He’d blown it.

As his mother had told him, maybe he shouldn’t have pouted for three days.

Boone headed up to the mining office, and considered what his next move might be.

He could romance her. They could picnic, but the weather had turned cloudy recently. Or maybe a train ride to Helena and they could go to the Ming Opera House. Or perhaps he could get his mother to make dinner for the two of them at his house? Ha! That would show Lucy.

As he was dwelling on that, he arrived at the office, and jumped down and handed the reins to one of the young boys.

“Take care of the horse, will you?”

“Yes, Sir.” The boy gave him a big grin. “I heard you drove Miss Rickman home from school today.”

“News travels fast.”

“I also hear her fiancé is in town. How about that?”

Boone froze. “Her fiancé?”

“Yes. Mr. Davenport picked him up at the station and took him to Mrs. Collier’s boardinghouse. Did you see him? I thought the two of you might have gotten into fisticuffs or something.”

“I didn’t see him.”

The boy shrugged, having lost interest in the conversation.

Boone headed up the steps, and had to force himself not to run. Rather than turning left, he went right and on to Samuel’s office and found the man hard at work. “Did you drive a man to Mrs. Collier’s from the train station?”

“Yes. He asked for a ride. Did you see him?”

“I just dropped her off. I didn’t see him. I don’t think Lucy knew he was there yet.”

Boone wandered to the window and looked out. He was jingling change in both pockets, when his friend laughed.

“What’s so funny?”

“You. Are you just going to stand there all day, or are you going to go see what’s going on with your girl?”

Boone scowled at him, took another second or two to decide, and then he was out the door.

He called to the boy. “Don’t put that horse away. I’m going to need it.”

The boy led the horse back around. “Are you going to fight for your girl?”

That was the second time she’d been called his girl in as many minutes.

Maybe it was time that he claimed her.

* * *

Lucy went inside to find Mr. Hargraves there, standing by the fireplace and looking uncomfortable. She couldn’t believe it!

“What are you doing here?”

“Lucy, darling, I’ve come to apologize.”

“Apologize?” She parroted the word back at him, dumbfounded.

This was exactly what she wanted to hear, but it was from the wrong man. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

“Lucy, darling, of course, I’m here. Of course, I followed you. I want to make this right.”

Again, she simply stared at him. Make it right? He was expecting a child with another woman. How was he supposed to make it right? “Mr. Hargraves…”

He gave her an indulgent look. “Lucy, please, after all we’ve been through together, I insist that you call me Charles.”

“I would think that name would be reserved for your wife’s use.”

“You are my future wife.”

Was the man delusional?

“I don’t believe I am anymore. I believe that title is reserved for the woman who should soon give birth to your child.”

“Lucy, I’m so sorry you had to witness any of that.”

“I’m sure you are.”

“I’m a man, and a man has needs.”

“Really? All this time and that’s what you came up with? Well, a woman has needs as well. At the top of that list is the need to have a faithful husband.”

“We weren’t married yet.”

“Thank heavens.”

As she looked at the man before her, she couldn’t believe she’d been comparing him to Boone.

Yes, Boone had lied to her. But he was like a little boy getting away with something.

Charles was slippery with the truth. Not only that, but he wasn’t nearly as attractive as Boone. “Mr. Hargraves, what are you really doing here?”

“Our families want us to be together.”

“They might want us together, but do you really want to be with me?”

He crossed to her, but she held her arms up to ward him off. “Answer the question, please.”

“Of course, I want to be with you, my darling.”

She searched his gaze, looking for sincerity, and found none. “You really don’t, do you? You’d rather be with the lady that I met, Miss Smith, I believe she called herself.

Anger flared in his gaze. “No, I wouldn’t. She wasn’t supposed to come and see you, and she knew it.”

And apparently that had made him angry. “I’m sorry, Mr. Hargraves. I just don’t see this working out.”

There was panic in the other man’s gaze. “All right, I’m going to level with you. I need this marriage.”

“Because?”

“Because I love you!”

She considered for a moment if she did marry the man. He could give her the children she’d been wanting. And maybe Hargraves would transform into an outstanding gentleman. A family man.

