Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Cheyenne
I woke suddenly, drenched in sweat with my heart pounding. Something was terribly wrong.
But as I glanced around my room and saw Ash sleeping peacefully, I told myself it was nothing. Had to have been a nightmare I didn’t remember. I washed my face, then tried to go back to sleep.
Sleep didn’t come easily though. I tossed and turned, sleeping in short fits before waking again, unable to shake this feeling. It killed me that I could sleep soundly in a tent in the woods but couldn’t seem to rest in my own bed.
Shortly before dawn, I gave up, rising early to make coffee. I carried a cup of it to my front porch, letting Ash roam while she did her business. I tried my best to smile, to breathe in the cold morning air and let it soothe me to my bones. But no matter what I did, I couldn’t shake the trouble from my soul.
It was the same feeling I’d felt the day I’d learned Rhett was here, only worse. Trouble was coming, and there wasn’t a thing I could do about it. I had a feeling the trouble was named Rhett Hawkins and the storm I was trying to avoid had already begun to form in my own heart.
My hands gripped the hot mug as I lifted it to my lips, taking a slow sip as I stared past the steam that rose from it into the cold morning air. Why did that man have such a grip on me? I’d given up hope on him coming back what felt like a lifetime ago. I’d moved on.
Except, had I? Not really. I’d allowed a thick scar to grow over the wound in my heart, but I’d never let anyone else in to heal that wound. Those feelings and dreams I’d held for Rhett might have been buried, but I knew now that they had been buried only in the way of all living things: like a seed, waiting, ready to sprout new roots and erupt through the dark surface of my heart.
I shouldn’t have let that seed remain. I needed a complete exorcism of all that was Rhett Hawkins.
I wasn’t even sure that was possible anymore, not without giving up my life, my job, my land—all things that, unfortunately, were tied to him or memories of him. Anger flared at the thought. It wasn’t fair. Wasn’t fair that he could disrupt my life this way when I doubted I’d ever given him so much as a restless hour. He’d left and never looked back. Why was it so easy for him and so hard for me?
I shook my head, checking my watch. It was still early, but I needed to blow off this bad funk. Today was a rare Saturday off work—something I had Rhett to thank for, as they couldn’t have managed without me had he not been there to help. The last thing I wanted was to waste the day moping over a man. Hard work was the best medicine for a bad mood, and I had plenty of chores to take care of. So I lifted my chin, put a smile on my face, and got busy.
A few hours later, I’d caught up on all the little tasks at home that needed my attention, and I had managed to do so with only an occasional stray thought of Rhett. Proud of myself, I felt a treat was in order and decided to saddle Wildfire up for a pleasure ride. Normally, I’d head deeper into the woods or maybe check out one of the canyons. But I felt a pull toward town. After all my hard work, nothing sounded better than a scoop of huckleberry ice cream.
There was a pretty little trail that cut from the back of my place to the trading post. We wound our way through the trees, down toward the open land where the town lay. As the pines became more sparse, they opened up to a wildflower meadow that was blooming with the first flowers of spring. I closed my eyes and breathed them in, lifting my face to the warm sun. I loved my little spot in the woods, but there was something special about the wide-open skies of Wyoming.
From here, you could see the town of Wildwood stretched out in the valley below. Wildfire knew the way and picked up the pace, as eager as I was to get to town.
By the time we reached the trading post, the last remnants of my bad mood dissipated, although I did roll my eyes when I spotted Rhett’s bike parked across the street at the bar. Typical. He’d abandoned his family on the day they most needed him and was drinking at the bar when it wasn’t even noon.
I let the irritation wash over me, knowing that it would lessen the unwelcome feelings he’d awoken. He was an irresponsible fly-by-night person and there was no sense in losing sleep over a man like that.
I tied Wildfire up and went inside the trading post, determined to put thoughts of Rhett out of my head once and for all.
“Hey, Alma,” I said, smiling at the woman who ran the little store.
