A Wife in Wyoming

Yet he’d been the cutest boy in school. Which was why she’d always hugged to herself a secret crush on Ford Marshall.

Not that she would tell him about it. He was way too sure of himself for her to give him that kind of advantage. Maybe she’d had a lucky escape in high school—a man like Ford would dominate a woman’s life rather than simply share it. And Caroline wouldn’t surrender her hard-won independence just to be someone’s “little woman.”

This summer, though, she wanted him on her side, which meant mending fences. So she put the truck in gear and followed him down the road, slowing as she came alongside him. Through the open window, she called, “I’m sorry for being cranky. Get in and I’ll take you the rest of the way.”

He shook his head and kept walking. “That’s okay. I don’t get out enough in San Francisco. Feels good.”

“Are you going to make me follow you all the way to the house?”

“It’s only about a half mile.”

“Come on, Ford. Get in.”

He stopped, set his hands on his hips and stood facing away from her, gazing out over the land. They were on a bit of a rise and could see all the way to the mountains, plus the ranch buildings in between—a timber-sided house, a big red barn with corrals around it and other structures.

“It’s beautiful,” Caroline said. “I never realized what a view you have over the valley. My dad’s ranch isn’t nearly this pretty.” Especially considering all the metal buildings set up to house his quarter horse breeding business. With the stallion barn, the mare barn and foaling barn, the indoor arena, offices and equipment sheds, not to mention the landing strip for his plane, the place resembled a military base more than a Wyoming ranch.

“Yeah, it’s pretty special.” He came to the door and leaned one arm on the windowsill. “You’re a problem, Caroline Donnelly. Do you know that?”

“I don’t intend to be. Why don’t we let the past be over, and start from here and now?” She held her hand out across the seat between them. “Deal?”

He stared at her face for a long moment, then his gaze dropped to her hand. His shoulders lifted on a deep breath. “Deal,” he said, clasping her fingers with his. He let go quickly. “But I’m still walking home.”

* * *

FORD DIDN’T LOOK BACK when he heard the truck’s engine rev up, or when the rattle of gravel announced a quick three-point turn and a rapid acceleration. He’d spent as much time as he could handle sharing the small space of the truck cab with Caroline. He wanted to clear his head before he had to deal with his sharp-eyed brothers. Teasing was a way of life with the Marshall boys—at the least sign of weakness, they would rib him without mercy.

He wasn’t sure he could defend himself. Because, as pretty as she had been in high school—and he well remembered lying in the dark in the room he’d shared with Wyatt, thinking about the curve of her hips and the swell of her breasts and the cute round butt she got from being a damn fine barrel racer—Caroline Donnelly was a hell of a beautiful woman now.

The years had refined the elegant bone structure of her face, setting her eyes deeper, sculpting her lips into a delicious smile. Because she didn’t ride as much, her legs were long and slim, shown to advantage by the short skirt of the dress she’d worn today. He’d had to get out of the truck and walk away before she saw how he felt about her. How he’d always felt.

Not that Caroline would consider dating him, even though he wasn’t one of “those poor Marshall boys” now. Her boyfriends in high school had been the “cool” guys, the ones with nice cars, stylish clothes and plenty of money to spend on their girlfriends. He’d watched them all from a distance, overheard details about the parties, the skiing trips and concerts and vacations. He knew, because his dad talked about it, how fancy the Donnelly house was, how the barn had heated water dispensers in the stalls and, incredibly, a swimming tank for the horses.

His dad also described life for Caroline and her brother Reid—expensive ponies to ride and train on, handmade saddles and custom bridles and boots, clothes that never seemed to get worn twice. Their vehicles, in high school, were pricey pickup trucks with all the latest gadgets. Nothing was too good for the Donnelly kids.

Ford had made money over the years, but there was still a big gap between his family’s status and hers. George Donnelly had earned his fortune by producing world-class quarter horses. He and his family socialized with the governors of Wyoming and Texas as well as princes of countries in the Middle East. The Circle M Ranch sold grass-fed, all-natural beef in a few Western states—not the same scale at all. And Ford’s own luxuries—the Mercedes, good suits, a nice apartment—did not compare to the Donnelly empire.

Caroline attracted him, distracted him and reminded him of the part of his life where the Marshall brothers counted for next to nothing. A part he would prefer to forget.

