After my husband di:ed, my daughter changed the gate code to my 300-acre cattle ranch in Wyoming and left me sitting outside. “You can come home once you give my husband power of attorney,” she said through the speaker. I stayed in my truck, finished my sandwich, and called the one man she’d forgotten her father trusted more than anyone.

page. It was the provision in the trust dealing with anyone who tried to take control of the ranch by pressuring me to sign a power of attorney or by keeping me off the property.

Amos laid a copy of Brett’s lawyer’s letter beside it.

“Russ’s attorney has a copy of this, too,” he said. “What happened here today suspends Kristy’s rights under the trust to live on, work, or lease the ranch. Dolores can restore those rights when she sees fit.”

Kristy raised her head. “What about the house
in Sheridan?”

“The house and the money your father set aside are still yours,” Amos said.

Kristy wiped her face with the heel of her hand. Then she picked up the bank statement and turned it around so Brett could read the balance himself.

PART 4: LEAVE THE SADDLE
“You said the debts would take the ranch by spring,” Kristy told Brett. She held the bank statement by one corner, and the breeze kept lifting the other. “You told me Mom was getting confused. I watched you walk that fence