Circumstances had caused Wyatt to become an adult long before he should have, and it had left him tainted. He had little patience with children or ornery calves, but like his brother, he’d give his life for them.
“Dammit, do me a favor. Hold still.” He clenched his jaw from both frustration and cold. The exposed flesh on the side of his neck was numb where the frigid wind and snow had blown down his collar. The calf twisted in his grasp, bawling woefully with the sudden movement. He could have just snipped the fence, but with the darkening sky and the wind blurring his vision, he didn’t want to risk greater injury to the animal. This close to the mountains, one could never be sure what predators roamed the woods, their senses alert to the scent of fresh blood. “There, you little troublemaker.” He swatted the calf’s butt and watched as he stumbled to stand on his wobbly legs. A call from the herd had the runt kicking up his heels, his tail flicking high, as he trotted with not a care in the world toward the sound of his mama’s voice.
“You’re welcome,” Wyatt called out. “Stay close to your mom. Maybe it’ll keep you out of trouble.” He let out a derisive snort, as if he had the slightest idea what it was like to be close to his mother. He had only been eleven and his brother Dalton, nine, when their mother had left them high and dry. Time had made him realize that maybe, in the end, she’d done them all a favor. But it didn’t make the sting of finding her good-bye note on Christmas morning any easier. The holiday had never meant much to him after that.
Yeah, helluva Christmas present.
Wyatt pushed aside the painful thought and tugged the brim of his Stetson to block the wind. Flipping up the collar of his coat, he reached for the skewed post, set it upright, and then used the side of a short-handled ax to drive the pole into the sodden ground. He tamped the loose soil around the base with the heel of his boot and made a mental note to check the rest of the line come morning. Lifting his gaze, he scanned the opposite side of the pasture where the low pine-covered hills gave rise to the Crazies mountain range. The land, most of it owned by the Last Hope Ranch, was one of the few remaining cattle ranches in the area. Near the Continental Divide, the acreage stretched from the mountain base to the closest town, End of the Line, Montana—population two hundred thirty-three at last count. Known in its day as a stop for traders and ranchers, the birth of the railway and the discovery of gold turned it into a virtual ghost town until some enterprising folks, including Jed, Wyatt’s stepdad, found value in its rich western heritage and began the task of renovating its historical integrity. Growth hadn’t always been swift, but for the folks in End of the Line, slow and steady was a lifestyle.
There were times, however, that Wyatt questioned Jed’s decision to leave him as head of the ranch, but little else meant as much. He blew out a breath, glanced up at the gray-white, snow-filled sky, and thought of the man who’d taught him all he knew, who’d given him a new life. He slid the ax inside its worn leather harness and pulled himself up into the saddle. Holding on to his hat, he ducked his head from the charge of driving wind and snow. He’d feel a lot better when this deal to sell off the heifers was firmly in place. With another quick glance at the herd huddled under a giant oak, he turned away from the wind. He drew his glove over his face, wiped the snow from his eyelashes, and nudged the horse toward home. She fell into a steady trot, as eager as Wyatt to go where it was warm. The memory of the day Jed had surprised him with the horse flashed into his mind.
“It’s time, son. You’ve earned this.” Jed held out the reins, and Wyatt, not quite thirteen, took them with trembling hands. She was a beautiful Bay, almost sixteen hands high, with large, expressive, brown eyes that watched him closely as he drew near. He laid his cheek against her neck, and she nuzzled the back of his head. He named her Pretty Lady after a comment Jed had made about her graceful looks. She was the first female he’d ever truly loved.
Years later, he realized Jed must have known how the mare’s even temper and strength would be a lesson to a boy nursing the scars of his mother’s abandonment. He leaned forward and brushed the snow from her soft brown coat. There were times he could swear she could read his mind as well as he could hers. “Come on, Lady, I hear a bucket of oats calling your name.” Attentive to what he said, the horse pricked her ears and quickened her pace. The weather caused his thoughts to turn briefly to his younger brother Dalton, and Rein, Jed’s nephew. The three were a family, raised from their teen years to manhood by Jed, a self-made man with no children of his own and possessing a heart as big as a Montana Sky. He’d adopted Wyatt and Dalton shortly after marrying their mom, and after she left, it wasn’t more than a year later when Rein, a quiet, studious young man, had come to live with his uncle after his parents had been killed in a car accident.
