Wrangled and Tangled Read Free Page B

found himself whistling as he tossed the last box in the bed of his truck. Things had gone better today than he’d hoped.
    Over the past five months, he’d stopped being angry his ex-wife had breezed back into Wyoming without a care of how it’d affect his life. After she’d left, he’d been forced to deal with pitying looks and conversations that ended when he entered a room. As the years passed so did people’s memories.
    Until she returned, looking beautiful and confident. All practiced charm and sweet fire, completely polished, acting nothing like the shy, plain woman he’d married. Now he wanted her with an ache that defied reason.
    He suspected she hung out at Buckeye Joe’s for the same reason he did. Loneliness. He’d started to flirt with this new, charismatic Janie. Nothing big. Buying her a drink. Asking her to dance.
    Dropping hints about the warmth of his bed.
    She’d laughed him off, not meanly, but in the same way the old Janie did—using deflection to hide her interest. Her mouth might’ve been saying no, but her body had been saying hell yes .
    He’d seen the appreciative glances she’d sent him last night at the wedding. And again today he’d caught her eyeballing his chest—so he’d obliged her need to ogle him by removing his shirt.
    And ogle him she had.
    Abe knew his physical appearance had changed. His rangy build became bulky after Hank quit bullfighting and they’d started lifting weights together. Those hours sweating and pumping iron had definitely been worth it, seeing the heated lust in Janie’s eyes. It was only a matter of time—and his patience—before teasing words and hot looks wouldn’t be enough.
    He hung a left on the gravel road, suspecting Janie had taken the shortcut to the highway, which didn’t shave off more than thirty extra seconds from the paved road. Not that she ever believed him.
    He’d driven this stretch so many times he usually let his mind wander. But he noticed fresh skid marks in the gravel immediately. Then his gaze snagged on the ass end of a car sticking out of the ditch.
    Not just any car. Janie’s car.
    Everything went into slow motion.
    He jammed both feet on the brakes until his rig shuddered to a stop. While the voice in his head screamed no no no, not Janie , he threw the gearshift in park and half ran/half slid down the dry grass covering the embankment. He reached for his phone and dialed 911. Somehow he remained calm as he stood beside the mangled car and explained the situation. The voice on the other end of the phone assured him the ambulance and sheriff’s deputy had been dispatched. Major problem with living in rural Wyoming: they were a long way from medical treatment facilities.
    Don’t look, man. Just stay the hell away and wait.
    But he couldn’t. When he crouched down, he saw the air bag had deployed. Thank you , Jesus. Janie was slumped across it, her head turned the opposite direction—but not at an unnatural angle. The windshield had shattered, scattering glass everywhere.
    He had half a mind to wrench the door free and extract her himself. But deep down, he knew that might cause more harm to her body. The last thing he’d ever do was cause her more pain. Feeling helpless and heartsick, he dialed his brother, hoping Lainie was home and could offer medical insight.
    Hank answered on the first ring. “Abe. What’s up?”
    “The wheels on Janie’s car. Is Lainie around?”
    “No. She’s workin’ second shift.” Pause. “What do you mean the wheels on Janie’s car ?” After Abe rattled off an explanation, Hank said, “I’m on my way.”
    Abe’s answering, “You don’t have to—” was lost in the dial tone.
    He talked to Janie. Making promises. Telling her every sappy, sexy, sassy thing he’d noticed about her since she’d returned to Muddy Gap on the off chance she was conscious.
    The spray of gravel dragged his attention to the road. Abe glanced up as Hank started down the incline with Celia close on