“That’s our father, not us,” I say.

I feel oddly protective of my brother. Why? I have no idea. He’s a grumpy asshole that put Miles and me on a chain gang work program. But what I know of Chance, he’s got honor that our dad never had.

“I’d say throw the guy in jail,” Miles says, “but oh yeah, he’s dead. Talk about a bind.”

“Chance,” Carly says, “just sell my father his land back. Or pay him what it’s worth. You’ve got the money.”

As if it’s that simple. Which it is when billions of dollars can solve lots of problems. Including this one. Except we can’t get the money.

“Carly.” Vance sets his hand on her shoulder. “This isn’t a problem for you to worry about.”

“But—”

“Wait, wait, wait.” Chance rubs his jaw. “Our father didn’t pay you?”

“It’s not that simple.” Vance looks at Carly. “The Bridgers have been paying everyone off to get their way for years, and I for one am sick of it. You people are not above the law. I don’t care how much money you’ve got socked away.”

“Mayor, I’m happy to right my father’s wrong,” Chance says. “I’ll talk to our lawyer and I’ll see if something can be arranged.”

“See, Daddy?” Carly smiles. Sort of. “You’ll get your ranch back and you won’t have to be mayor any more to make ends meet. You can go back to working your land, which I know you loved doing. Mom can get her hens back, and we can have fresh eggs, and—”

“Dude,” Miles interrupts, looking at Chance. “We can’t get at any of the money for a year. Remember what Sharple said.”

“You mean Shankle,” I correct.

“Whatever.” Miles rolls his eyes. “The guy might be an odd duck and probably sleeps with his briefcase, but he’s got the three of us by the balls. He was pretty clear.”

“Surely we can get enough out of the ranch trust to pay off the Vances,” Chance says. “Can you tell me exactly what happened, Mayor?”

“Why don’t you check your own damned records, Bridger? You’ll find a hell of a lot more than one bad land deal.” Vance turns. “Let’s go, Carly.”

“Daddy,” Carly pleads. “Please. At least sit down with them and talk this out. Talk to their attorney. Maybe we can—”

“We can’t.” Vance eyes his daughter.

Carly looks to me, to her father, to me again.

Does she want me to say something that can help? I can’t. I won’t out our relationship—if you can even call it that—here in the middle of town. In front of her father, who already despises me. It’s new. And different. Potent, because no matter how much I think I should stay away from her, no matter how clear Chance was about me leaving her alone, I can’t.

When she stripped down and waded into the spring with me, set my hands on her tits to lavish on, she became mine. There’s so much shit in our way, unbelievable baggage. I don’t want to add to it.