Regardless of the will’s wording, Royce wasn’t his father’s biological son and had no right to the ranch. None!

“I don’t see what the problem is,” she said. “You are the first one married. The ranch is yours.”

“For now. However, to keep it, I have to stay married for a full year.”

Her eyes widened, and she stared at him with a look of horror that quickly turned to dismay. “You…you want me to stay here on this…this…” She drew in her breath. “This ranch f-for a year?”

He tried not to take the combination of horror and dismay on her face personally. It was foolish to expect a lady like her to see the advantages of ranch life. It might not seem like much through her eyes, but it was his whole world and the only one he’d ever wanted.

He clasped his hands on his desk. “I don’t know what your story is or why you left Boston, but I suspect you’re runnin’ from somethin’.”

She lifted her chin. “What makes you think that?”

“It’s been my experience that only three things bring folks to the Lone Star State: wealth, health, or a ruined reputation. You don’t strike me as a gold digger, and you don’t look sick. So that leads to only one conclusion.”

He studied her face to see if there was any truth to his suspicions. The trapped look in her eyes was all the confirmation he needed.

“You didn’t kill anyone, did you?” Taking her shocked look as a no, he continued. “Did you rob a bank?”

“Certainly not!” she said, her eyes flashing.

“Hmm.” More intrigued now than curious, he decided to leave his questions for another time. “Whatever it is you’re runnin’ from, you’ll be safe here at the ranch. I give you my word. In return, I ask that you remain my wife for the full year.”

Her eyes narrowed, and a shadow of indecision fleeted across her forehead. “What happens after…that time?”

Her query gave him a measure of hope. At least she was thinking about it. “You then give me the gate.”

She stared at him. “The gate?”

He sighed inwardly. He’d forgotten that Easterners required everything spelled out in precise language. “A divorce,” he said.

“Oh.”

Since she appeared not to like the idea of a divorce, he added, “If’n you prefer, we can have our marriage annulled after the year is up.” When she made no response, he continued. “After our marriage has been properly dissolved, I’ll see to it that you have enough ballast to start a new life.”

She frowned. “What…does that mean, exactly?”

He raised his eyebrows. Not only was she unsuited to ranch life, it appeared that the two of them didn’t even speak the same language. “It means you’ll have enough money to start a new life.”

Her forehead creased. “Why would I help you? Your uncle—”

“My uncle has nothin’ to do with it. This is strictly atwixt you and me.”