“Not odd. Just different. Women here seem to have so much more…freedom.”

“Only because we demand it,” Kate said and laughed.

Emily laughed too. She liked Kate, liked her a lot, and wished they could be friends. Unfortunately, friendship required openness, and that was something Emily could ill afford. She had too many secrets, the terms of her marriage being just one of them.

Kate jotted numbers on an invoice and handed it over the counter. “Give my best to Chase.”

“I will,” Emily said and paid her with the exact right change.

“If you ever have need for some female company, let me know.”

Emily gathered her packages. Wishing with all her heart she could take Kate up on the offer, she smiled. “Thank you.”

Turning, Emily noticed the male customer watching her, an odd look on his face, though he tried not to look obvious. A cold shiver ran down her spine, and she quickly left the shop.

18

Chase was halfway to town before he spotted a horse in the distance. Reining in Rebel, he rose in the saddle and pulled out his spyglass.

It sure did look like Daisy, but he was too far away to be sure. One thing was clear: it was without a rider. Hoping it wasn’t Daisy but fearing the worse, he returned his spyglass to his saddlebag and spurred his horse forward with a shout. The thought of Emily lying injured made his heart race with anxiety.

His worst fears were soon confirmed. It was Daisy, all right, and there was no sign of Emily.

Reaching his destination, he pulled on his reins and slid out of the saddle, calling her name. Frantic with worry, he failed to see her until she spoke.

“Are you trying to raise the dead?” she asked, sitting a short distance away in a spot of grass she’d managed to find in the shade of a windmill.

His relief at seeing her quickly turned to anger. “What the devil do you think you’re doin’? I told you you weren’t ready to ride alone.”

“Don’t worry! As you can see, I’m perfectly all right.” Her eyes flashed. “Your precious ranch is safe.”

Irritated that the ranch that brought them together remained a sore spot between them, he spoke through gritted teeth. “That doesn’t make it right. It’s dangerous out here. It’s no place for a woman who’s been mollycoddled and—”

“Mollycoddled,” Emily gasped, shooting to her feet. “Is that what you think?”

“What else would you call a woman who refuses to follow simple directions?”

She glared at him, hands at her waist. “I may be many things, but mollycoddled isn’t one of them!”

Grimacing, Chase drew in his breath and exhaled slowly. He hadn’t meant to insult her. Never that. Nor did he want to argue. But he took any disregard of the ranch personally, and that made him want to strike back. It was unfair to expect her to share his feelings for the ranch, but he couldn’t seem to help himself. Having poured blood and sweat into the land, he considered the ranch an extension of himself. Any rejection of it was a rejection of him.