“What exactly was I supposed to say?”
She looked at him.
“Congratulations, my fiancé appears emotionally alive for the first time in years, unfortunately because of my sister?”
The Cowboy had no answer.
The Fiancée looked at the Younger Sister.
“And you.”
Her sister flinched.
“You did nothing wrong.”
“I—”
“Nothing.”
The Fiancée stepped closer.
“You avoided him. You never encouraged him while he was promised to me. You tried so hard not to hurt me that you started hurting yourself.”
The Younger Sister cried silently.
The Fiancée reached toward her.
Stopped.
“May I?”
Her sister did not answer immediately.
Then nodded.
The Fiancée took one of her large hands.
“I am angry.”
The Younger Sister looked down.
“But not because he loves you.”
The Cowboy’s heart stopped.
The Fiancée glanced at him.
He said nothing.
Smartest choice available.
“I am angry because Father arranged my future like a cattle contract.”
She looked toward the farmhouse.
“And because I almost let him.”
The Younger Sister whispered, “Did you love him?”
The Fiancée considered.
“I liked being chosen by him.”
That answer hurt everyone differently.
She continued.
“I liked what the wedding meant.”
“Which was?”
“Security.”
She laughed bitterly.
“Respect.”
“People already respect you.”
“No.”
The Fiancée shook her head.
“They admire me. Different thing.”
The Younger Sister stared.
For perhaps the first time, she saw her beautiful sister not as the person who had everything.
But as another daughter shaped by their father’s expectations.
The Fiancée released her hand.
“I canceled the wedding with Father the night I found Mother’s deed.”
“Why didn’t you tell the Cowboy?”
“Because Father threatened to destroy the original.”
The Cowboy’s expression hardened.
“Where is it?”
The Fiancée looked toward the stable wall.
“Not here.”
“Good.”
“He thinks I only found a copy.”
“Where is the original?”
She smiled faintly.
“With someone Father would never suspect.”
“Who?”
The Fiancée looked toward her sister.
“The woman who taught us to read.”
The Younger Sister’s eyes widened.
“The old schoolteacher?”
“Yes.”
“She’s seventy-four.”
“And terrifying.”
The Cowboy nodded.
“Excellent choice.”
For one moment, all three almost smiled.
Then hoofbeats sounded.
Fast.
Coming from the ranch road.
The Fiancée’s expression changed.
“Father.”
The Cowboy turned.
“How do you know?”
“He followed me.”
Of course he had.
A rider emerged around the barn.
Their father.
Behind him came two hired men.
The older rancher dismounted before the horse fully stopped.
“What is this?”
Nobody answered.
His eyes found the deed in the Younger Sister’s hands.
His face changed.
“How did you get that?”
The Younger Sister stared at him.