The two would-be brothers had just left on their annual trip to Sioux City, where they brokered the sales of some of their cattle to a client that had traded with Jed for years. The pilot they’d hired to travel to the meeting was a former Iraqi soldier and good friend who now ran a small charter company out of Billings. Wyatt was glad to have heard from Rein, even though the news wasn’t what he’d expected.
“There’s been a delay,” Rein said. “Some of the numbers on the contract aren’t what we originally discussed. I want to talk to this new attorney and see what’s going on. The problem is it seems this guy took off on an impromptu ski trip and won’t be back until the day after tomorrow.”
“So much for flying down early to cinch this up before the holiday. Why not just talk to the guy by phone or use that Skype thing you talk so much about?” Wyatt wasn’t particularly concerned about spending Christmas by himself. Over the years, he’d spent many a holiday alone, while the other two, off at college, took full advantage of things like spring break and ski trips.
“Not this time, bro. I’m concerned about the figures on this agreement. They aren’t what I remember them to be. I want to talk to the guy face to face. We may be going back to the drawing board. I think he’s trying to finagle things a bit to pad his pockets, and I don’t think ol’ Russ is aware of it just yet. The poor guy is in his eighties and still trading like he did when Jed worked with him. I want a good deal, but I want it to be fair for all of us. I plan to speak to him, though, before his legal counsel gets back to town.”
It was useless to argue. Rein was the one with the business head and dual degrees in agricultural business and architectural design under his shiny silver belt buckle. He’d returned home with the intention of seeing to fruition his uncle’s vision for the ranch, to make it a haven for the lost and weary and a place to find purpose and strength through nature and hard work. It was an idea born of a man who’d reared three dysfunctional teens, not of his blood, and turned them into capable young men whom he was proud to call his sons.
“Just keep me posted. How’s Dalton taking the delay?”
Rein snorted. “About like you’d think. He’s afraid he’s going to miss the annual holiday pool tourney at the pub.”
Wyatt shook his head, thinking of his younger brother. Twice his size, Dalton looked like some mountain man with an unruly beard and black, curly hair. He had barely squeaked through college and afterward took off to travel and find himself. He’d never been as devoted to the ranch as the other two, but somehow a couple of years later he found himself back home, still fighting his demons and still unsure of what to do with his life. Nonetheless, Wyatt’s maturity gave him the ability to see and appreciate qualities in his younger brother; he viewed him akin to a slightly misguided knight, trying to right the injustices of the world. Dalton, like Rein, believed in the vision that Jed had for the Last Hope Ranch, but Wyatt was less excited about changing the way things were. He enjoyed the solitude and let the other two handle the networking necessities.
“Let me know what’s going on, Rein, and keep an eye on the weather.”
“Right. Talk to you soon.”
***
Wyatt shifted in the saddle, happy when he finally saw the faint ligh
ts of home through the swirling snow. “Almost there, girl.” He looked at the ranch, spread out like a sparkling jewel in the valley. Jed would talk with pride about designing and building the home and how for every tree used in construction, he’d plant two more on the property. It’s true purpose was his intention of raising a large family and the hope of many grandkids. Instead, Jed wound up divorced with three misfit boys to raise. He had been not only a brilliant rancher but also an eternal optimist. When he saw the need for the children of End of the Line to have visit each year from Kris Kringle, he’d filled that need and so too, his own need for a bigger family. He referred to the children over the years as “his kids.” There’d been a time or two as Jed grew older that he voiced regret that Wyatt wasn’t able to give him his own grandkids to spoil, but settling down as a family man had never been one of Wyatt’s goals.
