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  Lost Together

  Wanted Men of Bison Bluffs

  Book Two

  Cynthia Knoble

  Contemporary Western Romance

  Knoble

  Copyright © 2018 by Cynthia Knoble

  First E-book Publication: June 2018

  Copyediting by: Blue Sky Publishing

  Cover design by Knoble Passions

  Image used under license agreement

  © canstockphoto/nejron

  Cover art copyright © 2018 C.A. Knoble

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole, or in part, without express written permission from the author.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  Letter to Readers

  Dear Readers,

  If you have purchased this copy of Lost Together by Cynthia Knoble, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

  If you are reading a copy that is watermarked and not provided to you by the author for the purpose of providing a review, you are in possession of an illegal copy of this book.

  Regarding E-book Piracy

  This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book.

  The author works very hard to provide entertaining stories for your reading pleasure. This is her livelihood. Please respect her right to earn a living from her work.

  Acknowledgements

  As always, my thanks to everyone who has helped me during the journey of writing and publishing this book, including family, friends, beta, and ARC readers. Your help, insights, suggestions, and support are indispensable.

  Thank you to Mary Boehm, Annette Schleihauf, Carmen Alicea, Kathleen Banks, Patti Hesington, Rhonda Butterbaugh, Mary McCormack, Briana Hart, and Janet SwiftBird.

  Special thanks to Susan Fisher-Davis, Jacqueline Anne, and my mom.

  I love all you ladies so much.

  Contents:

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Chapter 54

  Chapter 55

  Chapter 56

  Coming Soon

  Also by Cynthia Knoble

  About the Author

  Chapter 1

  Smoothly bringing the pickup to a stop in front of the house where instructed to park earlier, Rory killed the engine and leapt down from the cab, swearing lowly. His truck needed repairs, again, and he couldn’t afford them, so he was driving Boone’s truck. Loving that his brother was so generous, allowing him use of the truck whenever he needed it, plus rent-free accommodations at his house, he also resented the fact he needed to take Boone up on his numerous offers.

  He rang the doorbell, hopeful this interview wouldn’t be yet another waste of time, one more rejection when he told Saffron Bairstow, his potential employer, of his criminal past. He’d been shocked when he’d received Saffron’s call for an interview, so long had he gone without any employment opportunities. She’d said Ethan Collins had recommended him. He’d been happy for the opportunity, but somewhat irked Ethan had arranged it. While he appreciated Ethan’s willingness to help, to Rory it was another event in a long list of similar ones where Boone, their sister Zandra, or Ethan, Boone’s best friend, had acted on his behalf. Their actions both humbled and saddened him for, just once, he wanted to accomplish something on his own.

  After a moment, the door swung open, and he fought to keep his eyes from widening at Saffron’s appearance. Expecting an older and, frankly, butchy-looking woman, he found himself staring at the exact opposite. Possessing a lovely face, including big blue eyes and luscious lips, framed by softly curled blonde locks, he thought she might be younger than he was, at thirty-two.

  “Hi there, you must be Rory. I’m Saffron Bairstow. Please, come in.”

  “Thank you, ma’am, I’m grateful for this opportunity,” he replied as he took hold of the door she held open for him.

  Following her into the house, he looked around at the bareness of it as she led him into the kitchen, and invited him to sit at the table. Again this room was bare but at least had a table, and chairs to sit on. The living room they’d passed had been devoid of any furniture, holding only a pile of boxes in one corner.

  “You must have just moved in,” he said, eyeing more boxes.

  “Yeah, it’s pretty obvious huh? Aside from the bedroom and kitchen, I don’t have any furniture yet. I didn’t want to pay for shipping much furniture here, and figured I’d just buy it when I got here. Then, it turns out I’m busier than I thought I would be, and still haven’t even finished unpacking, let alone have time to go furniture shopping.” She shrugged, and flashed an easy smile. “Oh well, enough of that rambling, I’m sure you’d like to get the interview started. I was about to make coffee. Would you like a cup?”

  “Yes, please, with just a bit of milk. Thank you so much, ma’am.”

  When she returned to the table, he stood as she set a mug before him, and then took a seat across from him at the table, before he sat again.

  “You’re so polite. Is everyone around here that polite? Aside from the feed store and the grocery store, I haven’t seen much of the town yet.”

  “Most folks are, yes, and thank you again for this interview, I truly appreciate it.”

  “My pleasure. Did you bring your résumé?”

  “Damn. I forgot it in the truck.”

  As she waved a hand, he made to stand, and she shook her head. “No, sit, we’ll do the interview, and you can give me your résumé after.”

