Roughneck Cowboy. Marin Thomas

“Need another one?”

      “No, I’m good.”

      “Did you thank him?” Matt asked Duke.

      “Not yet. We were discussing other matters.” Duke sent a warning smile Travis’s way.

      “We’d like to thank you,” Matt said.

      “For what?”

      “For choosing a career in oil.”

      Roughnecking wasn’t a career so much as a job.

      “Dad’s been holding out hope that Duke or I would change our minds and work for Cartwright Oil.” Matt chuckled. “I’d rather shovel horse manure than dig oil wells and Mr. Corporate here would rather brainstorm information systems than analyze oil productivity spreadsheets.”

      Travis directed his words to Matt. “Our mother was the one who pushed me to sign up with a rig.”

      “Your days of roughnecking will soon be over.” Matt and Duke exchanged a silent message. “When you turn thirty-two, you’ll have access to your trust fund.”

      Trust fund? “I didn’t come here for a handout.”

      “No matter,” Matt said. “You’ll get your share of Cartwright money just like the rest of us.”

      No one could force him to accept his inheritance, but if what his brothers claimed was true, then Travis had to consider Charlie. He wanted to make sure she was provided for if something happened to him. Still…he hated that his siblings assumed he intended to sponge off their father.

      “What are you guys discussing?” Samantha joined the group. “Why the serious faces?”

      Ignoring their sister’s question, Matt nodded toward the front door. “Where’s Wade taking the kids?”

      “To the bunkhouse to teach them how to rope the fake steer Dad bought a few weeks ago.”

      “C’mon.” Duke nudged Matt in the side. “Wade couldn’t throw a rope if his life depended on it.”

      “Be nice,” Samantha scolded.

      “Don’t worry, sis. We won’t hurt your hubby’s feelings.” Chuckling, Matt followed Duke outside.

      Relieved to be rid of his brothers and their suspicions, Travis turned his attention to his sister. Her eyes were the same shape and brown color of his. He and Samantha looked more like brother and sister than she and Matt.

      “I read Charlotte’s diary last night.” Her sad smile reminded Travis that he hadn’t been the only one hurt by his mother’s actions.

      “Did it help you remember her?” he asked.

      “Not really. I was two when she left. Matt was four. He claims he doesn’t have any memories of Charlotte, but I think he has a few.”

      Travis had grown up with a mother’s love. Samantha and Matt had grown up with a father’s love. On that score they were even. But Dominick was still alive and that gave Travis the advantage of forging a relationship with his estranged father—if he cared to. His siblings would never have that opportunity with their mother.

      “I think Charlotte missed me and Matt. That’s something, I guess.” The wobble in her voice sucker punched Travis in the gut.

      “I’m sorry, Samantha.”

      “You’d better stop calling me Samantha. Everyone in the family calls me Sam.”

      “How come you’re not suspicious of me like the others?” His sister was the only person in the house who didn’t act uncomfortable around him.