“You’ve got to let go of the past,” his stepdad had told him after the breakup of his first real relationship. It had lasted only three weeks. “You’ve got to learn to trust others, Wyatt. Trust your heart.”
He’d listened to Jed on many things, never doubting his wisdom, but in this, Wyatt ignored him. He knew where his loyalties were. Maybe it was true what he said about letting go of the past and all of its baggage, but it was easier to put his heart into something solid and reliable, like running the ranch. Uncomfortable with such thoughts, he switched his focus to getting home and the delicious the crock-pot stew awaiting him. With thoughts of a toasty fire, some mindless television, and a hearty supper, he nudged Lady’s sides and broke into a gallop toward the barn.
With his horse brushed and happily fed, Wyatt finished his evening chores before securing the barn and heading out into the chilly night. He stuffed his hands in his pockets, listening to the sound of his boots crunching along the frosty ground. The wind rushing through the pines whistled softly. An odd pang of loneliness shot through his heart, and he brushed it quickly away as he trudged up the front steps to the cabin. The heavy thud of his boots on the wraparound wood porch pricked at his mind. The sound alone jarred a strange comfort inside of him, knowing he was home for the night. He walked around the corner of the house, where they kept wood stacked, and loaded a few logs into his arms. A sudden movement caught his eye. Tightening his grasp on the wood, he watched a great white owl sweep out of the sky, snatch something from the snowy ground, and disappear into the screen of trees. A low, ominous hoot poked at Wyatt’s brain, and a shiver skated across his shoulders. The American Indian tribes living in the area believe the sight of an owl to be a sign of an impending storm. Wyatt chuckled and brushed off the strange feeling. Weather radar online dispelled many of the old superstitions, but it wouldn’t hurt to check the forecast just in case.
***
“That ought to last us a while.” Pleased with the roaring fire, Wyatt pushed to his knees for a moment and drew Sadie, the family’s golden retriever, to his side. “It doesn’t get much better than this, Sadie girl.” He grabbed the bowl of stew he’d prepared and took a large bite of the bread Rein had brought home from the bakery. He settled back on the couch, relishing the soft, aged leather, and lifted his stocking feet onto the coffee table, one of many woodworking projects Rein had built.
Sadie curled up dutifully beneath his legs, happy to have her master home after a long day. She was well over eight years old now, best they knew. Jed had found her on the side of the mountain road one autumn evening, and despite attempts to find her owner, nobody ever showed to claim her. It was a joyous fact that the three boys never took for granted. They cared for her, loving her like a member of the family and though she moved a little slower these days, she could still protect her family if necessary.
Wyatt picked up his bowl and breathed in the savory spices mingled with the roasted meat, potatoes, and carrots. He blew across the bowl, stirring slowly before lifting a generous portion to his mouth. He leaned forward, his attention diverted to the screen showing the bull-riding championships. Sadie’s head popped up in alarm and bumped the back of Wyatt’s outstretched legs. The spoon flipped from his grasp, bounced off his chest, and landed on his lap, leaving a beefy brown trail in its wake. “What the Sam Hill…?”
He glared at the frantic dog pacing back and forth across the wood floor. She began to bark, first at him, then at the direction of the front door. He brushed helplessly at his shirt, annoyed at both the stain and his wacky dog. Assuming it was the weather adversely affecting her behavior, he shook his head and watched with curious amusement as she attempted to get traction on the polished wood. “Okay, girl, fun’s over. Time to settle down. Come on, Sadie. You just heard an owl. There’s nothing out there.”
She paused a moment glancing at him as if to ask, “are you sure” when an urgent knock sounded, renewing the dog’s duty to protect. She stood with her nose against the heavy barrier separating them from the intruder outside, offering a clear warning to whoever waited on the other side.
Wyatt swept a glance over the cabinet where they kept their hunting rifles locked up. He quickly shoved aside the concern and headed across the room. “Settle down, Sadie. I’ll take care of this.” He flipped on the porch light and grabbed the anxious dog by her collar as he opened the door. As he straightened, his gaze followed a pair of shapely legs and a heart-shaped butt encased in denim jeans with rhinestones on the pockets. She couldn’t have been from the area because the sugar-pink puff jacket she wore barely covered her waist. A local would know it wasn’t adequate for Montana winters.
