Page 12 of Wyoming Heart

He pursed his sensuous lips. “What sort of fool divorces a woman who looks like that?” Cort wondered.

“Men who can see beyond makeup,” Mina quipped. “But then, it takes a discerning man to manage that.” She smiled demurely.

Cort glared at her. “At least she doesn’t dress like a woman from the Third Crusade,” he said in a soft, cutting tone, his eyes disparaging Mina’s very conventional dress.

She just looked at him and smiled, her heart breaking at the sarcasm that came so easily to him. “Oh, I don’t have a good divorce lawyer, much less a rich ex-husband, so I can hardly aspire to her wardrobe.”

“You could hardly aspire to a man, full stop,” he retorted, turning to go.

“Cort, for God’s sake,” Bart began.

Mina put a hand on his arm. “Your cousin is entitled to his opinion,” she said. “He likes sausage grinders.”

Cort stared at her, confused.

“You’ll understand after Mrs. Merridan feeds you through one. Do have fun.”

She turned back to Bart, pointedly ignoring Cort. “I need to ask you something about my taxes,” she began.

Cort cursed under his breath and went across the room to the divorcée. He didn’t even look back.

“HE’SMOREABRASIVEthan he used to be,” he told Mina. “I’m sorry. I wouldn’t have brought him to the party if I’d realized how he was going to behave toward you. I don’t want your special evening ruined.”

“As if he could,” she said, pretending for all she was worth. She smiled. “I’m having a good time.”

“Well.” He drew in a long breath and glanced over at Cort, who was just drawing the divorcée onto the dance floor. “I’m glad.”

They were playing some Latin tune now. Bart stopped and led Mina off the floor. Neither of them could do those dances. Cort, apparently, could. He drew Ida along with him to the rhythm and sighs went up from the female guests as he danced a samba with his partner. He was good. He laughed as he moved to the rhythm. The divorcée laughed, too. She had stars in her eyes.Or diamonds, more likely, Mina thought wickedly. She was going to be so disappointed when she discovered that her partner was just a working cowboy. It made Mina feel better. Well, a little better, at least.

“What about your taxes?” Bart asked as they sat down in the living room among several other guests.

“It wasn’t really that. I’m just not sure I did the right thing about my bull.”

He frowned. “What bull?”

“Old Charlie. He attacked another of my young bulls and did so much damage that the younger one had to be put down. I gave Charlie to Bill. I was afraid to sell him, in case he did the same thing to another rancher’s bulls. He’s aggressive.”

“Bill loves the old animal. And he’s only got a handful of female cows. It should be all right. Charlie doesn’t attack people. Well, not often—just when he’s moved off the cows in late summer. And Bill can handle him. He’s worked cattle for years.”

She looked up at him. “Anybody can get gored. I’d feel responsible if anything happened to Bill.”

He patted her hand. “Don’t you worry about him. Everything will be fine. That was a generous thing to do. Charlie would have sold for a good bit of money.”

She made a face. “I’m signing a new contract next month. It will be for ten times what I could have sold Charlie for.”

He laughed. “Congratulations! I told you that talent would make you rich one day.”

“Not rich. Not just yet. But much better off than I’ve ever been. Cousin Rogan says I need to buy at least two new bulls and some open heifers at the Production Sale the Terrances are having next month.” She glanced at him. “Want to go with me? I could use some advice.”

He chuckled. “I’d love to. Just let me know when.”

She glanced toward the dance floor. A bluesy tune was playing now, and Cort Grier had Ida wrapped around him like ivy. The way he was holding her made Mina uncomfortable. Even a novice could see experience in the way he looked at the woman in his arms, in the way his body melded itself to hers.

“How long is your cousin staying?” she asked stiffly.

He sighed. “Not for long. Maybe.”

That was less than encouraging. She changed the subject.

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