So he would be happy if she stayed away from the Circle M. Her plan was too big, anyway, too demanding, too risky. He’d come home to take care of his brothers and do some relaxing of his own before getting back to the career he’d worked so hard to build. End of story.

Feeling better for having sorted out his problems, Ford reached the house and climbed the porch steps.

As the screen door fell shut behind him, his youngest brother walked into the living room with a sandwich in one hand and a soda in the other.

“So what’s this I hear about teenagers staying at the ranch for the summer?” Dylan dropped down onto the couch. “Are we going to have extra hands this year?”

“Not if I can help it.” Ford sat in the recliner near the fireplace and put up the footrest. “Caroline gave me the hard sell at lunch, but I told her this isn’t a good time for us to be experimenting with a summer camp at the Circle M.”

“I’d be hard put not to buy whatever that woman had to offer. She’s a beauty, and a sweetheart, besides.”

Ford unclenched his jaw. “You two would make a great couple.”

Dylan grinned at him. “Thought that would get to you. You looked pretty starstruck when she walked over this morning.”

“Eat your lunch. I’m taking a nap.” He closed his eyes, hoping his little brother would get the message and drop the subject.

“Not that I want a bunch of kids hanging around,” Dylan continued. “I’ve got a show coming up and the work’s not half-finished. Playing babysitter doesn’t fit into my plan for this summer at all.” When Ford didn’t answer, he went on. “But if Garrett is on Caroline’s side, then it comes down to the boss’s opinion, I guess. What do you think Wyatt will say?”

“About what?” Wyatt stood in the doorway to the back of the house.

Ford sat up again. “You don’t have your brace on. You’re not supposed to walk around like that.”

“Yeah, well.” He made a rude hand gesture, which dismissed the doctor’s orders. “What’s this I’m supposed to have an opinion about?”

Honey sidled around Wyatt and came over to the recliner to get her shoulders and ears scratched. Ford obliged and then got to his feet. “I’ll explain after we get you tacked up, so to speak. I’ll fetch the saddle.”

Just as he’d finished strapping on the brace, Garrett showed up. “I’m starving—nobody offered to feed their preacher this afternoon. Did you leave the fixings out, Dylan?”

Wyatt snorted. “When does he ever put them away?”

“Just thinking somebody else might be hungry,” Dylan said nonchalantly. “Saving them some trouble.”

“Yeah, right.” Wyatt took the recliner across from the one Ford had claimed. “So are you going to tell me what’s going on?”

“I’ll let Garrett explain. I don’t want to bias the jury.”

“That’s lawyer-talk for...?”

“Garrett supports the idea. He’ll give you the official sales pitch.”

Bearing a plate with a sandwich and a glass of milk, the man in question sat in the rocking chair, which was the only piece of furniture they’d brought from their childhood house.

“It was my idea, actually. Caroline was talking about trying to find something for the kids to do over the summer, to keep them out of trouble. And I suggested using the Circle M as a place for them to hang out, to learn and mature.” Between bites and gulps, he outlined the proposal with almost as much enthusiasm and optimism as Caroline had shown.

Ford had to admit he’d enjoyed the explanation a lot more when he was listening to her, watching the shine in her eyes, the tilt of her head when she’d smiled—yet another reason he wanted the entire idea to go away. Next summer, when he wasn’t around, they could work on this project. Wyatt could handle Caroline and her teenagers.

Maybe Wyatt would fall for Caroline. Or maybe Garrett already had, and that was why he was pushing the plan.

“Ford, I can tell by your face that you’re not in favor of this program.” Wyatt stroked Honey’s head where it rested on his knee. “What are the arguments against the idea?” His mouth twisted with pain. “Wait a minute. I feel like I’m falling backward, trying to sit in this chair. Garrett, let me have the rocker.” He struggled to stand up as the brace kept his spine straight and prevented any twisting or bending between his neck and his hips. “Thanks.”

Honey looked at the new arrangement and opted to stay where she was with a different knee under her chin.

“Yeah, what are the arguments?” Garrett said. “I’m seeing only good things—the chance to help some kids to lead better lives and bring in extra hands for all the work around here. Where’s the downside?”

