by Cindy Stark
From this viewpoint, everything looked wild and uncivilized, and truth be told, most of it was. But the amazing possibilities it offered had attracted her from the first time she could remember visiting with her father. She’d begged to return each summer afterward, and the year after her father had died, she’d moved there permanently.
She still visited her mom and sister in Cheyenne, but everyone was happier with Rachel living at Blackwater.
“Always stunning,” Bill said coming up behind her. He had his own set of field glasses in his hand.
“Agreed.” She lifted the binoculars to her eyes and adjusted them to a small grove of pines halfway down the hillside. The pack of gray wolves had often been seen in that area this time of year.
“See anything?” Bill asked after a few moments.
“No. You?”
“Nada.”
The sound of his boots on the ground told her he’d shifted positions. She stopped viewing long enough to follow his direction. He’d turned toward an area they’d spotted the wolves once before, years ago. “You think they’ll return to that spot? It’s been a long time.”
“Not sure. The snow didn’t fall this year until January. Same as the year we saw them there.”
She stared at him, surprised at the wealth of knowledge he carried around in his head. “How do you remember that?”
He met her gaze with an even one of his own. “It was the year you turned twenty-one.”
He constantly spouted information like that, always surprising her. Now she had to wonder why he’d paid such close attention to her and her life. The fact that he might be physically attracted to her left her unsettled.
“I see something.” His hushed words stole her attention.
“Where?” Her heart always thumped a little faster at the sight of the magnificent creatures.
Bill moved behind her, putting hands on her shoulders to adjust her direction. “Look straight ahead.” His voice sounded very near to her ear.
Her uncle had asked him to help her years ago, and he’d done the same thing to her so many times afterward. She’d always thought it was a brotherly thing to do. Now, his actions left her uneasy.
She swallowed hard and focused on spotting the wolves instead of the wariness of having him so close. “I see them!” Even with Bill so close, she couldn’t keep the excitement from her voice.
“By the big rock?”
“No…wait…I see the ones you’re talking about. Look to the left a few hundred feet, right at the base of the trees. There are two black ones keeping their distance.”
“I see them.” He sounded as interested as she was. “I haven’t spotted them before, have you?”
“No. Looks like maybe there’s a younger one with them. Look farther into the trees.”
“Yep. I see it.”
They both watched in silence for some time.
“This isn’t good, you know, Rachel.”
She heaved a sigh. “We’re not killing them, Bill.” He and a few of the other guys wanted to kill them to keep them away from their stock when food was scarce. She hadn’t always been able to prevent the deaths of some of her herd, but if she tracked the wolves ahead of time and kept her stock protected until the wolves moved to higher ground, she found she only sacrificed a minimal amount each year to the predators.
“They’re multiplying. How long do you think it will be before they take over? Soon, they’ll be eating half your cattle. Don’t wait until they’ve devoured all your profits before doing something about them.”
She lowered the binoculars and stared at him until he did the same. “We’re not hunting them. Don’t make me say it again.”
With that, she strode to his truck and climbed inside where she’d wait until he was ready to go.
Luckily, the man was smart enough to follow her lead. He started the truck and headed back down without saying another word.
By the time they reached town, he’d turned on the radio, but he still hadn’t spoken to her. She knew he resented that she didn’t agree with him and that her uncle had sided with her point of view during the past few years. Bill had threatened to leave once, but when her uncle didn’t take the bait, he’d never threatened again.
Still, she received the silent scream of disapproval without him uttering a word.
It only took her a few minutes to conduct her banking business, and then they thankfully headed back to the ranch.
“Oh, hell,” she said when she spotted her uncle’s Cadillac in the drive. Franklin had showed up unannounced…again. “I wonder what it will take to get him to leave this time,” she muttered.
“I’m sure you’ll find out.” Bill exited his truck with a slam of his door and stalked toward the barn, leaving her to fend for herself with her cousin.
Chapter Seven
Rachel opened the door of Bill’s truck the same time Franklin exited the Cadillac and met him halfway between the vehicles. “What are you doing here?” She set the full force of her contempt free.
Irritation flared in his eyes before he quickly recovered. “Do I need a reason to inspect my property and make sure you’re not doing it any harm before I can claim it?”
“Fuck you, Franklin. My blood will soak this ground before you ever own an inch of it.”
“That can be arranged.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets and regarded her with a potent mix of disdain and hatred.
“Try it.” She wouldn’t allow him to bully her any longer.
He stared her down for a few long seconds, his icy blue eyes intimidating, but she refused to look away. She wished she had a shotgun in her hands and could force him to leave. “You have no business here, so I’ll ask you again. What do you want?”
“Heard you brought home a man. Would that be your infamous, mysterious fiancé?”
She folded her arms across her chest. Bill had obviously opened his big mouth and had told someone in town, or he’d told her other employees and they’d spread the news. “That would be none of your business. Now leave.”
“But it is my business since it affects my claim on my father’s property.”
