Page 17 of A Montana Fake Marriage

She nodded. “I’ll be in here.” She watched him walk across the street before she disappeared inside.

Not only did this place sell clothing, they also sold vintage furniture and other home décor items. Sammie wandered between the aisles of tables, racks, and chairs. But her eyes continued to turn back to the dress in the window.

She knew the exact amount she had to her name. Just a couple hundred dollars. While Caleb had continued to insist that she was cared for, it was starting to feel like a real prison, not being able to spend her money the way she used to.

Sammie turned away from the dress and moved to another side of the store. It was probably too much. Then again, if her father hadn’t closed her credit card yet, she might have a chance to make one last purchase before he remembered.

Swiftly, she swept across the room and toward the dress on display. As expected, it was more than she had in her checking account. Her fingers ran over the fabric, and she sighed. It was one of the most unique dresses she’d ever seen. Her mother would have purchased it without a second thought.

Sammie pulled the dress from the stand and draped it over her arm. Then she moved to the register, where a petite woman smiled warmly at her.

“Isn’t this dress lovely?’

Sammie nodded. “It is.”

“It’s going to really bring out the color in your eyes,” she gushed as she rang it up and folded it neatly.

Sammie smiled in appreciation, then she pulled out her purse and the black card that her parents had given her to use. She held it out to the woman, her stomach churning with nerves she’d never had before.

The woman took the card and swiped it into her machine. An obnoxious beep filled the room, and she gave Sammie a reassuring smile. “My machine has been acting out all day.” Another swipe followed by that beeping sound again.

Sammie’s face flushed hot, and she reached out her hand. “It’s okay?—”

“Let me try to type in the numbers.”

Another person entered the store—a young woman who offered them both a smile before she started wandering through the store.

“It’s okay, really. I’ll just?—”

But it was too late, she’d typed the number in, and the beeping sound rang in Sammie’s hot ears.

“I’m sorry, sweetie,” the woman apologized. “It looks like it’s been declined.” She held the card out, and it was all Sammie could do to yank it from her hand and escape the store.

She’d witnessed cards being declined before. But she’d never been the one to experience it. Unacceptable. That’s what it was. Her parents would never be caught dead with a bad card. And if they had, they’d never enter the store again.

Sammie escaped the store and rushed across the street, fighting back the tears. Her father had actually done it. He’d taken away her freedoms. He’d taken her down several pegs. The only reason he was likely still paying for her phone was so he could reach out to her, track her. If she blocked him, she had no doubt he would shut that off, too.

She wasn’t looking where she was going when she collided with someone. Caleb’s face came into view, full of worry. Sammie couldn’t tell him what had happened. It was too mortifying.

“Sammie!” His voice broke through her emotional state, and she blinked at him. “What happened?” he demanded.

“I—my dad—” She shook her head.

“What did he do this time?” His voice was more of a growl than anything else. “Did he call you? Give me your phone.”

She shook her head again. “He did it. He actually cut me off. He canceled my card. It was declined.” The words whooshed from her lips before she could restrain herself. Face hot and eyes burning, she turned her face away from him. “I just wanted a dress.”

He pulled her in for a hug, holding her tight. For a moment, she just stood there, letting him hold her, comfort her. He rested his chin on top of her head, and they didn’t move. Not until she was ready.

When Sammie did pull back, he brushed some hair from her face. “You know, I’ve learned a thing or two about money over the years. I’ve learned a lot about budgeting and how to save. I could teach you.”

Her blush deepened. “It won’t really do any good if I don’t have any finances to speak of.”

“Then work at the ranch. I’m sure we can find something for you. Do some odd jobs.”

She closed her eyes, and a tear slipped down her cheek. Brushing it away with the back of her hand, she sighed. “This is what he was talking about, you know.”

“Stop.”

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