Have a Little Faith by Kadi Dillon Page A

the uneasy thoughts aside and concentrated on bringing the ax down and splitting the wood she had already chopped.
    She stacked the logs neatly in the wood box and treaded back to gather more. After a quick check on Joy, Alex got back to work.
    The sun’s position told her it was nearly five o’clock. She would head back now, she decided as she shut the wood box and locked it. Her curiosity pe aked when she heard the rumble of a pick up poking up Mr. Scott’s lane. She saddled Joy in the paddock and tried not to sigh when Gary Fuller stepped out of the truck.
    His age was showing, Alex thought as she ran a strap through a buckle. His gray hair was balding on the top of his round, tanned head. His eyes were still mean. Just as mean as they’d been when she had confronted him about abusing Crazy Horse. Gary bypassed the house and headed straight for the paddock.
    So it was hardly a social call, Alex thought while her stomach did a quick somersault from nerves.
    “Mr. Fuller.” Alex greeted, leading Joy out of the corral.
    “I hear congratulation s are in order.” He stuck two beefy hands in his overall pockets. “Your young man came into town a couple hours ago.”
    “Did he now?” Now, the whole town knew they were married. She banked down on the urge to ask him what Lane had said.
    “Is that the ugly horse I sold you?”
    Alex bristled. “She’s not ugly. But yes, this is the horse you sold me.”
    “I’ll be damned.” Gary walked around Joy slowly, appraising her. “You certainly got a deal with this one. She grew into her head, didn’t she?”
    “She did. But she was beautiful before. Was there something you needed, Mr. Fuller?”
    “Yeah, Mart Dell down at the market was saying something about your husband putting a damned theme park up on your ranch. Seein’ as how Cedar Grove here’s a slow town, I don’t know how that’s going to go over with the residents. Do you?”
    “I don’t handle the business aspect, Mr. Fuller.”
    “That’s obvious enough. We don’t want no crowd-bringing amusement park coming to Cedar Grove.”
    “I’m sorry you feel that way.” Alex suppressed a shudder when he hissed through his teeth. He reminded her hugely of a snake. “Plans, however, are not final. I’m sure Lane would value your opinion. You’ve only to call him.”
    “Tell me, he’s only been here about a week, is that right?” He snorted when Alex failed to answer. “A little quick for wedding bells, wouldn’t you think?”
    “That ’s my business, and Lane’s. I need to go , Mr. Fuller.” She would have hoisted herself up in the saddle , but his hand snaked out and grabbed her arm.
    “You wouldn’t want to lose that hand, Mr. Fuller.” Her voice was calm and quiet. She thanked God for it because inside, she was trembling all over.
    “You listen here, bitch.” He hissed and had the pleasure of seeing the color drain from her face. “You tell that rich husband of yours to pack up his corporate bullshit and get the hell out of Oklahoma. And to take his whore with him.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “Everyone in Cedar Grove knows why he married you.”
    “His reasons and mine is our business and no one else’s. You’ll take care to remember that.” She tried and failed to jerk free. She knew she would have a series of bruises right above her elbow where his fingers were digging into her skin.
    “Your Daddy shoulda’ taken a strap to you and your wasp tongue,” Fuller said between his teeth. “God knows you wouldn’t have run off and gotten yourself pregnant, borne a man’s bastard. You’d have never caused yourself and family the shame that killed your Daddy.”
    That, Alex thought dully, was the biggest pile of nonsense she had ever heard. And worse, she believed every word.
    “Your opinion is noted, Mr. Fuller. Now take your hand s off me.”
    He did. He pulled her around and shoved her, hard. Her back collided with Mr. Scott’s tractor and stole her breath. She sunk to the ground