“I hadn’t thought—they could get electrocuted, couldn’t they?”
“It happens. We’ll be checking the herds over the next few days.”
“That would be awful.”
They stood in an awkward silence for a few moments. He wore a white T-shirt and sweatpants slung low on his hips. The sexy look, combined with his rumpled hair and sleepy eyes, left her struggling for something to say.
“Storms make you nervous?” he asked, finally.
“How did you guess?”
“You’re twisting your hands together. Dead giveaway.”
“Oh.” She pressed them against the sides of her thighs. “I was downright scared of storms as a little girl. Amber doesn’t seem to have inherited that problem, I’m glad to say. Or Nate.”
“I suspect you helped them understand the weather, taught them that they don’t have to be afraid.”
Susannah shrugged one shoulder. “That’s what moms are supposed to do. Take care of their children.”
Another long silence, this one more than awkward. Tense. He was standing in the door to the hallway, leaning against the frame with his arms crossed over his chest. She would have to ease by him to leave. And she couldn’t quite imagine doing that, couldn’t imagine coming so close to him. Not dressed as he was.
Or as she was. She suddenly remembered what she had on—the white nightgown she’d brought with her from the trailer. She’d finally started wearing it because she hadn’t wanted to keep sleeping in her clothes.
But she’d never expected to confront Wyatt in the middle of the night in it.
“I—I think I’ll try to get some sleep,” she said. Maybe he would move out of the way if she approached. He wouldn’t want contact any more than she did.
When she got near to him, though, he didn’t move. This close, he seemed even more in the way. “Excuse me?” she said. Her voice sounded breathy to her own ears. Weak, which was what she felt with him right there. Within reach. She might be furious with him, but that didn’t mean she didn’t want him.
“You’re driving me crazy,” he said, gazing down at her. “But I’m not going to touch you. Unless...”
“Unless?”
He straightened up. “Unless that’s your choice.”
Susannah took a breath, held it. This would probably be her last chance. How could she ignore it?
Breathing out, she reached for his hands and brought them to her shoulders. His palms settled on her bare skin, warm, a little rough. She placed hers on his chest, felt his muscles tense. “That’s my choice.”
Holding her gaze, he backed her out of the doorway and then shut the door to the hall. And locked it. “So be it,” Wyatt said in a rough voice and pulled her against him.
This storm broke quick and fast. Desire rushed through her at the first touch of his lips against hers, the strong, sure stroke of his hands down her back. Slow and deep and hot, his kisses consumed her, owned her, devoured her as he explored the joining of their mouths. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she held on and offered everything she had, everything she was. She could feel the heat of him, the strength of him—the thin fabrics they wore were hardly a barrier between their bodies. Pressed hard together, they might as well have been naked.
They weren’t...but they could be. Susannah eased her hold and turned her head to the side. “Your room?” she murmured, breathing fast.
Wyatt’s hands went still. His chest rose and fell sharply against her breasts, an erotic pleasure all its own. He kissed her temple, her cheekbone, the curve of her jaw. “No,” he said quietly. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have started this.”
“No, you shouldn’t have.” After the first moment of shock, passion transformed into anger. “You have to decide what you want. Don’t jerk me around.”
“I don’t mean to jerk you around, Susannah. But sometimes in life, what I want and what I can have are two different things.” He let his hands fall to his sides. “I’m not as strong about that as I’d like to be.”
“Work on it,” she told him harshly out of her own immense pain. Then she walked away from him, crossed the hallway and returned to her room. Her only regret was that, with Amber asleep, she couldn’t slam the door.
Chapter Eight
Susannah made breakfast the morning of the rodeo, serving up a continuous stream of pancakes, eggs and bacon for the entire crowd. The noise level in the dining room was almost as high as the degree of excitement with seven teenagers anticipating their opportunity to compete in a real, live show.
“I’ve never seen them eat so much,” Ford said as he brought a serving bowl to her for more eggs. “You’d think they hadn’t been fed all week. And we cooked steak last night!”
