Page 18 of A Montana Fake Marriage

Sammie blinked several times and peered at him with surprise.

“I told you. While you’re married, I’ll make sure you’re taken care of. Of course we’ll have to stick to a budget. I don’t have nearly what you grew up with. But I haveenough.” He hooked a finger under her chin and lifted it slightly. “And if you want to start learning more about budgeting, then I’m happy to help. Ultimately, it’s up to you. If you choose to take on some jobs at the ranch, then that money is yours to spend however you want—to buy all the pretty dresses you want.” He glanced over to the store she’d just escaped from. “How much was it?”

Once again, she shook her head, this time sharper than before. “It doesn’t matter. I’m not going back in there.”

“Sammie—”

“No. It’s not worth it.” She took his hand and tugged him in the opposite direction. “Let’s just go home, okay?” She knew she probably sounded ridiculous—to get teary-eyed over not being able to buy a dress that she’d seen in a shop window when there were people out in the world with nothing.

And that was why she deflected his question.

He frowned but eventually conceded.

The ride home was quiet, strained.

Even though Caleb hadn’t degraded her, nor made her feel bad about her situation, she still felt heavier. The day had started out beautiful. She’d adored spending time with the calf. But the second she’d heard from her father, she knew everything would only go downhill from there.

When she got home, she pulled all her credit cards from her purse and took a pair of scissors to them. She was seated in the middle of her bed, surrounded by clipped cards, when Caleb walked into the room with a cot.

He shut the door quickly, indicating he’d taken it from some other part of the house, and he didn’t want anyone knowing about it.

When he saw what she’d been up to, he stopped.

They studied each other for a moment. She wasn’t worried that he’d say anything hurtful, and yet she could feel her defenses rising.

Don’t cry, she told herself.

Do not cry.

Her life had changed so drastically from what it had been even three years ago. Had her mother been alive, she wouldn’t have forced Sammie into the life her father wanted for her. She would have been the buffer between Sammie and her father—convincing him that Sammie needed to find her own path.

And she wouldn’t have completely cut her off financially.

“They’re useless now,” Sammie mumbled.

Caleb stepped forward. He paused, then he closed the distance between them and climbed onto the bed. “I’ve never liked credit cards,” he said quietly. “I’ve always felt like they were a way to trap people into spending more than they make.”

She couldn’t help the sting that came with his words. That’s technically what she’d done throughout college. When he said she was generous, neither one of them pointed out that it wasn’t her money paying those bills. Her parents bankrolled her lifestyle until graduation.

Sammie had been a fool to think that everything would work out the way she wanted it to—that she’d get her inheritance and be able to do whatever she wanted.

Now as she sat surrounded by all the evidence that proved she wasn’t ready to be an adult, she let out a whimper. “I’m such an idiot.”

He shot a hard look at her. “No, you’re no?—”

“Yes, I am. I should have gotten a job in college—something to fill my résumé. What am I supposed to do now? I have a degree and zero experience.”

“You can work at the ranch. Or I can ask around town and see if anyone is hiring. I hear there are some opportunities at the Steer House. You could try to be a waitress.”

She wrinkled her nose, and he laughed.

The sound of it warmed her soul, and she cracked a smile. “I don’t think I’ll be good at any of that stuff.”

“You don’t know until you try,” he murmured. His hand reached out, and he brushed a knuckle over a tear lingering on her cheek. “Just let me know what you decide.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

It wasthe middle of summer before Sammie seemed to be comfortable enough to work on the ranch without Caleb by her side. Bo had been more than willing to set aside work for her so he could free up some of the other cowboys at work.

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