An Impostor in Town (Colorado Series) Read Free Page B

before he could change his mind. “Do you ever ride them?”
    “They don’t get as much saddle time as they should. I’m afraid Poncho is getting lazy.” He swatted the horse on the rear. “I don’t suppose you’d consider riding with me sometime. It’s much easier controlling these two if they can stay together.”
    “I’d like that.”
    They finished the remaining chores and headed back to Durango. There was little conversation. Rather Brian hummed a tune she couldn’t identify. The lake and the trees and the clouds blurred past the truck. She leaned back and closed her eyes.
    After she had time to consider their entire conversation, she thought maybe it wasn’t wise to spend any more time with him. He was the kind of man a woman lost her head over. She was already traveling down that slippery road. It was time to take an off ramp.
    As he dropped her at her house, she waved to him. She couldn’t totally avoid him, but she would make sure she was never alone with him again.
    ****
    Winter released its hold on Durango and succumbed to the warmth of spring. The ground thawed, but Peyton’s heart remained encased in a frozen tomb. Nothing nudged her out of her listlessness. She refused to do more than work hard and sleep harder. Depression pulled her toward the depths of despair as summer approached.
    Avoiding Brian was difficult. It seemed the man was everywhere she needed to be. At the grocery. At the post office. At the bank. At the stop light next to her. Even in her restless dreams.
    She held her mail under her chin as she unlocked the door and nudged it open with her hip. The load of groceries sagged and almost dropped to the floor before she deposited them on the kitchen table. She let the mail fall to the floor. Only one letter mattered. She snatched if from the vinyl and slid into a kitchen chair.
    Johanna’s letters were always vague, never hinting as to her whereabouts. It was the reason for the post office boxes they routinely used. It was per their agreement. Her heart stuttered as she glanced at the return address. The address was in Ouray. Why had Johanna brought Jake so close to Durango? She ripped the envelope open fearful of what was inside.
    Dear P.,
    I don’t need any money right now. I have a job that includes board and meals that should take care of us. If my situation changes for the worse, I will let you know.
    J.
    Once again, Johanna had tucked a picture of Jake inside the note. She studied the photo. Maybe she was wrong about Johanna squandering what she sent her. The boy always looked healthy and well dressed. She puffed out her cheeks in relief. Maybe she should send the woman some money anyway, but not as much as usual.
    She hugged the new picture of Jake close to her heart. When would she ever feel safe enough to reclaim her son?
    ****
    Peyton watched from across Santa Rita Park as Brian and Chris tossed a disc on July fourth. She pouted. He had been about to sit with her when Chris tempted him with the Frisbee. She declined when Brian suggested she join them. She didn’t want to play with Chris Smith.
    Emily sat on the same side of the picnic table and followed her gaze. “He’s hung up on her.”
    She swirled ice water in a plastic cup. “Yep.” She kept her eyes glued to Brian and Chris.
    “He’s wasting his time.”
    “Maybe.” She wasn’t going to argue.
    “You’re more his type.” Emily wouldn’t leave the subject alone. That was her way.
    “So?” She sniffed. “Does it matter?”
    “It does to you! I think it might to him if you’d encourage him.”
    “I don’t want to talk about it.” Discussion closed. Or it should have been. Chris overshot Brian’s head by three feet and the Frisbee landed in Peyton’s practically untouched cheese fries.
    He grinned as he approached the picnic table. “Oops. Sorry about that.” He retrieved the Frisbee and began plucking the debris it left behind from her fries.
    “Don’t bother. I wasn’t eating them anyway.”