“It’s a big day,” Caroline told him, coming in for a refill on her pitcher of juice. “The high point of their summer.” She gave a slight frown. “As long as no one gets hurt.”
Garrett picked up a new bottle of syrup. “We’ll have our good luck charm on site. With Rachel there, everybody will be fine.” The doctor would be meeting them at the fairgrounds in Buffalo.
Susannah laughed at him. “You may be a little biased on that topic. But I like the general idea.” She scraped a pan full of eggs onto the plate Ford held. “There you go.”
Dylan came through the door with another platter. “Three requests for more pancakes. Don’t hold your breath, but I think they’re slowing down.”
Blowing a wisp of hair out of her eyes, Susannah turned to the griddle. “Coming up.” She’d noticed that, unlike the other adults, Wyatt wasn’t ferrying food and empty plates, hadn’t even taken a break in the kitchen to eat his own meal in relative peace. Knowing him, he was keeping an eye on Amber, making sure she got a good meal in the midst of all the teenaged commotion.
More to the point, he was avoiding her, as he had since that night in the kitchen last weekend. She’d been dodging him, as well, because it hurt too much to smile with him, all the while aware of how soon this period of their lives would be over. When the summer camp ended next weekend, she and the children would be settling into a new home, starting over in a new life. Which would be exciting, except for the fact that none of them wanted to leave.
“Susannah?”
She jumped at the sound of her name and whirled to see Garrett standing nearby. “I’m sorry. What did you need?”
“Your pancakes are burning.”
“Oh, damn.” At least Amber wasn’t in the room. She flipped on the fan above the stove and switched off the burner. “Damn, damn. I’ll have to clean up the griddle before I can make new ones.”
“Don’t worry about it.” He put a hand on her arm. “They’re all outside now, waiting to climb into the van and get to the show. Caroline is keeping an eye on Amber while Wyatt and Ford put the horses in the trailer. Let me help you load these dishes in the washer and we’ll be ready to leave.”
Susannah smiled in relief. “I’d hate to leave a dirty kitchen.”
“I figured as much.” As he rinsed plates and glasses, he said, “Caroline tells me you’ve found a place to live in Casper and a job in a grocery store. That’s real progress.”
“I think so.” She’d driven into town several times recently, getting her new life set up. With Travis still on the loose, Dylan or Garrett had come along, just in case. “The apartment is within walking distance of Nathan’s school, and Amber’s is on the bus route so I can take her there, which is the main thing I was worried about. We can make it all work.”
“We’ll sure miss you, though.” He brought another stack of dishes to the counter. “The three of you have become part of the family over the summer.”
“Thank you.” Suddenly, there were tears in her eyes. “I have to admit, leaving will be...hard. The kids love it here. Not just because it’s so beautiful and so comfor
table.” She tried to blink her eyes clear. “You and your brothers have been wonderful. I don’t know what we would have done without each of you.” Despite her efforts, her cheeks were getting wet.
Garrett stepped closer, as if he might give her a hug.
Susannah held up one hand to stop him, wiping tears with the other. She didn’t want pity. “But we’ll come visit, as friends do. When you’re in Casper, you can stop by to see how well we’re doing.” She forced a smile. “And we will be. I plan to be store manager. It’s just a matter of time.”
“I have no doubt.” He retreated to the dishwasher and shut the door. “You can do whatever you set your mind to.” Looking around the kitchen, he saw the stack of pans waiting to be washed. “Do we have to finish those before we leave?”
“As long as you don’t dock my pay, they can stay there.”
They were still laughing as they stepped out onto the front porch, where Wyatt was coming up the steps with Honey following him. He stopped as he saw them, and a spasm of pain passed across his face so quickly that Susannah almost believed she’d imagined the moment. Almost but not quite.
“We’re ready to go,” he said to the space somewhere between her head and Garrett’s. “Amber’s already buckled into my truck. I’m just going to put the dog inside and lock the doors.”
