Marriage at Any Price

by Lauren Canan

  “Not really.” She shrugged. “Visiting some friends.”

  “Why didn’t you answer your phone?”

  “Didn’t feel like it.”

  “Look, Ally, if I’ve done something to offend you...”

  “No. You haven’t. I just feel as though I’ve been wasting the past few weeks and I need to get back to business. People to see. Things to do.”

  “If this is your way of telling me to leave, just come right out and say it. I’m a big boy. I think I can take it.”

  “Any time you want to go...just leave. You’ve only got a few weeks left anyway.”

  Seth watched her and nodded his head. He’d been right. The impending deadline was looming, and this was obviously her way of getting it over with. Maybe she’d made up with her ex-boyfriend, which didn’t sit well at all.

  “Fine. I had hoped we would separate on better terms, but okay. If this is what you want, give me a couple of hours and I’ll be out of your hair.”

  Ally chose to remain silent. Finally Seth turned and went upstairs, where he pulled his suitcase from the closet and began packing. She was afraid. He could see it in her eyes. Was his leaving making her this way? He’d promised her he would come back. And he’d intended to try.

  Why worry about it now? She was effectively throwing him out of her home with the least amount of effort. So he would leave. What else could he do?

  With a curse, he opened the bedroom door and went back downstairs. He found her in the kitchen, sitting in a chair and gazing out over the pastureland.

  “I thought we had something between us,” he said quietly. “I thought you shared my feelings. I care for you, Ally.”

  He thought he saw her shudder, but then she shook her hair back from her face and looked at him like she was already bored with this conversation.

  “Ah, but caring doesn’t win the big prize, does it? I’ve realized I don’t want to settle for a few romps in the hay. I want it all. Failing that, you might as well leave so I can get on with my life. Frankly, you’re holding me back. But don’t worry about the marriage thing. I’ll still uphold my end of the bargain. Just file for divorce when the appropriate time has passed and I’ll agree to whatever.”

  Her words hit him like a brick in the face. Something was going on. This wasn’t like Ally. He stared at her trying to see a glimpse of the Ally he knew. Nothing. This Ally was cold, indifferent, calculating and appeared completely resolute in what she was saying.

  He nodded. “Well, you certainly cleared that up. I’ll leave tonight.” He went back upstairs to resume his packing.

  An hour later he was headed for the small municipal airport to board his flight home. There had been no sign of Ally when he walked out the door for the last time. He would have Karen call her to make arrangements for his horse. Maybe Chance would take Cajun for a while until he’d had an opportunity to work this through.

  * * *

  He was gone. Seth Masters, who had come into her life so suddenly, had left just as fast. There had been no goodbye kisses or hugs. How could there be when she’d thrown him out? But he was gone. That was the important thing. He’d gone back to California, where thugs like Wayne couldn’t touch him. Seth would be safe, walking on his beach, working with his friends, maybe even dating some woman who was clearly on his social level. He would be safe and happy. That’s all that mattered. Still, the pain deep inside wouldn’t leave.

  She gazed out over the pastureland. She owed him so much. She wouldn’t have her ranch were it not for him. He’d given her reason to smile again. She couldn’t help but recall those moments she’d spent in his arms. She’d felt loved and protected and so cherished. No doubt he made every woman feel that way. She was nothing special. At least not to Seth, who could have about any woman he wanted. The real kicker was, he didn’t want any. At least not on a permanent basis.

  She walked over to Seth’s horse. Cajun nickered softly. She opened the stall door and approached him. What would become of Cajun? Seth would probably arrange for Chance to pick him up. She smoothed her hand over the horse’s shiny coat and put her arms around his neck. Suddenly the tears she’d held back wouldn’t be held any longer. She held on to the horse as the sobs racked her body. She loved Seth so much. She’d gone and done what she’d pledged not to do. She’d fallen in love with Seth Masters. This was not like the love she thought she’d had for Wayne. This love was real. It was deep and pure and all-consuming. And she was going to hurt for a very long time.

