Mail-order Bridegroom Part 27

She closed her eyes, hating herself for involving him. But there'd been no

one else she could turn to.

"I realize you're retired and out of the loop. Still, I'd hoped you'd have

contacts who could give you the information. I'm sorry to ask for such a bigfavor. I wouldn't, unless it was important," she apologized."Of course. I'll look into it.""You'll be discreet?""Don't worry. I'll be discreet."She thanked him and hung up, checking his name off the list she'd composed.

One down. Studying the piece of paper in front of her, she eyed the second

name and number. This next would take even more nerve.

She forced herself to reach for the phone again and dial the number.

An operator answered almost immediately.

"Lyon Enterprises. How may I direct your call?"

"Hunter Pryde, please."

"One moment."

After a brief delay a secretary answered.

"Felicia Carter speaking.

May I help you? "

Leah frowned.

"I'm sorry. I asked for Hunter Pryde's office."

"I can help you," the secretary hastened to a.s.sure.

"May I ask who's calling?"

"Is he in?" Leah persisted."He's tied up with the board all day. I can give him a message if you'dlike."

Leah closed her eyes."No message." She started to hang up, then froze."Wait! His t.i.tle. Could you tell me his t.i.tle with the company?""I'm afraid you'll have to discuss that with Mr Pryde." A hint of suspicion tinged Felicia's voice.

"Could I have your name, please?"

Without another word, Leah cradled the receiver. So. Part of Bull's story

checked out. Hunter could be reached at Lyon Enterprises. But that didn't mean he had an office there; it didn't even mean he worked there. And it was far from indisputable evidence that he owned the company. There's no need to panic, she told herself, breathing a little easier. She'd managed to gleantwo facts. He had business in Houston with Lyon and their meeting wasongoing.

Beneath her hand the phone rang and she lifted it.

"Yes? h.e.l.lo?"

"It's Conrad."

From the reluctance in his voice she could tell that she wouldn't appreciate

the information he'd gathered.

"Get it over with. I can take it," she told him.

"It's not anything definitive," he was quick to explain, 'so don't jump to

any conclusions. The company that bought out your note is named HP, Inc. ""HP, Inc? As in... Hunter Pryde, Incorporated?""It's... possible, I suppose. I couldn't get the status of the loan itself.

But I have their number in Houston, if you want it.""I want it." She jotted down the information and thanked him."Let me know if you need me," Conrad said."I had hoped..." He didn't finish his sentence. He didn't have to.The, too," she said in a soft voice.This time she didn't delay placing the call. Asking for Hunter's office, the operator once again put her through, and once again a secretary offered to take a message.

"This is Felicia Carter at Lyon Enterprises," Leah said. "I'm trying to track down Mr Pryde."

"Why... I believe he's working over there today, Ms Carter."

Leah managed a careless laugh."How silly of me. I must have gotten my days mixed up." Then on impulse shesaid, "I don't know how he keeps it straight. It must be difficult owningtwo such large companies."

"Yes, it is. But Mr Pryde's an unusual man. And he only hires the best.

Delegation. It makes his life much easier. One minute, please."

Leah could hear a brief, m.u.f.fled conversation before the secretary came back on the line.

"Mr Pryde's a.s.sistant just came in. Would you like to speak to him?""Kevin?" she asked casually."Oh, you know him?"She ducked the question."That won't be necessary. I'll get the information I need at this end." To her horror, her voice broke.

"Thank you for your help," she managed to say, and hung up.

The tears, once started, couldn't be stopped. She despised herself for being

so weak. It wasn't the end of all her dreams. She still had her grandmotherand the ranch. She still had her employees and Dreamseeker-But somehow itwasn't enough. She wanted Hunter. Most of all, she wanted Hunter's love.

Too bad all Hunter wanted was her ranch.

"What's going on, Leah?"

Leah looked up, distressed to see her grandmother standing in the doorway.

Silently she shook her head, swiping

at her damp cheeks and struggling to bring her emotions under control.

"Is it Hunter?" Rose asked, stepping into the room.

"Has something happened to him?""No! Yes!" Leah covered her face with her hands, fighting to maintaincontrol. She couldn't afford to break down again.

"His health is fine, if that's what you mean."

Rose crossed to the desk.

"Then, what's wrong?"

"Hunter owns Lyon Enterprises, that's what's wrong." She slumped in the

chair."I'm ... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to blurt it out like that.""Hunter owns Lyon Enterprises," Rose repeated."You're joking.""It's true," Leah said in a tired voice."I just got off the phone with his office. Dammit! What am I going to do?""You're going to talk to him, of course.""TalkT She stared at her grandmother in disbelief. " What's to say?"Oh, by the way, did you really marry me just to get your hands on my ranch?"

That's why he proposed. He never made any secret of the fact. "Rose planted her hands on her hips."Then why act so betrayed?" she snapped."What's the difference if he wanted the ranch for himself or for his business? If you married the owner of Lyon Enterprises it sounds to me like you were the one to get the better end of that deal."

That brought her up short.

"Excuse me?""You heard me. Think about it. Hunter's gotten one thing out of thisso-called bargain--a lot of hard work and darned little thanks. But if he'sLyon, you get the ranch, the Circle P, and anything else he cares to throwinto the hat..." She cackled.

"Best of all, you get Hunter. Yes sir. Sounds like a d.a.m.ned good trade to me."

"Until he manages to obtain t.i.tle to the ranch and fore M closes on us.Next comes the divorce and then we're begging on the streets."

Rose snorted."You really are a ninny. Get your b.u.t.t out of that chair, climb into thepick-up and drive to Houston. Talk to the man.

Ask him why he married you. Flat out. "

"I already know--' " He actually told you he married you for the ranch? "

Rose asked with raised eyebrows.

"Or did you a.s.sume it?"

Leah shook her head in bewilderment.

"I don't remember. I... I don't think he said. Every time I asked, he'd

just stand there.""Looking insulted, maybe? I would have.""Why?" she demanded."That's the reason we married. It's not a secret. No matter how much you try to wrap it up in pretty ribbons and bows, I married for business, not