Maddie looked daggers at Gen, and Will knew it was time to put a stop to the games. Maddie was more cloying than perfume and it was time to clear his house of her.

“Carter, why don’t you take your sister home, then come back here so we can get this business done with.” He never liked coming home. Everywhere else he went, people treated him with respect, looked up to him, awed over him, but not at home. Here, he was just Billy Orion, Dan’s son. It didn’t matter how much he acquired or what titles he took on, no one cared out here in the middle of Texas.

Maddie slid her hands up his chest again. He almost wished he could say she made him feel something, but after what he’d had the night before, Maddie wasn’t even a second best. She nipped at his bottom lip.

“For being married, that sure was a warm welcome.”

He gripped her waist and set her away from him like a puppy he wanted to train to sit. “I think we both know that’s not true. Let’s not embarrass you further by talking about it.”

She raised an eyebrow. “I’ll be here every day. I missed you once Billy Orion, I won’t miss out again.”

She slid around him and Carter shrugged as he followed her. Maddie was two years younger than him, the same age as Gen, and Maddie had been the baby of the family. She got away with everything and Carter never did more than go along with what his baby sister wanted. It was only a matter of time before life called her bluff. He just didn’t want to be the one to provide the situation.

Gen came down the stairs, finally in clothes that suited her. She wore a slim fitting pair of jeans and long-sleeved cotton shirt, both accentuating a body he could no longer forget. Her golden hair was in a thick braid down her back. Now, that’s how a woman dressed to get noticed. He couldn’t miss a single curve, especially the one on her lips. She was pissed.

She strode past him and headed for the door.

“Where are you off to?” He asked, curious as to where she would go on his ranch. Did he need to worry about her rushing back to her father, telling him she’d made it? He’d made certain she didn’t know anything about the meeting that afternoon, nor what his plans were, for that very reason. He still had doubts, though he didn’t want to.

“I’m just going outside.” She didn’t even turn to face him. He strode forward and turned her around.

“Outside where?”

Her glance flitted all over the room, then finally settled on his chin. “I just need some air.”

“I’ll give you some of mine.” He bent down to taste her full lips and she ducked under his arm and out the door, slamming it in his face.

Damn.

He followed her outside, catching up with her between the house and the barn, he grabbed her arm to get her to stop.

“Gen. Why are you running from me? You’re my wife, let’s talk about this.”

Her eyes snapped as she shoved his hands off her. “I’m your wife? Just at this moment or only when you need me? Maybe only when you want the convenience? Maybe only for show? Is this one of the times you want separation?” She repeated his words from the night before, slapping him with them.

He flexed his fists and stuffed down the anger brewing deep inside him. She wouldn’t understand a thing about his life or how hard it was to constantly keep people at bay. Everyone wanted a piece of him. “I don’t need anybody.”

“That so? I’ll remember that.” She turned on her heel and dashed into the barn.

Damn her. His bride was supposed to make things easier, be there for him, relieve him of the endless boring scripted chatting at parties. She wasn’t supposed to make life more stressful and accuse him of doing shit. He made his way back to the house as Carter returned, parked the car, and got out.

“Hey, sorry about Maddie. I don’t know what got into her. Did you talk to Gen, is everything fine? I can’t believe you didn’t put a stop to all that.”

He hadn’t even thought about how Gen might feel, seeing Maddie all over him. His marital status was still so new. “Damn. I didn’t even think…” He glanced over his shoulder. “She’s mad.”

Carter laughed. “Yeah, she’s mad. Did you miss the whole flashing dagger eyes? Because Maddie didn’t. She thought it was pretty damn funny.”

“She can’t come back here, Carter. I can’t have Gen deal with that.” He wanted to turn around and find her in the barn, let her know that he hadn’t kissed Maddie, he’d figured it was obvious, since he hadn’t even touched her until he pushed her away. He’d never allowed himself to feel guilt over any other relationship, but that’s exactly how he felt. He glanced back at the barn for a moment.

“You don’t have time to go talk to her now, look.” Carter tapped him on the shoulder.

Another black car slowly pulled up the drive and parked next to Carter. An older man with a profuse mustache got out and reached inside the car, pulling out a long tube of paper.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Halberk.” Carter nodded to him.

Mr. Halberk approached them and held up the tube. “I’ve got the maps to show you what Mr. LaMont is claiming, and I think we can settle the matter quickly now that you’re here. Squatters rights are hard to claim. He’d have to prove ten years of use and that’s not easy, especially with satellite mapping and imaging technology.”

He could look up almost anywhere in the world and get a reasonably recent picture of it, but if he was doing it in a less obvious way, satellite images wouldn’t do any good. LaMont didn’t need a building on his property, just use of it. “So, if that’s the case, why did I need to come out?”

Mr. Halberk headed toward the house and Will followed with Carter. “I had you come because your foreman wasn’t answering my calls. Seems he doesn’t really care if you lose your property. So, you might want to do something about that. What needs to happen isn’t something a satellite can do. You’ll need to send your men out and look for Circle L cattle. If you find them, they’ll need to be herded back onto LaMont property. If he’s been branding your cattle, you’ll need proof of ownership.”

“We keep detailed birthing records for that purpose.” Will shut the door behind him and indicated the table for the commissioner to lay out his map. Now he wished he’d taken a little more interest in each operation, but there was only so much he could manage with four huge ranches. His foreman and associates were supposed to do it, it’s what he paid them for.

Mr. Halberk spread out the roll on the table and anchored it with glasses Mrs. Feast handed him from the cupboard. He pointed to the southwest quadrant.

“This is the area where LaMont is preparing to make his claim. He’s got lawyers on his side and says he’s got evidence that he hasn’t presented to us yet. Take a few guys out there, see what’s going on, and for your own safety, I’d recommend you leave your foreman at home.”

Will nodded and grabbed his hat. It, much like the old house, didn’t seem to fit who he was anymore. He’d gotten away from riding so that he could do the things that would benefit him the most, letting others sweat, while he worked over numbers. Now, he could do some of what he used to love. Ride.

He went upstairs to change into something he could ride in. Instead of the suit, he put on an old pair of jeans and a cotton shirt. It was comfortable, like the perfect chair. He’d forgotten how good it felt to wear something old and comfortable. Most of his clothing never managed to get old anymore.

Gen’s bags weren’t in his room and he went down the hall, looking behind each door until he found her luggage laying on the bed in the lavender room. Was she so angry with him that she’d abandoned him, found the next room that was ready for someone to sleep in? He’d have to deal with that when he got back. He took that thought with him back downstairs.

“Mrs. Feast, if anyone should stop by, send them home. I don’t want anyone coming on or off the property until we can get the place secured.”

She nodded. “Does that include Mr. Carter’s sister?”

The air around him felt thick and Mrs. Feast gave him a critical look. She had been around since his parents had run the place. She’d known him as a boy. He needed to draw a line in the sand and his closest friend wouldn’t like it, but his closest friend wasn’t his wife. And she never would be his closest if he didn’t start living his life with a little thought toward her.

“Maddie is not allowed on the property. Let the man at the gate shack know. Mr. Halberk is to be allowed to leave and then no one comes or goes.”

She nodded and collected the glasses.

“We won’t be too late. Let’s do supper family style tonight.”

Carter frowned and leaned a hip against the counter. “I won’t be joining in. Since I’m home, I should spend time with Maddie, calm her down. She’ll be hopping mad if she tries to come over and can’t get past the gate. She’ll blame Gen.”

“I don’t care who she blames. What she wants isn’t available.”

Both men headed for the door.

“That isn’t going to stop her from trying.”