Tracie Peterson - [Heirs of Montana 04] Read Online Free Page A

all that important to you. I can hire two more men to take your place. You mean nothing to me more than that.”
    Jerrod wouldn’t let the old man know that his words cut. He’d worked hard all his life to feel nothing—to care about no one. He refused to let himself desire his father’s approval. It didn’t matter now, because he wouldn’t let it matter.
    “Good. Glad you see it our way. Who knows, maybe you can convince old Joshua to stay home now—do his part.”
    “I don’t need any of you.” The older man turned, then paused and looked back. “Don’t be expecting any money from me. You can take what belongs to you, but don’t think you’ll be getting any part of an inheritance.”
    “We’ve already taken what we want and have the money we need,” Jerrod said, leaning casually against the fence of the corral. “You oughta know by now that we’re perfectly capable of fending for ourselves.”
    “So you’ve been robbing me blind as well. I guess I should have known that.”
    “There’s a lot of things you should’ve known,” Roy muttered. They eyed their father for a moment, and then Jerrod shook his head.
    “Are you leaving today?”
    “No,” Jerrod replied. “But soon. In our own time. Just wanted you to know. Figured we wouldn’t sneak off like Joshua did or desert to the enemy like Mara.”
    “At least they didn’t steal from me.”
    “Don’t be so certain of that. You remember those papers you paid to have removed from the courthouse in Virginia City? The papers that would have helped you steal the Selby land? Well, I’m fairly confident our little Mara was the one who stole them back,” Jerrod said. “So don’t think us so different. She foiled all of your plans. We’re only walkin’ away with what we deserve.”
    “You deserve to hang,” their father muttered.
    “No more than you. Do you honestly suppose anyone would be surprised to know your part in the Farley murders? Do you suppose it would be that hard to convince a jury that you were there?”
    “Shut up,” the old man declared, crossing the distance with surprising speed. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll shut up and clear out as soon as possible.”
    “I’ll go in my own time, old man. Don’t threaten me.” Jerrod was nose to nose with his father. The hatred shone clear in his father’s eyes.
    “You’d better watch yourself, boy. You have to sleep sometime.” The man’s words were cold and poisonous. Jerrod could almost feel the chill of death in his father’s stare.

    “So you’re back,” Elsa said as she served Joshua a cup of coffee.
    “Not to stay here, but to get you.”
    She straightened and looked at him with surprise. “Truly?”
    “Are you willing to leave?”
    “Of course, but he won’t be willing for me to leave. Still, I’ll be twenty-one next year. I can take my freedom then, although I scarcely have the funds to make my own way.”
    “I figure to provide for you, although it won’t be much. That’s why I never could send for you before now,” Joshua admitted. He’d made his sister a promise the night he’d left that he would free her from this ranch. Now he was back to fulfill his obligation.
    “I know I can’t give you a life of wealth or keep you in these kinds of luxuries,” he said holding up the china cup.
    “Who cares about such things?” Elsa said. She sat down opposite her brother. “Would you really take me away from here?”
    “Of course. That’s the only reason I came back.”
    She leaned back against the brocade of the settee. “I can’t imagine being free of this. Free of the hatred and anger—the lack of love. I’ve nearly wasted away longing for some tenderness.” Tears came to her eyes. “Do you know what it is to live completely isolated from everyone who is capable of showing kindness and love?”
    “Doesn’t Mara visit?”
    “She tried to come here, but Father threatened to shoot her. Virginia City is so far away, she’d never