Chapter Nine
Anna wanted to find Edwin and shake him for what he did.
She’d told him multiple times that he couldn’t just come and go as he pleased and take things from the house.
Even if it was mostly alcohol. Edwin had simply replied that it was his house too, and he had a right to it.
Now Anna owned everything, and she wanted to make sure he didn’t keep thinking that way.
As she sat on the porch in the early morning light, a gentle breeze brushing across her, she thought about Travis and what he’d walked into. He didn’t deserve Edwin’s behavior, and neither did she.
“What’s gotten you so morose this early in the morning?”
Anna looked up. Connor was walking toward her, his lolloping stride easygoing and not in any hurry. He gave her a smile, and Anna couldn’t help but smile back.
“Hey. You’re awake early.”
“I thought I might as well get a start before breakfast. What’s your excuse?”
“I was getting up, and then I heard a commotion in the kitchen. Edwin decided to come and get his… breakfast again.”
Connor shook his head.
“He’s not getting drunk again, is he?”
“Apparently so. He can’t be bothered to get anything from town, so he goes through my shelves to find something to drink where he doesn’t have to pay for it.”
Connor shook his head and moved to sit in the chair beside her, pushing his Stetson up.
“He’s going to get himself into serious trouble one of these days,” he said. “I’d happily fire him if I was the one in charge, but…”
“I’d like to tell him to get lost and not come back again myself, believe me.”
“Then why don’t you?”
Anna pinched the bridge of her nose. She could already feel a headache starting.
“Because I know he’ll cause a scene and take us to court, even if he has no just cause. He’s just going to make it even more difficult until he gets what he wants.”
Connor rubbed a hand across his jaw.
“Well, he’s not going to get that. He’s got more to lose than anyone, and he ought to know better than to treat his own kin that way.”
“Sometimes, I wish I weren’t his kin,” Anna muttered.
Her foreman gave her a wry smile.
“You really need to do something about him. I know he’s family, and he likely has some security at the cottage, but he can’t keep behaving like this. It’s only been a few days since Travis arrived, and already Edwin’s becoming even more unbearable.”
“I’m aware.” Anna tried not to snap at him. “Just let me… I’ve got it. I’ll handle it.”
How, she didn’t know, but she would work that out later. She thought back to how Travis had seemed to be trying to ease the argument before getting smacked in the face. Anna felt a twist of guilt in her stomach, knowing she was the cause. If she’d dealt with Edwin sooner…
She needed to push that aside. She had more important things to get on with. But she had something to discuss with Connor first.
“What do you think about Travis?” she asked.
Connor blinked. He cleared his throat. “Where did that come from?”
“I just want to know how you feel about him. And don’t play it nice for me, Connor. You know me better than that. You can talk to me honestly.”
He hesitated, as if weighing up his response. Then he answered slowly. “I think he works hard. He’s not a natural ranch worker, but he does pick things up quickly. And he is strong, which is what we need.”
“But…”
“I still think it’s suspicious about how quickly and readily he was to marry you.
I understand that was what you needed to get around the will, but at the same time.
” Connor waggled a hand in the air. “There’s something about him that doesn’t quite sit right with me.
Maybe I’m wrong, but I can’t help wondering if he saw an opportunity for himself in all this. ”
Anna frowned.
“You think he’s going to try and take the ranch from me?”
“I don't know what he's after, if anything,” Connor admitted. “But I know most men, if they see an advantage, they'll take it.”
Anna shifted awkwardly in her seat. She didn’t like the idea of not being able to trust her own husband.
Of course, they both knew it was an arrangement to help each other out, but it did require a lot of trust and respect.
Travis had understood that when they exchanged vows, but this all could be a sham. Travis might have ulterior motives.
She didn’t like that. She wanted to trust him. Could it all be an act?
“I don’t want to put bad thoughts into your head…” Connor began.
“Too late,” Anna muttered.
“But we have to think of the possibility. He might become a decent ranch hand in the end, and he might be a nice person, but I don’t trust him. Not until he shows that he’s not here for financial gain.”
“So, you’re telling me to be wary.”
Connor shrugged. “That’s up to you. This did happen suddenly, and you didn’t have much time to think about the consequences or to get to know him properly. Tread carefully.” He reached over and touched her hand. “I don’t want you getting hurt, Anna. You don’t need that right now.”
