“I do, too,” Holden agreed. “Join me for a cup of coffee?”

  Elaine sat down as if she could tell something else was bothering him.

  “It’s Treyton,” he said. “I think he might try to go behind my back on more than methane well drilling on the ranch.” She didn’t look surprised. His worry over his children and ward was growing daily. Treyton had always been a difficult child, resentful of his siblings, always afraid he wasn’t getting as much attention or possessions or responsibility as the others. He especially resented Cooper and always had.

  Cooper’s return to the ranch after being gone two years seemed to have made Treyton even more resentful. Holden worried how far Treyton would go in his desire not only to take over the ranch, but also to show up Cooper—and his father. His brother Duffy had never been a threat since Holden’s youngest son seemed to have no interest in ever running the ranch.

  “I’m sorry, Holden,” Elaine said. “I hate to see you so worried. But Cooper and Tilly will soon be getting married. You have a wedding coming up to think about instead of worrying about Treyton.”

  He chuckled. “If there even is a wedding now that Charlotte has returned.”

  * * *

  ALREADY LATE FOR WORK, the sheriff started to leave Abigail’s house, but stopped before reaching the door as a thought struck him. He felt woozy, the taste in his mouth making him feel sick to his stomach. He stood for a moment, trying to collect his thoughts in the fog still whirling in his head.

  One thought broke through. It wasn’t that he’d drunk too much wine.

  He turned back to the kitchen thinking about the chocolate mousse and that chalky taste. He’d eaten it all at Abigail’s urging. She’d said she’d never made it before but had made it special for him, making it impossible to leave a bite.

  Stu hated the path his thoughts were now taking, but the lawman in him made him return to the kitchen in hopes of finding his dirty dish in the sink. He recalled her saying she would do the dishes in the morning and ushering him into the living room after he’d helped clean off the table.

  But in the kitchen now, he saw with regret that the sink was empty. When he opened the dishwasher, he saw that it had been run. She’d cleaned up everything. There was no proof to go with his growing suspicion. On top of that, it made no sense. Why would she drug him if that was really what he thought she’d done?

  His cell phone rang. He fumbled it out of his pocket. “Sheriff Layton.” The moment he answered, he regretted not checking the screen before he picked up. He wasn’t ready to talk to Abigail. He needed a clearer head before he did.

  Fortunately, it wasn’t her.

  “Those damn vandals hit another of our drilling rigs last night, Sheriff,” Tick Whitaker snapped. Alfred “Tick” Whitaker was a geologist from Texas. Stu had always suspected the man was more invested in the CH4 gas company than he let on.

  “Give me the location. I’ll send a deputy out to photograph the damage.”

  “The head of the company, Douglas Burton, is flying in this morning. Howie’s gone to pick him up along with several of his security personnel. He wants to meet with you at one this afternoon.”

  It didn’t sound like a request, but Stu didn’t feel like arguing. “Fine. You know where my office is.” He disconnected and started for the door when he noticed a calendar on the kitchen wall by a small desk. Abigail had marked the days she was working this week. She was off today. So where had she gone so early?

  If she wasn’t at the hospital, where had she gone? Either way, he was going by the lab to get a workup of whatever might be in his bloodstream. He wanted to find out before he met with the gas company executive and his associates—let alone dealt with Abigail Creed.

  * * *

  CJ GRIPPED THE arms of the wheelchair. He’d hoped that Oakley wouldn’t be a problem, that their mother could keep her in line. He’d watched her, studying her. He could understand her anger. That wasn’t a concern. He was angrier with her than she was with him; that he knew for certain. This was all her fault. Their mother was convinced that Oakley would do whatever she told her to do. Once she talked to the lawyer and agreed that the shooting had been an accident...

  But when he’d looked into his sister’s eyes, he’d seen the truth.

  Oakley was starting to remember. He could see it in the way she looked at him. How long before she remembered everything? How long before she brought him down, sent him to prison, took from him the one thing he would kill for—the power and money their mother wielded? One day it would be all his.

