Swept Away in Wilde (Wilde, Nevada Beginnings 1)

“Your bathroom is through that door. The other is the door to your closet.”

Mary checked the bathroom first. Inside was a huge soaking tub, deeper than standard bathtubs. She could imagine immersing her whole body into warm water, soothing all the tension in her body. The massive double vanity with the long marble countertop and two large framed mirrors were impressive. This bathroom was more than two times the size of the one at hers and Paul’s apartment. Her stomach curled into knots as she thought about her ex.

“Everything okay, Mary?” Carol must’ve seen something on her face.

“Yes. I’m just a little tired from the drive today.”

“You didn’t drive straight through, did you? Missouri to Nevada is quite the trip.”

“I broke it up into two days.”

“Even so, that’s a long drive. Let me help you get unpacked. Then you can rest. If you’re not up to dinner, I can bring a plate to you.”

“I wouldn’t dare miss having dinner with your family, Carol.”

They went back into the other room. She opened her luggage. This is everything I own. In two bags. He can have the damn furniture.

“Let’s get the stuff that needs to be hung up put away first,” Carol said.

She nodded, grabbing several of her outfits. When she opened the closet door, her jaw dropped. “A walk-in for a guest bedroom. I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

Carol smiled. “We like our guests to stay for as long as they like. That includes you.”

They finished unpacking the rest of her things.

“It’s great to have another woman in the house, Mary.” Carol smiled and left.

Chapter Six

Dillon, with the help of Pop Will, worked to get the calf free from the gate. The bawling from both it and its mother filled the air. The cow’s stomping on the other side of the fence was evidence of her anxiety for her calf.

“About two or three of these little guys always get their heads caught.” Pappy Jack shook his head. “‘Grass is greener on the other side of the fence’ definitely started with calves.”

“No doubt about that,” Dad Tom said.

Craig and Dan returned from checking all the water troughs.

Finally, he and Pop got the calf loose. It ran through the opening to its mother.

“Not so much as a ‘thank you,’” Pop said with a laugh. “Do you think it learned its lesson?”

“Not a chance,” Dan said. “We’ll be pulling its head out of fences for a long time.”

“Until its head is too big to go through,” Pappy said. “That means we have about six more months to go.”

“That little guy reminds me of you, Craig,” Dad said, grinning. “How are your stitches?”

“Doc fixed me up just right.”

“What time did your mother say dinner was?” Pappy asked, looking at his watch.

“Seven,” Dan answered.

“Good. That gives us just enough time to enjoy a beer before we have to go clean up.”

They all headed to the refrigerator in the barn that had both beer and sodas.