The Rancher Takes A Bride (The Burnett Brides Book 1)

the center of the table.
    His men knew better than to have an open flame in the barn! With mounting fury, he couldn't believe they had been so careless. One spark would send it up like a bonfire, trapping the animals in their stalls.
    Rose's voice crooned in the candlelit barn, "Tanner, come to us and let your loved ones speak to you once more."
    "What in the hell is going on here?" Travis shouted, anger causing his voice to sound loud and harsh. "Put out that candle at once."
    One of the men jumped up and blew out the light, plunging them into darkness. A match was struck, and a covered lantern was lit
    "Before you get too upset at Rose, son, I asked her to hold this séance."
    "Get to the house, Mother. I'll talk to you later. In fact, why don't all of you take a walk, while Miss Severin and I settle this."
    Eugenia stood with a huff and hurried out the door. Rose watched his workers leaving, a stiff smile on her face. Finally they were alone.
    Rose turned and faced him, her eyes narrowed as she raised an eyebrow. "Once again, cowboy, you've managed to ruin one of my séances."
    "Miss Severin or whatever your name is, I don't give a damn whether I ruined your séance. I've been very explicit about how I feel about you holding a séance on my ranch."
    She smiled. "I did it for your mother. I was trying to locate your missing brother."
    "I don't care if you did it for the queen. There will be no séances held at this ranch. Do you understand me, Miss Severin?"
    "Mr. Burnett, I must do something with my time, and since I cannot go to town and audition for the play, then I will hold séances. Here, on your ranch!"
    "Tell me, you didn't take money from my men?"
    She lifted her chin. "Of course I charged them a small fee. Not nearly what I normally charge, but I don't do this for free."
    "Return it! Now!"
    "No!"
    "If you don't give me the cash you took from my men right this moment, I promise I'm going to search you until I find it."
    "You wouldn't!"
    He took a step, marching determinedly toward her. God, please don't make me carry out this stupid threat because I know if I touch her, I'm lost.
    "All right! She walked over to a small box, lifted the lid to reveal a stash of cash, and then handed the coins to Travis. "Here! Take it!"
    Travis reached out and accepted the coins. "You knew how I would feel about you doing this on my ranch, yet you did it to spite me."
    "I held a séance because I am bored out of my ever- loving mind with nothing to do. I did it because your mother wants me to find your brother. I did it to earn some cash. I did it to show you I must go into town for that audition. I need that part in the play."
    "No."
    She took a deep breath and released it slowly. "You know, cowboy, I think I've been pretty patient, hoping you would realize I didn't steal your mother's ring. But I don't have time for this anymore. I'm leaving."

Chapter Nine

    Rose's anger built with each step, until she stomped into the house. Travis had yelled repeatedly for her to stop, but she hadn't even turned and glanced in his direction. Just kept marching on, determined to get as far away from Travis Burnett as possible.
    The man had brought her to his ranch and she'd stayed, trying her best to make him understand she had not stolen his mother's wedding ring. He didn't believe her, but her life had to carry on. She was leaving. And he'd have to follow her and drag her back before she'd return.
    She advanced up the stairs, threw open the door to her bedroom, and located her valise. Picking up her few toiletries, she tossed them in her bag. As soon as she collected Isaiah, the two of them were heading to Fort Worth. She didn't care that it was almost dark, didn't care about the dangers on the road. She'd faced her biggest danger right here, and still he didn't believe she was innocent. Still he refused to consider that she hadn't stolen his mother's ring.
    With a click she closed the clasp on her bag, picked it up, and glanced around the bedroom one last time. It was a lovely room, yet to her it had become a prison. A beautiful jail cell with a jailer who tormented her in ways she'd never imagined.
    Rose walked out of the room and closed the door firmly behind her. Hurrying down the stairs, she was surprised when she didn't run into Eugenia, but she couldn't wait to say good-bye. Eugenia would try to stop her, and Rose was determined that this time she was leaving.
    She had to get away from Travis before his accusations stung more