“Dorian!” my mother screamed, running toward the patrol car.

“Ma’am, stay back,” Deputy Miller said, stepping in front of her.

“What are you doing to my husband?” she demanded.

“Mom, stop,” I said, stepping forward.

She turned on me, her eyes flashing with pure rage.

“You did this,” she said, pointing a manicured finger at my chest.

“You brought your military attitude here to ruin our lives.”

“Dorian was trying to save this family!”

“By burning down Dad’s cabin?” I asked.

“By stealing his medals?”

Brielle walked up behind her mother, crossing her arms against the cold.

“Maren, you are being completely dramatic,” Brielle said.

“Those medals are just pieces of metal.”

“They don’t pay the property taxes on the ranch.”

“Dorian was going to sell them to a collector in Dallas to help us.”

“They weren’t his to sell,” I said.

“They belonged to my father, and by law, they belong to me.”

The sheriff stepped between us.

“Ladies, this is an active crime scene,” he said.

“Mrs. Pike, your husband is being transported to the county jail.”

“He will be booked tonight.”