Love Finds You in Sundance, Wyoming (8 page)

“What do you see?” He rose in his stirrups but only saw calves butting heads and playing.

Angel leaned forward. Her rifle gripped in one hand and holding the reins with her other, she raked her horse with her spurs. The big mare nearly leapt from beneath her and sprang into a hard gallop. “Wolves!” Her voice carried back over the rapidly widening distance.

“Wolves?” Travis strained to see. He urged his gelding into a canter.

Angel leaned low over her horse’s neck, seemingly part of the moving animal. Bella was running flat out now. Her long black mane streamed back as her extended stride covered the ground. The mare jumped over brush, kicking up clumps of sod in her wake. The young woman clinging to her back held her rifle balanced against her thigh, riding effortlessly. She lifted the gun to her shoulder but didn’t slow the pace of her mount. A surge of reluctant admiration grew in Travis’s chest. What a display of first-class horsemanship. She could ride as well as any man. The thought jarred him.

Travis turned his attention toward the cattle and removed his own rifle from its scabbard. The dust cloud intensified, and the bawling of the cattle increased. Suddenly, a young calf broke from the melee and streaked across the clearing. A gray, rangy form shot from the dust in long bounds, rapidly closing the distance. The calf’s distraught mother followed, swinging her head back and forth and bellowing at the top of her lungs.

A loud crack echoed off the nearby hills. The wolf took one final, desperate leap and tumbled to the ground, rolling several times before crumpling. Travis drew back on his reins. But why wasn’t Angel slowing?

He strained to see through the dusty haze. Angel headed for the middle of four wolves circling two mothers with their babies huddled alongside. The hairs on the back of his neck rose. One of the cows dropped her head and charged a wolf that edged closer, catching his chest with the tip of her horn. The animal yelped and sprang backward. Another beast closed on the empty spot in the circle and crouched low.

Travis shouted and spurred his horse forward. He’d nearly caught up with Angel now, as she slid her mare to a halt.

The young woman raised her rifle again. Holding his own weapon at the ready, Travis slowed to a trot and watched Angel’s practiced movements. A series of shots rang out, and two wolves fell. A third yipped as he headed for the nearby trees. The fourth ran close on his heels, her tail tucked as she looked furtively toward the now silent gun.

Travis drew up alongside Angel, who sat reloading her rifle, a scowl marring her pretty face. “That was some shooting.”

She raised her chin and stared at him. “I should have had those last two. My gun jammed.” She flipped the chamber closed and shoved the rifle back in its sheath. “I’ll check it when I get back to the ranch.”

“I could have one of the men—“ Travis nearly bit his tongue at the look she shot him. “I’m sure you’re quite capable.”

She nudged her horse forward. “We’d best check the herd. Make sure the wolves didn’t injure any of the calves.”

“Right.” He followed her, suddenly at a loss for words. What was he supposed to do now? Angel had proven her worth as a hunter and horseman, but that didn’t change how he felt. He still didn’t believe she should be riding the range alone. Although she seemed capable of taking care of herself, there were more predators a woman had to worry about than wolves.

Angel drifted around the kitchen, feeling lost for the first time in years. Libby had taken the buggy to town and left instructions for Angel to help herself to whatever she could find for dinner. Shooting, riding, even brandings calves, were all easier than spending time in the kitchen. Of course, she’d fixed meals out on the range, but that was over an open campfire and with vittles the ranch cook supplied.

She could count on one hand the number of times she’d been alone in a house during a workday. Strange that Travis insisted she take the day off. Maybe he felt he owed her, even though she’d been on the job for only ten days.

This man was different from her past bosses. Of course, none of them had known she was a woman, so that could account. But Travis seemed gentler, even under his gruff, irritable exterior. She’d noticed the tender way he looked at Libby and how he ruffled James’s hair. He even treated his cowboys with gratitude when they’d done a good job. Appreciation wasn’t something she’d grown accustomed to, but it was nice, even if it meant a day away from the range.

She stepped into the pantry and surveyed the array of tinned goods, bags of sugar and flour, beans, rice, and other things she couldn’t identify. Where to start? Maybe she’d just skip the noontime meal. One last look at the myriad of bags and tins on the shelves and she made her decision.

The air outside smelled fresh and clean after last night’s shower. What to do? Angel pondered her next step. Take a ride and pretend not to be working, but bring her rifle along just in case? She shook her head. Bella needed rest, and that wouldn’t be fair.

Try to find a book to read? But Angel had never been a big hand at reading, and this day was too beautiful to sit indoors.

A boot crunched on the gravel, and Angel’s hand flashed to her waist. Stupid! She’d left her gun in her room. A muscle twitched in her cheek, and she turned slowly.

