The sound of feet hitting the stairs, heading in her direction, had Nova quickly hiding the letter under the pile. She lurched to the doorway, to disappear across the hall, but as Nova swung the door open she found her husband's masculine frame blocking her path.

"Crazed gunmen," he told her.

She stared at him, momentarily lost. With all of the passion and then the commencing pain she'd completely forgotten about the sound of guns firing. "Were they after the cattle?"

"No. They were celebrating our marriage." He rubbed his face in frustration. "They've ruined the moment, haven't they?" There was a note of hope in his voice, accompanied by a small smile. At any other moment it would have melted her heart, but now (after reading his letter) she was shocked with the insincerity of it. She saw the smile for what it was: fraudulent, heartless and manipulative.

Nova felt an overwhelming sense of hatred toward him. She longed to hit out angrily at him, to scream obscenities in his face, but that would give him too much power. If he knew she'd read the letter then he would begin to weave elaborate tales to convince her that she was completely wrong. She'd watched her father at work over the years, explaining away mistresses and wrong doings, scrambling her mother's head until the poor woman had completely lost the plot. There was no way that Nova would make the same mistake. She had to tread carefully.

"Yes. They definitely ruined the moment." She forced an awkward smile. The longer she stalled him from the fact that she'd read his exchange, with the red haired Magda, the longer she had to get out of the marriage with her Ranch intact.

"What a pity," he said softly, pushing her hair back from her face. His fingers lightly touching her cheeks, sending a tingle through her body. "You have such a solemn face. A penny for your thoughts?"

"I'm just tired after the day's activities," Nova struggled to keep her tone civil and her eyes free of the blazing anger that was building somewhere near the core of her.

Jese's attention fell on the scattered papers by the bedside table. Walking forward to scoop them up, he brushed past her on his way. She felt a zap of chemistry which left her body weak, despite everything she knew about his character her body was still determined to betray her.

His hands quickly organized the papers into a tidy pile. His gaze falling on the folded love letter (that had made its way to the top in his attempts to tidy the pile). A small frown on his brow he glanced at the letter for a short time before looking up at Nova's face searchingly. She could tell he was trying to gauge her reaction. To see if she had any knowledge of the letter's content.

Desperately Nova managed to maintain a neutral expression. Her eyelid begged to twitch wildly, her mouth wanting to simultaneously form foam and foul words - but her pride won and she managed to keep the disinterested look firmly upon her face.

With a small, reassured, smile Jese scooped the correspondence up and tucked it inside his jacket before placing the rest of his paperwork in a more public area. "Just a letter home to my mother," he smiled, tapping his pocket.

She bit back the bad mouthed remark that tried to make its way through her lips. "That is lovely. I guess you had to inform her of your marriage?"

He smiled, "Yes."

"I do hope to meet Mrs. Calhoun sometime soon."

"She will be determined that you call her by her maiden name."

"Of course." She paused. "And what would that be?"

"Elizabeth."

Idiot! She had thought him so wary and well experienced in the ways of the world and yet he hadn't seen through her, very poorly acted, facade. With all his skepticism he couldn't tell that Nova was rustling about in his paperwork, finding out all of his secrets. "Please, if you will excuse me I should like to change my attire."

"I would be pleased to remove it for you," his voice full of suggestion.

"No. Please, Jese. I'm tired."

"Maybe after you change into something more comfortable we could have one more drink downstairs before going over the books?"

So now he wasn't going to consummate the marriage he would look at her accounts? "I'd happily show you the books. But I shouldn't drink. It makes my head ache."

"Of course," He smiled. "But I hope you won't mind my partaking. It isn't everyday that I sign my life away."

Nova gripped the door jam until her knuckles showed white. Sign his life away? He had nothing but money to lose, and everything to gain. She wanted, so badly, to chase him out of her homestead with a shotgun.

"Are you alright?" Jese asked in concern. Noticing her loss of color.

"I really don't feel well, maybe we could postpone the books for another night? My head is aching terribly."

"Of course! You are such an odd woman, Nova Calhoun." His eyes settled on her.

Nova suppressed the shudder that him using her married name caused. "How so?"

"You are so wary, so reserved. I don't even know who I've married."

She could say the same for him. "I take a while to trust people."

"And yet moments ago you were something else entirely."

She flushed a crimson hue. She'd hoped that he was a gentleman enough not to mention it again. "I'd had far too much to drink."

"One little whiskey? Is that all I shall need to get comfort in future?"

"It isn't as simple as that," she told him through stiff lips. "It was a mistake."

"Well, I shall look forward to more mistakes, in future."

"Why did you marry me?" Her voice was raw... had he known her any better she would have betrayed herself in that sentence. The pain that she felt, it was all audible.

"Why wouldn't I? You are a fine looking woman who was in a pickle, and I was looking for shelter."

"You can get shelter anywhere. There are lodges in town by the dozen."

"That isn't a long term investment. Not like this is. My body is weary of droving cattle. I needed somewhere to retire."

"There are far cheaper properties for sale around the district. Many folk would be more than delighted to sell their property to you."

Nova watched him consider her words. He went to speak, and then paused, a neutral expression falling onto his features. "But those properties would be without a pretty wife to come home to."

"You should have been honest with me, Mr Calhoun. You should have told me that one of the conditions was I would have to be willing to have you in my bed."

"I've seen the way you look at me," he said simply. "The way you blush when I look at you. I knew you wouldn't find it offensive."

"I beg your pardon?"

Taking two steps forward he leant forward, "your cheeks." He kissed her softly. "See?" His finger traced the blush that rose into her cheeks.

Nova reeled back in shock. "What are you doing?"

"Kissing my wife."

"I don't think I made myself clear. These weren't in the conditions of our marriage."

"We had conditions?"

"You said, when we spoke on the side of the road, that if we were discreet we could find affection elsewhere."

"It is true. However, I never said that I wouldn't expect a warm and receiving wife."

"If that was how you felt then you should have spoken it aloud. We made a deal, and my being warm and receiving wasn't any part of it."

"As you like." He shrugged. A small smile tugging at his lips.

"Do you find what I say funny, Mr. Calhoun?"

"Not at all. But after witnessing your inhibitions earlier I must say that I am quite looking forward to seeing how long it takes before you come knocking on my door."

"Please, don't hold your breath. As far as I'm concerned we shall never touch each other again."

"And how will we consummate this thing?" He asked politely.

"I'm sure there is an aging prostitute in town who'd happily oblige you." With that she left the room, hearing the door bang behind her.

Note from author: second draft ends here... you are approaching first draft territory!!! Yeee gads!