  When her sobs began to subside, she patted Cajun and exited the stall.

  The house was quiet when she stepped into the kitchen. She poured a glass of water, wishing it was something stronger. Her mind drifted to Sam and what he had said about Wayne and those two belt buckles.

  She looked around the kitchen. They had combed the house and found nothing like that. Her eyes came to rest on the fireplace on the south wall. Ally walked over to it and looked up into the chimney. Nothing to be seen but black soot. When she reached up and touched it, soot began to fall down on the hearth. Could something be hidden in the chimney? It was one place they hadn’t looked. She stretched, moving her hand deeper inside the chimney. Suddenly her fingers encountered a piece of fabric. It felt like some kind of bag. Her heart began to race as she nudged it from its resting place. Then it was free and in her hand. She quickly untied the small bag. Inside were two shiny gold and silver buckles. Wayne’s. It was Wayne who had broken into the house. And he would be back for them.

  If she knew how to reach him, she would call and tell him to come and get them. But no one knew where he was. She didn’t have his phone number. Sam. Sam might know. She grabbed her purse and fished out the phone. She was relieved when Sam answered on the first ring.

  “Sam, this is Ally. I found Wayne’s belt buckles. Do you know how to reach him?”

  “No. I don’t. I haven’t seen him again since we spoke yesterday.”

  “Well, if you do run into him, tell him I found them and he can come and get them.”

  “Ally, you don’t want him in your house. The man is deranged. Take them to the sheriff’s office and let them handle it.”

  Why didn’t she think of that? “Okay.”

  She thanked Sam and headed for the truck, buckles in tow. She made it to the sheriff’s office in record time and asked for Mason Crawley, the deputy sheriff who had come out to the house the night of the break-in. Luckily he was in.

  Ally explained the situation, including the recent confrontation with Wayne Burris. The deputy came to the same conclusion that it was possibly Wayne who broke into the house. The deputy took possession of the buckles and advised her to not have any contact with Wayne if at all possible. He also issued a caution to not let the man in the house and to call 911 immediately if he showed up.

  Ally left the office feeling somewhat better about the entire situation. But—Wayne was still here in Calico Springs and Seth was gone. How could that be anything but bad? Tears welled in her eyes at the thought that she could have had a few more weeks with Seth were it not for Wayne. But Seth was safe, and that’s what mattered the most.

  * * *

  Seth sat in the private aircraft and stared blankly at the clouds that passed below. He couldn’t get it out of his head that something wasn’t right. It just wasn’t Ally’s way to come off like a gold digger, like a woman who needed him out of the way so she could find someone else. Someone wealthier. Dammit, he couldn’t figure it out, but something had happened. And he had a feeling it wasn’t good.

  She’d been seen talking to Wayne Burris, someone she professed to hate. Ally was very strong in her convictions, and she wouldn’t have been talking to him through any choice of her own. And she wouldn’t have gone from making love to Seth, letting her emotions and her love for him show freely, to abruptly telling him to leave the way she had. The entire thing just didn’t make any sense.


  His cell started to ring, and he fished it out of his pocket. He didn’t recognize the number.

  “Hello?”

  “Mr. Masters?”

  “Yes.”

  “We have a bad connection. I apologize.”

  He obviously didn’t know Seth was at twenty thousand feet in the air.

  “This is Deputy Crawley with the Calico Springs County Sheriff’s Department. I wanted to give you an update on the break-in. Thanks to your wife, as you probably know, we think our man is Wayne Burris. He was after two gold and silver rodeo belt buckles he’d hidden in the kitchen chimney. Mrs. Masters found them and brought them in this afternoon. She told us Wayne had approached her a couple of times trying to gain admission into the house. We know about the threats on your life. We have a warrant out for his arrest, but no sign of him yet. He’s also wanted for grand theft in another county. It’s good that you and your wife are leaving town for a few days. We spoke at length to your neighbor Sam Shepherd, and he confirmed Wayne has acquired a gun. Wayne Burris is out of prison on probation, and that’s a violation. He’s considered armed and dangerous.”

