Her father signing land papers.
Losing everything.
Education.
Debt.
Khloe continued.
“My father died believing the Costa family had destroyed us.”
Vincent flinched.
Not Marco.
Costa.
Family.
“Why come work for me?”
There it was.
The question she feared most.
Khloe’s tears escaped.
“Because I thought you knew.”
Vincent stared.
“About Marco?”
“Yes.”
“You thought I was part of it.”
“At first.”
His face emptied.
“You came here to investigate me.”
Khloe could not lie.
“Yes.”
The word was barely audible.
Vincent looked away.
That hurt more than Paulie.
More than Marco.
Because this mattered differently.
Marco smiled.
“Interesting night.”
Sheriff Dalton shoved him toward the wagon.
“Shut up.”
Marco laughed anyway.
Khloe stepped toward Vincent.
He raised one hand.
Not threatening.
Stopping her.
She froze.
“I need a minute.”
Her face collapsed slightly.
Vincent turned away.
Khloe did not follow.
That was the hardest thing she did all night.
Marco and Paulie were taken to town.
Samuel rode with the sheriff.
Elias followed.
Vincent returned to the ranch separately.
Khloe sat in the wagon alone.
No one spoke.
Rain had stopped.
Dawn approached.
At the ranch house, Vincent dismounted.
Then entered without looking back.
Khloe remained in the yard.
Mrs. Bell opened the door.
Saw her face.
Said nothing.
Simply held out one hand.
Khloe nearly broke.
She went inside.
But not upstairs.
Not to Vincent’s room.
Never there again without invitation.
She sat in the kitchen until sunrise.
At seven she packed her trunk.
At eight she wrote a resignation letter.
At nine Vincent found it on his office desk.
Khloe waited beside the door.
He read.
Then looked up.
“What is this?”
“You know.”
“No.”
His voice remained calm.
“That is paper.”
Khloe swallowed.
“I lied to you.”
“You withheld truth.”
“I took the job under false intentions.”
“Yes.”
“I reviewed private accounts before I had permission.”
“Yes.”
“I thought you might be a criminal.”
Vincent looked at her.
“That one bothers me.”
Her eyes filled.
“I’m sorry.”
“I know.”
“I should leave.”
“Why?”
Khloe blinked.
“Because you cannot trust me.”
“Do you know what trust is?”
She stared.
Vincent stood.
“It is not never discovering someone kept secrets.”
He walked closer.
“It is what happens after the secret is known.”
Khloe’s throat tightened.
“You have every reason—”
“I have reasons to be angry.”
“Yes.”
“I am.”
She flinched.
Vincent saw.
Continued.
“But if anger means people disappear from my life every time they disappoint me, Paulie and Marco win more than land.”
Khloe stared.
Vincent stopped several feet away.
“Did you steal from me?”
“No.”
“Did you forge deeds?”
“No.”
“Did you help Marco?”
“No.”
“Did you come here believing I might be involved?”
“Yes.”
“Did evidence change your mind?”
Her voice softened.
“Yes.”