  But only if his sister didn’t remember.

  She and their mother were glaring at each other in a standoff. He felt sick to his stomach as he focused on his sister. Oakley was a ticking time bomb. She could remember and go off at any time. Hadn’t the doctor said she probably would never remember those lost forty-eight hours because of the concussion after falling from her horse on the hard-pack of the road—after he’d shot her?

  But there was always a chance, the doctor had said, that her memory might return. And that was the hell CJ had been living with, was still living with, waiting for the explosion that would destroy his life.

  He blamed her for all of it, especially the pickup accident that had him in this wheelchair. He wouldn’t have been running from the law if she hadn’t butted into his business and he’d had to shoot her. She’d brought it on herself. He’d warned her to stay out of his business.

  The only thing he regretted was that his aim had been off. At least dead, she would never have been able to tell what she’d seen that day and he wouldn’t be waiting and worrying about her remembering.

  Oakley had always been a pain, even when they were kids, he thought as he tuned out his mother and Oakley arguing. She was the one who stood up to him, tattled on him, fought him at every turn. Their younger brothers, Brand and Ryder, were smart enough to stay out of his way. Tilly had tried to mother him for a while, but had lost interest when he wasn’t the sweet boy she’d thought he was.

  Speaking of Tilly, he thought as a vehicle pulled up outside. “Well, look who’s here,” CJ said, making both his mother and Oakley turn to look. Another traitor. It amused him that Tilly was about to fall from grace. Once their mother heard what she’d been up to, getting engaged to Cooper McKenna, that would be the last of her. Another burr under his saddle would be gone from the ranch.

  He glanced at Oakley, who had moved to the window to peer out. You’re next. Soon, both sisters would be out of this house. He still needed Brand and Ryder to work the ranch, but Tilly and Oakley wouldn’t be missed.

  CHAPTER SIX

  OAKLEY SAW HER sister pull up in one of the ranch trucks. She couldn’t be already back from Oregon, could she? She must have changed her mind and not gone for some reason. Oakley watched as their ranch manager, Boyle Wilson, came out of the barn with two ranch hands to help unload the supplies Tilly had brought from town.

  As her sister started for the house, Oakley saw her look at the van parked out front, then at the ramps up the front of the house. Their mother thought they were temporary, but Oakley couldn’t help wondering if even her mother’s determination could make CJ ever walk again.

  She realized that Tilly could have been told about their mother and CJ arriving today. Which meant that their mother must have sent her a summons as well. Which meant that their mother already knew about the engagement. As her sister approached, Oakley saw her hesitate. Had Tilly had time to prepare for their mother’s and CJ’s return? Like her, Tilly must have conflicting feelings toward their brother. He’d almost killed her, too.

  “I thought you were anxious to go change?” her mother said, suddenly beside Oakley.

  Not a chance, she thought. Tilly was going to need all the support she could get. Oakley didn’t move.

  Her mother’s voice grew sharper. “I said—”

  “I heard you.” She stepped to open the door, giving her sister a warning look. Oakley saw that Tilly was wearing the engagement ring Cooper McKenna had given her. Given the way Charlotte hated Holden McKenna, Oakley was worried for her sister.

  “Mother and CJ are back,” she said as if Tilly hadn’t already heard, let alone figured that out. She saw trepidation in her sister’s features for a moment before she straightened her back and determination took its place.

  “Oakley was just leaving to go upstairs to change,” her mother said from behind her. “She’s done enough damage to this family.”

  Oakley spun around. “You aren’t seriously blaming me for what CJ did, are you?”

  “Your brother would have never been there, never had his rifle misfire, if you hadn’t been on the McKenna Ranch,” her mother said, green eyes hard with anger. “Your brother wouldn’t be in that wheelchair, facing possible jail time. You brought this on our family.”

