West Winds of Wyoming (42 page)
Read West Winds of Wyoming Online
Authors: Caroline Fyffe
When Nell bolted from her chair, Seth rose and gripped her around the middle, hoisting her back, avoiding her wildly kicking feet. “Let me go!” she screeched. “I need to help Charlie! That man is a killer!”
“Charlie wants you to stay here. Have faith in him. Don’t count him out just yet.”
Nell tried to jerk away but Seth’s grip was too strong.
Sick with fear she clenched her eyes closed and did the only thing she was able.
God? God! Are you there? Help Charlie. He’s the best man I know. I love him. Just
—She didn’t know what else to pray. Too much time had passed. She expected to hear gunshots any second.
Instead, the door opened and Charlie stepped in. Seth relaxed his arms and Nell bolted through the room and launched herself into his arms. A miracle? There’d been no gunshots. When she felt Seth and Ivy behind her, she loosened her grip on her husband and stepped away.
Charlie just stood there.
“So? What happened?”
“Galante’s gone.” He let go a long sigh, then a smile broke out on his face. “I didn’t see that coming at all. Seems Dan Galante is alive but will be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Galante acknowledged his son had taken the wrong path a few years back but at the time of the shooting he couldn’t admit that ugly fact to himself. Seems because of the time the boy had to think while recuperating, he’s turned his life around. His pa thanked me for not killing him. Said a lesser man would’ve. I don’t know if I believe that. Anyway, he swears if I hadn’t put him in the chair, he’d be dead by now.” Charlie looked from face to face. “And that’s all.”
Joy surged inside Nell. “He’s gone for good?”
Charlie nodded, then cupped Nell’s cheek with his warm palm and gazed into her eyes. “Yes, darlin’, it’s over. Finally over. He came all this way to right his wrong. Didn’t want me looking over my shoulder every day of my life.”
Charlie gave her a quick kiss and brushed her hair out of her face with a gentle touch. “Now I say we pay our bill and get moving. School’s out and I don’t want to keep Maddie waiting a single moment. It’s time to take our daughter home.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
S
pecial thanks goes to Maria Gomez and the whole Montlake crew for believing in Logan Meadows and the men and women who reside there.
To Caitlin Alexander for making this story shine! I’m amazed at your insight, knowledge, and skill. You make it all seem so easy.
To two renowned horse-trainer friends, Al Dunning and Mike Kevil, for your professional advice on how to round up a herd of mustangs in the mountains. Your suggestions and stories kept me smiling all day.
To Lauren Wingate, animal communicator, for sharing with me your understanding and knowledge of our four-legged friends. If only all of us could do what you do!
To my two critique partners, Leslie Lynch and Sandy Loyd, for going the extra mile.
To my family, Michael, Matthew, Adam, and Misti, for being my rocks. I love you all so much!
To my sisters, Sherry, Shelly, Jenny, Mary, and Lauren, for your help and encouragement. My life is rich because of you.
To my lovely readers, who make what I do possible. I appreciate each and every one of you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
And mostly to our awesome God for His many blessings and for giving me the opportunity to do what I love each and every day.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photo © 2007 The Family Gallery
U
SA Today
bestselling author Caroline Fyffe was born in Waco, Texas, the first of many towns she would call home during her father’s career with the US Air Force. A horse aficionado from an early age, she earned a bachelor of arts in communications from California State University, Chico, before launching what would become a twenty-year career as an equine photographer. She began writing fiction to pass the time during long days in the show arena, channeling her love of horses and the Old West into a series of Western historicals. Her debut novel,
Where the Wind Blows
, won the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Golden Heart award as well as the Wisconsin RWA’s Write Touch Readers’ Award. She and her husband have two grown sons and live in the Pacific Northwest. To learn about upcoming novels, visit her website at
www.carolinefyffe.com
.
Table of Contents