She hated the way he always tossed the fact that her uncle was his father first. More than that, she hated him. Hated how he’d always treated her like a second-class citizen. Luckily, he hadn’t been around much over the years, and her uncle and the other men had always protected her when they’d caught him harassing her. Unfortunately, Bill had deserted her this morning, and none of the others was in sight.
She inhaled, working to keep her calm. “You need to leave.”
“I’ll leave when I’m ready,” he challenged, further goading her, forcing her anger into a corner where it multiplied.
“I’ll call the sheriff.”
“You should know I’ve filed a suit against you.” His grenade buried deep before it exploded.
Fear filled the void it created. “It won’t do you any good. My uncle made his wishes very clear.”
“Think so?” He smirked, and she ached to wipe it off his face. “There are several things that make his will questionable. Like his unreasonable condition to require you to marry within two months. What kind of sane person does that?”
Her heart thumped so hard she was afraid her chest would burst from the pressure. “That was a clerical error.”
“Can you prove it?” he taunted.
“Conway will testify to that fact.”
“Conway, who’s a cousin on your mother’s side? Someone who might be persuaded for, say, a share in the ranch or a large chunk of money. I’m pretty sure my lawyer in Casper could make your country counselor look like a bumbling idiot.”
“Leave.”
“Make me.”
Her pulse roared in her ears. “I’m calling the cops right now.” Her hand shook as she dug in her coat pocket for her phone.
Franklin gripped her arm hard enough to bruise her. “No, you’re not.”
“Take your hands off her.” A deep thunderous vo
ice called from behind.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” Franklin challenged Caleb, but he also released her.
She rubbed the sore spots on her wrist.
“I’m the man who’s going to own half this ranch very shortly.” Caleb’s anger vibrated the air. “Who the hell do you think you are?”
White-hot fury exploded from Franklin’s expression. “The man who’s going to stop you.”
Caleb stood several intimidating inches taller than Franklin, and she could see her cousin visibly shrink as Caleb approached. “Do you have a legal document forcing us out?”
Franklin lifted his chin. “Not yet.”
“Then I suggest you pack your sorry ass into your car and drive on down the road. Otherwise, you might regret staying.”
“Is that a threat?”
She had to give Franklin credit for not completely backing down. If she’d come face to face with the angry mountain of a man standing in front of her cousin, she would have turned tail and run.
“Does it need to be to get you to leave?” Caleb moved another step closer to Franklin, leaving only an arm’s length between them.
Her cousin hesitated, and Rachel recognized the delicious moment when he caved. “I was leaving anyway. I’ve delivered my news to Rachel and let her know, like I’ll now let you know, your days here are in short number.”
“Is that a fact?” Caleb flashed a quick glance at her, and she swore she caught the hint of a smile in his eyes.
“It is.” Franklin took a step back and then several more until he was even with his car door. “Expect a court summons in the next week or so.”
Rachel closed the distance between her and Caleb and faced her cousin squarely. She nearly lost her train of thought when Caleb closed his fingers around hers in a show of solidarity. “I won’t hold my breath.”
Franklin gave her another of his famous smirks before he entered his car and slammed the door. His tires spit gravel as he peeled away.
“I used to love seeing that car pull into the drive when it belonged to my uncle. Now…not so much.”
Caleb shifted until he faced her, but he didn’t release her hand. “You’re shaking.” He grasped her other hand, his fingers wrapping around hers like a warm, solid embrace.
Suddenly he seemed like a much more formidable enemy to her heart than anything else. “He pissed me off.” Something crazy that had always hovered in the background of his person frightened her, too. Like one day, Franklin might really go off, and none of them would be safe.
“He’s a real asshole, just like Elle said.”
“She would know.” She couldn’t express how grateful she was to have a champion at her side. “Thank you for being here and helping me.”
“I should have come outside sooner, but I didn’t want to cause problems if it wasn’t necessary.” He squeezed her hands, tugging her forward at the same time. The man was forward if nothing else.
She could have dug in her heels and held her ground without making things overly awkward, but she stepped forward instead as though to keep her balance. Her body gently bumped his, but it was enough to light a fire deep inside her. She reminded herself of Elle’s caution and worked to steel her heart.
He trapped her gaze with his intense green eyes as a slow smile crossed his lips. Without warning, he wrapped his arms around her, crushing her against his solid chest. “Don’t worry, my love. He won’t bother you again while I’m around.”
Before she knew it, the hug was over, and he stepped away.
“My love?” was all she could manage to say.
“Yeah,” he said with a cocky grin. “I think that will be the nickname I give my sexy, loving fiancée.”
With that, he turned and headed toward the house, leaving her standing dumbfounded in the yard.
When she finally got her head back on straight, she caught sight of Bill watching her from just inside the barn doorway.
Had he caught the entire exchange? If so, why hadn’t he come to her rescue? He knew Franklin’s tendency toward bullying, and he should have never left her in the first place.
She turned from Bill and walked toward the house. She had one guy teasing her heart and the other hating her for it. As much as their actions stressed her, it would all be worth it in the end when she had the title to her beloved Blackwater.