  Oakley had promised herself that she was going to bide her time. She didn’t want to show her true intentions. She’d been determined not to let her mother or brother know that she wasn’t taking this lying down.

  But all that changed in an instant. Her mother had always made excuses for CJ. Not this time. “This is probably a good time to tell you that I intend to find out the truth,” Oakley said, looking past her mother to where CJ sat looking smug. “I’m going to find out why CJ really shot me—I know it wasn’t an accident, except for the part where he missed and didn’t kill me—and when I do, your precious son is going to prison.”

  “That’s enough. Either go upstairs or leave,” her mother said. “I need to speak to your sister alone.”

  “It’s okay, Oakley,” Tilly said. “I need to talk to Mother.”

  Oakley feared for her sister. Big sister Tilly liked to believe that she could handle anything. She also liked to believe that there was good in everyone. Oakley knew better as she let her gaze move from her mother to CJ. She pointed her finger at him and mouthed, “I’m coming for you.” He paled, that smug look gone.

  She turned toward the door, not wanting to spend another moment in this house for fear of what she would do. “I’ll borrow something to wear from Amy when I get to town,” she said over her shoulder. As she passed her sister, she squeezed her arm. “Good luck. Call if you need me.”

  * * *

  “YOU AREN’T SERIOUSLY suggesting that Oakley is responsible for her own shooting,” Tilly said as Oakley left and she turned to her mother. “Remember he almost killed me, too, when he took me hostage and rolled the truck.”

  Her mother waved away her words as if they were pesty flies. “That’s all water under the bridge. We have other matters to discuss. CJ, please leave us.”

  He shot Tilly a self-righteous look that told her exactly how this discussion was going to go as he slowly turned and wheeled back down the hallway.

  She felt her stomach roil as she looked at her seething mother. She had almost talked herself into believing that she could reason with her about the engagement and upcoming marriage. What had she been thinking? Clearly, she’d been daydreaming. That her mother blamed Oakley for getting shot and CJ getting injured told her exactly how this was going to go.

  Tilly swallowed, determined to keep control of her emotions. She wouldn’t let her mother get the better of her. She moved to hand her mother the ranch bill for the supplies she’d picked up in town.

  Instead of taking the bill, her mother grabbed her left hand, twisting it painfully as she examined the engagement ring. “That’s her ring, his mother’s.”

  Tilly was surprised that she would recognize the ring as Margaret Smith’s, the woman Holden had chosen over her mother—what had started this feud between the families all those years ago.

  She flung Tilly’s hand away. “I want you out of this house.” Her mother seemed to be having trouble breathing.

  “Aren’t we even going to talk about this?” Tilly asked calmly.

  “We talked about it. I told you to stay away from him. You didn’t.” Her mother started to turn away.

  “I love Cooper. He isn’t his father.”

  “He’s a McKenna,” her mother cried, spinning back around to glare at her. “They’re responsible for all of this.”

  Tilly drew back, shaking her head. “I guess I see where CJ gets it, blaming everyone for his problems. Now the McKennas are responsible for CJ shooting Oakley and almost killing me?” Tilly couldn’t hold back even as good sense warned her not to. “No, Mother, your hatred that you passed on to CJ is responsible for this. Aren’t you sick of playing the woman scorned? It’s over. Or are you still in love with Holden and that’s why you can’t bear the thought of me marrying his son?”

  “I won’t have you marrying one of them,” her mother said, her voice shaking.

  “You hate Holden McKenna that much?” Tilly asked. “Or it is that you love him that much? Either way, I feel incredibly sorry for you. I love Cooper and he loves me and we’re not going to make the mistake the two of you made. We’re getting married and as much as I love this ranch and believe I’m the one who should run it someday, I won’t let you blackmail me into becoming you.”

  “Get out!” her mother screamed. “I never want to see you on this ranch again.”

  “I will as soon as I pack up my things.”

