Maverick’s wide eyes shifted toward her. She couldn’t stand the look of blame in his eyes. The look of betrayal was in his eyes, and she couldn’t handle seeing him this way. Her heart began breaking, and the pain was unbearable.
“Is this true?” Maverick asked in a cracked voice.
Tears filled her eyes, and no matter how much she blinked, they wouldn’t go away. Instead, they slid down her cheeks. “Dillon Walker was the man who I thought would be my husband.” Her voice shook, and her body trembled, but she must confess all. “When I realized I was pregnant, I told Dillon, but he didn’t want the burden of having a family, so he skipped town, leaving me alone with a ruined reputation.”
Maverick’s gaze dropped to her waist. “You are pregnant... now?”
She nodded. “That’s why I answered Bryan’s ad. I needed to find a husband quickly because I didn’t want my child to be born without a father.”
“Do you see?” Dillion’s voice lifted in irritation as he pointed toward Hannah. “She’s just a hussy looking for some poor fool to raise her child. She thinks I’m the father, but I don’t believe her.”
She scowled at Dillion. “You are the father. We had been together for two months. If I’d been pregnant with another man’s child, I would have been showing by now.” She pointed to her stomach. “Do the math, genius. It takes nine months before a baby is born, and the woman starts showing by month three.”
“Stop this insanity!” Maverick raked his fingers through his hair as he closed his eyes.
The frustration written on his expression explained how Hannah felt. He’d been correct. This conversation was indeed, insane, and she couldn’t take it any longer.
“If you’ll excuse me,” she said, moving past the men, “I need to lie down.” She paused, looking over her shoulder at Maverick. “I’ll be out of your grandfather’s house by morning and out of your family’s lives. You’ll not need to worry about me any longer.”
She rushed toward the house. Tears blurred her vision, but she kept moving. No longer would she be anyone’s burden. She didn’t know what to do to provide for her and the child, but she’d find a job somewhere.
After she made it to her bedroom and closed the door, more tears covered her face. She wasn’t sure what hurt worst – her unforeseen future, or the fact that Maverick didn’t come after her and beg to hear what really happened between her and his cousin.
For many years, men had adored her and then tossed her aside like trash. She always held out hope to find the one man who wouldn’t judge her, but who would love her. Perhaps it was time to admit that there was no such a man out there.
She made it to the bed and threw herself on the mattress, crying out her frustrations and about the pain of her broken heart. She loved Maverick with all her heart, and it hurt knowing that he didn’t return those deep, committed, feelings.
Hannah wasn’t sure how much time passed, but soon her body became relaxed, and she felt that she could fall asleep. But the clicking of the door and the footsteps coming toward her bed brought her alert. Groggily, she rolled on her side to see who had entered the room, hoping to see Maverick’s forgiving face. Instead, she saw Dillon’s evil grin as he came closer and stopped at the edge of her bed.
The man resembled the Easton brothers, from his height and handsome looks, but Dillon’s bushy beard and long hair made him look like an outlaw.
“That was quite a performance, earlier.” His voice was low. “But then, I know you have a talent for the dramatics.”
“Go away,” she said. “The truth is out. You’ve ruined my life again, so just move on to find the next innocent woman to ruin.”
“Innocent?” He laughed but kept it low as though not wanting anyone in the hallway to hear him. “You have no right to call yourself innocent. We both know you’re far from that.”
“Fine, I’m a hussy. Now, will you leave me alone? I’ll be out of here tomorrow.”
“Actually, you’ll be out of here tonight.” He lifted his arm, and in his hand was a pistol.
Gasping, she sat up, clutching a pillow to her chest. “Really, Dillon. I’ll leave. You don’t need to threaten me.”
“That’s not what I’m doing.” In one quick motion, he grasped her arm, yanking her toward him. “You are going to help me get what I deserve.”
He pulled her off the bed, and she stumbled against him. Quickly, she righted herself and stepped back, not wanting to touch him at all. “I thought that’s what you had gotten when Maverick punched you in the face.”
Dillon rolled his eyes. “Aren’t you the funny woman?” He leaned closer, glaring at her. “You’ve managed to escape my men with Mav, which tells me that he has deep feelings for you.”
She hitched a surprised breath. “Your men? You were behind the kidnapping?”
He nodded. “And I’m going to make sure it’s done right this time.” He tightened his grip on her arm. “But since Mav has deep feelings for you, that assures me that Gramps will do everything he can to help pay your ransom.” He lifted his chin in confidence. “One way or another, I’ll get the money Gramps has cheated me out of all these years.”
“Maybe you will, and maybe you won’t.” Panic filled her, unlike anything she’d known before. She needed to talk him out of this ridiculous quest.
“Why?”
“Because Maverick doesn’t love me anymore. Thanks to the way your rudely blurted out my... hardship, he now knows that I’m not the woman he thought. And, if he doesn’t want me as a wife any longer, your grandfather won’t lift a finger to help him pay for my ransom.”
Keeping the sickening evil grin on his face, Dillon shook his head. “You underestimate my cousin. He has never