Alma was a widow who’d opened the store after her husband’s death. She’d spent her life ranching by his side and somehow managed to keep the ranch going by herself for a few years. Eventually, it had become too much for her, and she’d leased out her land and opened the trading post.
She had to be nearly seventy, but she never seemed to slow down or show it. Today, she wore skin-tight acid-washed jeans tucked into high-heeled cowboy boots with a flouncy white shirt and an emerald-green cowboy hat. Silver and turquoise necklaces hung in layers down her chest, and she had at least six large rings on her fingers. She claimed to dress that way for the tourists. We all knew she had a flare for the dramatic and would dress to be seen whether tourists came or not.
“Well, hey there, Cheyenne.” Her eyes lit up. “It’s been too long since I’ve seen you!”
“I know. I’m sorry,” I said, feeling a tug of guilt. She and my grandmother had been best friends, and when Gran passed, Alma had been another person to step up as substitute family for me. But I hadn’t been visiting her as often these days. “Work’s been busy since Walker’s accident. By the way, thank you for feeding Ash while I was out on the call.”
She smiled, her eyes crinkling up. “Of course. You know I’m happy to do it. I’m guessing you’re finally getting a day off and you’re here for some ice cream.”
I grinned. She knew me well. “You know it.”
She bent down, scooping out an extra-large portion of the purple dessert I adored, then handed it to me. “Hank told me the rescue was all thanks to your instincts. Good work, girl.”
“It was a team effort.”
“Psh. Let me be proud of my girl.” Alma’s eyes twinkled. “Although, from what I’ve heard, it sounds like the man deserved more than a few days of cold and hunger. He didn’t show a lick of sense out there.” She shook her head in disgust.
“Everyone makes mistakes,” I said before taking a big lick of the cone and sighing in satisfaction. Huckleberry ice cream had been one constant in my life, something that had seen me through every emotional crisis of being a teenage girl.
“Yeah, well, as much as I like the dollars these tourists bring into town, I wish they’d bring some common sense with them. That ice cream is on the house, by the way.” She winked at me.
I smiled. “You’re too good to me, Alma.”
“Somebody has to be. You’re always taking care of everyone else, and sometimes I think you half neglect yourself. Speaking of which…” She dropped her voice and leaned on her elbows on the counter, her face turning serious. “How are you doing?”
“I’m fine,” I said, giving her a questioning look.
“I mean, since Rhett came back to town. I imagine it’s been awfully uncomfortable for you at the ranch.”
I shrugged, even though hearing his name struck a pang in my heart. “It was awkward at first, but it’s fine. Honestly, I rarely have to see him. My job keeps me out on the trail, and Travis keeps him busy. We’ve agreed to be civil.”
She gave me a knowing look.
“Really, Alma. I’m okay.”
“What you need is to find you some nice boy to be happy with. Never could figure out why you and Sam didn’t hook up. The two of you would make awful pretty babies.”
“Sam and I are friends, but there’s nothing else there.” I shrugged.
“Friendship is the best foundation for a happy marriage, I always say. Still, if he’s not your type, maybe someone else…” She brightened. “Someone like Pete. He may not be quite as much to look at as Sam, but he’s a good man. He’d be faithful and loyal. Even one of the other Hawkins boys might do, though I’m not sure who. Cole’s already married, Travis walks around like he’s got a black cloud hanging over him, Finn’s life is too far from yours, and Jonathan’s too young.” She shrugged.
I rolled my eyes. “You make it sound like shopping for a new horse or something. This one’s too old, this one’s too young, this one’s too spirited… As if you think choosing a life partner is on par with picking out a dependable, easygoing trail horse.”
She cocked her head, thinking it over. “In some ways, I think you’re exactly right there. When you’re talking about a husband, you’re talking about someone who—God willing—you’re going to be with for decades to come. It’s an investment, same as a horse, only they’re not as easy to get rid of if you made the wrong choice.”