Ford went through his objections yet again. “The legal liability is a big problem. If one of those kids gets hurt—the way you are, for instance, and you’ve been riding practically you’re whole life—then I don’t care what form the parents have signed, they’re going to come at us with a costly lawsuit.”

“Spoken like a true legal eagle.” Garrett had moved into his usual defensive position, sitting forward in the chair with his elbows resting on his knees and his hands gripped together. “Not everybody is so sue-crazy.”

Relaxed in the recliner, Ford kept his hands loose, his expression neutral. “Both you and Caroline have mentioned that these kids come from families with financial problems. Wave a hundred thousand dollars in their faces and see what kind of crazy they become.”

“I say it’s worth the risk.”

“You’re an optimist. I’m a realist, and it’s my job to protect our investments.”

“Since you’re the one with the big salary. Got it.”

“Since,” Ford fired back, “I never again want to wonder whether we have to go to bed hungry because we don’t have the money to buy food.”

Wyatt flinched. Garrett looked down at his hands.

“Not a problem these days,” the boss said in a quiet tone. “We’re all adults. We can all work. Most of the time, anyway,” he added.

A few moments of silence allowed the air to clear. “In my opinion, the setup is too ambitious,” Ford said, finally, calmly. “A few hours a day for a week, maybe. But to have the kids living out here, making us responsible for them 24/7, is asking too much of us and them. When are we supposed to get actual ranch work done? What if a kid smuggles drugs onto the ranch? Or raids the liquor cabinet? If one of them runs away, we are responsible. With males and females in the group, it’s even possible a girl might get pregnant. Do we want that culpability?”

All three of his brothers winced. “That seems unlikely,” Garrett said. But he sounded less sure.

After a minute of silence, Wyatt pushed himself out of the rocking chair. “I’m going outside for a while to think. No, I don’t need supervision,” he said, as Ford looked at him in question. “I can manage on my own. I’m gonna walk to the corral, talk to the horses. They make more sense than you three, anyway.”

Ford watched through the window to be sure his brother got down the porch steps. Then he turned back to Garrett. “If you’re supporting this plan because...because you’ve got a thing for Caroline, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to get in your way. But—”

“She’s something special, that’s for sure.” Garrett got to his feet. “But I’m on board because it’s a chance to do something good for kids who need a break. I’m just sorry you don’t agree.” He headed for his bedroom, the signs of his hurt feelings easy to read.

“Touchy, touchy.” Dylan stretched his arms before flopping down full-length on the couch. “I’m gonna snooze till the boss shows up again. Maybe by then it’ll be dinnertime, and somebody will have cooked something.”

Ford eased back in the recliner to nap a little himself. “You ever think maybe you could do the cooking?”

“Nope.”

“Just wondering.”

He did manage to close his eyes for thirty minutes or so. Then, between feeding the horses and Honey and helping Garrett with the spaghetti dinner he’d decided on, supper was on the table before they all got together again. Even so, they had to drag Dylan off the sofa to wake him up.

Fortunately, he was never grumpy when pulled out of sleep. “Looks good,” he commented, sitting down in the dining room. “How come we only eat like this when Ford comes home?”

“Because he does most of the cooking.” Garrett passed the big bowl of pasta to Wyatt. “So what’s the answer, Boss? Did you come to a conclusion about Caroline’s project?”

In his deliberate way, the oldest Marshall served his plate before answering. “Let’s say grace,” he suggested, and they all bowed their heads while Garrett gave thanks.

As they took their first bites, Wyatt said, “Henry MacPherson took me on, a teenager with no ranch experience, and taught me what I needed to know. He paid the wages that, for better or worse, kept us alive those first couple of years.”

The glance he sent Ford recalled his earlier comment about going to bed hungry. “In time, he paid all four of us to work on the Circle M. He brought us here to live with him, and he left us the land for our own. He pretty much saved our lives.”

Looking around the table, Wyatt held each of their gazes with his own. “I say we owe it to Henry to pass the favor on.”

“Yes!” Garrett pumped his fist in the air.

Ford glanced at Dylan, commiserating in silence.

In case anybody had a question, the boss made his decision clear. “We are going to do everything we can to give those teenagers a summer they won’t forget.”

