The sentence stopped him.
She wiped her cheek angrily.
“Do you?”
The Cowboy opened his mouth.
A voice came from the stable entrance.
“Go ahead.”
Both turned.
The Fiancée stood beneath the lantern.
Burgundy riding dress.
Gloves.
Engagement ring flashing on her hand.
Her face was unreadable.
The Younger Sister went pale.
“This isn’t—”
The Fiancée lifted one hand.
“Please do not insult me by saying it isn’t what it looks like.”
The Cowboy stepped forward.
“This is my responsibility.”
“Yes.”
Her voice sharpened.
“For once, I agree.”
The Younger Sister looked horrified.
“I never meant—”
“I know.”
The Fiancée looked at her sister.
Something unexpected entered her expression.
Not rage.
Pain.
Then she pulled off the engagement ring.
The Cowboy braced instinctively.
He expected a slap.
Instead she threw the ring at his chest.
It struck his vest and fell into straw.
“You coward.”
He stared.
The Fiancée’s eyes filled.
“You still haven’t told her.”
“Told me what?”
The Younger Sister looked between them.
The Fiancée opened her handbag.
Removed a folded document sealed inside leather.
She shoved it into her sister’s hands.
“Read.”
The Younger Sister stared.
“What is this?”
“Read.”
Her large hands trembled as she opened it.
Old parchment.
Faded ink.
Their mother’s signature.
The Younger Sister’s name.
She frowned.
Then read again.
“What is this?”
The Fiancée looked toward the farmhouse in the distance.
“Your inheritance.”
Silence.
The Younger Sister laughed nervously.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Mother left everything to Father.”
“No.”
Her sister’s voice broke.
“She left him management rights until we both turned twenty-five.”
The Younger Sister stared.
“We are both older than twenty-five.”
“Yes.”
“Then why—”
“Because he filed a different copy.”
The Cowboy felt cold.
The Fiancée continued.
“Mother divided the ranch.”
“Between us?”
“Exactly.”
The Younger Sister looked at the paper.
“Half?”
“Half.”
“That can’t be.”
“It is.”
“Why did no one tell me?”
The Fiancée looked ashamed.
“I did not know until three weeks ago.”
The Cowboy stared.
“Three weeks.”
The Fiancée looked at him.
“Yes.”
“You found this before the wedding.”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me?”