's ranch. He was probably going back
East with his cousin just as soon as he could. He wouldn't
many her.

Pain filled Jack as he saw Casey's distress. He had to
convince her that this would be for the best.

"Listen to me, child," he insisted. "There is nothing unusual about an arranged marriage. If the two of you do
get wed, it will benefit you both. You love the Bar T, don't
you?"

When she didn't answer, he repeated himself.

"Casey you don't want to lose the ranch, do you?"

"No," she said tightly. A part of her accepted her fate,
but there remained a glimmer of hope within her that
Michael would refuse to go along with their fathers' plan.
"How soon do you think we'll hear something from
them?"

"Soon very soon."

Casey said no more as she got up from the table. Unease gripped her. Her appetite was gone. She wanted
nothing more than to be left alone with her thoughts.

Retiring to her room, she washed up and got ready for
bed, but sleep eluded her. She lay there thinking of Michael, picturing him as he'd looked when she'd seen him in town and remembering the man he'd been before he'd
gone back East.

Casey wondered where Michael was and what he was
thinking at this moment. She wondered if he was as upset
as she was. When she finally drifted off, her sleep was
troubled.