Can't Stop Believing (HARMONY) Read Online Free Page B

chair. “What’s my part of the bargain?”
    “Your name,” she said simply. “The land is yours if you’ll marry me and agree to live on my ranch for as long as we’re married. I think eight months should about do it. That should be enough time to get a crop in, increase the herd and stock for winter.”
    The front two legs of his chair hit the floor. “I’m sorry; I thought I just heard you ask me to marry you?”
    She looked down. “I told you I can’t explain, but I’ve had my lawyer draw up a prenuptial agreement. Your land will remain yours, along with the three hundred acres, when we separate. Mine will remain mine, along with all Britain holdings.” She squared her shoulders as if preparing to fight. “All I’m asking for is eight months. From now until the first hard freeze should do it. After that either of us can file for divorce and, as stated in the prenup, we both agree not to contest the divorce. All profits from both ranches will be combined for the length of the marriage and split evenly when we separate.”
    Cord felt like laughing out loud for the first time in years. Ideas this crazy only appear in jokes, or con schemes. Just for the hell of it, he asked, “What makes you think we’ll separate?”
    “I’ve been married three times before, and all three cost me dearly. This time I’ll know the price going in. If you want, you can have total control of the farming and ranching on both places, but anything dealing with the horses or the oil business is mine. It’s part of the agreement. I’ll hand over the ranch business and accounts to you and trust you to run them wisely, since half of the profit for the term we’re married will be yours. The horses are not part of the bargain, and no one can sell them or move them without my permission. I’ve seen the way you work, the way you run this place, and I think you’d be able to handle both my land and yours.”
    “What else?” He knew she was either crazy or trying to pull one over on him, but he’d hear her out.
    “You’ll have to quit your day job at Parker Trucking, but when we split, half of my ranch’s income should compensate you for the loss of wages.”
    “What does your spread pull down?”
    “A quarter million in profit on a down year when the ranch is worked. Since my dad got sick and died it hasn’t been worked. If all goes well, we clear over half a million on a good year. The ranch is in my name only, so I can bargain with it and I’ve got enough funds to make it work.”
    He would have tried to look disappointed, but his jaw was open too far to fake it. She’d just offered him nearly a quarter of a million to stay married to her for eight months.
    This had to be some kind of sick joke. She was playing a game, probably. “Why should I believe a word you’ve said?”
    “Look at the agreement,” she said as her fingers tapped the envelope. “Talk to your lawyers, then let me know what you decide. The only thing I ask is that we keep this agreement to ourselves. As far as everyone knows, you’re just the next man I fell in love with and brought home. Most folks won’t ask any questions.”
    “Are you crazy, lady?” He had to ask, though it occurred to him that either way she’d answer no.
    “Don’t call me lady or honey, or darling, or babe—”
    “Got it.” He stopped her before she went on. “You’re not dying, are you?” It was the only reason he could think of that a woman like her would want to marry him. She might still die, but maybe she figured being married to him would make the time she had left seem longer.
    “I said I wasn’t answering questions, Cord, so don’t bother asking. It’s yes or no.” She turned to leave. “I’ll be at the courthouse all morning. If you show up before noon, the deal is on; if not, don’t bother ever speaking to me again.”
    “If I say yes, I want one thing added.” He figured he’d push a little to see how far she was willing to take this