Page 25 of A Montana Fake Marriage

Sammie stiffened. She wasn’t sure what Katrina was getting at, but then Hallie made it clear.

“Caleb is as frugal as they come. He got it from his mother. He would have rather sat in sopping wet clothes than pay for overpriced merchandise.”

Sammie didn’t know how to respond to that statement. Caleb had never mentioned anything like that. It was probably just a fluke. They’d known each other for years. He’d never made a move on her in all that time. There was no way he’d liked her—it didn’t matter that he’d accepted the clothes she’d pressured him to wear. Hallie was wrong.

CHAPTER NINE

“Haveyou noticed anything different with their energy?” Caleb rubbed the back of his neck as he peered up at his aunt’s brother. Chip Bronson had been working with cattle since he was a teenager. He knew everything there was about the herd they cultivated at Sagebrush.

Chip pulled his hat from his head and peered out at the pasture where the majority of the cattle were grazing. “It’s hard to say, son. You haven’t implemented the feed long enough to gauge if it’s going to help with their overall health. And energy?” He offered an apologetic smile. “We’re going to need more time.”

That wasn’t what Caleb wanted to hear. He’d been so close to submitting for the patent, but then he’d looked over the qualifications and got the feeling it would be denied. It wasn’t novel enough. He needed to prove that it would revolutionize the feed industry—at least in Montana.

He glanced over to Reese, his cousin. His aunt Sonja had named her oldest son with her maiden name that’s why his cousin had the family last name as his first name. As a testament to the family calling, his cousin had a knack for horses. It wasn’t asurprise that Eli and Bo wanted him training to be the horse manager within the year. “I’m trying to come up for a formula for the horses, too. Can you compile some of the issues you might notice that the horses have?”

Reese nodded curtly.

“I want to meet with the veterinarian as well,” he told the men. “We ran some routine tests in the spring before I started putting the feed together. I want to see if there are any improvements to their digestion. I’ll let you both know when the veterinarian can make it out here to get additional samples. It’s been four months. That should be enough time to see some changes.”

He didn’t want to admit how worried he was. Eli had entrusted him with this project, had given him the money to fund it, and if he failed…

Caleb shook his head. He couldn’t fail. He refused to see that money wasted. This wasn’t just some fun experiment. It was his dream. What was he good for if he couldn’t provide what he’d promised?

He glanced over his shoulder to find that Sammie had settled down with Hallie and Katrina. A small smile tugged at his lips. After the barbeque, things had become strained again. He couldn’t help but wonder if he’d overstepped. The dancing hadn’t been part of the plan. Neither had the kiss. He hadn’t given her the chance to decline—but instead, he’d dragged her into something that probably made her incredibly uncomfortable.

It didn’t matter that he thought it was for the best.

Caleb sighed and turned back to the group. “That’s all I needed. Thanks for your help.”

Chip and Reese departed, leaving Caleb to mull over his thoughts before returning to the house. Dinner would be on the table soon, and he’d be seated beside her. So many times he’d considered apologizing to her about that night. He’d thought he’d done the right thing in giving his family a version of what they’d wanted.

A kiss to the forehead. He’d done it so many times before—back at college. It was a show of friendly affection. But in front of everyone?

His gut twisted. It was entirely possible that he’d gone too far.

Caleb glanced out at the cattle in the pasture again. If only his life could be as simple as taking care of the animals at Sagebrush. There was a black and white way about things.

Feed the animals. Groom them. Keep them healthy. You get what you give, and all that.

But when it came to Sammie, he’d begun to lose his way. He couldn’t separate what he should be doing and what he wanted to do when it came to her. How was he going to decide if he needed to give her space or if he needed to double down for the sake of his family?

Of course, Caleb knew whathewanted to do. And it wouldn’t be just for the sake of those who observed them. The flicker of desire that seemed to have taken root in his soul hadn’t wavered since it materialized. It was tearing him apart from the inside out every time he was close enough to smell or touch her.

Sagebrush was huge. He was normally consumed by his work, and yet if he caught a glimpse of her, he found himself wondering what she was thinking or if she was having a good day. She could hijack his thoughts without even trying.

Caleb turned from the pasture and headed for the house. His work was done for the day, and he was craving some time with Sammie. Even if all they did was sit on the couch and watch a show, that would be enough.

Sammie was gone now. She’d likely gone home. Hallie and Katrina were on the stairs, still chatting away. Bits and pieces of their conversation floated to him on the breeze.

“I think it’s so cute.”

A muffled response.

“You can tell they’re in love.”

He slowed his steps. Hallie wasn’t talking about him, was she?

“Yeah, it was written all over her face… the way she looks at him…”

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