Chapter Eight
Rachel slept in an extra hour Sunday morning. The sun had made a weak appearance by the time Rachel stepped into the kitchen and flipped on the lights. She made it as far as the fridge when a heavy-fisted pounding commenced on the other side of the back door. She startled from the force of it and hurried to see who’d caused the commotion.
Bill stood outside hunched into his heaviest coat. He hadn’t shown up for breakfast for the past few days, but she refused to acknowledge his childish behavior.
“Why did you knock?” she asked as she stepped back. “Why didn’t you just come in?”
His gaze was as cold as the morning air. “Didn’t want to intrude on the happy couple.”
She withheld the annoyed retort that hovered on her tongue. “You’re always welcome here, Bill. You know that.” They’d been good friends forever, and never in a million years had she imagined her one decision would affect their relationship so profoundly.
“We don’t have time for breakfast this morning.” He tightened his jaw. “Wolves took down three yearlings last night. Left a bloody mess on the hillside.”
Heartbreak turned her stomach. “No.” She could forgive the wild animals for following their baser instincts, but that didn’t mean she didn’t feel bad when a life was lost. Any life. Wolf or cattle.
“I told you. We need to get rid of them.” His pointed look was harsh and accusing.
Still, he knew her thoughts on the matter. She wouldn’t argue her point again. “Let me grab my boots and coat.”
At the top of the stairs, she nearly ran into Caleb as he exited his bedroom.
“Good morning.” The deep timbre of his voice teased her senses, but she didn’t have time for that nonsense right now.
“Morning, maybe, but definitely not good.” She brushed past him and headed into her room.
“What’s the matter?” He followed her and stood against the doorframe surveying her with concerned eyes.
She slipped her foot into one boot and worked the laces. “Wolves. Three dead yearlings this morning. We moved the cattle a few weeks ago to an area far from the places we’ve spotted the wolves. There’s plenty of deer in the hills, and I’d hoped they wouldn’t travel that far to bother my herd.” She stuffed her foot into the other, laced it and then stood.
“Easy pickings?”
She widened her eyes in disbelief. “Have you ever watched a wolf make a kill? They don’t need easy pickings. The easiest thing for a healthy wolf would be to take down a deer in the woods rather than travel miles to my herds.”
She approached where he stood in the doorway, expecting him to move, but he didn’t. She shifted her gaze upward toward his face, annoyed that she’d followed the outline of his chest beneath his green Henley as she did so.
“Mind if I come along?” he asked. “Maybe I can help.”
Oh, hell. Bill would love that, but she wasn’t about to tell Caleb no. “Only if you hurry.”
“No problem.” He stepped aside to allow her to leave. “Give me two minutes.”
Rachel descended the stairs, her anxiety growing with each step. She dreaded telling Bill about Caleb almost as much as she’d hate to look upon the carnage left by the wolves. But she wouldn’t ignore state law and put her ranch in jeopardy by allowing her men to kill those wolves.
“Ready?” Bill asked when she returned to the kitchen.
“Not quite.”
He looked her up and down. “What do you need?”
She fortified her feelings. “Caleb wants to ride along.”
He rolled his eyes. “Why?”
“I’ve already explained that t
his place is important to his future. He’d like to be there, so we’ll wait for him. Should only be a minute.”
“You can wait for him, but I’m not.” Bill strode out the door before she had a chance to argue.
A few seconds later, Caleb walked into the kitchen.
“Bill’s going to meet us there.”
“Yeah, I heard. It’s probably for the best.”
“Sorry.” She lifted her keys from the hook by the back door. Bill needed to calm down in a serious way.
“I’ll drive if you’d like,” Caleb offered. “My truck has four-wheel drive.”
“Okay, sure.” His vehicle was much newer than hers and would be a nicer ride. One thing was for sure, as soon as she’d secured her future with the ranch, she’d take part of her inheritance and buy a new, fancy truck. Until then, she feared she’d better save every cent just in case she was left without a home or a job.
Rachel was used to Bill opening her door for her, but when Caleb headed to the passenger side of his truck to help her inside, a tiny thrill skittered through her.
“Thank you.” She slid onto his leather seat. Nice, she thought as she looked around while waiting for him to enter the opposite side.
“Cold?” he asked as he started the engine.
“A little.” She gave him a small smile, which he returned magnified.
“Don’t worry. We’ll get you warmed up.”
She was sure he could. She considered tempting fate and firing off those very words, but she managed to hold her tongue. Thoughts of him pulling her into his arms and giving her a heated kiss were enough to raise her temperature.
Rachel directed him over the dirt roads until they spotted two trucks stopped ahead. Caleb parked behind them, and this time, Rachel didn’t wait for him to open her door. She jumped out, pulled up her hood to fight against the chilly air and strode up a small incline. From there, she could see her men down a hundred feet on the opposite gentle slope. Mickey had moved farther down toward another cow while Bill directed his flashlight beam on the corpse that lay at his feet.
She traversed through the frozen grass, her gaze locked on the bloody mess. Revulsion rolled through her over what the wolves had done. The poor animal’s head had been nearly torn off.