Have a Little Faith by Kadi Dillon Page A

plan on forcing Alex into anything. This is a business arrangement with mutual benefits to both parties. As soon as she see’s that, we’ll have an understanding.”
    Tucker remained quiet for a moment before speaking.
    “I’ve known Alex since she was a little thing. Heck, I’m only five years older than she is. My point is she never had it easy. I’ve seen her smile more in the past few months than ever. I’d hate to see her lose that.”
    “That’s not my intention.” Lane banked his own temper. “I’m not a monster.”
    “S he loves this ranch, Mr. Tanner, m ore than anything.”
    “I know that.”
    “I’d hate to see her lose that, too.”
    “I consider myself a fair man, Mr. Cole. When Alex is my wife, no decisions will be made without her assent.”
    “Good. I wish you luck, then.”
    “I’d also like to know what happened between Alex and Sam Brewster.”
    Tucker sighed lustily. “That was a long time ago and it isn’t my place to explain it.” He took a business card from his breast pocket and handed it to Lane. “Have a nice day, Mr. Tanner.”
     
    Alex was still seething in the barn an hour later.  She wasn’t merely furious, she thought as she stacked and restacked the feed bags. She was enraged . The ph ysical labor helped cool her temper, barely. The nerve of that man to think she would marry him because he says so.
    With a grunt, Alex heaved another fifty pound bag and sat it atop a stack of four. Pig . She yanked another bag out from a pile. Asshole . She tossed it in the corner. Fool .
    “Do you even name inanimate objects?” Lane asked from the doorway .
    Alex whirled around. “Excuse me?”
    “That one’s Pig,” h e said pointing to a bag. “That’s Asshole. And this one is Fool.” He picked up ‘Fool’ and sat it atop the pile.
    “I didn’t know I was calling you names out loud, ” Alex said regally before striding out of the barn. She knew he was following her , but she never slackened her pace. She hopped the fence to the coral and strode into the tack room. After lifting a saddle off the rack, she turned and almost collided into Lane.
    “Excuse me,” s he said between her teeth. “You’re in my way.”
    “I intend to be for a very long time. Would you put that thing down and listen to me?” h e asked in a deceptively patient tone .
    “No. I have no intention of listening to you. I don’t understand you.” She went to shove past him , but he stood firm like a stone wall . The first trickle of fear pierced through her anger . She swallowed audibly and took a step back. “Let me pass.”
    “No.”
    She clutched the saddle that she held between them and used it like a shield. “Fine.” Her voice hitched and Alex was terrified she would cry in front of him. “Say what you have to say so I can get on with my day.”
    “You keep sticking that chin up and somebo dy’s going to take you up on it.” Lane deliberately slammed the door shut behind him with his foot.
    Alex wanted to tell him somebody had already taken her up on it many times , but she only waited for him to say what he had come to say .
    “Christ, you’re stubborn. All right, Alex. I’ve been trying to speak with you about the proposal for the last two days , but you kept avoiding me.” Lane walked idly to the window in the tack room and looked out into the corral.
    “I’ve been busy.” She inched her way toward the door.
    “I wouldn’t.” The steel in his voice stopped her in the center of the tack room.
    Sweat trickled down her back as she adjusted the weight of the saddle. Lane turned around to face her and his eyes became instantly annoyed.
    “Put that thing down before you collapse.”  When she only shook her head, he muttered a curse and strode over to her. He yanked it out of her death grip and dropped it on the ground beside her.
    Alex breath began to hitch , but he didn’t notice. She didn’t want to be there, was all she could think. She had only to get outside into