Wild Fire by Linda I. Shands

the guests could handle her.”
    â€œSo? They can too. Kara has to share, Dad. Tell her.”
    Dad set his coffee cup on the table and looked from Kara to Ryan. “Sorry, Tiger, your sister’s right. Lily needs an experienced rider, and we need Star for the younger kids. You’ll have plenty of time to ride.”
    â€œNot fair!” Ryan howled and tried to push away from the table. The chair stuck, but his fork and plate went flying.
    Kara grabbed his arm. “Ryan!”
    â€œThat’s enough, young man.” Dad’s voice stayed level, but she could hear the steel in his tone.
    Anne leaned over and retrieved Ryan’s plate from the floor. “Kara will share Lily,” she said quietly.
    Ryan stopped struggling. Kara loosened her hold on his arm and turned with everyone else at the table to stare at Anne.
    â€œWith me,” Anne continued calmly. “If we are to have fresh trout each Sunday night, I will need Lily to carry me to Otter Lake.”
    Her eyes questioned Kara over Ryan’s head, but Kara turned her head away. Her temper flared. How could she? Anne hadn’t even asked to borrow Lily. Wasn’t it enough that she had taken Mom’s place at the lodge? She’d taken over Ryan too. She was so good at everything. Now she wanted Lily.
    Kara nearly bolted from the table. Everyone was probably staring, and she was sure to be bawling any minute. But when she lifted her head, she saw the others were bent over their plates, shoveling food. And Dad was watching Anne .
    The older woman handed the plate and fork to Ryan. “The broom and dustpan are behind the kitchen door,” she said.
    To Kara’s surprise, he obeyed without a word.
    Dad said something to Colin, who nodded and shoveled in another mouthful of eggs. Anne didn’t look her way, and Kara pretended to be interested in the men’s conversation.
    â€œAnything else we need to solve right now?” Dad was saying .
    Greg shrugged. “Not on my end. Hot Shot here has the horses lined up. I’m out of here tomorrow morning.”
    Kara winced at her brother’s sullen tone. She wished he wouldn’t talk to Dad like that, or be so rude to Colin. If it had been anyone else Dad wouldn’t stand for it, but after Mom’s death he’d put up with a lot from Greg and his lousy attitude.
    What about your own attitude? Kara ignored her conscience and tried to tune back in to her dad’s voice.
    â€œI appreciate your willingness to take care of things at the ranch. Be sure and radio in if you need anything. Bud Davis said he’d be glad to help with the stock.”
    â€œI can handle it, Dad.”
    â€œI know you can, Son.”
    The trust in her dad’s eyes made Kara want to be sick. She knew Greg had been drinking lately. Dad had found beer cans in his truck. How could he trust him alone at the house in Lariat? True, he’d never done anything to harm the stock. But what about himself?
    Kara shrugged inwardly. There was nothing she could do about it. There was no way Greg would ever listen to her. Things were never this mixed up when Mom was alive . This was not shaping up to be a good day.
    Colin pushed back from the table and punched Greg good-naturedly on the arm. “Come on, Ferret Face, we’ve got a bear to track.”
    He turned to Dad. “While we’re at it we’ll check the river trail out past Cedar Ridge. The others are clear. We can even use the one from Pinewood Meadow.”
    Dad shook his head. “I know you guys got in all right, but we won’t need the Pine Creek trail until mid-July. I didn’t think we should chance it with clients until then, so I didn’t book any ride-ins.”
    Colin grinned. “You’re the boss. Let’s go, Greg.” He turned and caught Kara’s stare.
    â€œYou coming, Kara? It might get kinda rough, but from what I hear, Lily can handle it.”
    It was on the tip of her