Stephen’s Bride by Callie Hutton Page B

at the training area. He brought in a new wild Mustang three days ago. He felt it was enough time for her to settle down so he could work with her.
    “Thanks. Is it all right if I drop my stuff here?” He nodded to his saddle bags resting near the door.
    “You’re staying?”
    “Yes. For a while, anyway. But I’ll sleep in the barn. No need to disrupt the kids.”
    He took her lack of response to mean leaving his things behind and sleeping in the barn were acceptable. He tousled Amelia’s hair and left the house.
    His brother’s low voice soothing the frightened animal reached him before he actually saw man and horse at work. He’d always admired how Daniel could handle horses. They were both raised on a horse farm in Kentucky. As well as Stephen worked the horses, Daniel always had some type of magic with the animals. He grinned as he climbed up on the fence and sat on the top rung to watch his brother at work.
    The mustang was a beauty. Once Daniel trained her, she would bring a good price. Watching them work, the horse fighting her master every inch of the way, but Daniel definitely in charge, gave him an itch to get his own horse farm started. He patted the bulge of money in his pocket which brought him full circle to his last conversation with Calliope.
    Most likely he did act in haste, although he wasn’t sorry he’d left. Once he left the room with her ‘pay envelope’ in hand, he took the stairs two at a time up to the bedroom. It hadn’t taken long to clear out his things and stuff them in his saddle bags. He found a pencil stub in the bottom of his bags and wrote a quick note on the envelope after removing the money.
    It appears this is not going to work. I’ve held up my part of the bargain. You are protected now from Melrose’s threats since you are married. If you wish to contact me for any reason, I will be at my brother’s farm.
    I wish you well and happiness.
    Stephen
    He had studied the note for a while, wondering if he should add anything. Deciding there really wasn’t anything more that needed to be added, he left the house. Calliope had been nowhere in sight when he gave instructions to John and saddled up to leave.
    “You sure you’re doing the right thing?” John asked as Stephen tightened Topaz’s girth. “I know Mrs. McCoy can be stubborn at times, but deep down she’s a frightened lady. Never measured up to her papa no matter how hard she tried. And that Melrose fella sure scared her.”
    Stephen had hesitated at man’s words, but then continued to saddle up. “She’s just fine now. She has you to help her, and Melrose has no hold over her anymore.” He stopped and leaned his forearm against the horse’s body. “She prefers it this way. There is no room here for her and anyone else.”
    John just spit on the ground and shook his head, then stuck out his hand. “It’s been a pleasure working with you. But I guess there isn’t anything I can do to change your mind.”
    Stephen hoisted himself onto the horse. “Take care of her, John. Even though she doesn’t believe it, she needs someone.”
    He turned Topaz and rode off, leaving behind a billowing dust cloud.
    His ruminating came to a halt when Daniel slapped the Mustang on the rear and she trotted off to the barn. His brother strode toward him, a big smile on his face. “What brings you here, little brother?” He climbed up alongside him and gave him a brotherly punch on the arm.
    “I figure I’ll say it before you do. You were right. It was not a good idea and it didn’t work out.”
    Daniel stared out at the skyline and didn’t say anything for a minute. “It gives me no pleasure being right.” He turned to look at his brother. “Are you sure you can’t resolve whatever problems you have? Marriage is forever, you know.”
    “Once we scared off the man who was threatening her, she made it clear I was no more than a hired hand. Even gave me a pay envelope.”
    Daniel let out a slow whistle between his