Read Love at Any Cost for Free Online

Hamilton . . .” Her smile dimmed. “And . . . of course . . . her sister, Patricia.”
    Cassie blinked wide when Liddy overpowered her with a hug as warm as the girl’s smile while her sister—a tall, dark-haired beauty—stood behind, as cool as her ice-blue dress.
    â€œEnough with the hugs—I want news from Texas.” Aunt Cait said in her ear, quickly steering her to a carved cherrywood couch while the others returned to their game of whist. “So . . . how are your parents?”
    Cassie’s smile stiffened as she perched on the edge of the cream brocade sofa, but she quickly deflected it with a bright span of eyes. “Oh, just fine, Aunt Cait—Daddy’s run into a few dry holes, but he’s hoping that will change soon.”
    â€œA few dry holes?” Logan said with a scrunch of brows. He set Maddie down, and she promptly bolted to where the others played cards. After shedding his jacket, Uncle Logan reached for his cribbage chair and swung it around, dropping his coat over the back. He straddled the chair and rested starched white sleeves on the back, studying Cassie with concern in his eyes. “How many?”
    Cassie peeked up, a touch of warmth in her cheeks. Daddy had warned her not to say anything about their dire financial state to his brother, but Cassie was too worried to hide the quiver in her voice. Not when a Texas fever wiped out most of their cattle herd last year and the ranch was in jeopardy of auction. “Four,” she whispered, battling the prospect of tears.
    â€œFour?” Shock was evident in his voice. “But Quinn said it was just a minor setback—”
    A reedy breath floated from Cassie’s lips. A minor setback, indeed, one that bled their savings dry. “Yes, well, Daddy is still hoping to turn it around, Uncle Logan . . .”
    He scowled, and the dark cleft in his formidable chin suddenly loomed ominous. “I told him he should have stuck with cattleranching instead of drilling for oil. Blast it, Cass, if he needed help, he should have called me. What kind of idiot is he?”
    Aunt Cait patted his arm with a patient smile. “A McClare idiot, Logan. He’s your brother, remember?” She lifted her chin enough to send him a message. “It’s Cassie’s first night in San Francisco. Don’t you think this conversation can wait?”
    He eyed Cait with a gum of his lips before taking Cassie’s hands in his. “Sorry, Cass, I didn’t mean to spoil your arrival dinner—I’m just concerned.”
    She nodded, lowering her voice. “I shouldn’t have said anything, Uncle Logan, because Daddy asked me not to, so you have to promise you won’t breathe a word to anyone—not Daddy, not my cousins, no one.” Her frantic gaze flitted from her uncle to her aunt, calming somewhat at the look of tender concern in their eyes. “But Aunt Cait, I just couldn’t not tell you because we need you to join us in prayer. Daddy, Mama, and I really do have faith it will all work out, but we could sure use the prayers of someone with a strong faith like you.”
    â€œWith four dry wells, it’s going to take more than—” He stopped, lips compressing at the jut of Aunt Cait’s brow. “Sorry, Cait, but it’s true.”
    Her aunt’s eyes softened, a trace of sadness in their depths. “For you, Logan, perhaps, but not for Quinn and Virginia, and not for Cassie or me. Faith in God can move mountains.”
    One corner of Logan’s mouth edged up. “Is that so?” The gray eyes glinted with a dare. “Well, let’s see if it can ‘move’ you into the winner’s column, Cait, because when it comes to faith, you’re going to need a mountain to win at cribbage tonight.”
    A serene smile settled on her aunt’s features as she laid a hand on Cassie’s arm. “As