“Well, I don’t think it’s the same at all. I believe in soulmates and that you should be with the one your soul loves, even if it’s hard.”
Unless your soulmate left you. Then, well, you stayed alone.
She eyed me. “And how’s that been working for you? I took the practical approach and enjoyed forty-two years of marriage. You’re still living in your little house all alone up there on the side of the mountain.”
“I like my little house,” I said, frowning. “And I’m not lonely. I don’t even know where this conversation came from. I’m not looking for a husband. I’m happy on my own.”
Or at least I would be, once Rhett moved on again.
I finished my cone and left Alma, wondering if she had a point. If I needed to rid myself of everything that was Rhett Hawkins, maybe I did need to think about dating again.
As I was untying Wildfire from the post out front, Pete walked by. “Oh, hey, Cheyenne,” he said, giving me a bashful smile.
“Hey, Pete. How’s it going?”
“Good. Listen, uh, I was wondering…”
“Yeah?”
“Would you like to go out with me sometime?” The words spilled from his mouth like he’d been practicing them. He flushed with relief, then turned red, like he couldn’t believe what he’d just done.
My eyes widened. Beth seemed more his type—gentle, soft spoken, effortlessly feminine and sweet. Their date hadn’t gone well, but still, I’d figured he would try again with her or someone else like her.
My initial reaction was to say no—I had zero romantic interest in Pete. He wasn’t my type any more than I was his. But maybe I needed to open up, try imagining myself with someone completely different. Pete was definitely Rhett’s opposite. He was kind, eager to please, and the type who would never even dream of leaving Wyoming. And Beth had made it clear she wasn’t interested in a second date, so I wouldn’t be breaking the girl code.
I didn’t want to lead him on or do anything that might hurt him. But all he’d asked for was a date. Dates could be casual.
So I overrode my impulse and gave him a smile. “Sure. I’d like that.”
His face flushed again. “Really?”
“Really,” I said, laughing. “What do you have in mind?”
“Dinner,” he said quickly. “I’m off Tuesday night. Does that work?”
I mentally ran through my schedule. “It should, if we make it later. Maybe around seven? Of course, if I get a call…”
He held up both hands. “Oh, I know. Search-and-rescue comes first. But otherwise, I’ll pick you up at your place?”
“Sure.” I mustered up another smile.
“Great.” He grinned. “Well, I guess I better head into work now.”
I rolled my eyes. “Looks like you already have one customer.”
He glanced over at the parking lot. “Oh, you mean Rhett? Nah. He left his bike there last night.”
My eyebrows rose. “Did you take his keys?”
He chuckled. “No. You know I don’t over-serve. Looked like his tire was flat. Claire was with him last night. He probably grabbed a ride home with her.”
“Oh, gotcha.” That made sense—and made me feel a little better, since it meant they weren’t short two people at the ranch today.
“See ya later.” He gave me another smile, then ducked across the street.
I swung up onto Wildfire, then followed him. There was a creek not far behind the bar where I could let Wildfire drink. Then we’d turn and head for home.
I glanced over at Rhett’s bike as we passed it, then frowned. Pete said he had a flat tire, but both tires were flat. What were the odds of that?
Astronomical, unless someone had let the air out of them deliberately.
The trickle of unease that had sat with me all day came roaring back, and my heart began to pound.
I pulled out my cell phone and called Claire as Wildfire walked behind the building toward the creek.
“Hey, girl,” she answered, sounding like she’d been running. “What’s up?”
“Did you give Rhett a ride home from the bar last night?”
“No, why?”
“Did he show up to work today?”
She sighed. “No. Travis is pissed. I really thought things were going to be different this time, that Rhett had changed. But I guess he did what he always does and pulled out of town without saying anything to anyone.”
“Claire, I think something’s wrong.”
“What are you talking about?”
“He didn’t leave town. Someone let the air out of his tires and his bike is still at the bar.”
“What?” Her tone sharpened.
“Claire… I think Rhett’s missing.”