The buggy bounced over a rock and she clutched his arm to keep from falling off. She glared at him.
"Would you slow down before you kill us both?"
"No, you're just foolish enough to jump from the buggy."
She released his arm only to grab it again as one of the buggy wheels dropped into a pothole. He drove the team relentlessly until they were well out of town. Finally he slowed down and gave the horses some relief.
Cassie moved away from him and scowled at the country without seeing it. He could put her in the buggy and he could forcefully take her to the ranch, but he couldn't make her look at her father or talk to him.
As they stopped in the ranch yard, the twins bolted from the house.
"Chauncey!" they screamed with delight, and then stopped short when they saw Bordeaux helping Cassie down from the wagon.
Timmy beamed up at Bordeaux. "You did bring her back."
"No," Bordeaux said. "She came back by herself."
Tammy dimpled and clutched Cassie in a hug.
"He said you wouldn't come with him."
Cassie hugged the twins. There was no point in telling them that riding with Bordeaux hadn't been her idea.
"It's so good to see you," She said, squeezing Tammy. You're growing into quite the young lady."
Tammy grinned up at her. "Daddy says I look just like Mom."
Cassie glanced at the ranch. Her father was walking toward them.
"Hello, Cassie," he said. "Bordeaux said he couldn't get you to come back with him, but I guess he was wrong."
Bordeaux was watching her, probably wondering what she would do next. She met his troubled gaze with an icy stare and then turned to her father.
"I didn't come back with him. I came by myself - to get the twins."
Mr. Rinehart frowned. "Get them?"
She lifted her chin. "Yes, to take them away."
Tammy stared at her. "But we don't want to go."
Cassie bit her lip. Why had it never occurred to her that the twins might not want to go with her? She glanced at Bordeaux, who was watching her expectantly. It was all working out very well for him.
She cupped Tammy's chin in her hand. "You want to stay with him, in spite of what he did?"
Tammy's dark eyes were serious. "Of course. He's our father. Besides, he did come back"
Cassie could feel Bordeaux's intent gaze. For a moment she avoided him. When the silence became uncomfortable, she glared at him.
"I hope you got your money. Maybe that will ease your conscious."
Mr. Rinehart regarded them both with obvious confusion. "What money?"