Anna managed a smile and turned her hand over, squeezing his fingers.
“I’ll be fine. You don’t have to worry about me. I won’t let anyone take the ranch, not even my husband.”
“I’m confident that you won’t.” Connor sat forward. “Just make sure that you’re not being led down the wrong route. If it’s a dead end, it’s a long way to get back to where you started.”
Anna couldn’t help but laugh at that.
“You definitely spent too much time around Pa too long if you’re bringing out his old sayings.”
Connor simply smiled and stood up, releasing her hand as he adjusted his Stetson.
“You know where you can find me if you need anything,” he said as he turned away. “I hope you know you can count on me.”
“That’s never been in doubt.”
She saw the smile before he turned away. Anna watched him go, mulling things over in her head. She understood why he was worried. She was worried too. She’d gone with the first person who showed interest and was willing to go along with the fake marriage.
She had exchanged a few letters with Travis, and he’d told her some stories about his life as a lumberjack, but he hadn’t really told her much about himself.
He seemed closed off, and it felt like he steered clear of personal questions, giving one-word answers or short sentences.
It was clear he didn’t see it as a topic of conversation.
What was he hiding? What past did he have? Anna hoped he wasn’t some fugitive on the run. That would be humiliating, and Edwin would certainly take advantage of that.
Making up her mind, she stood and went back inside.
Mrs. Mason was in the kitchen, preparing food ready for the ranch hands.
They would be congregating in the bunkhouse’s dining room soon, and they would be hungry.
Anna normally helped to bring the food over and get them fed.
Just because she was the owner didn’t mean she wouldn’t look out for her employees.
There was no sign of Travis. Anna looked around.
“Where’s Travis?”
“He had his breakfast and headed back out,” Mrs. Mason replied. “He said that he wanted to get back to what he was doing. Didn’t say what it was. I think he’s a little annoyed at being caught like that.”
Anna looked toward the stove, which was full of everything cooking furiously. “How long until all of that’s ready?”
“A little longer. I can handle things for now, Anna.” Mrs. Mason waved her away. “Off you go. If I need any help, I’ll shout for you.”
“All right.”
Anna left the kitchen. If Travis had gone out, then he wouldn’t be in the house, and she could take a look in his room. See if there was anything there that could help her figure out who he actually was.
Even though it was her house, she tiptoed up the stairs to Travis’s room. She didn’t want to make any noise, although it was ridiculous. This was her home, and she had a right to go wherever she wanted.
But she knew Travis wouldn’t see it that way. A bedroom was meant to be private, and she was about to invade that privacy.
When she stuck her head into the room, Anna was surprised at how clean it was.
It was very neat. The bed was made with barely a crease, clothes were put away, and everything was neatly stacked on the dresser.
There were a few books on the table, which she looked through briefly, along with a leather satchel.
She stood in the middle of the room and looked around.
There wasn’t much around to indicate who he was, other than that he was too tidy for his own good. She didn’t like that. It should’ve been a relief that she wouldn’t have to pick up after him, but…
She went to the satchel and looked inside. There was a pack of letters, neatly held together with red ribbon. The one on top was loose, and it fluttered to the floor.
Anna bent down to grab it and noticed the name at the end of the letter.
Peggy.
Realizing what she was doing, she stuffed all the letters into the satchel and backed away, her heart racing. What was wrong with her? She was intruding into someone’s private letters. She wanted to know more about Travis, yes, but going through his letters was too much.
And now she was plagued with questions. Mostly about who Peggy was. Was she a relative? A lover? Was she the one Travis truly loved?
But if that was the case, why didn’t he marry her instead? Unless it was illicit, and Peggy was a married woman. Anna’s head was spinning now. She didn’t know what to think anymore. It was making her lightheaded.
She needed to get out of there before she did something stupid. Like, read all of the love letters between Travis and Peggy. She got out of the room without knocking anything over, and she slumped against the door.
Her heart was pounding so hard it was making her breathless.
She leaned her head against the wood and closed her eyes, trying to calm herself down.
She couldn’t go downstairs, not the way she was now.
Mrs. Mason would figure out that she’d done something, and Anna was too flustered to lie. And if Travis came in and saw her…
She’d tried to look for answers, but she was too honest to actually look. Now she was feeling even more guilty for doing it, along with another emotion that wouldn’t go away.
Jealousy.