Page 79 of My Wild Horse King

I can’t help wondering whether they’re really not allowed, or whether she’s worried about the greenhorn trying to ride a totally unsuitable horse. “It’s a very nice mare.” I force what I hope is a friendly smile.

The woman isn’t impressed, but she takes my money and writes down my name. I’m pleased it all appears to be done by hand, because that’s less of a record that we’re here.

“This is a mistake,” Aleksandr says. “When’s the last time you even rode a horse?”

“I was on a horse just two days ago.” I can’t help glancing at Katerina.

“You guys worry about talking to Amanda Saddler,” she says, “and we’ll worry about winning that barrel race.”

“Winning?” I raise both eyebrows. “I’m just hoping I don’t fall off.”

“That too.” Katerina’s smile’s a little too bright, given the circumstances.

“Why are you in such a good mood?”

“Leonid has no idea where we are, we actually found Amanda Saddler, and she’s not dead,” she says. “So far, this plan isn’t that far off course.”

When we’re celebrating the person we were seekingbeing alive, I feel like our plan is doomed to failure, but I keep my mouth shut. A little hope never hurt anyone.

Or at least, I really hope it didn’t.

21

KATERINA

“I’m so sorry,” the woman at the front desk says. “Because of the rodeo, we only have two rooms.”

“We’ll take them,” Aleksandr says. “How much?”

Almost as soon as she names an amount, he plonks the cash down on the counter. He’s not keen on using any plastic with Leonid following us, and I don’t blame him. But when he turns around, it’s not pretty. He extends his hand. . .to Gustav.

“Whoa,” I say. “I think I should get a room, obviously.”

“Obviously?” Gustav frowns.

“You can stay with your sister,” I say. “But I need my own room.” For once. I’ve been sleeping in a van for thirty plus hours, and before that, I was traveling, stuck in a cubicle, and then on a couch. I don’t point that out, but they all know.

“We’re newlyweds who have been traveling in a pack for a week,” Kristiana says. “We figured you two could share.”

“What about the Hideout?” I look at Gustav. “Didn’t that Flaming Gorge Hideout place have some rooms too?”

“Only two rooms as well,” he says. “And Grigoriy and Alexei snatched them so fast I almost lost a finger.”

“What is this?” I ask. “Are we characters in some kind of corny romance novel, and the writer’s panicking because she’s writing chapter twenty-one and she hasn’t even written a single kiss scene yet?”

No one laughs. Gustav kicks at a weird blotch on the carpet.

“Oh, come on,” Aleksandr says. “We’re adults, and you’ll be fine sharing for one night. You don’t even like one another. It’s not like you close the door to the outside and suddenly you fall madly in love.”

I huff, and I grumble, but he’s right. There’s not much I can do, if Gustav doesn’t offer to sleep on the floor in his estranged sister’s room. It’s not like I’d want to share a room with Boris if the roles were reversed.

“Fine.” I reach for my bag, but Gustav has already grabbed it. “If you think that carrying my bag is going to make me less crabby. . .” I snort. “Well, I guess you’d be right.”

We’re laughing as we circle the bend outside and walk right into room number eleven. “This is us.” Gustav dangles the key in front of the lock. “Come on, double beds.”

I suppress my laugh.

But when the door opens, there’s just the one big king size bed staring at us.

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