With Dylan and Garrett taking the backseat with Amber, Susannah had no choice but to climb in the front beside Wyatt. The two brothers kept her daughter entertained—or maybe it was the other way around—so all she had to do was sit there for the twenty-minute ride to Buffalo, painfully aware of the man sitting only an arm’s length away. Walking away from him would be one of the hardest things she’d ever done.
At the Johnson County fairgrounds, they connected with Rachel and then the whole group of them settled at the top of the bleachers just in time for the opening ceremony.
“The Buffalo Junior Rodeo Show is proud to present a special guest star for today’s event,” the announcer said over the loudspeaker. “Four-time national finals barrel-racing champion and rodeo queen Miss Marley Jennings will present the American flag!”
The introduction to the national anthem began as a palomino horse galloped into the arena, ridden by a woman wearing a bright red shirt and black chaps. Her long black hair flowed behind her in the wind as she circled the show ground. Then she turned into the center and held her horse motionless as the crowd sang the anthem. The constant Wyoming wind blew the flag in picturesque waves.
“She’s so cool,” Lizzie said. “I want to do that.” The girl sat with Thomas on one side and Marcos on the other, with Nate occupying the bench behind her. Becky had managed to sit beside him, but he was leaning forward, paying attention to the blonde. Wearing her hair braided and just a light touch of makeup, Becky looked lovely. But Susannah wondered if her son was just too dazzled by Lizzie’s wiles to recognize the redhead’s kindness and more natural beauty.
Amber tugged on her shirtsleeve. “What do we get to see now, Mommy?”
Wyatt, on Amber’s other side, answered. “Mutton bustin’, Princess. Remember how that works?”
“Where you ride the sheep?”
“Right.”
“I want to do that.” She turned to Susannah and tugged on her shirtsleeve again. “Can I learn to do mutton bustin’, Mommy? Please?”
“Not today, sweetie.” A mother’s eternal evasion.
Which didn’t work with her daughter. “But Mr. Wyatt could help me and then I could come to the rodeo and ride a sheep. Please, Mommy?”
Ignoring the urge to glance at Wyatt, Susannah squared her shoulders, turned toward her daughter and took her hand. “I don’t think we can do that, Amber. You know we won’t be staying at the ranch much longer.”
Amber frowned. “I don’t want to move.”
“But we have to, and there won’t be sheep where we live. We’ll find other fun places to go—playgrounds and swimming pools and ball games. You’re probably old enough to play ball now.”
“I don’t care.” Pulling her hand free, Amber got to her feet and moved to stand in front of Wyatt, her palms on his knees. “Please, Mr. Wyatt, can’t we stay? I’ll be good, I promise. I won’t hurt your ’puter or use too much paper. An’ I’ll go to bed real early. Please can’t we live with you?”
Susannah didn’t wait to hear any excuse Wyatt might give. She stood and bent to pick up the little girl. “Let’s go get a drink,” she said and eased past a dozen knees, making her way to the aisle.
Halfway down the bleacher steps, Amber started to wail.
Not until they’d reached the parking lot and Wyatt’s truck did Susannah realize he’d followed them. She shook her head at him.
“I’ll unlock the doors for you.” He pressed the remote key and then hesitated. “Are you sure there’s nothing I can do?”
Angry words pushed against her lips. Hurt words, lonely and aching words struggled for release. Susannah clenched her jaws and shook her head again as Amber sobbed on her shoulder.
Wyatt inclined his head. His eyes were shadowed by the brim of his hat. “I’m sorry.” He spun and walked back the way he’d come.
With tears in her eyes for the second time that morning, Susannah put Amber into the truck, climbed in beside her and set about trying to explain to her little girl why neither of them could have what they wanted.
* * *
MUTTON BUSTIN’, GOAT TYING, breakaway roping—Becky got more and more nervous the longer she had to wait for her barrel-racing event to start.