Arizona stood there sporting a huge grin. “Sure glad you’re not armed today, Miss Angel.” He hooked his thumbs in his belt.

Angel squelched the smile threatening to slip out. “That can easily be remedied.”

Arizona’s grin faded, and he took a step back.

“I didn’t mean any harm. Jest wondered if maybe you was feeling lonesome, with Libby gone and Travis and James on the range.”

“I enjoy being alone.”

“I thought pretty girls always enjoyed company.” He scratched his head.

Angel leaned against a post of the covered porch. “I’m not a pretty girl. I’m a ranch employee, the same as you.”

Arizona hooted with laughter. “Sorry, Miss. But that you ain’t. You and me, we’re not a bit alike.”

Angel straightened. It was time to take control of this situation. “Where’s your sidekick?”

“You mean Wren? You ain’t soft on
him,
are you?”

“Soft on him?” She wrinkled her nose. “Are women
all
you think about, Arizona?”

He stuffed his hands in his pockets and grinned. “Maybe, but I do have a few other interests. Nothing wrong with wanting to court a pretty woman, is there?”

“I guess that depends on the woman—and if she
wants
to be courted.”

The cowboy leaned closer. “I’d be willing to show you around town if you’d have me.”

Angel stared at the man. He was nice enough but seemed to have one thing on his mind—finding a sweetheart—and she didn’t intend that to be her.

A buggy pulled into the lane and headed their way. Saved by Libby. “Sorry, cowboy, no can do.” She wrinkled her nose and grinned. “I’m a working woman and don’t have time to lollygag around town with lazy cowhands.”

“Lazy?” He drew himself to his full height. “Why, I can work circles around the rest of the bozos on this spread.”

“Arizona!” Libby called from the buggy as she drew her horse to a stop in front of the house. “I’m glad you’re here. Help me unload the supplies?”

He pasted on a sweet smile and nodded. “Sure enough, Miss Libby. Glad to be of service. Idle hands are a tool of the devil, my pappy used to say, and I sure don’t aim to be
lazy”
He shot a glance toward Angel, and a sly smirk peeked out.

Angel shook her head and stepped closer to the wagon. “Need my help?”

“Thank you. That would be nice.”

The two women each took a box of foodstuffs and Arizona followed, his arms laden with full burlap bags. The next several minutes were spent unloading and shelving the items, then they shooed the cowboy back outside. Libby examined the kitchen. “You left things in perfect shape. Thank you, Angel.”

“I, uh…” Angel avoided Libby’s eyes. How could she admit she didn’t know her way around a fancy kitchen? This pampered woman wouldn’t understand. What would she know of outlaw camps and deprivation? Nothing. And Angel didn’t care to educate her. “I wasn’t hungry.”

Libby planted her hands on her hips. “Not hungry? It’s past two o’clock and breakfast was hours ago. Why didn’t you cook something?”

Angel shrugged and started to turn away, but Libby touched her arm. “Angel. Do you know how to cook?”

Angel winced and pulled away. “I cook all the time.”

“I’m sure you do. Over a campfire. But how about on a kitchen stove?” Libby softened her tone. “Come on, I’ll help.”

Angel shook her head and took a step back. “I’m fine, thanks.”

“Pooh. You work hard every day, and I’m sure you have an appetite. I’ll teach you to cook. It’s not hard.”

“I said I’m fine. Why does everyone want to change me?” Angel knew she was glaring but didn’t care. “I’ve never liked girly things and have no desire to learn.” She shook her head. “A woman like you wouldn’t understand.”

Libby crossed her arms. “And what kind of woman would that be?”

“You’ve had everything handed to you. You wear fine dresses, live in a nice house, and men probably fall over themselves in hopes of winning you. I’m guessing you’ve not had much hardship in your life. I wasn’t that fortunate and, quite honestly, I wouldn’t be any good at being a lady.”

Libby gave a short laugh. “You know nothing about me. And I don’t buy your nonsense about not wanting to be a lady, or you wouldn’t feel so jealous over what you
think
I’ve had.”

“I most certainly am
not
jealous.” Angel gripped her hands in tight balls to keep from lashing out. She’d learned to fight at an early age, but this wasn’t the time, as much as she’d like to put this woman in her place. How dare Libby think her jealous? Why, Angel had everything in life she wanted or needed. Everything…

Angel drew in a sharp breath. Except the one thing Libby seemed to take for granted—Lilly.

Libby tipped her head to the side. “You need to do some hard thinking about your life, Angel. Do you really want to dress like a man riding the range the rest of your life, or does some part of you want to settle down like other women?”

