The part that frustrated Ransom the most was that he’d finally thought his brother had grown up a little and knew in his heart that Cassie was the woman he had always dreamed of. He could hear Lucas saying those very words: a woman I’d dreamed of. Well, the fool had made a commitment now and there would be no backing out. Maybe Ransom ought to ride into Hill City and see if Lucas was indeed there. But why? What could he do? Other than deck the brother who’d made him furious so often through the years. There would be no pile of wood that needed splitting there. All the plans they had made. The furniture building, the mine—well, that was his dream, not Lucas’s. But he wouldn’t be here for spring calving or roundup or branding or any of the other work that needed doing. Good thing Micah was such a willing worker and that Arnett was enjoying being back to work and planning ahead. Ransom felt like slamming his fist into a wall . . .
