Betrayal Read Online Free PDF

of your herd. You can’t afford it.”
    She nodded, though what she wanted was to tell him he was wrong. Only he wasn’t. She couldn’t afford to lose any of her cattle. Not to wolves or weather or any other cause.
    With one last glance toward Hugh, Charlie turned his horse and rode away, his ranch hand quickly doing the same. Julia stayed where she was until they were out of sight.
    “Who was that?”
    She released a soft gasp of surprise. She hadn’t heard Hugh’s approach, hadn’t known he now stood so close behind her. “My brother-in-law.” She turned to face him. “His name is Charlie Prescott. He owns a neighboring spread to the north of here.”
    “Are you all right?”
    “All right?”
    “Did he threaten you?” A shadow covered his face. “You seem upset.”
    Julia looked up to see if the day had turned cloudy, but the sky was clear.
    “If there’s something you need —”
    “I don’t need anything.”
    “If you’re sure.”
    Odd, wasn’t it? That Charlie, who she’d known for more than a decade, made her feel so uneasy, though without reason. But that Hugh, who she’d known a matter of days, made her feel safe, protected. Also without reason? “I’m fine, Hugh. Thanks.”
    He continued to watch her, but she had no idea what he thought. His expression gave away no clues.
    “I’d best finish hanging the laundry,” she said. “Maybe you should take care of feeding the livestock.” She sounded abrupt although she hadn’t meant to.
    He tugged on the brim of his hat. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll get right to it.” He turned on his heel.
    “Hugh.”
    He stopped and looked back.
    “I meant it. Thank you. For all you’ve done around the place while you’ve been here.”
    He gave her one of those lopsided half-smiles before nodding and heading toward the barn once again.
    Rose Collins was on the way to the barn when she saw Charlie Prescott and another cowboy cantering their horses down the road. There was only one reason for him to be out this way — he’d called on Julia again.
    Wretched man.
    Fear niggled at her spine. What would happen if Charlie Prescott got his hands on Sage-hen? He would turn his attention to her family’s farm, that’s what. He was the type of man who would never have enough. He was hungry for more and more land, more and more cattle, more and more wealth, more and more power. Julia didn’t think Charlie was cruel like Angus had been. Rose thought he might be worse, in a different way.
    She stepped into the shadowy interior of the barn and stopped to allow her eyes to adjust. Then she made her way to the stall where Peter was doctoring an injured colt.
    “I just saw Mr. Prescott coming down the road from Julia’s place,” she said.
    Her husband glanced up. “She won’t sell to him.”
    “She might not have a choice. She’s got nobody to help her. Prescott hired away the men who used to work for Angus. Who’s she gonna get to help her drive the cattle to the Double T?”
    “Guess if needs be, I could go with her.”
    “You’ve got a good heart, Peter Collins, and I love you all themore for wanting to help your neighbor every way you can. But you know good and well you’ve already got all you can do here on your own place.”
    He set down the colt’s leg. “Rosie girl, I guess we’ll have to trust the Lord to provide.”
    God knew she loved her husband. Had loved him since she first laid eyes on him when she was a girl of fourteen. But sometimes his easy-going nature made her feel like shaking him until his teeth rattled. Sure, she knew she was supposed to trust the Lord and not worry about tomorrow. Easier said than done, especially when they had ten children to feed and clothe. Ten daughters, Abigail the oldest at seventeen and Jemima the youngest at two months. Every last one of them loved and wanted, no doubt about it. Still, it wasn’t easy providing for a large family.
    “Rosie—” Peter stepped out of the stall — “we’ve done fine all