“No.”
“Your father? Does he have income of his own?”
She shook her head again. “I have no idea, but it’s not like he goes to a nine-to-five job. They had no intention of telling me about the inheritance, did they? I mean, my birthday was in February. He could’ve told me anytime in the past six months.”
“They don’t act like they were going to tell you,” Colt muttered. “Ever, if possible.”
“No wonder they didn’t search for me this past month,” she whispered to herself.
“Princess, your father and brother–and Chase before he went to jail–are squatting on your property. You gained full access to do whatever you wish with the funds and the property when you turned eighteen. No trustee. Your father has no control in any way any longer.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh, Hayes, Katie’s case. You’re suing my father but–”
“But it’s not his money,” I finished, nodding. “Don’t worry, we’ll work it out.”
“Are you sure? I–”
“Princess, you let me worry about that, okay? You have to decide what you want to do with everything. It’s your ranch now.”
“I… I can kick them out.”
“You can kick them out,” I repeated. There would be nothing more fulfilling–besides marrying Cassidy–than seeing Trout get his fucking comeupance.
Colt clapped his hands together once, almost as gleeful as me. “Oh, shit, this is gonna be good.”
20
CASSIDY
“What’s the matter, princess?”Hayes whispered.
He moved his arm from the back of my chair to around my shoulder, pulling me close.
We were at his parents’ house having dinner. This time, we ate inside because it was raining. The big table was full plus babies in high chairs. All the Wilders were here.
All.
Because tonight we were celebrating my inheritance.
Hayes and Colt spread the word through the family group text and Ma–what Mrs. Wilder told meto call her after the wedding–shared that dinner was bratwurst and onions, supposedly everyone’s favorite.
I’d never been the center of attention before, but everyone hugged me, offered me huge smiles. They thought I was like an answer to their prayers or something.
They were a happy bunch in general, but knowing they could finally give my father what he deserved–to be stripped of the ranch and money–was cause for celebration.
“It’s a lot,” I said, turning my face so his eyes were right there.
He leaned the few inches so our lips brushed.
“I feel like a pawn or something.”
“You inherited the ranch long before any of us knew you. You were ten, princess. Ten. I’d have found you eventually and you’d still be mine. You’d still be sitting right here. I’d still have your panties in my pocket.”
I was running out with all the times he took them. And kept them. I never saw them again and I had no idea where he was hiding them.
I glanced across the table at Katie, who was handing Trace off to Bray.
“Katie must hate me,” I whispered. “She lost so much because of my father and–”