Chapter Three

Caroline spent the afternoon and evening riding an emotional roller coaster. One minute she’d remember Ford’s infuriating insistence on walking home, his obstinate refusal to consider the advantages of her plan. The next minute she’d be wondering about the Marshall family meeting and what the verdict would be. She expected Garrett to vote for her. Dylan liked her, so maybe he would, too. Ford, of course, was a no. At least he had his reasons, wrong-headed though they might be.

So the outcome depended on Wyatt’s opinion, and she couldn’t predict what he would think. He’d been two years ahead of her in school, but he’d dropped out when he was sixteen to take the job at the ranch, so she’d never gotten to know him well. Among the people of Bisons Creek, he held a reputation for honesty, fair dealing and reliability. Her dad, of course, dismissed the Marshalls as not good enough to do business with. But then, her dad judged his friends by the sizes of their bank accounts. Caroline chose to use a different standard, though her self-determination had cost her the family and home she loved.

When the phone rang at eight thirty, she was eating her way through a pint of chocolate-chip-mint ice cream. Garrett had called her in the past, so she recognized the number of the Circle M Ranch. “Garrett? Tell me fast. Is it yes? Or no?”

On the other end of the line, someone cleared his throat. “I hate to disappoint you, but this is Ford.”

“Oh.” Damn, she said silently. I’ve probably bruised his ego. “I’m sorry. I was just so anxious. I’m glad to know you got to the house.”

“I had a pleasant stroll, as a matter of fact. And you have the chance you wanted for your teenagers. Wyatt voted in your favor.”

Tears stung her eyes. She swallowed hard, hoping they couldn’t be heard in her voice. “That’s...that’s wonderful. I’m so glad. And I’ll make sure you don’t regret it, Ford. I promise.”

“I already do.” Before she could react, he said, “Garrett wants to talk to you. Have a good night.” When he came on, Garrett was as relieved and excited as she had been. Celebrating with him, though, Caroline didn’t feel as thrilled as she should have.

Ford already regretted the agreement? The kids weren’t even there yet; nothing had changed. Was it just sour grapes, or was there something more to his words? And how would she ever find out?

Lying in bed, the lights out and chocolate-chip-mint replaced in the freezer, she asked herself the really important question.

“Why do I even care what he thinks?”

Luckily, she fell asleep before she had to face the answer.

On Monday morning, she went to the office early and tackled the paperwork, trying to get ahead of the never-ending stream of forms to be filled out for each and every case she handled. Her coworker, Randi Ames, came in at eight, as usual, and they spent a few minutes over coffee celebrating the acceptance of her project.

“It will be so wonderful for the kids,” Randi said. “And you’ll get to spend three months out there with four gorgeous men. Surely you can fall in love with one of them before the summer is over!”

Caroline blinked away a sudden vision of Ford’s solemn face. “I hope not. That would just complicate the situation. I’ll have my hands full keeping the teenagers under control. I won’t have time for romance.”

“There’s always time for romance.” Randi had recently gotten engaged and was now matchmaking for every single woman she knew. “It’ll hit you when you least expect it.”

“Don’t bet on it,” Caroline murmured, as Randi unlocked the outside door to the office. She was too busy to take care of a husband. There was so much she wanted to accomplish in Bisons Creek, so many people who needed a helping hand.

In fact, her first appointment of the morning was with Susannah Bradley, whose son, Nathan, was one of the kids she’d selected for the summer program. Nathan tended to be a loner at school, made grades lower than his test scores predicted and had a history of cutting classes.

The real problem with this family, however, was Susannah’s repeated visits to the medical clinic in Kaycee and the emergency room in Casper. She explained the incidents as “falls” or “stumbles,” but doctors had reported that they suspected abuse. Susannah refused to confirm those assumptions, but Caroline had convinced her to check in every few weeks, as a means of keeping an eye on the situation.

One of those visits was scheduled for today. But ten o’clock, and then eleven, came and went. Susannah didn’t appear.

“I’m going out for lunch,” Caroline told Randi as noon rolled around. “I’ll be back by one at the latest.”

“Be careful,” Randi said, because she knew perfectly well that eating wasn’t the only item on Caroline’s agenda.

“Will do.”

The Bradley family lived on the outskirts of Bisons Creek in a trailer that had seen better decades. Toys lay scattered in the dirt that passed for a yard, and a beat-up sedan sat in the driveway. Caroline hoped that Mr. Bradley wasn’t home as she knocked on the door.

