Page 43 of Fool's Gold

She smiled. It was going to be all right. "Rafe, while you two talk this over, I'm going to go take care of the business I talked about. How about if we meet at the cafe in an hour?"

"All right, sweetheart. I'll see you then."

She left the courthouse and headed at a brisk pace to the bank. She didn't have much time to do what she had to do.

She opened the front door of the bank and walked up to the teller's counter. "I have a transfer of funds that's supposed to be here this morning."

"And your name?"

"Sarah Halliday. I have a picture ID from my old bank. Of course, it's still under my maiden name of Maxwell." She slid her bank card and driver's license from her purse.

The teller smiled and handed Sarah the cashier's check. "Would you like to start an account with us today, Mrs. Halliday?"

"Yes, a joint account. I need to make sure my husband has access to this money." She endorsed the back of the check and slid it across to the teller.

A large, tanned hand dropped down on the check, preventing the teller from picking it up. She gaped up at the space behind Sarah's left ear. Sarah didn't have to look behind her to know who it was.

"Wilson and I finished our business a little early, wife," Rafe said dryly. "Isn't it a good thing I saw you in here on my way to the cafe?"

She sucked in a breath and turned around. "Rafe, I can explain."

"There's no need to explain, Sarah. I understand perfectly."

He smiled at the teller, but it didn't reach his eyes. He was obviously furious.

"My wife has changed her mind," Rafe bit out. "She'll be keeping her precious money."

"But—"

"Button it," Rafe snapped. He picked up the check, turned, and strode toward the door.

Sarah rolled her eyes and followed him. There was nothing worse than a male with a wounded ego, and Rafe's pride had just been trampled on by her money.

He jerked open the driver's door to his truck, and she dashed to the passenger side. As she hopped in, she cast a glance his way. His jaw was set. He probably did have a right to be angry, but he didn't have to be such a jerk about it. She was doing this for them, after all.

He pulled out of the parking space and started driving toward home.

"What was that all about?" Rafe bit out. "Payment for services rendered?"

"I don't know what you mean." She stared at his rigid profile, totally confused by the statement.

He cast an annoyed glance her way. "Don't play dumb, Sarah. You know exactly what I mean. Payment for a nice roll in the hay, making love, sex. I might be good, honey, but I'm not for sale."

She gaped at him as his words penetrated. "Is that what you think?" It had never entered her mind he would think such a thing. "That's ridiculous."

"Hell yes, it's ridiculous. I'm not some gigolo you can buy with your wealth. What I gave, I gave freely. So, you can keep your blasted money." He pushed the check across the cracked, blue vinyl upholstery as if it was a piece of trash. "I don't need it."

"Don't need it or too proud to take it?" Sarah snapped back.

Sarah watched Bob Wilson drive off with Rafe's rifles. He'd also taken the ones Rafe had picked up in the bunk house.

She was in a foul mood because of Rafe's stupid macho pride. He'd turned what could have been a beautiful gesture on her part into a disaster. What did he expect her to do, stand back while he floundered financially? Why should she watch him sell off part of his birthright when she had the means to save him?

Eventually, she hoped to change his mind and open him up to sharing everything with her. It was the only way to make their marriage truly work. But she was just too steamed to approach him for the time being.

Right now, she needed to lose herself in her work. It was the one area she still felt competent. She was going to get busy and complete her series.

She walked into the kitchen, carrying her camera and supplies. Rafe was at the sink, getting a drink of water. She watched the play of muscles in his back as he lifted the glass,and frowned. Why did he have to be such a big, macho cowboy? Couldn't the man bend a little?

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