Ha! Now who was spinning a fantasy?

Anyway, she loved Boone.

If she couldn’t have him, she could simply be a schoolteacher. They would have to be her children.

“Why don’t you just tell me the truth?”

“Because I’m tired of working for my father. With the money you bring to this marriage, I can open my own business.”

“Ah, at last, the truth.” She looked at the man, and realized she’d never seen that expression on his face before.

He really was slippery.

“All I can say to that is, I’m sorry. I have no intention of marrying you.”

“You can’t mean that! I came all this way.”

“I’m sure you’ve traveled distances for other investments that didn’t work out as well. Consider me a bad investment.”

Frustration reddened his face. “This isn’t just an investment!”

“Actually, I believe that is exactly what it is to you. I’m sorry, Mr. Hargraves. I’ve no desire to insult or belittle you. So, let’s just leave it at the fact that this marriage will never take place.”

Charles lunged forward and grabbed her by the hands. “Please —”

There was a sharp knock on the door, and then it was flung open.

Boone stood there looking wild, and upset, his gaze zeroing in on their clasped hands.

* * *

Breathing hard, Boone glared at the slim, tall, well-dressed man before him.

He glanced over at Lucy. “Lucy, you’re coming with me.”

Lucy snatched her hands out of the other man’s grasp, then looked at Boone like he was a madman. He didn’t suppose he could blame her, but it didn’t change anything. He held out a hand to her, palm up.

She looked at the other man, and then back at Boone, and then finally at his hand. “What —”

“Come on.”

With an exasperated sigh, she finally crossed the room and took his hand. “What is going on?”

“I might ask the same.” The man crossed to stand before them. “I am Charles Hargraves. Lucy’s fiancé.”

“Is that true?” Boone asked Lucy as panic flared within him. He knew their families had known each other forever, because she’d told him so. This was the man she’d once agreed to marry. A love match gone awry? Was he now stepping in the middle of it?

She shook her head. “He’s come here to try to convince me otherwise, but no, it isn’t true.”

Something unclenched inside Boone’s chest and he could breathe again. He pulled Lucy to him and held her tight.

“Lucy, is this the man you wrote to your parents about? The handyman? Surely, you know your parents wanted more for you than that?”

Lucy glared. “He’s honest, hard-working, loving, and kind. He’s also good with children. He’s the best man that you’ll ever meet!”

“Don’t call her Lucy,” Boone growled.

“Or what? Or what?” The man was looking at Boone as if he was a bug that needed stepping on.

“Or I’ll be glad to teach you some manners.”

“Lucy…” The other man dared.

Boone tried to move Lucy away, but she tightened her grip on him. “Boone, don’t.”

Hargreaves pressed his fingers to his forehead. “I have crossed the country to this godforsaken spot on the map in order to take you home. I think I deserve some consideration.”

“Really? I thought that I deserved a faithful fiancé. I guess we’re both out of luck, aren’t we?”

Boone grinned, his mood suddenly lightening. “You hear that, Hargraves? She has a problem with cheaters. As I am the faithful type, I guess that means the girl is mine.”

Lucy rolled her eyes and let out a scoffing noise. “Really, Mr. Jackson.” She emphasized his name. “I actually have a problem with liars in general.”

“I know that,” he quickly inserted. “And I swear to you it’ll never happen again.”

“He’s a liar, is he? I’m sure your mother and father will be interested to hear about that.”

“Mind your own business, before I make it mine to make you.”

“Lucy, who is this man?”

“I told you not to call her that. You no longer have the right.”

“And I think you’d better mind your own business.”

“Anything to do with Lucy is my business.” Boone grabbed Lucy by the hand. “Come on, we’re leaving.”

This time, she went with him, and relief flooded his body. “I swear, you won’t regret this.”

She looked back at Mr. Hargraves. “Say hello to my mother and father for me, will you? Tell my grandmother, things worked out exactly the way she said they would.”

She waved a hand in the air.

“Nevermind, I’ll tell them myself. Good luck with your future, and with your new baby.”

“A handyman? Really, Lucy? Over me?”

With that, Boone pulled her right out the door, lifted her up onto his horse, and climbed on behind her.