“For the last time, I did not kill him or have him murdered, either one. I’ve never had a sister, but I imagine this is the way siblings argue!” Kate grinned.

“We are not sisters in any sense of the word,” Amanda said coldly. God Almighty! There was no stretch of the definition that would ever make her own kinship with either of those two women. What had Kate been drinking or smoking? Or maybe she’d done a lot more than just kiss Waylon.

“That’s what Gracie said the first day we were here. She said we were like Sister Wives on television,” Kate said.

“Well, I don’t share well with others, and I would never have married Conrad if I’d known he already had two wives,” Amanda said. “I think sister wives have a screw loose in their heads.”

Jamie slapped a hand on her forehead. “Gracie’s babysitter watched that!”

“You need to be more careful about who you leave her with,” Amanda said.

Jamie shook a finger at her. “Don’t tell me how to raise my kid.”

“Don’t you two get your underbritches in a wad. You are definitely not my sisters in any sense of the word, and I’m damn sure glad—even if we are fighting like siblings. Here’s what happened.” Kate started at the beginning and told the tale with every detail, including how Waylon’s kiss made her feel. “So what should I do? Give up my job because I liked his kiss?”

Jamie pulled her dark hair up into a ponytail and secured it with a rubber band she took from the pocket of her denim shorts. “I expect that real sisters would act like we do sometimes.”

“But real sisters would love each other sometimes, too,” Amanda said. “And I don’t intend to ever love either one of you. However, if a parent died with no will and only one piece of property, they might all get a little greedy. As for you and your summer job, Kate, go for it.”

“I disagree. He’s just softening you up for information,” Jamie said.

“No, he is not,” Amanda argued. “He needs help on the ranch.”

Jamie held up a hand. “We’ll have to agree to disagree. Now, on to another subject. I got offered a job today, too.”

Well, crap! Amanda thought. That means she’ll probably stay here.

Kate sat up straighter. “Go on.”

“The principal and Victor want me to apply for a position that’s open, but I only have a week or two to think about it.” Jamie paused. “I could sell my house, and I wouldn’t have that mortgage hanging over my head. I could rent something here a lot cheaper, or maybe even live in the cabin until the probate court decides what’s happening to it.”

“Which, like Kate said, could take months, maybe years.” Amanda sat down in a rocking chair and frowned. Did living in the cabin mean the same as possession being ninety percent of the law?

Kate nodded and headed inside. “The cabin is better off if it’s occupied. What about Gracie? You should ask her what she thinks.”

Jamie and Amanda followed her. Amanda opened the cookie jar in the middle of the table and took out a fistful. Jamie went to the refrigerator and brought out a pitcher of freshly squeezed lemonade.

“Of course I’ll talk to her before I make a decision. But I know what she’ll say. She’s always, always loved this place, and she’ll float on clouds if she thinks we can stay here forever,” Jamie said.

“Well, she’s definitely like a breath of spring, spreading laughter and smiles everywhere.” Kate filled three glasses with ice cubes and set them on the table. “That lemonade looks wonderful. I haven’t had the real thing in years.”

“Looks good to me, too,” Amanda said. “About last night and all this arguing?”

Kate poured three glasses full of lemonade. “No one can live in the same house twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week and not disagree. It’s not possible. Doesn’t matter if it’s a married couple, a parent-sibling situation, or an insane one like we have. We are only here for the summer. At the end of it, we’ll split and go our separate ways. You two might stay in touch since you’ll be raising half siblings, but I’ll have no connection with you.”

“Not even for a Christmas card?” Jamie asked.

“Well, maybe that much, and maybe you’ll invite me for Gracie’s birthdays or graduation,” Kate said.

Jamie threw up a hand. “Don’t have her growing up so fast. She’s the only baby I ever get. I want to savor every moment.”

“You should,” Kate said.

“And my baby? Are you coming to his birthday parties and graduation?” Amanda asked.

“If you invite me,” Kate answered.

“You will be invited.” Amanda sipped at her lemonade. “This is a big jump from what we are talking about, but I went to my apartment and I looked at Conrad’s pictures. It was in his eyes.”

“What?” Jamie asked.

“I thought it was a twinkle, but when I really studied him, it was something else, like you see on those big game hunters on television when they bag a tiger or a huge white-tailed deer. I can’t describe it.”

“How did it make you feel?” Kate asked.

“Used,” Amanda said without hesitation. “Do you feel Conrad in this house? I don’t. I came here hoping to feel him, but I never have. At first all I had was anger at y’all and then at him.” She sighed. “This is going to sound corny, but I think Iris is smiling that we are here and we’re finding out about him.”

Kate would probably have something to say about that, but Amanda didn’t care. She wasn’t going to let either of them intimidate her.

“I believe she is,” Jamie said.

Amanda glanced at her and then back at Kate, expecting some kind of superintelligent remark about the dead being dead—forever, amen.

Kate shrugged. “I agree, Amanda. I have no idea about what happens to good folks in eternity, but it would be nice if Iris and Darcy could see that things didn’t go Conrad’s way.”

Amanda could hardly believe her ears. “Well, thank you for that.”

“It’s just my opinion.” Kate yawned.

Kate took a long shower and was on her way to her bedroom when she noticed that someone had left the kitchen light on, so she went to turn it off. Jamie was sitting at the table with a cup of hot tea in front of her.

“Still pondering the idea of a drastic move?” Kate asked. “Did you talk to your grandmother about it?”

“Yes, I did, and she told me to think about me and Gracie before I leap. Sometimes I turn a blind eye to common sense and don’t check to see if I’m leaping into fire or water,” Jamie answered.

“You have to do what your heart tells you,” Kate said. “Things happen in our lives to turn us around. I’ve never believed in fate or karma or any of that stuff, but I do believe in our choices directing our future.”

Amanda had gone into the bathroom right behind Kate and now joined them with a big white towel wrapped around her head and a terry robe belted above her pregnant tummy. “And that means?”

“Think back to the most horrible moments in your life and the happiest ones. Didn’t they both have a bearing on who you are right now?” Kate asked.

Jamie pushed the cup of tea back. “I saw a lawyer right after Christmas last year. He told me how much it would take for me to get a divorce—I was saving my money.”

“What has that got to with what Kate said?” Amanda asked.

“Just going there made me happy, even though I was terrified. It gave me back some of my power. I understand what she is saying,” Jamie answered.

“When were you going to divorce him?” Amanda asked.

“I’m not sure I would have gone through with it. Gracie loved her dad, and even having a part-time father was more than I had as a kid.”

“Sometimes anything isn’t a bit better than nothing,” Kate said.

“Hindsight.” Jamie chuckled.

“My two cents—you should apply for the job,” Kate said. “If they hire you, then it was meant to be. If they don’t, you won’t have regrets later. And you need to get in touch with Social Security. I think Gracie is entitled to some benefits. You could put it in a trust fund for her college if you are too proud to use the money to make her life easier.”