  “No, you won’t. I’ll have your things sent to the McKenna Ranch in the back of a cattle truck. You are no longer my daughter.” She raised her voice dangerously as she advanced. “Get out!” She raised her arm as she approached Tilly.

  Tilly saw that her mother intended to strike her, and she would have if not for the front door opening and a man stepping in calling out, “Hello? I knocked but you must not have heard me.”

  She saw her mother’s stricken expression as the man took a few steps into the house. “Jason Murdock, private investigator. I’ve called a few times, left messages, but you never returned my calls.” He stepped farther into the living room. “I decided to stop by so we could talk.” He was smiling at her mother. “I’m looking for your missing husband, Dixon Malone.”

  All the color had drained from her mother’s face. She lowered her arm, appearing to be struggling to breathe.

  Using this interruption to her advantage, Tilly turned and headed up the stairs. “I’m going to get a few of my things.”

  Her mother was fighting to regain control in front of the PI as Tilly walked past her. “You’ll regret this,” her mother bit out under a ragged breath.

  “So will you,” she said and headed to her room. Her heart threatened to explode. She’d known what her mother was like. This shouldn’t have come as a surprise. She’d known there was a chance it would come to this. Her mother’s fury, though, had been far worse than she’d imagined. She’d known she would be angry but not this furious. She was throwing her daughter out, disowning her, taking away something that Tilly loved—the ranch.

  She refused to cry as she began to pack her things. She didn’t know where she was going. She would have to find a place to live until the wedding. She didn’t want to move into the McKenna house until she and Cooper were married and while their house was being built.

  Just the thought of the wedding made her eyes fill with tears. Had she really thought there would be one with a flowing white dress, the church crowded with family and friends? No, she and Cooper would have to elope, go to a justice of the peace, not have a proper wedding. It didn’t matter, she told herself. All that mattered was that she would be with Cooper, the man she loved.

  She packed what she could carry. Taking her suitcases out the back way, through her private entrance, she headed for her pickup, glad that after college, she’d earned money doing the books for other ranches so she could buy her own truck. Her mother had said it was a waste of money since they had ranch trucks for her to drive. Had Tilly intuited that one day she would need her own vehicle, her own money, because she couldn’t stay here any longer?

  She put her suitcases in the back and opened the driver’s side door. As she did, she glanced back, taking one last look through her tears at the house that had been her home.

  * * *

  OAKLEY WAS WAITING down the road from the ranch for her sister. She was still shaken by what her mother had said to her. She couldn’t even imagine what Charlotte had unleashed on her oldest daughter about the engagement to a McKenna. But she figured it wouldn’t take long before Tilly would be coming down the road.

  Just as she’d suspected, she spotted her sister’s truck headed her way. That had been quick. Had their mother even let Tilly get some of her things? She felt her anger rising along with her determination to find out the truth and to stop her brother and her mother from destroying the family and the ranch because of their bitterness.

  Oakley got out as Tilly pulled up behind her truck. She walked back. Her sister whirred down her window. “You okay?” she asked, even though she could see that her sister was devastated.

  “She kicked me off the ranch,” Tilly said between the sobs she was fighting so hard to hold back. “She said she never wanted to see me again.”

  “I’m so sorry.” She reached in to pull her sister into a hug. Oakley figured it wouldn’t be that long before she was in the same predicament.

  “I can’t believe anyone could be so...bitter, so...mean and hateful.” Tilly took a ragged breath and let it out slowly. “Did you see that man who came to the house? If he hadn’t walked in when he did, I think she would have hit me.”

  “I passed a truck on the road. I figured it was her lawyer, the one she wants me to talk to so they can clear CJ of any wrongdoing.”

  Tilly shook her head. “It was the private detective who’s been asking questions about Dixon Malone’s disappearance. You should have seen Mother’s face when he came in and told her who he was and why he was there. From what little I overheard on my way upstairs, apparently, Dixon and Mother are still legally married. She never did the paperwork to have him declared legally dead. But seriously, she looked...guilty as sin. You don’t think...”