Page 7 of Wyoming Heart

It was like a dream come true, especially considering what her life had been like. Her cousin Rogan was proud of her. So was Bart.

So now at twenty-four, Mina was selling novels to a major publishing house and she was hitting bestseller lists. Her latest novel, about a gunrunner who reformed, had made theUSA Todaybestseller list. She was hoping that it would move to other lists as well. Reviewers had been kind. She had a bright future.

It was just that her past haunted her. That mean cowboy who was staying with Bart made her angry every time she thought of him. He was handsome and attractive and looked as if he knew more about women than she did. He made her uneasy, because she knew she’d be fair game for such a man if he turned up the heat. So she was going to avoid him like the plague. Because she was never going to let a man into her life. She knew what men were like from the ones her mother had brought home, especially Henry. She knew that when men drank, they were dangerous. She’d had quite enough of dangerous men. Well, except for her tutors, she mused.

CHAPTER TWO

“BUTYOUCAN’Tgo to a party looking like that,” Sassy wailed as she studied Mina. “You just can’t! Mina, there will be society people from all over the county at the party. You have to look the part of an upcoming, successful author!”

Mina bit her lower lip. She was wearing a simple black dress, very modest, with black pumps. But her hair was in its tight knot and she wore no makeup at all. “Sassy...”

“Look, just let me improve you. Only a little. Please? I brought my makeup kit with me...” She stopped and looked repentant.

“You planned this. You didn’t just happen to stop by,” Mina accused, but gently.

“Yes, I did,” Sassy confessed. “I don’t want you to be gossiped about. And you don’t want that, either,” she added firmly. “‘Willow Shane’ has to look good for her readers!”

Mina’s mouth pulled down at the corner. “I suppose I’ve had enough gossip to last me a lifetime,” she agreed. “Well, I guess...”

She stopped because there was a hard knock at the front door.

She went to answer it. There was an older cowboy standing there, one who worked on the ranch part-time as her foreman. Mina shared him with Bart, who had the same sort of financial issues she had. Neither of them could afford a full-time foreman, but Bill was perfect for the job. She smiled. “Hi, Bill, what is it?”

He had his hat in his hand. He grimaced. “Sorry for the interruption. Oh, hi, Mrs. Callister,” he said, nodding at Sassy, who nodded back. “We’ve got a fence down,” he continued. “Damned...darned bull ran through it to get to another bull. They had a real bad fight and the young bull’s crippled. May have to be put down. I need permission to get fencing materials at the hardware and call the vet to look at our bull.”

“You have permission for both. Tell them I said it was okay.” She grimaced. “It was Old Charlie, wasn’t it?” she asked with a sigh. “That will be the second young bull he’s crippled. I’m afraid this is going to be the last time. We can’t keep a bull who’s that aggressive. He’s showing his age, too.”

He sighed. “I was afraid you’d say that, Miss Michaels. You’re right. It’s just, well, I’ve got sort of attached to Old Charlie...”

“Then take him home with you,” she said suddenly. “You’ve got several cows of your own and you lost your bull. You can have Charlie. That will solve my problem and yours, too.”

His face brightened as if it was facing sunlight. “Miss Michaels, that’s the kindest thing...thank you!” He hesitated. He knew her financial situation. The bull was a purebred Black Angus, from a known bloodline. “You know, you could sell him for a good bit of money...”

She smiled. Her face changed. It was pretty when she smiled, but she did it rarely. “Bill, if I sell him, I’m putting some other poor rancher’s livestock at risk. What if the new owner got mad and sold him for beef?”

Bill grimaced.

“So we’re not doing it. You take Charlie home with you, and you’re welcome. Okay, go get the part-timers started on that fence. I have to go to a party in my honor,” she said with a grimace. “Mrs. Simpson is giving it. She’s read my latest book,SPECTRE, the one that’s on theUSA Todaybestseller list, and she wants to introduce me to some people.”

“I was invited, too,” Bill said, flushing. “Guess I’ll show up later when I get the fence fixed. And I’ll bring the trailer for Charlie in the morning, if that’s okay.”

“That’s fine. I’ll see you at the party, then.”

“Nobody will dance with me, but I’ll go drink punch and eat finger sandwiches anyway,” he chuckled.

“I’ll dance with you, Bill,” she said gently.

He flushed more. “That would be kind of you. Otherwise, I guess I’d just be a wallflower.”

“Me, too,” she laughed. “But you’re the only man I’ll be dancing with.”

“So now I’m really flattered.” He knew about her past. Most local people did.

She didn’t mind Bill knowing. He had a soft heart. What a shame that he’d never found another woman to appreciate it. He’d lost his wife and daughter to tragedy. He drank infrequently and Mina was fetched to get him safely home. He’d follow her out of a bar like a lamb.

“Party starts at seven,” she added when Bill started to leave. “If the boys aren’t finished by then, leave them to do it and come on over to Mrs. Simpson’s house, okay? It’s Randy and Kit working today, and they’re trustworthy.”

He brightened. “Okay. Thanks again.” He tipped his hat and walked off the porch, his spurs jingling.

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