At least she didn’t have to wait as long as Marcos, Thomas and Lena did. Bull riding was the last event of the day. Nate’s pole bending would happen after the steer wrestling.
She poked him in the back. “Are you nervous?” she asked him. “About riding?”
He shrugged one shoulder. “It’s my first time, so there’s not much chance that I’ll win. I’d be pretty happy to get through without knocking a pole down, though. Blue and I have been together long enough for us to make a clean run.” Because he was a nice guy, he said, “Are you nervous?”
She nodded. “I tipped a barrel over in my last two practice runs. I’m afraid I’m going to do the same thing here.”
“It’s all for fun,” he said, watching a boy struggling to get the steer’s three legs tied together. “If you don’t enjoy it, there’s not much point in doing it. Right?”
“Well, you also don’t want to look stupid.”
Nate leaned close and lowered his voice. “I’ve decided you were right—stupid is sitting down on an untamed bull and expecting not to get hurt.”
He thought she was right! That was something, anyway. “Still, I’ll be happy just to stay on my horse.”
“Keep your heels down and your legs long,” he said. “You’re pretty steady in the saddle, so you’ll do fine.”
Did that mean he’d watched her ride? Was he giving her a compliment?
While she was trying to decide, Nate gazed past her and then got to his feet. “Looks like it’s time for me to saddle up.” Mr. Wyatt was standing at the end of the bench, waiting for him.
“Good luck,” Becky told him. “I hope you have a great race.”
He grinned at her. “Thanks.” Leaning down, he tapped Lizzie on the shoulder. “I’m going to ride in a few minutes. See you later.”
Without even glancing at him, she said, “Okay,” and pushed some popcorn into her mouth.
He stood staring at her for a moment with a puzzled expression on his face. Mr. Wyatt called his name and he jumped and then sidestepped his way to the aisle. Lizzie was too busy giggling at something Thomas had said to notice they’d left.
When the pole-bending competition started, the first competitor was a girl. And the second, as well.
“So ol’ Nate’s riding against girls,” Mar
cos said. “He’s bound to win.”
Lizzie punched him in the shoulder. “That’s not true. Girls can beat boys.”
Thomas shook his head. “Nah.” For once, the two guys agreed about something.
The next two girls each knocked one of the poles down, which meant they were disqualified. Finally, it was Nate’s turn. Coming out of the gate, he and Blue Lady streaked across the arena, pivoted sharply and started a zigzag pattern around the poles. Becky had seen him practice this over the last few weeks by weaving through the line of pine trees on the ranch.
With a press of his legs and a flip of the reins, Nate moved Blue from side to side, going one way and then, with another quick spin, coming back through again. The last pole wobbled as they went by a little too close, but Nate put out a hand to steady it. Then they were turning one more time and racing for the finish.
“He did it!” Becky jumped up, cheering. Lena and Justino joined her and even Thomas, Marcos and Lizzie made some noise. “Way to go, Nate!”
“That was first timer Nate Bradley,” the announcer said, “with a score of twenty-two point five six seconds. Good job, Nate.”
Becky turned to look at Ms. Caroline, standing behind her. “Is that a good score?”
“It’s great for his first-ever ride. And I think that’s the fastest time so far. But whether he wins or not depends on how the other competitors fare. We won’t know until everyone has gone through. Meanwhile, though, we have to get the horses ready for your event. You and Lizzie will be up soon.”
Between backing her horse off the trailer, cleaning him up and putting on the saddle, Becky missed the announcement for the winner of the pole-bending event.
She was tightening the cinch when Nate suddenly showed up. “Need some help?”
From bending over to tighten the knot, Becky straightened up so fast, her horse startled and shied away. “Did you win? Did you?”
“Whoa, there.” Nate put a hand on the horse’s shoulder and calmed him down. “As a matter of fact...” he said and grinned. “I did.” He pulled a blue ribbon from his back pocket. “How about that?”
A Family in Wyoming Page 13
