Lara slowly moved onto the porch.
“What are you doing here?”
Thomas smiled.
“I came to see my sister.”
“You sent me away.”
“Now, Lara—”
“You told me I was finally going to be married.”
He glanced toward Elias.
“Well, perhaps things turned out better than expected.”
Elias stepped forward.
“Careful.”
Thomas looked annoyed.
“I don't believe we've been properly introduced.”
“I know who you are.”
Lara's voice remained steady.
“How much did he pay you?”
Thomas stopped smiling.
“Who?”
“Caleb Ryland.”
He said nothing.
Lara stepped down from the porch.
“How much?”
Thomas glanced toward the house.
“This isn't the place.”
“It's exactly the place.”
Elias stood beside her.
Thomas sighed.
“You don't understand what I was dealing with.”
Lara laughed bitterly.
“Then explain.”
“Father left debts.”
“Father has been dead for years.”
“Yes. And managing the estate hasn't been easy.”
“You told me there was enough money.”
“There was. Until circumstances changed.”
“What circumstances?”
Thomas looked away.
Lara understood.
“You spent it.”
He didn't answer.
“You spent the money.”
“I made investments.”
“Bad ones?”
“Unfortunate ones.”
She stared at him.
“And when Caleb offered money, you sold me.”
Thomas flushed.
“Don't be dramatic.”
“You arranged a false marriage.”
“I arranged an opportunity.”
“You knew Elias hadn't written those letters.”
Thomas remained silent.
Lara's eyes filled.
“You knew.”
Her brother looked away.
“That man said the rancher would refuse you and send you back east. I thought perhaps afterward you'd understand that your expectations needed to be realistic.”
Elias stepped forward.
“Get off my land.”
Thomas looked at him.
“This is a family matter.”
“You made it my matter when you forged my name.”
Thomas straightened.
“I didn't personally forge anything.”
“But you accepted payment.”
He said nothing.
Elias looked toward the wagon.
“Leave.”
Thomas's expression hardened.
“I came to discuss business.”
Lara stared at him.
“What business?”
“Caleb has made another offer.”
Elias laughed coldly.
“Of course he has.”
Thomas reached into his coat.
Produced a folded document.
“He'll withdraw the marriage complaint if you agree to sell the northern pasture.”
Lara felt a terrible clarity settle over her.
Even now.
Even after everything.
Her brother still saw her as a bargaining chip.
Thomas looked at Elias.
“The offer is generous.”
Elias did not touch the paper.
“No.”
“You haven't heard the number.”
“No.”
“Montgomery, be reasonable.”
Elias took one step closer.
“I am being reasonable.”
He pointed toward the road.
“Leave before I stop being polite.”
Thomas turned toward Lara.