The woman turned abruptly, and his gaze snapped up and held hers as he quickly tried to set aside his lusty thoughts. He held tight to the squirming dog with one hand and pushed open the glass storm door against the pounding wind with the other. Her eyes widened as she looked him over head to toe, and he saw her hesitation as she glanced down at Sadie’s determined wiggling.
“She’s more bark than bite.” He tried to reassure her, but the wariness lingered. She had her hands stuffed in the pockets, and he zeroed in to the tense way she licked her lower lip, her breath forming frosty puffs in the icy air. Despite finding this lovely pink package on his front porch on a cold winter’s night, Wyatt, too, was a bit wary. Very few folks ever paid a visit to the ranch, and even fewer women. However, if she was looking for someone, likely it was his younger brother. Of the three of them, it was Dalton who had a reputation with the ladies, and on occasion, their boyfriends didn’t appreciate it. Going on that assumption, he looked over her shoulder at her vehicle. It was clearly not for serious mountain driving in adverse weather, unless it happened to have a team of horses strapped to it. “Sorry, young lady. Dalton’s not home.”
She blinked and gave him an odd look.
“Excuse me?” She questioned his frank and admittedly unsocial behavior through chattering teeth. “I don’t know any Dalton, but I’d like to meet him if he happens to have a map.”
The woman obviously had no fear of being out alone in this weather, nor did it seem she was afraid to knock on any door of any strange house out in the middle of nowhere.
“Listen, I’m sorry to be a bother, but I want to make sure I’m on the right road. It seems maybe I might have missed my turnoff. Are you familiar with the town of End of the Line?” she asked, stomping the snow from her faux-fur fashion boots.
The winding mountain road was dotted with an array of old mining towns with fewer than fifty or so residents and End of the Line happened to be one of the largest. “Sure, I know where it is.” Her cheeks and the tip of her nose were pink from the cold. She smiled and sniffled, and it pulled Wyatt from his reverie. “Pardon my manners. Why don’t you come inside and get out of the cold.” To her credit, he saw the hesitation in her eyes before she stepped around him and into the foyer. The scent of peppermint and winter air tickled his nose, and he noted sprigs of blond hair sticking out from beneath the furry rim of her hood. Sadie leaped up and placed her paws on the woman’s chest.
“I’m sorry. She’s really quite friendly.”
The woman pushed her face to Sadie’s and ruffled her fur. “She’s a sweetheart, she is,” the woman cooed, apparently forgetting he was standing there.
Wyatt cleared his throat and reached out to move Sadie down, though it seemed the two females had become fast friends.
“I went down to Big Timber for the day,” the woman began. “Then this snow started just out of the blue.” She waved her hands as she spoke.
No gloves, just as he’d thought.
“Between the dark and the snow, I’m not sure if I’d already passed by my turn to town. Thankfully, I saw your lights from the road and took a chance someone might be home.”
“Isn’t it a bit risky for someone your age to be out alone on night like this?” He frowned as he shut the door. He leaned back against it and folded his arms over his chest in the same fatherly manner he’d seen Jed display a million times.
Her gaze shot to his, and she pushed off her hood, raking her fingers through her hair, sending spiky, short-clipped platinum blond tresses in all directions. He wasn’t much for short hair on women and frankly preferred dark to light hair. But on her, it seemed to fit with her slight build and mesmerizing blue eyes, which, he noted, appeared a whole lot less innocent at the moment.
She chuckled. “So what are you? Just some cowboy serial killer just chillin’ here by the fire and waiting for your next victim?”
Put in those terms, it seemed like a pretty stupid concept.
She fished in her jacket pocket, and as she retrieved a tissue, a little blue mitten fell out. “Hopefully that wasn’t the line you used to pick up your wife.”
Wait a minute, do I look like a married man?
The Dark Seduction of Miss Jane Page 31
