Had someone arranged it?
Had Cole known?
His expression showed the same confusion.
Good.
At least that.
Daniel whispered:
“This just got worse.”
Jacob Dawson arrived the next day.
Not by choice.
Sheriff deputies found him at Harker Ranch after Elias’s arrest.
He was sixty-two.
Thin.
Gray.
Lila recognized him instantly despite eighteen years.
That angered her.
Some people should become strangers after long absence.
He had not.
His eyes were the same.
“Lila.”
She stood in the Bennett library.
Cole near the window.
Daniel outside.
Sheriff at door.
Lila did not move.
“Do not call me that like you were here yesterday.”
Jacob looked down.
“I deserve that.”
“You deserve more.”
“Yes.”
She crossed her arms.
“Why did you leave?”
Her father looked toward Cole.
Lila snapped:
“Look at me.”
He did.
Good.
“Why?”
Jacob swallowed.
“Debt.”
“That is not enough.”
“I gambled.”
She laughed bitterly.
Of course.
“My mother died and you gambled.”
“Yes.”
“I was fourteen.”
“Yes.”
“You left me with Aunt Sarah.”
“Yes.”
“She hated me.”
“I know.”
“No.”
Lila’s voice shook.
“You don’t get to know things you were not there to see.”
Jacob closed his eyes.
Cole shifted slightly.
Not interfering.
Just present.
Lila continued.
“How do you know Elias?”
Jacob looked toward his hands.
“I crossed into Mexico.”
“Then?”
“Worked cattle.”
“For him.”
“Yes.”
“When did you know he was Cole’s brother?”
“Years ago.”
“Why did you send me here?”
Lila’s heart pounded.
Jacob’s face tightened.
“Because Elias asked me to.”
Cole moved.
Lila held up one hand.
He stopped.
Her question.
Her father.
“Why?”
“He needed someone inside the house.”
The words landed like a slap.
Lila stared.
“No.”
Jacob’s eyes filled.
“I refused.”
“Then why am I here?”
“Because I knew he’d find someone else.”
Lila frowned.
Jacob continued.
“I thought if you worked here…”
His voice broke.
“…you’d notice.”
She stared.
“You used me.”
“I trusted you.”
“You abandoned me for eighteen years and suddenly trusted me?”
“I watched from far away.”
“That is not fatherhood.”
“No.”
“Did you arrange the general store?”
“No.”
“The creek?”
“No.”
“The job?”
Jacob hesitated.
Lila’s stomach tightened.
“What?”
“I sent a letter to Daniel.”
Everyone turned.
Daniel entered.
His face told them.
True.
Cole stared at his foreman.
“You knew?”
Daniel looked miserable.
“Not everything.”
“What letter?”