Wyoming Wild

By Ellie Lynn

Abandoned with an infant child, Cora Lane struggles with managing a farm and ranch on her own. The last thing she wants or needs is to get tangled up with another man who will probably just leave when he tires of her. No, it's better to be alone.

Thomas Sanderson is a broken man. When his uncle invites him to Wyoming to heal, he jumps at the chance. Helping out a single mother on her ranch might be just the thing he needs to forget his tragic past. One look at Cora, though, and all he can think of is taking her in his arms and making her his own.

Cora doesn't believe she is worthy of love, Thomas can't stop wanting her. Things are about to get complicated.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Deslise Publications
• Release date: Mar 27, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370194186

Ellie Lynn

Ellie Lynn always wanted to be a writer, and since every writer she'd ever met said to 'write what you know', she started out writing romantic comedy. The comedy part she had figured out--y'see, she's a bit of a smartass in real life anyway. The romance part, not so much. Ellie writes under her own name, but other pen names include Jennifer Lynn and Rebecca Deslisle. Ellie lives in rural Saskatchewan with her husband, two incredibly spoiled dogs and Horatio the salamander. Ellie loves to interract with readers on her blog at http://romancewithsass.blogspot.ca/ on Twitter @ellielynnbooks or via Facebook www.facebook.com/ellielynnbooks

Book preview

Deslisle Publications

Wyoming Wild

By

Ellie Lynn

CLIMAX, SK

CANADA

Other Books By Ellie Lynn

Rebel Heart

Hide and Spook

Writing As Jennifer Lynn

Harper’s Treasure

Signed, Sealed & Delivered

Getting Over It

New Prints In Old Calico

Chapter One

South Pass, Wyoming 1838

The empty room lit up with yet another lightning bolt, leaving all doubt that Cora Lane was still alone. Henry was just as gone as he was before the storm hit. Thunder boomed once again, waking her baby boy, as his cries wailed loudly, barely competing with the loud rainfall on the roof.

She took a deep, fortifying breath and returned to her bedroom to tend her child, holding the red-faced boy against her chest. She patted his tiny back and rocked the baby, cooing until he settled.

Still carrying the child, she moved into the kitchen. Her stomach growled as she eyed an empty pot on the stovetop and was reminded that she hadn’t eaten much the night before It was early yet, with the sun barely peeking up from the horizon. Instead, she’d spent hours standing by the window, waiting and watching for Henry to come home. She’d even left the baby alone in the house for a short time while she searched the out buildings, in case he’d come home but didn’t want to speak with her.

With one arm, Cora held her son’s head against her shoulder. Jacob took small, shaky breaths as his sobs subsided and his body relaxed.

Lighting a lantern, she searched the shelves for something to cook for breakfast. Besides grains and a few canned items, brought by her sister when Henry’s lack of interest in providing for his family became evident, there was nothing suitable.

It would have to be eggs and warm milk for Jacob. She would have to venture outside leaving the baby alone once again.

The worst of the storm had passed in the night, leaving only the constant thrum of rain. Cora circled the kitchen and rocked her son until finally the infant fell asleep. With slow, careful steps she shuffled to her bedroom and settled the sleeping baby onto the bed, with blankets stacked snuggly around him to ensure he couldn’t roll off the bed. She hesitated for a moment to make sure Jacob was sound asleep, then added a new log to the waning fire in the hearth. She’d only be gone for a few moments to retrieve eggs and milk from the chicken coop and barn. She didn’t need much milk, but she would draw enough off the cow to ease the swollen udder.

Having a sense of purpose pushed other thoughts away; so Cora hurried to the front room. Removing her jacket, gloves, and hat from hooks behind the door, she quickly donned them and moved to the door.

Her dog’s head lifted when she stepped onto the porch, its tail wagging with enthusiasm. The shepherd started to rise but she gestured to Rex to remain. Stay. The dog obeyed and sat down on its haunches, its tail still wagging. Some protection for Jacob was better than none.

Once inside the barn, the familiar smells of hay, beast, and rain spurred her to action. Retrieving a bucket from a hook on the wall, Cora approached the milking cow. She made sure to approach slowly and from the front, so as not to startle the temperamental cow. With a sigh, Cora took off her gloves, and rubbed her hands together, warming them up before placing them on the teats. She milked the cow and was very grateful the animal was more interested in her breakfast than biting her.

With her half-full milk bucket in hand, she quickly made her way toward the house. Her eyes caught the sight of sparkling snow covered mountains in the background. The crisp spring air and bone chilling rain marked the end of winter but it sure didn’t feel that way. Winter was the time of year families remained inside, enjoying each other’s company, making plans for the future. She cursed at the thought. She had no family here. She was alone with a six-month-old child.

Cora pulled her coat tighter around her throat. She worried about Henry. How was he fairing in the cold? Was he even in the cold? Or was he inside somewhere safe? She let out a deep sigh. How stupid could she be, worrying about a man who could care less about her. Or their infant son.

Her eyes misted over. Was it just yesterday that she’d lost her husband to another woman? Her gut lurched. Or had she lost him long before that, but only then just realized how utterly reprehensible he really was? Had she ever really had him in the first place?

Laughter followed by two muffled voices came from the small room in the back of the barn. Cora knew what she’d find, but with heart pounding, she opened the door anyway. Her breath caught in her throat. They hadn’t even bothered to close the door. Open a crack, she could clearly see the small bunk and a tangle of limbs as two people groaned and strained together. She wanted to rush in, to