“We talked of being teachers.” Win looked at the note, her brow furrowed with worry. “I thought we had that in common. She even mentioned getting my old teacher’s job. But I told her they would’ve hired someone else by now. I thought all consideration of that was over and done. I should have known she wanted to leave here. It was me, Kevin.”

“Well, it wasn’t me. None of this is my fault.” Cheyenne gave the kitchen stove a mean look, like it was her enemy and she was in no mood to fight a war tonight.

Kevin took the note back and crushed it in his hand. “She should have told us. Talked to us about it. She shouldn’t have just run off like she did.”

He looked at Win again, frowning. “I should have talked to her about plans, about the future. I should have made sure she knew I wanted her to live with us when we get a house built. But we haven’t really talked about the future since . . . since . . .”

“Since you got married?” Win asked.

“Since I ran off and got married without talking to her, then mostly cut her out of my life since I got back.” He bent and kissed Win. “I love being married to you. My life seems so full, but to me that always included my sister and brother. Maybe she didn’t understand that.”

“She might have gone just ’cuz she thinks you’ve got a new family, Kevin,” Wyatt said, “and she wants to let you get on with your life. Andy’s working hard on the ranch. He doesn’t even eat with us in the house anymore. It might not be about liking or not liking anyone, she might just think it’s time she got on with her own life, and she doesn’t see that being here at the ranch.” Wyatt gave Cheyenne a nervous look.

“What?” she snapped. “You’ve thought of a way to blame this on me?”

“No, but it was this morning that you confirmed Pa probably wasn’t legally married to Ma. If it’s true, the will doesn’t stand. Which means Kevin doesn’t own any of it.”

“I told you I don’t want any part of a stolen ranch,” Kevin fumed.

“Yes, and Falcon said it, too, and I believe you. That’s real decent of you.” Wyatt tried to trace down all Cheyenne had told him. “You’re still my brothers, and you are welcome to have a home here on the RHR. But maybe Molly didn’t see herself as part of that. She has no blood relation to me and Cheyenne. This ranch isn’t in any way hers.”

“Yes, but she’s my family even if she’s not yours. Leaving has to be—”