She studied him with wary regard, and her mouth ran dry. She suspected that Chase still met Mrs. Decker in town every week, and it bothered her. She didn’t want it to, but it did. “Go on.”

“If you leave the marriage, I’ll make certain you are well rewarded.”

She frowned. “I don’t know what you mean.”

Turning his attention to the newly rolled cigarette in his hand, he licked the edge of the paper and sealed it before sticking it in his mouth. “I’m prepared to sell a fourth of the cattle to pay you to leave.”

“Since the ranch belongs to my husband, I’d think you’d have a hard time selling his cattle.”

Royce paused to strike a match and light his cigarette. He took a long drag and blew out a plume of smoke. “That’s where you come in. You could end this sham of a marriage. As the only legitimately married heir, the ranch would then revert to me and… You know the rest.”

“My marriage is not a sham,” she said. “Chase and I…care for one another.”

He scoffed. “You and I both know that’s not true. You didn’t even know each other before exchanging vows.” He took another puff of his cigarette before continuing. “I ask that you give my offer careful consideration. End this marriage, and you’ll be, if not a rich woman, a comfortable one.”

Irritated that he thought she could be so easily manipulated, her nostrils flared. “Not interested.”

His eyes glittered. “End this marriage, and I’ll sell a third of the cattle to pay you.”

“I must ask you to leave. Now!”

He took another drag of his cigarette. “You strike a hard bargain.”

She turned toward the house and reached for the doorknob, glaring at him over her shoulder. “I believe I asked you to leave.”

He stood, hat in hand. “You’ll be sorry,” he said. “Don’t say you weren’t warned.”

* * *

Emily waited that night for Chase to enter her room to tell him of Royce’s visit. It was late, almost eleven, and lines of exhaustion etched his face. He also seemed surprised to see her still awake.

He stood facing her from the other side of the bed, the mattress stretching between them like a vast desert that defied crossing.

“Your stepbrother offered me money to end the marriage,” she said.

He stared at her, his face a mask of disbelief. “What?”

Though she doubted it needed repeating, she said it again. “He claims that he’s now married too.” She told him of Royce’s plan to pay her from the sale of cattle. “I told him no.”

His eyebrows shot up. “No! You said no?” He sounded incredulous. “Why would you turn down that much money?” His forehead creased. “You have no feelin’ for the ranch. You and I both know you’re not cut out to be a rancher’s wife.”

“I gave you my word I would stay for the allotted time, and that’s what I intend to do.”