Angel tried not to wince. This conversation needed to end. She held up her hands. “I don’t care to be lectured. Please let Travis know I’m headed out. I’ll ask Smokey to put some grub together for me, and I’ll be out of your way.”

The hard set of Libby’s mouth softened. “Wait, Angel. I’m sorry.”

But Angel had heard enough. She spun on her heel and dashed from the room. No way could she let Libby see the tears threatening to spill over the rims of her eyes and down her cheeks. She’d head where she belonged—on the range tracking the varmints that were honest in what they did. unlike so many people she’d met over the years.

The next day, Angel pushed down her frustration and tightened her reins. Calves were still disappearing. Travis wouldn’t keep her much longer if she couldn’t prove her worth. She’d ridden over three hours this morning and had already seen two carcasses, but no sign of a wolf. In fact, there’d been no tracks near the kill, just churned-up grass where the mother must have fought for her baby. Poor mama. That’s one of the reasons she hated these predators. They had to eat, but she’d found too many dying animals that suffered horribly from wolf attacks. Strange. Typically a wolf pack dragged its prey a short distance from the herd and stayed till it was consumed, so there should’ve been tracks. She had to figure this out.

When she’d first arrived at Sundance Ranch nearly two weeks ago, her need for work had trumped everything else. But living in the ranch house had altered her view. Memories from her early childhood had started to return, when her parents were happy and no threats loomed. Laughter had been part of their life, and the cowboys’ antics at meals occasionally brought a smile to her lips.

Something was missing—something important. Beyond being lonely, beyond the security of having parents. Bella stumbled and snorted. Angel tightened her legs. Getting thrown from her horse this far from the ranch wouldn’t be smart, although she doubted Bella would leave her.

Something inside her felt empty. That’s what she’d been struggling to get a handle on when she’d argued with Libby yesterday. Libby said she’d want a husband and family someday, and she’d denied it, but she’d not told the entire truth. She loved her life and was in no hurry to give it up, but part of her longed for something more.

Uncle José had tried to bring a sense of family to her life, and a couple of the women in the outlaw band had done so when she was young. But looking back now, Angel wondered if they’d been trying to shine up to her uncle. Had they cared about her? She’d never know, and maybe it didn’t matter, but the thought stung. From the memories she had of her mother she knew she’d cared. She shrugged, trying to shake off the melancholy threatening to flood her.

Angel clucked to her mare, urging her into a canter. Time to check the butte with the gushing spring. She’d only been there once since her first day, and the place called to something deep in her spirit. Maybe she could find some answers there, and do her job at the same time.

A few minutes later Angel halted her horse close to a grove of trees ringing one side of the butte. Bella snorted and pranced— certainly not her normal steady behavior. An uneasy feeling niggled at Angel. She sensed someone—or something—watching her, but there’d been no sign of anyone. Could James have followed her without being seen? The boy had dogged her steps the first few days, but Travis had put a stop to that.

Angel urged her horse toward the trees and touched the butt of her rifle. No sense in taking any chances. Brush rustled on the far edge of the trees, and she turned her head. Nothing moved.

Silence lay over the grasslands and disquiet hovered over the wooded area nearby. Bella snorted again and shied sideways. Angel leaned down and stroked the mare’s neck. “Easy, girl. What do you smell? Something I need to worry about?”

She slipped the rifle from its scabbard and rested it across her lap, comforted by the feel of the wood and steel beneath her fingers. “Come on, Bella. Let’s get into the trees, and you can graze while I scout around.” Angel pressed her legs against the mare’s sides, and Bella bolted forward, breathing heavily. She plowed to a stop. Angel felt her stiffen. Bella reared, her front feet lifting high off the ground. The mare landed with a hard thump, her entire body quivering.

Angel spoke to her horse in a soothing tone, peering under the trees and into the brush. Nothing appeared amiss.

Suddenly a cow charged from the brush with a calf on her heels, racing away from the tree cover.

A blood-curdling scream rent the air.

Bella’s body tensed. She lunged forward and kicked out sideways with her back legs. A tawny form leapt from a branch partway up the nearby tree. Angel saw the gleam of golden eyes locked on hers. The big cat extended his front paws and bared its teeth in a snarl. He came within inches of landing on Angel and swiped at her as he fell.

Pain tore through her arm as the cougar’s claws shredded the sleeve of her jacket.

Angel lunged for her rifle but missed as it spun out of her reach, bouncing a few yards away.

The cat landed just beyond Bella and kept on running, its dark gold skin rippling over powerful muscles as it disappeared through the trees.

Bella charged across the clearing and headed for the butte, her neck stretched out and sides heaving. Angel held the reins with one hand and pressed her bleeding arm against her side, not trying to check the panicked horse.