Cyrus dismounted.
Emily came onto porch.
Clara and Samuel were behind her.
Cyrus smiled when he saw them.
“There you are.”
Samuel moved instinctively behind Emily.
Clara did not.
“What are you doing here?”
she asked.
Cyrus looked wounded.
“I came to see my brother’s children.”
“You didn't come when Papa died.”
“I had business.”
Clara's jaw tightened.
Daniel walked closer.
“You should have written.”
“I did.”
“No letter arrived.”
Cyrus shrugged.
“Frontier mail.”
His eyes moved toward Emily.
“And this must be the new wife.”
Emily disliked the tone.
“Emily Mercer.”
“So I heard.”
His gaze traveled over her.
Not sexual.
Evaluative.
He smiled.
“Fortunate timing.”
Daniel’s expression hardened.
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing.”
Cyrus looked at the children.
“I’m taking Clara and Samuel into town tomorrow.”
“No.”
Clara answered first.
Cyrus blinked.
“Excuse me?”
“I don't want to go.”
“We have family matters.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“They are not leaving this ranch without telling me what matters.”
Cyrus smiled.
“You have no formal guardianship yet.”
“I filed.”
“And I contested.”
Silence.
Daniel stared.
Emily felt her stomach drop.
“You what?”
Cyrus pulled a folded document from his coat.
“Petition for guardianship.”
Daniel took it.
Read.
His face darkened.
Cyrus continued:
“Nathan was my brother.”
“And those children carry the Bell name.”
“Cole.”
Clara snapped.
Cyrus looked at her.
“Your father’s family is Bell by blood.”
“Papa was Cole.”
Emily saw Daniel trying to control anger.
“Why do you want them?”
Cyrus laughed.
“They're my kin.”
“So are they mine.”
Daniel said.
“Through Abigail.”
“Yes.”
“But they need stability.”
He looked toward ranch.
“And I'm not convinced this qualifies.”
Daniel’s hands tightened.
Emily stepped beside him.
“What exactly are you alleging?”
Cyrus looked at her as though surprised she spoke.
“You've been married a month.”
“Three weeks.”
“Even better.”
He smiled.
“No experience raising children.”
“A ranch carrying debt.”
“Winter approaching.”
“And a household built around a woman who cannot produce heirs of her own.”
Daniel moved.