Home in Wyoming

By Mia Jones

Rachels life has been shattered by too much tragedy and loss. She decides to make a new home for herself that doesn't have all the memories. She unexpectedly finds herself living with a man and taking care of his house to survive until she can move on.

Asher works hard and has very little time for himself, much less his house, so when Rachel dropped into his life, he thought it was a Godsend. He just didn't know how true that really was.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fiery Vision Publishing
• Release date: Jun 26, 2020
• ISBN: 9798201504465

Book preview

Home in Wyoming

A Statesmen Novella

By Mia Jones

Chapter One

Oh, no, no, no, please don’t do this, Rachel wailed and smacked the steering wheel of her car with the palm of her hand. Just a few more miles. Please. Just get me to the next town, she begged. Her car started to sputter again, the dashboard lights flickered, and then nothing. Absolute silence except for her heartbeat that pounded vigorously against her breastbone.

Rachel sighed and maneuvered the car to the side of the road. She put it in park and turned off the key even though the engine had died. Then she laid her forehead against the steering wheel and let go of the tears of frustration she’d felt since the car started acting out several miles back. Added to the grief she already felt losing her grandfather and mother, she knew she was at her breaking point.

She was all alone in the world with no family to call, no one that really cared. At that moment, she was in a strange state, Wyoming, which was very different from where she was from. At least in her eyes. She could see for miles all around her and couldn’t see a single human structure. The sign she’d seen several miles back was so dented and pockmarked with bullet holes she was unable to see how many miles it was to the next town. She did know she had passed the last town thirty or so miles back. Way too far to walk.

Okay, she said to herself, sniffed, wiped her eyes, and sat up straight. I can do this. All I must do is walk to the nearest town and get a tow truck to come gets this stupid car. While they’re doing that, I can find a motel for the night. Once I have a good night’s sleep, I’ll be able to tackle anything.

With her pep talk out of the way, Rachel grabbed her purse, got out, and locked her car. She looked both ways and then started the long walk to the nearest town.

Although the countryside of Wyoming was breathtaking with the mountains in the distance and the rolling meadows on either side of the road, the walk was grueling. The blacktop road wasn’t in great shape, so she had to watch where she stepped carefully. The last thing she needed was a twisted ankle.

The temperature was in the mid-seventies. Perfect for a walk in the daytime, but she knew the temperature would drop as nighttime descended.

She didn’t know if she was happy or not that no one had passed by her. Ever since she took the turn off the main highway, the road had been deserted. Now she was admonishing herself for not stopping in Pinedale, but she had wanted to try to make it to Jackson and stay for the night.

Rachel sighed. There was no reason to go over all the mistakes she’d made on her trip to Yellowstone. She’d been born and raised in Oklahoma, and this was the first chance she’d had to see other states.

For the last several years, she’d had to take care of her mother and then her grandfather. When he had died, she had sold everything and left the city of Lawton. There were too many memories that ate at her and kept her from moving on.

She’d always dreamed of seeing Yellowstone National Park and made her mission to take a trip there and then maybe see a few more sights before she settled somewhere. She didn’t know where. She was on her own. All her family had passed on. So, she had decided to make her own roots somewhere miles away from her home and the memories.

At that moment, she had to concentrate on moving forward. Finding the next town, Alpine, before it got dark. At least that’s what she thought the last sign said.

Thirty minutes later, she was limping along as fast as she could since night was falling at an alarming rate. The last thing she wanted was to be on the road when it was dark, and the temperature was dropping. She hadn’t thought to grab a coat or sweater because she hadn’t known the temperature would fall so quickly, and she hadn’t known it would take that long to get to the town.

She didn’t know anything about Wyoming. Did they have a lot of wild animals? Ones that liked to eat humans? She shook her head. She was already close to panicking; she didn’t need to add those thoughts to her already dire situation.

