That Woman in Wyoming

by Sherry Lewis

  Reagan slanted a glance at him. “Don’t you ever long to settle down in one place?”

  “I’m settled. I just don’t spend much time there.”

  “That’s not settled,” she contended. “Not really.”

  Max shrugged, uncomfortable with being the center of attention. He was used to keeping his back to the wall and watching other people. It was a tool of the trade that he’d perfected over the years. “It’s as settled as I’ll probably get.” Turning to Bart, he changed the subject again. “You said you’re a rancher?”

  “All my life.” Bart took a sip from a disposable coffee cup and set the cup aside. “And I hear you’re here to find property for someone. Have you seen anything you like?”

  “A few things,” Max said vaguely, “but I haven’t found what I’m looking for yet.”

  Bart fished a toothpick from a plastic cup near the wall and stuck it between his teeth. “Where have you been looking?”

  “I probably shouldn’t say,” Max hedged. “The people I’m working for want me to keep things under my hat.”

  “I can understand that, I suppose.” Bart leaned back in his seat and linked his hands on his stomach. “Business is business. But I’ll be glad to give you a hand if you need one. I’ve lived here for thirty-eight years. I’ve fished every creek and wandered every field, and built forts on almost every hill. I probably know every inch of land around here.”

  “Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.” Max looked at Reagan, but she was keeping an eye on Jamie and talking to Andie.

  “I guess you can’t tell us what you want it for.”

  “Sorry.”

  Bart shrugged casually. “You’re making folks awfully curious, you know. And rumors are flying around the valley so fast it’d make your head spin.”

  Max laughed nervously. “I had no idea people would be so interested.”

  “Well, they are.” Bart shifted his toothpick from one side of his mouth to the other. “Don’t misunderstand, the folks around here are fine people. They just get excited at the prospect of something new happening. I guess I’m not a whole lot different from anyone else.”

  Andie came back into their conversation. “Different about what?”

  “Being curious about why Max is here.”

  “We’re all curious,” Andie said as she leaned against Bart. The Montgomerys had that same ease around each other that Donovan had with Holly, and a pang of envy shot through Max.

  He wondered what they’d say if he blurted out the truth, then decided he didn’t want to know.

  Reagan looked away from Jamie and stirred her sundae. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes hard, but she made an effort to join the discussion. “Have you driven up to Antelope Ridge? You can get a view of the whole valley from there.”

  “Not yet. I’ve been sticking closer to town doing some research.”

  “The Ridge is a good place,” Bart said. “Sunset Rim’s another. I could show you around if you’d like.”

  Looking into Bart’s eyes made Max feel guilty. He wished he didn’t have to be so deceptive. Worse, he’d have to be careful or Bart would see right through him. “Thanks. But I’d hate to take you away from your work.”

  “It wouldn’t be a problem. I don’t have to answer to anyone.”

  Andie nudged Bart playfully. “What are you trying to do? Get out of the honey-do list I left for you?”

  “Me?” Bart kissed her cheek and drawled, “Now, darlin’, you know there’s nothing I’d rather do than work my way through one of those lists of yours.”

  Andie shot him a look of playful irritation, and the conversation shifted again. Max joined in, but he knew he’d been lucky. He’d have to be careful to keep people from getting suspicious. If Carmichael’s sister was in Serenity, if she was intelligent at all, one slip could give him away.

  REAGAN MANAGED TO HOLD on to her temper until she and the girls were home again. Even then, she slipped into her bedroom and took a few minutes to pull herself together. She’d tried to enjoy the laughter and conversation at the Burger Shack, but she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about the equipment she’d found in Jamie’s backpack. She was furious with Jamie, but she wanted to handle the confrontation wisely or it might backfire. She could shout, threaten or punish, but she had the feeling that none of those reactions would do any good.

