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father’s grave.
    She swallowed the urge to yell at him like she’d done on her farm. Dredging up her sweetest tone, she said, “Do not trouble yourself, Mr. Ballantyne. My father wasn’t worthy of anyone’s condolences.”
    His gaze jumped back to her and narrowed even further. “Then why are you here?”
    “To say a final goodbye to my mother.” She immediately wished she could take back the words. Talking to him about her father was one thing, but her mother?
    Feeling the need to put some distance between them, she hastened through the graves to a plain headstone with the words: Margaret Sullivan. Loving mother, devoted wife.
    Gone seven years now, her mother had died from a lung fever after they’d traveled from Virginia to Kansas. A journey her mother had made only after her husband forced her to put his need to escape his creditors ahead of her health. A wave of sorrow swept over Sadie—for being separated from her mother, for knowing she’d never be with her again. Not even in death.
    Her soul was tainted. She’d be buried in the other cemetery—the one for the immoral, the outcasts who died violently with their boots on. If her life ended, her bones would reside in Boot Hill.
    Death stalked her. Time was running out. This was the last time she could afford to visit her mother. Dropping to her knees by the grave, she removed the weeds and smoothed the dirt into a tidy swell. She hadn’t heard Noah follow her, but she knew he was beside her. The scent of soap and leather, infused with spring air and sweet grass, curled around her. The soulless oppression of Dodge seemed a thousand miles away.
    Glancing up at him, she whispered, “She was worth a hundred of his kind.” Her shoulders slumped. Why had she told him that? Only friends shared such truths. And he was no friend of hers. Was she losing her mind as well as her health?
    Brows drawn over unblinking eyes, he held her gaze. “The money I gave your father—what happened to it?”
    Her chin went up and with it came a terse laugh. She clenched her teeth. Don’t let him control you. Stop jumping at his every word and glance. Or he’ll have you swooning at his feet and revealing all your secrets.
    Rounding up her jumbled emotions, she composed her face into what she hoped was an aloof expression. “Is that why you returned to Dodge? For your money? Well, it’s long gone. My father was a gambling man. Your money vanished in a week which is longer than I thought it’d last.”
    He moved closer. “That’s not what I came for.”
    She stared at him through narrowed eyes as she considered his reply. “You came with your precious Texan longhorns, pursuing the almighty dollar.”
    “It’s not my herd this time. I’m here for another reason entirely.”
    Her breath shot out in a huff. “Men. You talk in circles and bend your words to suit your purpose—and your conscience.” Overcome with frustration, she stood abruptly and then wished she hadn’t.
    Stars burst behind her eyes, blinding her, making her sway. A large work-roughened hand supported her arm. When she gasped, the warmth of Noah’s touch retreated. She didn’t move again. Not until her vision cleared. When it did, she realized he was standing close, his worried face peering down into hers.
    Slowly, carefully, he took a step back. “Are you…all right?”
    Alone, the prospect of passing out hadn’t seemed so bad. Allowing this man to see such weakness was unbearable.
    “Mr. Ballantyne, it makes no difference to me why you are here.” What was one more lie when she’d already told so many? She added a truth to steady herself as she looked him hard in the eye. “What bothers me most is that you are disrupting my life again. Go home .”
    He matched her glare with one of his own. “No.”
    She threw up her hands. She was better off sticking to lies. “Suit yourself. I really don’t care.” And if he wouldn’t leave, she would. Carefully, so as not to drain her remaining