Her knees weakened.

Samuel Hartwell.

Her father.

Written across the envelope were four words.

FOR MY DAUGHTERS. BOTH.

Evelyn could not breathe.

“Where did you get that?”

“Mother’s desk.”

“You opened her desk?”

“I was searching for my baptism certificate. Silas’s father needed it for some legal papers.”

“What legal papers?”

Lillian’s expression twisted.

“That’s when I started becoming frightened.”

She handed Evelyn the envelope.

Inside were copies.

A deed.

A letter.

Several pages of a will.

Evelyn read the first paragraph.

Then read it again.

Her vision blurred.

“No.”

“Keep reading.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Yes, you do.”

Their father’s signature appeared on the final page.

So did that of two witnesses.

And Judge Barrow.

Evelyn looked up sharply.

“The judge is downstairs.”

“I know.”

Her heart began pounding.

According to the document, Samuel Hartwell had not left the ranch outright to Beatrice.

He had created a trust.

Beatrice was allowed to manage the household property only until Lillian turned twenty-one.

Then the land was to be divided.

The house and southern acreage to Lillian.

And the enormous north parcel—including Red Willow Creek, the grazing meadows, timberland and mineral rights to Evelyn.

Evelyn felt the room tilt.

Lillian whispered, “My twenty-first birthday was five months ago.”

“Why didn’t anyone tell us?”

“Because Mother never filed this version.”

Evelyn looked down.

“This version?”

Lillian removed another paper from the cabinet.

“The county records contain a different will.”

Evelyn read it.

Everything passed to Beatrice.

After Beatrice’s death, everything passed to Lillian.

Evelyn’s name appeared only once.

A sentence granting her one hundred dollars.

Her hands became cold.

“What is this?”

Lillian’s voice broke.

“A forgery.”

Evelyn stared at her.

“No.”

“I compared Father’s signatures.”

“Mother wouldn’t—”

“She did.”

Evelyn backed away.

“Why?”

“Because Father left you the most valuable land.”

“I never wanted—”

“That isn’t the point!”

Lillian’s whisper became fierce.

“For once in your life, Evelyn, stop telling everyone you don’t need anything!”

Evelyn recoiled.

Lillian was crying now.

“You think I haven’t seen it?”

“Seen what?”

“Everything!”

Her voice broke.

“The dresses. The work. Mother telling you we couldn’t afford help and then spending money taking me to Cheyenne. Mother making you cook when she hired musicians. Mother telling people you preferred staying home.”

Evelyn stared.

Lillian wiped her cheeks angrily.

“I believed her when I was sixteen. Then seventeen. Then eighteen. I told myself you liked taking care of the house because that’s what she always said.”

“Lillian…”

“Then Silas proposed.”

She swallowed.

“His father brought documents. They wanted Mother to sell Red Willow Creek to the Crowe bank after our marriage.”

Evelyn’s stomach dropped.

“The north parcel.”

“Yes.”

“They can’t.”

“I know.”

Lillian pointed to the papers.

“That’s when I understood why Mother needed me married so quickly.”

Evelyn could barely form the words.

“She plans to sell my land.”

“Before anyone discovers it’s yours.”

Silence filled the room.

Evelyn looked toward the floor.

Below them, faint music floated upward.

Her sister’s engagement party continued.

Celebrating a marriage that appeared to be built on theft.

“Why James?”