EMMA PLACED HER HEAD IN her hands and tried to think, Walker’s last words ringing in her ears. I aim to have you… and this ranch before that happens.

“Oh God…what am I going to do?”

“Em? Are you all right?”

Ty’s apprehensive voice startled her and she jumped. “Y-yes.” She sat up and smoothed down the front of her skirt. “I’m fine.”

He took the chair beside her, knees all but touching her hip. “Where is everyone?”

She straightened. “Sarah took ill and Hank left.”

“What did he say to upset you?”

She avoided looking at those all-seeing eyes. “Him breathing upsets me.” Picking up the crumpled telegram, she read it, then passed it to Ty.

She hadn’t mentioned the new Herefords she planned to buy to anyone, not even her father and prepared to defend her decision to Ty. He was the foreman, had a right to know, but it was her ranch, her decision. Will he understand?

He scanned the short message then passed it back to her. “I met William Ikard in Ft. Worth a while back. Smart man. Dead set on bringing those Herefords to Texas. Said they were more adaptable to our climate and produced better beef, too.” He passed the telegram back to her. “Be interesting to see how they handle East Texas weather.”

It took a moment for her to realize he hadn’t dismissed her bold move. “You’re not upset?” It was more a statement than a question.

“It’s your ranch, Em. Besides, you’ve obviously put a lot of thought into this or you wouldn’t do it.”

His support sent her spirits soring and she smiled for the first time all evening. “They really are beautiful animals, Ty. Ever seen one?”

He shook his head.

“They’re from England and have this reddish body with a white face. Bulls can hit eighteen hundred pounds and cows twelve. The Ikard brothers brought some to Texas from Philadelphia. I bought a bull and two heifers from our cattle buyer in Ft. Worth.”

He nodded and neither spoke for several heartbeats.

She chewed her lower lip, then looked at him. “Why did you do it?”

Ty hesitated. “Seemed like the thing to do at the time.”

“Why?” She faced him, searched his face for the answer he didn’t give.

“Walker’s not right for you.” He held up a hand when she stiffened. “I’m not trying to tell you how to run your life, but I sense you don’t like him. And he’s trying to force himself on you.” Ty shook his head. “I guess I thought if I said we were…a couple, he might back off.”

“He won’t.” She immediately regretted her panicky response.

“What did he say, Em?”

She stood and paced around the dining room. “What am I going to do? Papa is worse every day.”

“What exactly does the will state?”

“I haven’t seen it, but my understanding is I must be married before…before Papa dies or my uncle gets Twin Oaks.”

“Is it here? In the office maybe?”

“Why?” She was more curious than alarmed by his question.

“If we know exactly what the will says, then we will know what course of action you need to take.”

“It’s probably in the safe.”

He followed her to the office and stood back while she opened the safe and pulled out the envelope marked will in her father’s scratchy handwriting. She stared at it then handed it to Ty. “Please. I can’t read it.”

Ty pulled the sheaf of papers out and scanned them. “Well, it’s actually a standard will in which everything goes to you. But there is an attachment, sort of like an addendum dated a few weeks ago that says you have to be married at the time of his death – and remain married for at least six months to secure title to the ranch.”

“Why six months?”

“There’s more.” He paused and locked those mesmerizing eyes on hers. “If the marriage doesn’t last six months, your husband will be entitled to one half of Twin Oaks. Should you die during that time, everything goes to him.”

All the air whooshed out of her lungs and she clutched her chest. Her knees threatened to buckle, and she grabbed for the corner of the desk. “How could he do this to me?”

Ty grabbed her around the waist and led her to the small couch, then sat beside her. “Easy, Em, easy.”

“He wants me to marry someone I detest, stay married to him for six months or give away half my ranch?”

“He doesn’t want you to marry Walker.”

“At dinner he said…he said…” she couldn’t finish. The thought of marrying Hank Walker made her stomach roil.

“He doesn’t want you to marry Walker.” He paused, met her gaze. “He wants you to marry me.”