  “Wait, Deputy Crawley. Ally isn’t with me. She’s still at the house.”

  A knot of fear like he’d never experienced before tightened in Seth’s gut. Suddenly Ally’s actions before he left all made sense. She was trying to get him out of the house if Wayne Burris should come back. For God’s sake, she was trying to protect him.

  “Mr. Masters, we’re in our final approach. Landing estimated in five minutes,” the captain said over the intercom.

  “Is there anything else, Deputy Crawley?” Seth said into the phone.

  “No, sir. But I suggest you get Mrs. Masters to another location as soon as possible. We have every reason to believe Burris will go back to the house. I tried to reach her on her cell, but there was no answer. We have cars patrolling the area. But it’s best to get her to a safe location as soon as possible.”

  Sweat broke out on Seth’s brow. He thanked the deputy and terminated the call. Immediately he dialed Ally’s number. No answer. He hung up and dialed again. No answer.

  Seth unbuckled his seat belt and hurried to the cockpit.

  “Gene, as soon as we land, be prepared to leave again. We’ll be headed back to Texas as fast as this plane can go. I’m calling my security to meet us. As soon as they’re aboard, we take off. Understood?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Back in his seat, Seth contacted his head of security and made arrangements for Frank and Bryan and one other staff member to meet him at the small regional airport as soon as possible.

  He rubbed the back of his neck, just one thought circling over and over in his head.

  Please let us make it back to the ranch in time.

  * * *

  Ally finished checking the locks on the windows both upstairs and down. The front and back doors were locked. With one last sigh, she turned off the lights in the kitchen and made her way into the den. Her baseball bat was next to the chair in the back corner. She pulled her phone from her jeans pocket, glancing to make sure it had reception. Just two bars, and the second was flickering. And there were five messages that apparently had not come through earlier due to the poor reception in the area. One from the sheriff’s office. Four from Seth. She didn’t have time to check them now. Placing the phone on the table next to the chair, she knelt down and waited.

  She’d spotted the police cruisers driving up and down the road in front of her house a couple of times. While somewhat reassuring, she knew Wayne, if he came tonight, would sneak in through the back. No one on the road would know anything was happening. She was as ready as she could be. Maybe when she told him that his buckles were with the sheriff and Seth was gone, he would finally give up and leave.

  She didn’t know for sure how long she sat there. The old pendulum clock ticked by the minutes ever so slowly. Suddenly she heard the knob to the kitchen door jiggle. That was followed by what sounded like kicks to the door. It could only be Wayne.

  She picked up the bat and scampered behind the chair just as the kitchen door crashed open. She heard footsteps on the kitchen floor—followed by two voices. One was Wayne’s. Someone was yelling at him to get out of the house. Wayne shouted a curse, and seconds later, a gunshot rang out. Oh my God. What was happening?

  She grabbed her cell and quickly dialed 911.

  “Nine-one-one. What is your emergency?”

  “This is Ally Masters. Please tell Deputy Crawley that Wayne Burris is here. At my house. He’s just broken in, and someone has been shot.” Her voice wavered when she said the last sentence. Please don’t let it be Seth.

  “Ally! Where the hell are you?” Wayne shouted out through the stillness.

  “He’s coming for me,” Ally desperately whispered into the phone. “Please hurry!”

  She terminated the call, placed the phone on the floor and double-fisted the bat.

  “I know you’re in the house, darlin’.” She could hear him kick over a piece of furniture in the other room.

  “I don’t want to hurt you, Ally. I just need my buckles and some money.”

  Ally heard him stop in front of the door to the den.

  “Come on out. I won’t hurt you.”

  Slowly she stood up from behind the chair, the bat held at her side.

