Alice Sharpe - Westins Wyoming

Analise came to as a heavy weight lifted from her chest.

A scream died on her lips as the shadowy figure looming over her turned into a familiar one.

Pierce!

I thought you were dead, he said, and then she was in his arms, tears shed fought for so long running freely down her face.

He held on to her as though she was a mirage and he was afraid if he let go shed disappear.

And then he was leaning back and she knew he was trying to see her through the dim light and she knew it didnt matter if they were blurs to each other. In the next instant, hed pulled her back against him and, cupping her face in his hands, kissed her lips.

His face was rough with stubble and cold from the snow and it felt wonderful against her skin. He felt real, and his kiss was the fabric of fantasy. Happiness welled inside her like an untamed artisanal well, tickling her from the inside out with the delirious feeling of safety shed thought shed never again experience.

ALICE SHARPE

WESTINS WYOMING

This book is dedicated to my daughter-in-law,
Becky Braun, with much love.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alice Sharpe met her husband-to-be on a cold, foggy beach in Northern California. One year later they were married. Their union has survived the rearing of two children, a handful of earthquakes registering over 6.5, numerous cats and a few special dogs, the latest of which is a yellow Lab named Annie Rose. Alice and her husband now live in a small rural town in Oregon, where she devotes the majority of her time to pursuing her second love, writing.

Alice loves to hear from readers. You can write her at P.O. Box 755, Brownsville, OR 97327. SASE for reply is appreciated.

Books by Alice Sharpe

HARLEQUIN INTRIGUE

746FOR THE SAKE OF THEIR BABY

823UNDERCOVER BABIES

923MY SISTER, MYSELF

929DUPLICATE DAUGHTER

1022ROYAL HEIR

1051AVENGING ANGEL

1076THE LAWMANS SECRET SON

1082BODYGUARD FATHER

1124MULTIPLES MYSTERY

1166AGENT DADDY

1190A BABY BETWEEN THEM

1209THE BABYS BODYGUARD

1304WESTINS WYOMING

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Pierce Westin When he left the Open Sky Ranch, Pierce was a troublemaker whod had a falling-out with his father. Fifteen years have gone by and hes back to mind the homestead for a while and maybe mend more than one kind of fence.

Princess Analise Elsbeth Emille Raised in the small monarchy of Chatioux, this engaged to be married beauty never questioned her destinyuntil now.

General Kaare The kings closest advisor and protocol expert, this old soldier is determined to monitor the princesss behavior and safety whether she likes it or not.

Brad Harley The princesss new bodyguard, hired after an attack on the original. Is he part of the solution or part of the problem?

Mr. Vaughn Traveling with the princess, is he more than the meek little man he seems?

Bierta Gulden The mousy maid seems content to stay in the princesss shadow, but that wont protect her from a killer.

Lucas Garvey This ranch hand is sworn in to act as a backup bodyguard.

Darrell Cox Another ranch hand who signs on to help protect Princess Analiseand soon regrets it.

Cody Westin Pierces brother who calls him home to fill in for him. He leaves in such a mysterious hurry that no one on the ranch even knows visitors are expected.

Birch Westin Pierce and Codys father.

Toby (aka Tex) A little boy who gets a whole lot more Wild West than he ever bargained for.

Jamie Dirk Two generations of Westin ranchers have depended on Jamies knowledge and common sense, but never more than now.

Contents

Prologue

February

Cody Westin gripped the receiver in his left hand as he sat down at his desk.

Tell me exactly where you found her, he said, pausing to listen as the detective rattled off rapid-fire details.

Yes, Ill come, Cody said at length, his dark gaze moving to the big window that overlooked the uncompromising Wyoming peaks. He glanced at the clock on the wall. Ill leave within the hour. Ill meet you there. Brow furrowing, he added, Smyth? Dont lose her, okay?

He clicked off the phone and stood for a moment. Then he walked to the sideboard and poured himself a finger of whiskey, tossing it back in one swallow, closing his eyes as the liquor burned its way down his throat.

His brother Adam, who worked the ranch with Cody and their father, was off on a backcountry hike in Hawaii, unreachable by phone. That meant Cody would need to contact his other brother, Pierce. The detectives call couldnt have come at a worse timethe ranch was gearing up for calving season, which was coming in a month or so.

Family comes first, he muttered. It was an uneasy point in ranching life. The herd came first, too. Made things a juggling act.

Pierce was half owner of a business currently operating overseas. He could take time off for an emergency if he wanted to. That was the rub. Would he want to?

He had to. Someone had to be in charge since their father was laid up. The place couldnt run itself.

Clicking nails on the hardwood floor and a wet nose thrust against his arm announced Bonnie had come into the office. Cody ran a hand along the pale yellow Labs smooth head, then set the empty glass on the sideboard. Back at the desk he didnt even bother to review his plannerwhatever was on the books for the next few days would just have to happen without him. He had to go. This might be his last chance.

He moved aside the painting of the old hunting lodge that hung behind the desk and worked the combination on the safe hidden under it. Reaching inside, his fingers closed on a small box. He stared at it a moment, then slowly tucked it in his jeans pocket as the dog watched him with deep brown eyes, tail gently wagging.

You cant go with me, Bonnie, he murmured. Not this time.

He would pack a bag, drive to Woodwind and catch a plane. Somehow, someway, he had to find the right words, say the right thing, end this nightmare.

But first hed call Pierce home.

Chapter One

Pierce Westin stared down at the cattle gate for a long time. Was his brain frozen, were aching muscles clouding his vision or had someone cut the chain and wrapped it back around the steel railings to make it appear it was still secure?

He swung himself off his horse, waded through the snow that had backed up against the gate and grabbed the metal with gloved hands. The last links on either end dangled loose when shaken. It had been cut, all right.

Well, maybe the winter policy had changed since hed lived and worked on the ranch. Maybe it was always kept this way now. Hed only been back a few dayshow did he know?

Except the cuts looked new. He studied the snow, both on his side of the gate and on the Bureau of Land Management side where the ranch had grazing rights. He couldnt see any fresh tracks besides his own.

His horse, a tidy pinto named Sam, bumped Pierces hat off his head and whinnied softly against his neck, his exhalations forming a cloud of vapor in the cold air. Pierce caught the hat before it hit the ground and pulled it back on. Okay, okay, no time to worry about this now, he had a chopper to meet and Sam was apparently on duty to remind him of it. Back in the saddle, Pierce moved off down the canyon.

Hed been away from the ranch for most of fifteen years, hence the protesting muscles in the saddle. He wouldnt be here now except for Codys call, and for a second he flashed on the situation hed left behind in Italy. He immediately pushed aside those concernsno use stewing about something he couldnt change from thousands of miles away.