“Why do you think he’s even back in Wyoming?” I ask quietly.
“He needs money. Sent Sam a message directly, asking to borrow a hundred-K.” Her eyes meet mine, hard and knowing. “I’m guessing he asked Liam, too.”
I nod numbly, the pieces clicking into place. Carl didn’t just come to insult Liam. He came to bleed him dry. And worse? He tried to make Liam believe he didn’t deserve better. Didn’t deserve me. Didn’t deserve this life he fought so hard to build.
And Liam didn’t feel the need to mention it to me.
Phern says, “I don’t like how Liam looked. It reminded me of when Aunt Beth finally got enough of Carl’s shit and left him. Liam felt like it was his fault and did everything he could to get them back together.”
That breaks my heart, but it doesn’t surprise me. Liam feels things on a deep level, which is why I’m getting angry at his father. I square my shoulders, a cold, steady fire lighting in my chest.
No more.
I’m done standing by while people try to make Liam doubt everything good about himself. He stood up for me. Now it’s my turn.
Phern crosses her arms, studying me.
“I don’t know what’s going through your mind, but I like the look on your face.”
I scan the crowd, heart hammering. I don’t see Liam. But I see Teddy, laughing and holding court near the judging tents.
“I’ll catch you later, Phern,” I say, already moving.
Her laughter follows me as I weave through the throng of people, adrenaline buzzing under my skin like live wire.
Teddy’s smile widens when he spots me.
“There’s the girl with the prettiest smile in Wyoming,” he says, tipping his hat.
“Hi, Teddy.” I smile briefly, but my mind is elsewhere. “Have you seen Liam?”
Teddy nods, jerking his thumb toward a row of white tents at the edge of the fairgrounds.
“We were chatting. Then his old man came slithering up.” He grimaces. “Never did like that man. Liam pulled him aside to talk, and that’s the last I saw.”
“Can you point me in their direction?”
He does, and as I start to leave, he calls after me.
“Don’t forget to try my special BBQ and vote for me!”
“I will,” I promise with a distracted wave, already threading through the crowd toward the tents.
I hear them before I see them.
Carl’s voice. “You think I don’t know what’s happening here, boy? That woman is just using you.”
My feet slow and my breath catches.
Liam’s voice comes next. “No, she’s not.”
But Carl plows on, relentless.
“She is. Why else would she stick around this ranch for so long? A woman with herskills… she could’ve moved up years ago. Gotten herself a better man. More money. More options. But she didn’t.” His voice drips poison. “Why haven’t you questioned that, son?”
There’s a heavy, awful silence and it feels like a fist around my heart.
Because it’s true. I could have left I had offers. Opportunities. But I stayed because of him. Because there was never anyone else for me.