  “I found your belt buckles this afternoon. They are at the sheriff’s office. Had you told me what you needed instead of making ugly threats, I would have given them to you.”

  Wayne cursed. “Never mind the buckles. Cash will do fine.”

  “I don’t have any cash.”

  “Lady, you’re married to one of the wealthiest men in the country. Don’t even go there.”

  She swallowed hard. “Seth is gone. We...we had a fight. He’s gone back to California and will file for divorce. I don’t even know how to reach him. He said his attorneys will contact me.”

  “You’re lying,” he accused as he came into the room. Ally saw the gun in his hand through the ambient lighting of the back porch.

  “Have you ever known me to lie?” she said, looking straight into his eyes. They were cold. Calculating.

  That seemed to slow him down. She’d always been completely honest with Wayne. He knew that.

  “Then you’ll have to do. Your soon-to-be ex-husband will get to pay dearly for your safe return or it’s on his hands. You’re coming with me.”

  “Where?”

  “Don’t worry about it. Come on. The cops will be here soon.”

  “I’m not going anywhere with you. I told you before, leave me alone!”

  “Dammit, Ally. You always did have to do things the hard way.”

  He stuffed his revolver into the back of his pants and came for her. When he bent over to move the chair, Ally brought the bat into play. One hard thunk with all her might against the side of his head and he went down hard. He was moaning, and she knew she hadn’t knocked him out completely. She had to get out. She quickly stepped around the chair, pulled his gun from out of his pants and ran for the kitchen.

  Just as she threw the gun out into the darkness as hard as she could, someone grabbed her. She felt a very strong arm circle her waist and a large hand over her mouth. She cried out and fought for all she was worth.

  “Ally. Ally,” a voice said in her ear. “It’s me, Seth. You’re all right.”

  Breathing hard, she ceased her struggles. He removed his hand from her mouth as three large men hurried past them and into the house, guns drawn. “Seth?”

  “It’s all right, Ally. You’re fine. We’re both fine.”

  In the distance she heard the sound of sirens. She turned into Seth’s arms and couldn’t get close enough to the man she loved. The tears flowed as he held her. She couldn’t stop trembling. His hand cupped the back of her head as he pulled her close.
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br />   “You silly woman,” he said softly. “Sometime you’re going to explain to me what in the hell you thought you were doing trying to take on somebody like Burris by yourself.”

  “He...this...it had nothing to do with you. It was my own bad judgment to become involved with him in the first place. I... I thought I could talk to him, make him see he needed to leave us alone and—”

  Just then, Wayne Burris stumbled out the back door, in handcuffs, escorted by Seth’s security team. The sirens screamed from the front of the house. Doors slammed, and the sheriff’s deputies hurried to take control of the prisoner.

  “Mrs. Masters, are you all right?” asked Deputy Crawley.

  “Yes,” she said, as Seth still held her close. “But I heard a shot. I’m afraid one of the ranch hands may have been hurt.”

  “You two go toward the barn and check to make sure no one was hurt,” the deputy told his officers. They soon returned to report that one of the cowboys had been shot in the arm and the ambulance was on the way.

  “You both will need to come down and give a statement,” he said, “but it can wait until the morning.”

  “We will be there,” Seth answered. “Thanks, Deputy Crawley.”

  The officer tipped his hat and disappeared inside the house.

  “What am I going to do with you?” Seth said against Ally’s temple. She turned in his arms.

  “Just hold me,” she said, and Seth’s arms came around her, holding her close.

  Fifteen

  The police left with Wayne in the back seat of Deputy Crawley’s car, throwing out threats to any and all. Then the ambulance with the wounded cowboy took off for the hospital. Throughout all this, Ally still stood with her arms around Seth. Every breath she felt him take was a small miracle. She loved him so much. She still couldn’t believe he’d come all the way back here to save her.

  “How about we go to a hotel tonight?” Seth asked. “Then, after we give our statements in the morning, we will head to California.”