“Well, they’re keeping things in line and Mason has been by a couple of times.”

“Great,” her father grumbled. “He’s probably gonna change his mind again and find a way to finagle me and keep the damned place.” He shot Brynnie a damning glance. “Or has he been hanging around because of you?” He eyed his daughter and reached for his other boot.

“I don’t think all of Mason’s motives are evil.” she said with a smile.

“Is that so? Listen, Blissie, don’t defend that bastard to me. He’s even gone so far as to work a deal with Brynnie behind my back. Helluva guy, that Lafferty.”

Brynnie, who had been reading her horoscope in the newspaper, said, “That was my fault, John Cawthorne, and you know it. Now Mason’s trying to make amends and the least you could do is be big enough to see it.” Obviously irritated, she snapped the paper, then dropped it onto a coffee table already laden with empty glasses, ashtrays, magazines and books of matches.

John was having none of it. “That bastard hurt my baby.”

And so have you, Dad, she thought silently. With all of your lies.

“Come on, let’s not fight,” Brynnie said to John. “I don’t know why you’re so darned ornery today. You know you’re not supposed to be getting all riled up. Just lie back down, switch on the television and wait for Reverend Jones.”

“I just can’t stand lyin’ around doin’ nothin’.”

“The doctor said that if you take it easy, you can move back to the ranch soon—”

“The doctor can shove it, for all I care. Blast it all, anyway.” He yanked on his boot, rolled to his feet and stood without so much as swaying. If nothing else, John Cawthorne was blessed with more than his share of grit and willpower.

Bliss cleared her throat. “I thought you should know that Tiffany stopped by. She was looking for you, but when I told her you were here, she decided she didn’t want to come looking for you.”

John’s face softened. “Well, I’ll be.”

“Don’t get your hopes up, Dad. She wasn’t all that friendly.”

“But she tried.”

“Yeah.” Bliss nodded and didn’t bring up the fact that she and her elder half-sister had nearly had a shouting match. She’d said enough. Whatever happened next was between Tiffany and John.

“See there?” Brynnie sniffed. “I’ve always told you there is a God and He’s watching over you.”