Winds of Wyoming (A Kate Neilson Novel) by Rebecca Carey Lyles Read Free Book Online

them back to the pasture?”
    He grabbed his hat and plopped it onto his head. A chunk of dirt dropped to his shoulder. “Buffalo don’t herd well, you know.” He started for the back door.
    Tramp hopped up to follow.
    Cyrus cleared his throat. “Hold on a dad gum minute. I’ll round up a couple of the hands. We can fix the fence and haul the truck back here before dark.”
    Mike balled his fingers into fists. Why did he come to Cyrus, when he could have asked Rusty or Clint or one of the other guys to help? He pivoted. “I’m sure you mean well, but you’re not my dad. I’ll take care of it myself.”
    Cyrus opened his mouth but Mike cut him off. “The truck and the fence are my problems. So are the buffalo—and the jerk that cut the wire.” He stomped into the house, Tramp at his heels. He shouldn’t have told them about the accident.
    ***
    The ranch’s modest entry consisted of a tall pole portal and a cattle guard—at least that’s what Kate thought they called the flat metal grate that spanned the dirt road. An iron Whispering Pines Guest Ranch sign swayed from the top beam. Her new home. At least for the summer.
    The Honda’s tires rasped across the cattle guard, reminding her of the café’s parking lot and the fact she’d left Copperville too fast to eat lunch or buy crackers. The crackers, at least, would have settled her stomach, which lurched with each jolt.
    Kate parked in front of a log building with a wide porch. Red window boxes with bright flowers accented the amber exterior, and a large wooden arrow with the word “office” painted on it was attached to the wall beside the door. Two deer nibbling at the tulips that skirted the rock foundation lifted their heads to watch her for a moment before silently disappearing behind the building.
    She turned the engine off but remained seated, listening to a breeze rustle through the aspen trees that shaded the porch and wishing she could be more excited about seeing deer outside of a zoo. This was the most monumental day of her life—other than her release—and she wanted to crawl in a hole and never come out. She had so fervently hoped to eradicate her past and begin her life anew. But her past was as close as her shadow. She could smell its foul breath and feel its evil claws at her back.
    Still wearing her sunglasses, Kate stepped from the car. Even though she was a child of the light, not the dark, she needed to hide her bloodshot eyes. The sharp slap of a screen door made her jump. She looked up. “Oh, hello.”
    A twenty-something man with hat-sculpted hair and a white forehead stood on the verandah holding a dirty cowboy hat. “Can I help you?”
    “I have an appointment with Laura Duncan.”
    “Appointment?” His left eyebrow arched.
    “She’s expecting me. No particular time.”
    The collie that tailed the man clambered down the steps to sniff Kate’s shoes and nudge its nose under her fingers. She scratched behind its ears, enjoying the soft warmth of the fur and the dog’s apparent appreciation. How many years had it been since she’d touched an animal other than Prissy? She smiled, wondering what her great-aunt’s little cocker spaniel-poodle-mix city dog would think of this big country dog.
    “We don’t take guests without a reservation.”
    “I’m an employee.”
    He looked her up and down. “So you’re the one.” He aimed a thumb at the door behind him. “Ring the bell inside. She’ll come talk to you.”
    “Thanks.”
    The man knocked the hat against his leg before placing it on his head. “Come on, Tramp.” He limped across the porch and down the wheelchair ramp at the end.
    Tramp licked her hand before chasing after him.
    Kate watched them go. Beautiful dog. But the cowboy was about as friendly as a constipated correctional officer.
    She found the bell on a counter between racks of tourist brochures and hand-crafted soaps and candies. After ringing the bell, she turned to survey her surroundings. In the far