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light. She wasn’t a minor now was she? Then his aunt’s comment came back to him. She doesn’t look much older than Sadie. Surely she wasn’t fourteen…
    His chest ached with dread.
    “How old are you,” he asked, fury in his voice.
    She flinched and looked away. “I turned eighteen yesterday.”
    At least she was of age, he breathed a sigh and shook his head a little.
    When he looked at her against she had her arms crossed over her chest and she was shaking. Pity settled in him heart and he sighed.
    Opening his arms he said, “Come over here, sweetheart.”
    She looked at him with hurt filled eyes. “You’re not mad?”
    “Well,” he drew out, “I am a little, but I guess the age isn’t a big thing to be mad over. After all I didn’t tell you I had a daughter, you thought it would be just you and me.”
    Carrow sniffed a little and pointed out, “You never told me you owned the railroad either. I had to find out from Sadie. I thought you were just well of not rich.”
    He rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, well I was going too.”
    “When you thought you could trust me not to be a gold digger? Well thanks to you I get my part of Papa’s money, my inheritance. I’m worth just around two million dollars, so is my sister.”
    That was like slap to the face.
    “You married me to get your father’s money?” Clayton demanded.
    “No,” Carrow snapped. “I married you because I ran away from my Uncle. He was a drunk and a violent one at that. He attacked the poor maid and hit my sister in return. She fell down the stairs and was badly hurt. So we left to come here and marry. I didn’t want to be the one hurt next. By keeping Papa’s money from the man’s hands feels good too.”
    Clayton sat on the edge of the bed with his head in his hands.
    “I think it would be best if we just took a step back,” he said. “And take some time to think.”
    That was a slap to Carrow, her heart ripped open. “You mean, like pretend that this,” she waved a hand at the bed, “didn’t happen?” tears filled her eyes again. She was becoming a water pot.
    He hesitated before he started to answer and that was all the answer she needed. She flung herself from the bed, running for the door. She didn’t bother reaching for her clothes as she ran down the stairs sobbing.
    “Carrow!” Clayton called from the top step, but she was already to the main level and racing to her room. She slammed the door locking it just as Clayton began pounding on the other side.
    Carrow slid down the door and tucked her head to her knees.
    “Carrow, open up. Please!” he called but she didn’t hear him.
     
     
    Chapter Seven
     
    She kept herself locked up in the room that night and come early morning just before the sun rose she snuck out to see her sister. She ran until her legs were jelly and she sat on the edge of the mercantile’s porch.
    Her sister wasn’t here yet, but she would wait all day if she must. The sun was starting to peek above the land and paint the sky in a fiery blaze. Carrow watched and let her thoughts wonder.
    It had been good here since they came, only foolish has come from last night. Carrow knew she had over reacted but he had not said he now would agree to the marriage. He was married to her and now regretted what had happened. He could divorce her and then where would she be?
    Divorces weren’t common and when they did happen it caused a great scandal. At least she would be able to take care of herself. She would have to send a letter to her lawyer today so that her portion of her father’s land and money could then be transferred into her name. But even with the money would she be happy? She had never truly been happy with the parties and dances of her old life. They had had more money than they needed; more servants and more pretty things laying around then they knew what to do with.
    Carrow sighed. She hoped her sister was doing better than she was.
    “Maybe I am just being stubborn,” she