  Her hands shook as she scrubbed away her makeup and pulled her hair into a ponytail. Her heart hammered as she changed into her favorite pair of flannel pajamas and pulled on her robe. But she couldn’t get rid of the dread in her heart whenever she thought of Jamie hanging off the side of a sheer rock face.

  Sighing heavily, she flipped off the bathroom light and turned down the covers on her bed. She could hear the girls talking together as they passed in the hall, the steady beat of Jamie’s music clashing with the softer sounds of Danielle’s.

  Finally, unable to stand it any longer, she pulled open her bedroom door. “Jamie? Can you come in here for a minute?”

  Jamie peered at her through the open bathroom door. “In a sec, okay?”

  “Now, please.” Reagan waited until her daughter stepped inside her bedroom, then shut the door behind her and held up the clamps and harness. “Do you want to tell me what these are?”

  Jamie’s eyes widened in shock, quickly replaced by anger. “How did you find those? Did you look through my backpack?”

  “I wasn’t spying on you, if that’s what you’re asking. Now answer my question.”

  “It’s climbing equipment. I borrowed it from a friend just to see what it looked like.” Jamie’s gaze dropped as she spoke, then shifted back to Reagan’s face. “And I wanted to show it to you so you could see that climbing is safe.”

  “These few pieces of equipment are supposed to convince me? Everything I’m holding weighs less than five pounds. This little harness and a few ropes would be the only things keeping you from plummeting to your death.” She dangled the tiny scrap of insulated foam and nylon in front of Jamie. The leg cuffs swayed gently. “And we’re dealing with a bigger issue here, Jamie. Even if these things did convince me that you’d be safe, you hid this from me. I told you no lessons, and you borrowed equipment, anyway. I don’t like feeling as if I’m being manipulated.”

  “I’m not trying to manipulate you. I swear I’m not.” Jamie dropped onto the corner of Reagan’s bed and fiddled with the covers. “I had to think of something. Registration closes next week.”

  “You’re not taking the class. You know how I feel.”

  Jamie scrambled onto her knees and grabbed one of Reagan’s hands. “Before you say no again, just listen, okay? Please?”

  Reagan inclined her head a fraction of an inch.

  “Okay. Here’s the thing…Danielle thinks—and I do, too—that maybe if you actually saw the school and talked to the instructors, maybe you’d feel better about it. I mean, if you saw for yourself that they’re careful, and that it’s safe, and how the equipment works, you’d realize that nothing is going to happen to me, and maybe you wouldn’t worry so much.”

  “I doubt that, Jamie. It’s a dangerous sport.”

  “It’s not as dangerous as you think. It’s really not. Oh, please, Mom? Please?” Jamie released her suddenly and clasped both hands in front of her. “Please talk to them. At least think about it.”

  It was on the tip of Reagan’s tongue to say no, but the look in Jamie’s eyes kept her silent. The briefest recollection of herself at that age, begging her father for art classes she’d never been allowed to take, flickered through her memory.

  “Please?”

  Reagan’s fear didn’t abate one bit, but her love for this adventurous child of hers made her relent. “All right,” she said softly. “I’ll think about it.”

  Jamie let out a shriek and threw her arms around Reagan’s neck. “Thanks, Mom. You’re the best. Seriously the best.”

  “I’ll think about it,” Reagan said again. “If we can find time over the weekend an
d the weather stays good, we can drive to Jackson and take a look. Just don’t get your hopes up too high.”

  “I won’t. I swear.” Jamie gave Reagan another tight hug and then released her. “I love you, Mom.”

  Reagan tightened her arms around her daughter. “I love you, too.”

  The telephone rang and shattered the mood. Reagan’s heart rocketed before she even had time to consciously wonder if it might be Max.

  Jamie bounced off the bed and ran to the door. “If it’s Max, tell him I said hi.”

  Reagan nodded and smoothed her hair before she answered. She did her best not to sound sultry or anxious or silly when she said hello.

  “Sis?”

  “Travis?” Thank goodness she’d answered in her normal voice. “Where are you? I thought you’d be here by now.”

