Diana Palmer Christmas Collection: The Rancher / Christmas Cowboy / A Man of Means / True Blue / Carrera's Bride / Will of Steel / Winter Roses

“Yes, but they’ve done too much already, I’m not a charity case!” she burst out.

“It was an accident that they caused, Maddie,” he said gently.

“I caused it, by running into the road,” she said miserably.

“Accidents are things that don’t happen on purpose,” he said with a faint grin. “Now, listen, whatever trouble you’re in, that developer has no right to make threats to do harm to your cattle.”

“It would be my word against his,” she sighed.

“I’d take your word against anyone else’s, in a heartbeat,” he replied. “You let me handle this. I know how to deal with people like Lawson.”

“He’s really vindictive.”

“He won’t get a chance to be vindictive. I promise.” He got up. “I won’t stay for coffee, Sadie, I’ve got a lot of phone calls to make.”

“Thanks, Mr. Brannt,” Maddie said gently. “Thanks a lot.”

He put a hand on her shoulder. “We take care of our own,” he said. “Cort will be back day after tomorrow.”

“So will that developer,” she said worriedly. So many complications, she was thinking. Poor Cort, he’d feel even more guilty.

“He won’t stay long,” King drawled, and he grinned. “Cort will make sure of that, believe me.”

Chapter Ten (#ulink_64774568-1214-5ba0-9f90-4c574e11f560)

Maddie was on pins and needles Saturday morning. It was worrying enough to know that Cort and Odalie were coming back. She’d have to smile and pretend to be happy for them, even though her heart was breaking.

But also she was going to have to face the developer. She didn’t know what King Brannt had in mind to save her from him. She might have to go through with signing the contracts to ensure that her poor cattle weren’t infected. She hadn’t slept a wink.

She and Sadie had coffee and then Maddie wandered around the house in her wheelchair, making ruts.

“Will you relax?” Sadie said. “I know it’s going to be all right. You have to trust that Mr. Brannt knows what to do.”

“I hope so. My poor cattle!”

“Is that a car?”

Even as she spoke a car drove up in front of the house and stopped. “Mr. Lawson, no doubt. I hope he’s wearing body armor,” she muttered, and she wheeled her chair to the front porch.

But it wasn’t the developer. It was Odalie and Cort. They were grinning from ear to ear as they climbed out of his Jaguar and came to the porch.

Just what I need right now, Maddie thought miserably. But she put on a happy face. “You’re both home again. And I guess you have news?” she added. “I’m so happy for you.”

“For us?” Cort looked at Odalie and back at Maddie blankly. “Why?”

They followed her into the house. She turned the chair around and swallowed. “Well,” she began uneasily.

Odalie knew at once what she thought. She came forward. “No, it’s not like that,” she said quickly. “There was a doll collectors’ convention at the hotel where the cattlemen were meeting. I want you to see this.” She pulled a check out of her purse and handed it to Maddie.

It was a good thing she was sitting down. The check was for five figures. Five high figures. She looked at Odalie blankly.

“The fairy,” she said, smiling. “I’m sorry I wasn’t honest with you. It wasn’t my great-grandmother’s picture. It was a collector’s. He wanted a fairy who looked like her to add to his collection, and I said I knew someone who would do the perfect one. So I flew to Denver to take him the one you made from the photograph.” Odalie’s blue eyes were soft. “He cried. He said the old lady was the light of his life… She was the only person in his family who didn’t laugh and disown him when he said he wanted to go into the business of doll collecting. She encouraged him to follow his dream. He’s worth millions now and all because he followed his dream.” She nodded at the check. “He owns a doll boutique in Los Angeles. He ships all over the world. He said he’d pay that—” she indicated the check again “—for every fairy you made for him. And he wants to discuss licensing and branding. He thinks you can make a fortune with these. He said so.”

Maddie couldn’t even find words. The check would pay her medical bills, buy feed and pay taxes. It would save the ranch. She was sobbing and she didn’t even realize it until Odalie took the check back and motioned to Cort.

Cort lifted her out of the wheelchair and cradled her against him. “You’ll blot the ink off the check with those tears, sweetheart.” He chuckled, and kissed them away. “And just for the record, Odalie and I aren’t getting married.”

“You aren’t?” she asked with wet eyes.

“We aren’t.” Odalie giggled. “He’s my friend. I love him. But not like that,” she added softly.

“And she’s my friend,” Cort added. He smiled down at Maddie. “I went a little goofy over her, but, then, I got over it.”

“Gee, thanks,” Odalie said with amused sarcasm.

“You know what I mean.” He laughed. “You’re beautiful and talented.”

“Not as talented as our friend over there.” She indicated Maddie, with a warm smile. “She has magic in her hands.”

“And other places,” Cort mused, looking pointedly at her mouth.

She hid her face against him. He cuddled her close.

“Oh, dear,” Sadie said from the doorway. “Maddie, he’s back! What are you going to tell him?”

“Tell who?” Cort asked. He turned. His face grew hard. “Oh. Him. My dad gave me an earful about him when I got home.”

He put Maddie gently back down into the wheelchair.

“You didn’t encourage him?” he asked her.

She grimaced. “The medical bills and doctor bills and feed bills all came in at once,” she began miserably. “I couldn’t even pay taxes. He offered me a fortune…”

“We’re paying the medical bills,” Odalie told her firmly. “We even said so.”

“It’s not right to ask you,” Maddie said stubbornly.

“That’s okay. You’re not asking. We’re telling.” Odalie said.

“Exactly.” Cort was looking more dangerous by the second as the developer got out of his car with a briefcase. “My dad said you’ve had more cows killed over here, too.”

“Yes.” She was so miserable she could hardly talk.

“Dad found out a lot more than that about him. He was arrested up in Billings, Montana, on charges of intimidation and poisoning in another land deal,” Cort added. “He’s out on bond, but apparently it didn’t teach him a thing.”

“Well, he threatened to plant anthrax in my herd and have the feds come out and destroy them,” she said sadly. “He says if I don’t sell to him, he’ll do it. I think he will.”

“He might have,” Cort said mysteriously. “Good thing my dad has a real suspicious nature and watches a lot of spy films.”