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Denver stood over his grandfather, helping the man into a seated
position and handed him his sopping hat.
    “A few hours next to
the hearth and we’ll both be right as rain,” Granddad said.
    Lucas pulled himself to
his feet. Luckily, the tower had fallen away from the wagon and they would not
have to walk even the short distance back. He helped Liam up onto the buckboard’s
bench and made quick work of unsaddling his grandfather’s horse. After handing
the reins to Denver, and tossing the saddle into the back next to the cow some of
the men had loaded, he climbed up next to Liam and wrapped the saddle blanket
around the man’s shivering shoulders and started back to the homestead as
quickly as he dared in this weather and light.
    “So,” Liam broke their
silence, “I believe you had a question to ask me.”
    Lucas looked over at
the man, grateful he couldn’t distinguish his features completely.
    “Well?”
    “It can wait,
Granddad.”
    “Maybe, but I want to
hear it now. Out with it.”
    Lucas looked down at
the reins in his hands. “Well, sir,” he cleared his throat, “when we were out
at Redbourne Ranch last year visiting Aunt Leah, Raine mentioned something
about…well, about there being a special inheritance we could receive on our
wedding day if we marry before the age of twenty-five.”
    “That’s right. Can’t
have you boys becoming too incorrigible now, can I? I figure I might as well be
able to watch you all enjoy it some before I’m gone. Though, you’d be the
first.”
    Lucas looked up and
with a firm set to his jaw, he met Liam’s eyes. “Not me. Nooooo,” he shook his
head again. “But, I am here. Asking. I know you didn’t want to see us anymore
and we’ve been disinherited and all…”
    Liam opened his mouth
to say something, but Lucas didn’t give him the chance. He’d practiced this
speech a thousand times over and had to get it all out.
    “But I was wondering if
you might reconsider. Just this once.” He held up his hand before Liam could
answer. “If not, I understand and simply ask that I might have a job at Whisper
Ridge with a fair wage. I work real hard and I’m willing to do just about
anything. But, first…” he took off his hat and ran his fingers through his
too-long hair. “First, I want to know why you did that. Why? Why did you ban us
from Whisper Ridge? Why did you disinherit us? Didn’t you care about us anymore?”
Lucas locked eyes again with his grandfather, then returned to their path.

Chapter Six

     
    “Disinherit you?”
Cough. “Why, I didn’t disinherit you, Lucas. How could I? You’re my kin. My
flesh and blood. You didn’t do anything wrong. No matter what your pa’s told
you, I love you, son. You and your brothers.” He paused. “And your pa. Always
have.”
    Lucas fought the
emotion that sprung to his eyes. He swallowed the lump that formed in his
throat and focused on getting them back through the deepening snow.
    When he pulled into the
barn, the stable hand and a few of the men stood waiting to tend to the wagon.
Lucas helped his grandfather to the ground.
    “I’m fine, son. Just
craving some of Tillie’s vittles about now.” He pushed his way through the
door, cursing when he stumbled slightly over the threshold.
    Warmth from the stone
hearth welcomed them inside with its comforting embrace. Lucas shivered lightly
as he tried to shake off the cold.
    “Liam,” Lucy exclaimed
as she rushed to the man’s side, “what’s happened? Are you all right? Is anyone
hurt?”
    He didn’t stop to
answer, but kept walking toward the staircase. “We’re soaked to the bone, Lucy
Mae.” He rubbed his hands together. “Will you pour us a bowl of those steaming
vittles and set on a pot of tea?” he asked as he climbed onto the first step.
    She nodded.
    “That’s my girl,” he
said with a wink and scrambled up the rest of the stairs.
    “We were lucky,” Lucas said
as he stepped toward the staircase. “No one got