West Winds of Wyoming by Caroline Fyffe Read Free Book Online Page B

and wagon coming in the opposite direction.
    The front door opened and Seth stepped out, a double-barrel shotgun held firm in his right hand. “Everything all right out here?” His gaze traveled from Charlie’s face to Nell’s and then back.
    “Just a rattlesnake Dog was teasing.”
    “Kill it?”
    She nodded.
    “Then I’m going back to bed.” He hesitated as if he had something else on his mind, then turned back into the house and was gone.
    “Must be near four.” Nell pulled her hair over her shoulder again, making him think she was nervous. “Almost time to get up. If you want, I’ll put the coffee on early.”
    “No, thanks,” he replied. He’d best keep a tight rein on his thoughts. With nothing remaining to talk about, he turned. “I’ll see you later.”
    After Nell went inside and closed the door, Charlie headed for the barn. The early-morning air prickled the skin on his face. He gulped several deep breaths, feeling the chill in his throat. It felt good, cleared his mind. He needed to stay focused on Maddie. Couldn’t let himself be distracted. He had enough problems already.

CHAPTER SIX

    C harlie ate the last of the scrambled eggs on his plate, then crunched a slice of crispy bacon as he wondered about Nell’s absence. He’d stepped inside without knocking, as she’d instructed, and found a quiet kitchen. Food had been prepared and place settings were out on the table. A bit self-conscious, he’d served himself and eased into a chair to eat.
    “Morning,” Seth greeted Charlie as he came down the stairs, working the last button on his shirt. He’d shaved his whiskers and combed his hair. “Getting up the day after a long trip is always hard.” He yawned and stretched. “That bed sure felt good last night.”
    “Wish I could say the same.” When he’d returned to his bedroll after the encounter with Nell, he’d remained wide awake. He rubbed his gritty, tired eyes.
    “I’ve been thinking.” Seth took a cup off the shelf, poured himself coffee, then set it on the table. “Why don’t you take the small room downstairs? It’s around back and was originally a mudroom. But there’s a door, so you can come and go as you please. The bed isn’t more than a cot.”
    “What about Nell?”
    Seth’s brow furrowed. “Nell?” He glanced around and shrugged.
    “How’d she feel about having a man in the house?”
    Seth filled a plate, leaving some eggs and bacon for his sister. “Guess you don’t know Nell yet. She can take care of herself. Besides, she’s a grown woman and a widow to boot. You being here won’t bother her at all.” He pulled out a chair and sat across from Charlie.
    “Thank you. I appreciate that. A cot sounds darn good over the lumpy floor of a stall.”
    “And a bit less aromatic.”
    Charlie wiped his mouth with his napkin. “I woke up this morning with a chicken staring me down from atop the stall door. It was a mite unnerving.” He took a drink of his coffee. “By the way, what’s Logan Meadows like?” Something vital inside him was shriveling and dying without information about Maddie. Being so close to her without being able to pick her up, kiss her soft little cheek, was killing him. He needed to know where she’d been living and what her life had been like since leaving him. Anything was better than nothing. It sounded like a nice town, but you never knew until you’d lived somewhere awhile.
    “Resembles pretty much any place, I’d say.”
    Charlie glanced down at the outdated newspaper on the table. He pointed to the article about the schoolhouse potluck. “Looks like good, down-home fun.”
    “Should be. I’m sure we’ll be going since Nell feels strongly about community and especially the children. She likes the roots we’ve sunk here in Wyoming. Guess that stems from us moving around so much when she was just a girl.” He shrugged.
    Relief mingled with excitement. All he had to do was get through these next three days. Maddie was sure