She Was Sold Beside Her Sister, The Cowboy Said “You’ll Both Have A Home With Me”

Chapter 7

—and gave him the truest thing she had. “And I with you, Garrett Maddox. I think I’ve loved you since the moment you said ‘not a penny more.'”

He kissed her knuckles, then, in the dark, on the porch, with the stars wheeling overhead, and it felt like the first warm thing the world had given her in years. “What do we do now?” he asked.

“We take our time,” she said. “We get to know each other properly, without the shadows of contracts and obligations. And when the time is right, we’ll know it.”

They did. Summer came to the Aurora on long, sun-drenched days, and their courtship was a careful, delicate thing. Sunday rides across the prairie. Picnics by the creek that marked the western boundary. Evenings on the porch, talking about books and dreams and the people they had been. Never alone — Garrett’s respect for her reputation meant Mrs. Beale or Rose or Toby was always within earshot. But in the look that passed between them across a dinner table, in the brush of his hand as he helped her into the wagon, their connection deepened into something that needed no words.

Rose, meanwhile, had bloomed into a friendship with Toby that was clearly ripening into more. The young foreman found increasingly transparent excuses to appear at the kitchen door, and Rose’s cheeks went pink whenever his name was spoken. “You should invite Toby to dinner more often,” Eliza suggested one evening as they reviewed the month’s accounts. “I think Rose would enjoy that.”

Garrett looked up from the ledger, amused. “Toby has dined here three times this week already. Any more and he might as well move in.”

“He’s a good young man,” Eliza said.

“The best,” Garrett agreed. “His father’s been my foreman for fifteen years, and Toby’s worked beside him since he was tall enough to reach a bridle.” He studied her. “You approve of his attention to your sister?”

“Rose is young, but she has a good heart and sound judgment. And she’s happy when he’s around.” Eliza paused, and heard her own boldness before she could stop it. “Like I’m happy when you’re around.”

Garrett reached across the desk and took her hand. “I never expected this, Eliza. When I saw you and Rose on that platform, I was thinking only of saving you from a terrible fate. Not of finding my own happiness.”

“Life has a way of surprising us,” she said softly.

The Fourth of July dawned clear and hot. They traveled to town in two wagons — Garrett driving Eliza, Rose, and Mrs. Beale in the first, Toby following with the ranch hands in the second. Rose looked particularly pretty in a new yellow dress she had made herself, and the town was decked with flags and bunting, the main street closed to traffic and filled with tables and chairs.

Their group was warmly welcomed now. Townspeople greeted Eliza as a respected member of the community rather than a scandalous curiosity. She was arranging desserts when a familiar voice made her stiffen.

“Well, if it isn’t Miss Whitfield, looking quite the proper lady.”

She turned. Cyrus Pemberton stood there, expensively dressed, watching her with cold eyes. “Mr. Pemberton,” she acknowledged with a curt nod.

“I must say, you’ve landed on your feet since our last encounter. Maddox must be quite satisfied with your services.” The insinuation was unmistakable, and it was pitched to carry.

Before Eliza could answer, another voice cut in, pleasant and hard as iron. “Mr. Pemberton. I don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced. Garrett Maddox.” He extended his hand, and Pemberton had no choice but to take it. “I believe you and I have done business after a fashion. I purchased the Whitfield contracts from you.”

“Indeed.”

“Miss Eliza has transformed our ranch accounts with her financial acumen, and Miss Rose’s talents with needle and thread have been invaluable. I consider the money extremely well spent.” Garrett’s smile did not reach his eyes. “Now, if you’ll excuse us — Miss Whitfield promised to show me the prize pies before the judging.”

With a hand at the small of her back, he steered Eliza away. “Thank you,” she whispered when they were out of earshot. “That man still makes my skin crawl.”

“He’s a vulture. I’ve heard stories about how he acquires those contracts — predatory loans, manipulated terms, harassing vulnerable families.”

“That describes our experience precisely,” Eliza confirmed. “After Father died, he gave us three days to settle the debt before seizing everything. Including Mother’s wedding ring. He wears the profit of it now.”

Garrett’s jaw went tight. “I’m sorry you had to see him today.”

Eliza squared her shoulders. “It’s all right. He can’t hurt us anymore. It’s a beautiful day, and I refuse to let him spoil it.”

“That’s my brave Eliza.”

When evening came and the lanterns were lit, the musicians struck up a slow waltz, and Garrett drew her close. They moved in perfect harmony, and something in the circle of his arms made the whole world fall away. “I’ve been thinking,” he said quietly, as they turned. “About your contract.”

Eliza tensed. “What about it?”

“I want to tear it up. Set you and Rose free of any legal obligation.”

Her heart raced. “But why now?”

“Because I want there to be no question of inequality between us. Because I want anything that happens next to be your free choice — not influenced by debt or obligation.” His hand tightened on hers. “First comes freedom, Eliza. Then, when the time is right, I’ll ask the question I’ve been wanting to ask since the church social.”

Tears pricked at her eyes, but they were tears of joy. “Yes,” she whispered. “That’s something I would welcome very much.”

The dance ended, and they stood in the middle of the floor, oblivious to the couples around them, until the fireworks went up over the town — brilliant colors blooming in the dark — and Garrett’s hand found hers, their fingers intertwining in a promise of things to come.

On the road home, under a canopy of stars, with Rose asleep against Mrs. Beale’s shoulder, Eliza sat beside Garrett on the driver’s seat, their shoulders touching.

“Tomorrow,” he said softly, as the ranch buildings came into view, “I’ll destroy those contracts. You and Rose will be free women — welcome to stay at the Aurora as long as you wish, but under no obligation.”

“And if we wish to stay forever?” she asked.

He turned to her, his eyes reflecting the starlight. “Then I would be the happiest man in the Wyoming Territory.”