Lance clenched his jaw in an effort at control. Vaguely he wondered if Summer would come to his defense—and she did instantly. She closed the distance between herself and her sister, and stood directly before Amelia.
“That is absurd! Melly, you’re entirely mistaken.” Her voice sounded carefully controlled, as if she were trying to keep a rein on her fury. “You couldn’t possibly have overheard any conversation Lance had with his brother, at least nothing you could have understood. Fights Bear doesn’t speak English.”
Lance shook his head, knowing she wouldn’t be believed. The crowd was in no mood to listen to logic.
“I…I know what I heard. Perhaps it was someone else.”
Summer’s fingers curled into fists. “It’s an outrageous lie to suggest Lance would invite his kin to raid.”
Harlan interrupted grimly. “Are you sure, Miss Amelia? You’re accusing Lance Calder of being behind these cattle thefts?”
“I…I only know what I heard. He invited his kin down here. He told them where to find cattle, which ranches to steal from.”
“I told you he had a hand in it,” Will Prewitt said in a contemptuous drawl. “I was jest wrong about how. I figured Calder stole my herd and gave them to his red devil friends, but he let them do all the work.”
“Stop it!” Summer demanded, stamping her foot. “This has gone far enough!”
“Summer, let it go,” Lance commanded, his tone cutting through the night.
She whirled to face him, her expression anguished. “I won’t stand by while men like Will Prewitt spread lies about you.”
He had to be grateful to Summer for sticking up for him, but he knew better than anyone else that her denial wouldn’t make a difference. She was his wife. Of course she would take his side. Nobody would listen to her, not with her sister damning him. The damage was done.
His faint smile held bitterness. “You can’t stop it. I’m already guilty in their minds, and nothing’s going to change that.”
“Lance—”
“No, Summer, it doesn’t matter.”
His gaze moved over the crowd till he found her brother. “Reed, take her home.”
When Reed, after a slight hesitation, nodded solemnly, Lance turned and walked away, leaving a hushed crowd behind him.
Summer whirled on her sister with fury. “Do you hate him so much? After what he did for you?” Then picking up her skirts, she ran after Lance.
>
He was heading toward the line of carriages, she realized. By the time she caught up with him, he had already untied the team of their buckboard.
“Where are you going?” she demanded breathlessly, halting so close that she prevented him from backing the horses.
“What difference does it make?” His voice sounded brittle and distant.
“If you’re going home, I’m coming with you.”
He stopped suddenly and exhaled a soft gust of bitter laughter. “Home.” He bowed his head, his hand clenching on the harness. “You know what’s really funny? I really believed I had a home here. A future. For a minute I let myself hope…God, I was a damned fool.”
Summer felt her heart break. He was so alone. So vulnerable and terribly alone.
“Lance,” she said carefully, her throat aching. “Don’t give up. We’ll fight this. We’ll prove that Melly—”
“No.” He shook his head harshly. “It’s gone too far. This isn’t your fight.”
“It is. I’m your wife—”
“I want you out of it. It’s gotten too dangerous.”
“Do you think I care about that?”