She started to feel the slipperiness where her heels hit her flat dress shoes and knew the blisters she’d felt had broken open and were bleeding into her shoes. Rachel stopped and tugged her shoes off. She surmised going barefoot was better than injuring her feet anymore, plus it was just too painful to keep them on.

Her breath caught in her throat, and her shoulders relaxed when she saw the lights from the next town closer than she first thought.

Several minutes later, Rachel limped into town and down what she thought was one of the main streets, because it had businesses on both sides and as far as she could see.

The first thing she noticed were all, but one of the businesses were closed for the night. The only one open looked like it was a bar.

She knew she didn’t have any choice. She had to ask someone where the nearest garage and hotel were; the quicker she got it done, the quicker she could crash.

As the door slammed behind her, a dark apprehension tightened her core. All sound ceased except for the low music, she thought it was the radio or jukebox, and every eye in the place turned her way and froze.

All the sound of conversation paused as every person stared at her. The place wasn’t full, but there were plenty of people, mostly men, that it made her nerves spike.

Can I help you, miss?

Rachel dragged her gaze toward the bar where a bear sized man stood on the other side. She relaxed a bit at the friendly smile on his face and made her way to the bar.

Um, yes, sir. Could you tell me where the nearest garage is? My car broke down, and I’m going to have to get it towed.

Charlie shook his head. The nearest one is in town, but it’s closed until Monday morning.

Oh, no, it was only Friday, she thought.

Alright. Where’s the nearest motel?

Charlie shook his head again. We don’t have one here in town. The nearest one is about twenty miles north.

Her stomach tightened, and she felt a wave of nausea fill her throat. She swallowed several times and took a few breaths. Could things get any worse? She suppressed the panic and disbelief that her situation kept getting worse as the minutes passed.

You don’t have a motel closer? she asked in astonishment.

No, ma’am. I’m sorry. If I might ask, where were you headed?

Rachel looked down at her shoes. Nowhere in particular. I was just going to take a little vacation.

I sure am sorry you’re broke down.

What about a bed and breakfast? Rachel’s heart sank when the man shook his head again. Oh, she murmured.

I’m sorry. Charlie looked uncomfortable. Can I get you a drink, missy?

Rachel clumsily boosted herself onto one of the stools. Sugar and caffeine would help give her a boost she desperately needed at that moment.

May I have a can of Coke, please?

Coming right up.

Rachel sat in a daze. She knew she had to decide, but she was too exhausted at that moment to do anything but stare into space and get her bearings. She dove into her purse for a few dollars when Charlie headed her way.

Here you go, Charlie said. Name’s Charlie, by the way.

Rachel set down the money and reached across the bar top.

My name’s Rachel, she murmured and shook his hand.

So, what are you going to do?

Rachel took a long drink of pop. I’m not sure yet. She glanced up at him. Do you have any suggestions?

Charlie scratched the white fluffy hair on the top of his head. No, ma’am. I’m sorry.

Rachel tried to smile and knew she failed miserably. That’s okay. This isn’t your problem. I’ll deal with it.

Right then, someone called his name.

Charlie sighed. I’ll be right back, missy.

Rachel swallowed back the tears that threatened and took a drink. ‘Okay, my only option would be to walk back to my car and spend the next several nights in it and then walk back to town on Monday to get my car towed.

She thought about all the problems she foresaw with the situation. How would she keep warm? What about food and water? Oh, lord, what about a bathroom? How could she live in her car for three days? She didn’t even want to think about predators, both animal and human, that she might encounter.

Rachel repressed the panic that wanted to erupt. She refused to humiliate herself by breaking down and crying like a baby in front of a room full of strangers. She had some pride. Hell, now, that’s the only thing she felt she did have.

*****

Holy shit, check her out.

Asher turned just as the bar door started to close behind a small woman. The light from the street illuminated her, making it look like she was surrounded by pure white light and reminded him of an angel.

Asher snorted silently. If his brother heard what he was thinking, he’d never hear the end of it.

It was hard to see her facial features in the dimness of the bar as the door closed behind her, and then she was in shadows. He did know