  “I got sidetracked for a couple of days.”

  “Then, you’re still coming?”

  “That depends.” Travis paused and she heard the distinctive click of a lighter followed by the deep, sucking breath that meant he’d lit a cigarette. “Has anybody been there looking for me?”

  “Looking for you? Why would someone be looking for you?”

  “No reason. I just told a couple of business associates that I might be coming there, and I wondered if they’d called or stopped by.”

  “You gave out my telephone number and address?” Reagan stared in disbelief at the wall across from her. Paul had been almost paranoid about giving out personal information, and Reagan had become even more cautious now that she and the girls were alone. “You have no right to give my address or telephone number to anyone.” Especially the kinds of people he’d been hanging out with the last time she saw him. “I have kids here.”

  “I know. But, hey, if these guys haven’t showed up yet, they probably won’t. Does that make you feel better?”

  “Not much. What are you up to, Travis?”

  “Nothing, I swear.”

  She could hear something in his voice that made her doubtful. “You can tell me the truth. No matter what it is.”

  “That is the truth. I’m not up to anything. Hell, sis, you’re starting to sound like Dad.”

  “Maybe that’s because we both care about you.”

  He laughed harshly. “Yeah, right. I know you do.”

  “Dad does, too.”

  “Uh-huh. You know what, sis? I don’t want to talk about Dad.” A strained silence stretched between them for a few seconds. “Is it still okay for me to stay with you or what?”

  “Of course it’s okay. Just promise you won’t give out my address and phone number to anyone else.”

  “Fine.”

  “And I need some idea when you’ll get here.”

  “I’m almost finished with what I’m doing, so I’ll probably be there tomorrow or the next day.”

  “Is that a promise?”

  “Yeah. Sure. Thanks, sis.” He disconnected before she could respond, even to tell him that she loved him. And left her listening to the dial tone buzzing in her ear.

  Reagan replaced the receiver with a heavy sigh. It had been a hectic few days. She wasn’t sure she could handle much more.

  THE FOLLOWING MORNING, Reagan pulled into the parking lot of the diner promptly at eight o’clock. Another nearly sleepless night had left her edgy. Her dad had called that morning to chat, and it had been all she could to keep Travis’s phone calls a secret. Thankfully, he hadn’t asked whether she’d heard from her brother. If he had, she’d have had to choose between a lie and a broken promise. Her life had been steady—almost boring—just a few days ago. Now everything had been tossed upside down.

  The only thing she did know for sure was that she wanted to see Max before he started working. She’d been distracted and jumpy last night after they found the climbing equipment, and she owed him an apology.

  Or maybe she just wanted to see him, and was making up an excuse to do it.

  Laughing softly at herself, she took a quick inventory in the rearview mirror, then climbed out into the cool morning. A perfect, pale blue sky dotted with a few harmless clouds and a hint of warmth beneath the morning chill promised a beautiful day.

  She took several deep breaths and stood for a moment in the protective circle of mountains, soaking up the peace. Her life might feel out of control at the moment, but she had to believe that everything would be all right in the end.

  Inside the diner, she found Max in his usual booth, nursing a cup of coffee. He wore a tight-fitting pair of faded jeans, a sage-colored shirt open at the neck, and his polished loafers.

  Every cell in her body came to life when she saw him, and her worries faded. Max didn’t magically make trouble disappear, but for some reason she felt better able to cope when she was with him.

  He smiled when he saw her and shifted papers on the table to make room for her. He watched her so closely as she walked toward him that her skin tingled and she felt attractive, even in her jeans and T-shirt.

  “This is a nice surprise,” he said as she sat. “Don’t you have to work today?”

  “I work thirty hours a week. I have Fridays off and start late on Monday mornings.” She took a look at the newspapers he’d shoved out of her way. “You’re reading old copies of the Sunrise?”

  “Mrs. Graham gave them to me.”

  “Why?”

