Page 49 of Wyoming Heart

“Me, neither.”

Cort looked up at him. “What do you think of Mina’s new hire? The full-time man. I can’t remember his name.”

“His name is Jerry Fender,” Bart said, frowning. “McAllister and he go to the same church. He told Fender the job was available, so Fender applied.”

“Does McAllister know if he’s trustworthy?” Cort wondered. “Mina’s over there with him alone at night,” he reminded Bart.

“If Bill McAllister says he’s okay, he is,” Bart replied, surprised at his cousin’s concern for a woman he wasn’t overly fond of.

Cort sighed. “I hope so. She’s...innocent,” he said finally, and the way he said it was almost a caress. “That’s why I don’t like her going around with McGuire. He’s too experienced for a young woman.”

Bart burst out laughing. “Do you know what century this is? Most women Mina’s age have been in at least one serious relationship, sometimes many more. Women are street-smart, and sassy, and many of them don’t like men at all.”

“Sad news for the future generations we won’t have,” Cort replied on a laugh.

“Oh no, we’ll have kids,” Bart assured him. “Women will keep men in cages for breeding purposes.”

“Not on my ranch,” Cort chuckled.

“Nor mine.” He sighed. “City fellers aren’t like us, though. They eat tofu and quiche and talk about stock options and the latest physical fitness craze.” He sipped coffee. “You and I are throwbacks to another whole generation.” He leaned forward. “We’re victims of toxic masculinity!” He waved both hands in the air and made a face.

Cort burst out laughing.

Bart just smiled.

MINAWASHAVINGPROBLEMS. She’d never had a boyfriend. Well, except for the high school boy her mother had seduced. But now she seemed to have two. Jake McGuire wanted to take her to exotic places. Cort wanted her in his arms, but not for keeps.

Every time she remembered the feel of his hard mouth on her lips, she went weak at the knees. It was a memory that burned in her mind like a beautiful candle, lighting her up, making the world joyful.

She knew that Cort didn’t have staying power. He wasn’t going to settle down in Catelow, Wyoming, and work for Bart and marry her. He was a cowboy. Roaming was in his very nature. He didn’t have any money. He’d never have it. He’d be poor all his life. But he’d be doing what he wanted to. He’d have a sort of freedom that most men never knew, living on the land. She couldn’t afford to let herself be drawn to him too closely. Her body wanted him. That way lay disaster. She knew nothing about birth control past what she’d learned in health classes in high school. And she was far too intense for an affair. Cort could sleep with her and walk away. His sort of woman was Ida Merridan, who was as much a rounder as he was. But Mina would never get over being intimate with him. It would destroy her life.

So it was better for both of them if she stepped back and treated Cort like a distant relation. She could have fun with Jake McGuire as long as he kept it low-key. She knew he had feelings for her. It made her sad, because if they dated for a hundred years, she’d never be able to feel that way about him. She was sorry. He was a good man.

But as long as he knew she was only looking for friendship, they could have fun going places together. She enjoyed his company very much. Just as long as he didn’t try to get serious, she’d be okay.

JAKEPICKEDHERup early Saturday and they flew to Galveston. He apologized, but he had a business meeting early the next morning and he had to be back in time for it. She offered to postpone the trip, but he wouldn’t hear of it. He just smiled. It flattered her that he put her above business.

He was courteous and the soul of respect.

HE’DFOUNDAlittle seafood restaurant in a town on the coast. It was constructed so that boats could sail right up to the landing and come ashore to eat. Mina was fascinated with it.

“How did you find it?” she asked when they were eating delicately breaded oysters with cocktail sauce and homemade French fries. “These oysters are delicious!”

He chuckled. “A friend of mine pointed me in this direction. I love food.”

She smiled at him. It didn’t show, that he loved food. He was streamlined. No fat, anywhere.

He caught that searching scrutiny and grinned. “I work it all off,” he said, anticipating the question. “I’m not the type to sit at a desk and let my men do the hard stuff.”

She laughed. “I didn’t think you were.”

“How do you manage a ranch and what you do for a living, as well?” he wanted to know.

Her dark brown eyes twinkled. “I wasn’t doing so good at that,” she said. “Cousin Rogan insisted that I needed a full-time hire, so I got one; a guy named Jerry Fender. He came with good references. Plus, he goes to the same church that Bill McAllister and I do. Bill likes him.”

He sighed. “Mina, Bill likes everybody.”

“True. But he really is a decent judge of character. Besides,” she added, “Fender’s got this great horse of a dog and he said that if I didn’t want the dog in the bunkhouse, he’d pass on the job and go hunting for one someplace else.”

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