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Shane watched for it, and was moderately rewarded when Ben tensed. Making sure that particular fence was ready had been Ben’s job today, and one thing Ben was never any good about was getting a job done in time.

In fact Shane had been considering firing Ben, at least before the bastard had started cozying up to Mom. It was just another thing in a long line of questionable timing that made Shane hate this.

“Let’s not talk ranch tonight,” Mom said with a big smile. She reached over and took Ben’s hand in hers. Whatever tension Shane had managed to put in Ben relaxed with Mom’s touch.

Shane resisted the impulse to scowl.

“I’m going to need all of you to really step in and help with this wedding, because Ben and I simply can’t wait until Christmas. I’m going to talk to Cora tomorrow, but we’re going to shoot for September now.”

An uneasy silence fell over the dining room table. It wasn’t the first time an announcement in this family had been met with that. When Boone had informed them he was joining the rodeo, when Molly had informed them she’d eloped . . . and then a few months ago moving home and getting divorced. When Lindsay had told everyone quite proudly she’d gotten a scholarship forart.

Those had all felt like . . . fixable things. Youthful indiscretions. Things a person learned from, and he or she would always have the Tyler ranch to come home to if it didn’t work out.

But Mom’s marrying Ben was none of those things.

“At least she’s not pregnant,” Grandma offered into that silence.

“Mother,” Mom scolded, her cheeks turning a little bit pink.

“It was why you got married the first time,” Grandma returned, her gaze slowly turning to Shane.

The ham in Shane’s mouth suddenly turned into tasteless rubber, and Grandma cackled happily to herself. He really didn’t need to be reminded of the timing of his parents’ marriage and his own birth.

“Looking a little green there, Shane boy,” she said, all too pleased with herself.

But she was the only pleased one. As Shane glanced around the table he saw his brother’s furious face, Molly’s concerned one, Lindsay’s confused one. And they were all looking athim.

Because in the absence of Mom’s being the reasonable leader of this family, Shane had to be. He stood.

“I’m sorry, Mom. But none of us are comfortable with this.”

“Now, see here—” Ben began, but Mom held up a hand.

“I didn’t ask you to be comfortable,” she said calmly, staring right at Shane. “You are my children, whom I brought into this world and have cared for my entire life, never once stopping to mention when I wasuncomfortable.” She glanced at Molly, who stared hard at her plate.

Shane knew Mom expected him to fold, to give in. She’d used the guilt—a fair use of it too—and it usually worked, but this was more than a disagreement over cows or money or even helping neighbors.

This was about his mother, and it was about the ranch, and he couldn’t back down on that.

“If you’re determined to do this,” Shane said evenly, borrowing one of his mother’s old tactics when her children disobeyed, “I can’t stand in your way, but I also won’t help.”

“I see.” Mom looked around the table at all her children. “And you all feel this way?”

Gavin pushed his chair back and stood next to Shane. After a moment’s hesitation, so did Molly. Lindsay stared on, wide-eyed and unmoving.

“You may leave my table then,” Mom said coolly.

Shane could feel Gavin coil to argue, but that wouldn’t work. Not now. “Fair enough,” Shane said, nudging Gavin toward the door. Molly glanced at Lindsay, and then Mom, pained. But she didn’t say anything.

Shane followed them both out, and then they stood in the hall just staring at each other.

Molly was the first to speak, and she spoke directly to Shane. “Well, now what?”

He wished he had a clue, but he had to find one. And quick.

Chapter Three

Cora was running late, and she knew she shouldn’t beat herself up, but Lilly would never run late. Lilly was always on time and looked perfectly put together.