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

without Dan.” Laura’s voice faltered. “I told you about my husband’s death from cancer, didn’t I?”
    “Yes.” Kate nodded. “I’m so sorry. It must be very difficult for you and your family.”
    “It’s been hard for all of us, but we’ll make it through this. Won’t we, Cyrus?”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    “We’re booked solid all summer, which is a good thing, but a bit scary. Dan was our rock.” Laura lifted the lemonade pitcher. “More?”
    Kate and Cyrus both shook their heads.
    Laura filled her own glass before setting the pitcher on the table. She motioned to Cyrus. “I think we’ve done enough for today, Cyrus. Would you please take Kate to her cabin and help her with her luggage?”
    “Sure thing, Mrs. D.” He retrieved a gray cowboy hat from a rack by the door. “I’ll get a key. Where’s she bunking?”
    “I think the Blue Jay would be good. It has a kitchen …” Laura winked at Kate. “For late-night snacks when the dining hall is closed, of course, plus an extra-pretty view. But you’ll need to air it out, Kate. I meant to open the windows this morning and got distracted.”
    “That’s okay. I can open them.” Kate finished her lemonade and slipped her sunglasses down before following Laura and Cyrus into the lobby.
    Laura touched her arm. “We’ll talk more tomorrow. And you’ll meet the rest of the staff. In fact, you just missed my son, Mike. He’ll be helping with the guest ranch side of the operation this summer, although that’s not his forte. He prefers to work with the animals, especially his buffalo herd.”
    Cyrus snorted as he came from behind the counter, key in hand. “Loves them ugly critters like there was something lovable about ‘em. Myself, I’m a cattle man.” He plunked his hat on his head.
    Kate grinned, thinking the scruffy hat must have tumbled more than once across the windy Wyoming prairie.
    Cyrus led the way to the door. “Let’s get you moved into the Blue Jay.”
    ***
    Kate parked her Honda in front of a small log cabin snuggled into a copse of evergreens. She liked the cozy look of the cabin and knew she’d feel at home in it.
    Cyrus, who’d walked over, stopped to gape at her car. “What kind of contraption is that?”
    “Contraption?”
    “Yeah.” He gripped his belt with his gnarled fingers. “Looks like one of them foreign outfits.”
    “It’s a Japanese-made Honda, which I suppose looks out of place in this land of SUVs and dual-cab pickups.”
    He squinted at her. “You a tree-hugger?”
    “Not necessarily, but my car gets good gas mileage.”
    He opened the cabin door before lifting two suitcases from the back of the Honda. “What in tarnation were you doing in a God-forsaken place like Pittsburgh ?”
    The incredulous look on his crinkled face made her laugh. She shifted the box she held. “I was born and raised there. Guess you’ll have to blame my parents.”
    “So what brings you clear out west, other than the internship thing?”
    This was beginning to feel like a police interrogation, something she didn’t care to repeat. But she answered his question. “I’ve wanted to visit here ever since my Dad read stories about a Wyoming horse ranch to me and my little brother. When I learned about the internship and possible future employment at Whispering Pines, I thought it might be a good fit.”
    His right eyebrow shot up, pulling a web of wrinkles halfway up his forehead. “ Possible future employment ? You moved hundreds of miles for a pie-in-the-sky, maybe-maybe-not job? Wyoming goes easy on folks in the summer, but her winters can be tough on city slickers.” Grasping a suitcase in each sinewy hand, he started toward the cabin.
    Kate bit back a retort and focused on his bowlegged gait as she followed him inside. She lowered the box to the floor. “Pittsburgh winters aren’t exactly mild. I believe I can handle all the seasons here, plus be an asset to the ranch.”
    “Asset? Hmph.” He placed her luggage on