My hand swung without hesitation, meeting his cheek with a loud slap. Dallas and Torchy both froze as I glared at the man before me with burning eyes. “And just who the hell do you think you are to make that kind of decision?!” Forsythe kept his eyes low and didn’t speak.
“Lucille.” Cooper touched my shoulder. “That’s enough.” My hand fell to my side, stinging. “All due respect, kiddo, but you’ve been gone a long time.”
My heart raced with anger. “He can’t sell Reaper, Cooper. He has no right.” My hands balled into fists at my side. I was nearly trembling due to how upset I was.
The old man sighed. “I’m afraid he has every right. It’s his call, kiddo.”
My body stiffened. “The only one who can make a decision like that is my mom! She owns this ranch! Not him!” My throat stung from raising my voice.
Cooper’s head sank. “I guess your momma didn’t tell you, but when your daddy died, he left Bone Ridge to Forsythe.” My heart stopped.
No. No, it can’t be. This can’t be true!
I shook my head. “No, the ranch was supposed to be left to me.I’mthe oldest!I’mhis daughter! He wouldn’t have just passed over me and leave it all to him!”
Cooper sighed. “But he did. You knew this day would come, Lucille. Forsythe’s been in charge of things around here since that day, keeping your momma and brother afloat while he busted his ass out here every day, ensuring your family didn’t lose their home. So show him some respect, kiddo, he’s more than earned it.”
I was at a loss for words.
Forsythe owns my family’s ranch…and now, he was selling Boone’s bull? Why? Why! He wasn’t family. He wasn’t my dad’s son! The ranch was supposed to go to me or Boone! Not him!
I began to panic.
This is too much. Too much!
“I—I need to take a breath.” I stumbled away from the two and grabbed my head.
Cooper reached for me, but I pulled away. “Don’t go, kiddo.”
“No.” Forsythe straightened his back and glared at me. “Let her go.” Everyone looked at him, his cheek still red from the impact. “She was going to find out eventually.”
Something snapped inside me, and before I knew it, I was charging straight for him, filled with so much hatred. “You haveno right!” Cooper grabbed me, stopping me as Forsythe stood there and watched me.
“That’s enough.” He tried to calm me down, but all my rage was boiling over.
“No! He has no right! I don’t care if he owns this fucking town, that’s Boone’s bull!”
Torchy joined Cooper and tried to calm me, but it was pointless. “Let it go, Lucille. It’s just a bull?—”
“No!” I fell to my knees and fought back tears. Cooper and Torchy froze as my fingers clawed at the dirt beneath me. “It’s not…” I wiped my eyes. “You can’t sell him…he’s all we have left…” My chest ached with such pain. “Dad…” I gripped my chest.
Fuck, not here. Not now! Remember your steps. Breathe. Breathe!
Torchy touched my back gently. “Lucille?”
The sound of my rapid heart pounding in my chest echoed through my ears. I felt dizzy and disoriented, grasping at what was and wasn’t reality.
After all this time…he did it. He fucking did it! I always thought he’d left everything to Mom, but he just gave it to that—that—that fucking asshole! Why? Why!
Tears rolled from my eyes and dripped onto the dirt before me.
No. No, I can’t let this drag me back under. I–I need to pull myself together. I’ve worked too hard to let something like this ruin all my progress. I just need to collect myself and speak to Mom or Boone. I’m sure it’s just a mistake. And if it’s not, well, I’ll fix it. I don’t know how, but I’ll find a way to fix this.
I took a deep breath and slowly stood. Everyone remained quiet and on edge, waiting for me to speak.
Deep breaths. One…two…three…
My eyes rose until they reluctantly met Forsythe’s.
