Emily’s heart practically stopped. It sure did sound like he’d said Fields & Fields. But between the boy’s young voice and his Texas twang, she might have misunderstood.

Still, she quickly scanned the headline, and her breath caught in her chest. Oh God, no! Not wanting to believe her eyes, she read and reread the sentence. EMILY FIELDS, WIFE OF LOCAL RANCHER CHASE MCKNIGHT…

Gulping the bile that rose to her throat, Emily fought not to panic. She glanced around and tried to think. It seemed that all eyes were directed at her and there was no place to hide.

* * *

The Wandering Dog saloon was nearly empty that afternoon when Chase shouldered his way through the batwing doors. For that reason, it was easy to pick out his stepbrother hunched over a corner table, nursing a half-filled glass.

Anger coiling inside, Chase rushed over to him.

Royce looked up. “Well, well,” he said. “Look what the cat just dragged in.”

It was all Chase could to keep from knocking the sneer off Royce’s face. “You had no right draggin’ my wife into our dispute!”

Royce’s eyes looked as hard and lifeless as wood knots. “The town has a right to know who she is.”

Temper snapping, Chase reached down and yanked Royce to his feet by his collar. “What you did to Emily… She’s not leavin’, if that’s what you’re hopin’ for. My wife is here to stay.”

An ugly smile crossed Royce’s face. “If you really believed that, you wouldn’t be here.”

Chase hated Royce for knowing that. Emily had run from her past before. It was entirely possible she’d run again.

Afraid of what he was capable of, Chase released his hold, and Royce fell back. “You’re not gettin’ your hands on the ranch. You have no right.”

Royce’s eyes glittered. “My mother’s life savings went to save that ranch. That gives me every right.”

“How much?” Chase demanded. “How much will it cost to get rid of you once and for all?”

Royce straightened his shirt. “More than you can afford to pay.”

Chase grimaced. Royce had that part right. The current price of beef had dropped to half the price it was two years previous, partly due to the drought, but that wasn’t the only reason. Thought to be the new gold, the cattle business had been flooded with speculators, and that also made prices drop.

“I’ll pay back your mother’s loan. Every cent.”

Royce scoffed. “Why would I settle for that when I can have the whole kit and caboodle?”

“That’s my deal. Take it or leave it.” Chase turned but not soon enough.

“Good luck,” Royce called after him. “Convincin’ your wife to stay, I mean.”

Chase froze a moment before pushing his way out the swinging doors. Halfway down the block, he bumped into Mrs. Buttonwood.

“You’re just the man I wanted to see,” she said and flung a newspaper at him. “I had no idea your wife was related to that…that…awful man!”