Page 99 of Wyoming Heart

His heart jumped. “You will, huh?”

“I truly will.” She drew his face down to hers and kissed him slowly. “I can start right now, if you like.”

He smiled back. “I do like...”

It was the last thing he said for a long time.

CORTFLEWUPto Catelow to help pack the rest of Mina’s things and bring them back to Latigo. Some would have to be shipped as well.

Fender was waiting for them when the limousine deposited them at the ranch house.

He grinned. “Congratulations,” he said, shaking hands with Cort.

“Thanks.”

“Everything going okay?” Mina asked as Cort helped her out of the car.

“Going fine,” he said. “We had a small wolf issue, but Bart called the wildlife people and relocated two of them to the mountains.” He grimaced. “I still feel guilty about that old wolf.”

“Which old wolf?” Mina asked.

“Well, I was hoping for a job here and I saw the wolf attack the cow who’d just given birth. I tracked it and shot it. When I got to it, I noticed that it had been ripped open down its belly and the wound had never healed. It was pretty sick. I felt like it was more of a dignified end than letting it suffer.”

Cort nodded. He’d told Mina about the condition the wolf was in. “I mentioned it to her and Bart,” he confessed.

“It’s not a big deal,” Mina told Fender. “I’m just glad to know what happened to it and why. We never knew who shot it.”

“Well, see, I wasn’t sure what the law was about wolves and I didn’t want to get in trouble in case it was illegal.”

“We can shoot them if we have to, but the kill must be reported. In fact, Bart did report it to the proper authorities, and there was no action taken.”

“I’m glad.”

Mina smiled at him. “I hope you’ll stay on here as livestock foreman,” she told him. “Bill will work full-time as ranch manager, but he’ll need help.”

Fender smiled. “Ma’am, I’d be more than happy to stay. This is a good ranch.”

“Thanks,” she told him. “And if you ever need help and you can’t find me, you call Bart.”

“I’ll do that. Anything I can help with?”

“I’ll need to give you a list of things that I’ll have to have shipped to Latigo,” she told him. “But for right now, I’m just packing personal stuff.”

“Just let me know. I’ll be around,” he promised.

“WHATABOUTYOURFATHER?” Cort asked when she’d finished getting her things together and making a list of furniture she wanted sent to Texas.

She turned. “What do you mean?”

“Your cousin said your father wanted to talk to you.”

She hesitated. She drew in a long breath. “I’m not ready yet,” she said after a minute. “One day, but not yet.”

He touched her soft cheek. “Whatever you want, honey.”

She smiled up at him. “Maybe when the baby comes.”

He smiled back. “That sounds like a good time.”