“Susannah? Susannah, it’s Caroline Donnelly. Can I come in?”

After her third knock, the panel swung in a few inches.

Susannah peeked out, revealing half her face. “I—I’m sorry I couldn’t come today. I’m not feeling well.” Her voice was soft, with an East Coast crispness to her words. She wore dark black sunglasses inside the house.

“No problem. I was out of the office and thought I would stop by.” A little girl appeared at hip level, and Caroline smiled at Nathan’s five-year-old sister. “How are you today, Miss Amber?”

“Good.” Amber played with the ears of the stuffed bunny she clutched to her chest. “But Mommy’s head hurts.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Caroline looked back at Susannah. “Do you get migraines?”

“Yes. Sometimes.” She adjusted the set of the lenses on her face. “The light bothers my eyes.”

Caroline discounted the lie, putting a hand over Susannah’s fingers as she clutched the edge of the door. “Are you okay? Do you want to see a doctor? I can drive you to Kaycee.”

“Thank you, but it’s not necessary. Amber is great, and Nathan is okay. Really, everything is...fine.”

“Do you need somewhere else to live for a while? We have resources...”

Susannah shook her head. “I...can’t. The kids...” She seemed to want to say more, but nothing came.

Dropping her hand, Caroline swallowed her disappointment. “I’ve got some news on that front, actually. Remember the summer ranch program I was hoping to start? I got the go-ahead yesterday, and I’m planning to have everything in place so we can start next week. Nathan will be spending twelve weeks on the Circle M Ranch, learning and enjoying himself.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful.” Susannah lifted the edge of her shades to wipe her eye, and Caroline caught a glimpse of an ugly bruise. “He’ll be so excited. He won’t say so, of course. But I could tell when he talked to you about it that he wanted to be part of the program. As long as...as his dad says it’s okay.”

“I’d be glad to talk to him—”

“Oh, no. No, that wouldn’t be— It’ll be fine. I’m sure it will.”

Caroline couldn’t help trying once more. “You don’t have to stay. I can take you to a safe place.”

Susannah glanced down at Amber and stroked a hand over the girl’s blond curls. “Things will be better. Travis has a chance at a job with your dad, as a matter of fact. If he gets it, we’ll be doing well.”

That was bad news, as far as Caroline was concerned. Her dad was notoriously hard on his employees, especially the ranch hands. But maybe the work would keep Susannah’s husband out of the house more. “I wish I could put in a recommendation, but...”

“I know. Your dad is making a mistake, cutting you off. I hope he’ll regret it, and the two of you can reconcile.” She gave a small wave and withdrew into the shadows. The door shut with a rickety thud.

Driving back to town, Caroline consoled herself with the knowledge that she wouldn’t be losing contact with Susannah Bradley as long as her son was at the Circle M for the summer. And helping Nathan might add some energy to the situation; might inspire Susannah to improve her own security and that of her children. Maybe his father would make more of an effort to control his drinking. And his temper.

“I hope so, anyway,” she told her mom, when they sat across from each other at a table in Kate’s Café. “Or maybe he’ll impress Daddy and keep his job. It’s a possibility, I suppose.” She took a sip of iced tea. “Where’s Daddy off to today?”

“He and Reid flew to New Mexico to inspect some young bull stock. I jumped at the chance to have lunch with you while they’re away.” Linda Donnelly folded her hands together on the table and tilted her head. “I must say, you’re looking very pretty. Something special going on? Besides this summer program you’re so excited about, that is.” Her own dark hair and green eyes were Caroline’s fortunate inheritance. “I can’t believe you convinced the Marshalls to cooperate.”

“Garrett Marshall concocted the plan to begin with and proposed it to me.”

Her mother smiled. “You’ve been talking with him quite a bit, haven’t you? Just business, so to speak?”

At just that moment, Kate herself came over with their sandwich plates. “Don’t let her fool you, Mrs. Donnelly. She was in here yesterday with Ford Marshall. She’s gonna have all four of those boys wrapped around her little finger before the summer ends!”

At her mother’s expectant expression, Caroline groaned. “It’s nothing. And Ford Marshall doesn’t even support the project. We’re all working together for the kids, that’s all.”