  He shrugged and smiled. “I guess she thought I’d be interested. Can I buy you breakfast?”

  “I ate at home with the girls, but I will have a cup of coffee.”

  He motioned for Stacy to bring her a cup and leaned back in his seat, letting his eyes travel slowly across her face. “If you have the day off, what are you doing out so early?”

  “The girls still have to go to school. And I wanted to apologize for last night. I wasn’t exactly the best of company after we found that stuff in Jamie’s backpack.”

  “You were fine. Did you talk to her about it?”

  “Yes.” Reagan smiled up at Stacy as she filled her cup. “She says that she planned to show it to me and that she’d only borrowed it to convince me she’d be safe if I’d agree to let her take the lessons.”

  “Do you think she was telling the truth?”

  “I do. The poor girl inherited my face. It’s almost impossible for us to lie without giving ourselves away.” She lifted her cup and smiled at him over the rim. “I agreed to think about it.”

  Max’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “That’s a change.”

  “It’s a big change,” she admitted. “And don’t ask me why I did it, because I’m not sure I could explain.” She smiled and sipped her coffee, turned her gaze toward the window and the early-morning shadows of the trees along Front Street.

  “So, what do you do when the girls are in school and you’re off work?”

  “Clean house, do laundry. When the weather’s warm, I work in the yard. I’m not sure which I’m going to tackle today. Nothing sounds especially appealing.”

  “Why don’t you spend the day with me?”

  Her gaze flew back to his and she smiled slowly. “Reading copies of the Sunrise?”

  “Not unless you want to. I was hoping maybe you’d be willing to show me around.”

  “Around Serenity?”

  “Actually, I was thinking of going a bit farther afield. Do you have time to drive out into the country with me?”

  The invitation sounded perfect. The mountains always helped clear her mind. “I’d love to. Do you think we’ll be back by the time the girls get home, or should I take a key to them at school?”

  “That depends on how much time you want to spend.”

  She glanced at her watch. “We have seven hours before the girls get home. I’m sure we’ll be back. Am I taking you to look at property?”

  He stirred a packet of sugar into his coffee before he answered. “Yeah. I’ve been told about several places I should check.”

  “I know you can’t say anything about the people you’re working for, but can you at least te
ll me whether you’re more interested in looking for property in the mountains or the valley?”

  He lowered his cup slowly. “Just show me both.”

  Okay. “We could start with Sunset Ridge, I suppose. There’s a great view of the entire valley from there.”

  “Perfect.”

  “Is there anywhere else you’d like to go?”

  “I’m going to leave it up to you. Show me the best there is. I’d like to see through your eyes what makes this place so special.”

  The way she was feeling at the moment, he’d have to look into a mirror to find the answer to that. A twinge of melancholy brushed her when she remembered that he’d be leaving soon, but she shoved it aside along with all of her other concerns. She had an entire day with Max to look forward to, and she didn’t want anything to spoil it.

  Half an hour later, Max paid the bill and led her outside. “Do you want to drive, or would you like me to?”

  “You can,” she said quickly. She could imagine how distracted she’d be with him sitting beside her. “I’ll navigate.”

  He took her arm as they walked toward the curb, then moved his hand to the small of her back as they started across the street. After he’d closed the car door behind her, she took advantage of the moment to look around and immerse herself in the essence of him that seemed to be everywhere. The faint trace of his aftershave, a pair of sunglasses dangling from the rearview mirror, a folded map peeking out from beneath the visor. The only thing out of place was the crumpled wrapper from a bag of chips between the seats.

  While he started the car, she buckled her seat belt and leaned her head against the headrest. It had been a long time since she’d sat in the passenger seat of a vehicle. “Turn left on Front Street,” she told him, “and follow it out of town. We won’t turn again for about ten miles.”

  Within minutes, they left Serenity and drove into the country where the forest grew down to the highway on both sides and huge stands of lodgepole pine, aspen and spruce threw the highway into deep shade.