  Relaxing again, he outlined his ranching experience when asked, and she seemed impressed. However, when she asked the length of his last job, he told her they’d all been temporary, usually seasonal work. She cocked her head. He knew he had to give her a reason, and prepared himself for the look, the one he knew she’d unleash upon him when he finished explaining.

  “I have a criminal record, uh, I’ve been incarcerated, and it has impacted my chances when being interviewed.” Her eyes widened slightly, but she didn’t comment. “For what it’s worth, it wasn’t theft or anything money related. I am responsible, and I do have references.” When she still didn’t respo
nd, he sighed. “Look, I know you’re worried about me being an ex-con. You’re a woman, on your own here, and I do understand that. All I can offer is my word I’ll be a dependable worker, and that I’d never do anything to jeopardize your ranch. I promise you, I pose no threat to you. You can call my references, and they’ll tell you that I’m as responsible as I’m saying I am.”

  At the slight but inquisitive tilt of her head, he braced himself, knowing what her next question would be. “What did you go to jail for?” Then she shook her head. “No, never mind, that isn’t any of my business. It really isn’t.”

  “Actually, it is. You’re worried, and you have every right to be. I was convicted of manslaughter, and served seven years in prison. You won’t ask, but you want to know why I did what I did. Everyone does. I got into a fight with a man, and it got out of hand, I admit that. I didn’t mean to kill him, but that’s what happened. I lost control, and I can sit here all day and tell you it won’t happen again, that I won’t ever lose control like that again, but when it comes down to it, you’ll either hire an ex-con, or you won’t.”

  She took her time before answering him, and he was hopeful when she didn’t avert her eyes from him. However, his heart dropped when she shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I can’t hire you. I guess I’m one of those who won’t hire an ex-con. Again, I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be,” he said as pleasantly as he could, “you feel the way you do, and you shouldn’t apologize for it. Thanks for taking the time to interview me, and consider me for the position. I wish you all the best with your ranch.” He stood. “I’ll see myself out.”

  Closing her front door behind him, he cursed inwardly. This was the first interview he’d had in more than six months. The odd jobs thrown his way occasionally by Ethan, and a few others, weren’t enough. He needed a break, a chance to prove himself, but Saffron was just one in a long line of people who couldn’t find it in them to offer him that chance. He slid behind the wheel of his brother’s truck, to drive back to his brother’s house, where he’d eat the food his brother had paid for, and, later, sleep in the bed his brother had bought him.

  He glanced at the envelope on the passenger’s seat, containing the résumé he’d intended to give Saffron. Why even bother setting up these interviews? No one in town would ever give him a chance. As he had many times in the past year, he thought he should cut his losses, and move to a large city in order to find work. That probably meant factory work, a far cry from working with animals as he loved to do, but at least he’d have a steady paycheque. Living off his brother’s generosity was something he couldn’t do for much longer. It didn’t matter that Boone would gladly continue to support him, for he couldn’t allow it to continue. Already unsure of how much dignity he retained, it was fading by the minute.

  Chapter 2

  Saffron bit her bottom lip as her sister chastised her over the phone. When Tansy had finished her tirade on what a closed-minded and unfair person Saffron was, she snorted loudly, and Saffron sighed.

  “Are you finished?”

  “Hardly,” came the response, and she could hear the sneer in Tansy’s voice, “but there’s no point in me going on, is there? You already sent that poor man away without giving him a shot so, really, what’s the point of discussing it further?”

  “That poor man went to prison for manslaughter. He killed someone.”

  “Not on purpose,” her sister challenged, “that’s why it was manslaughter, and not murder. Did you even ask about the event? Hear his side of the story?”

  “Why? It’s not like I can hear his victim’s side. That’s my whole point. He killed someone, and you can blast me for not being as liberal in my thinking as you are all you like. You know damn well most people wouldn’t have hired him either.”

  “Absolutely,” Tansy agreed, “which is the problem here. Once again, he didn’t murder anyone. Whatever he did wasn’t intentional. He needs someone to give him a chance to prove himself.” Another irate snort sounded. “Let’s just drop it. I didn’t call to argue with you. I only wanted to hear how things were going there, and how close you were to opening up. So, still no alpacas?”

  “No, soon though. There’s still some things that need to be cleaned and prepared here before I get them. And I was thinking about getting a dog.”

  “Really? You hate dogs.”

  “No, I don’t, but I don’t like them, true.”

  “Then why get one?”

  “I hear weird noises at night sometimes. I know I’m not used to the place, and it’s an old property but—I don’t know, I swear someone is out there.”

  After a slight pause, Tansy’s solemn answer sounded. “Saff, call the police. Maybe it’s nothing, but you are living all the way out there on your own. They’ll check the place out, and make sure everything is safe. Then get a dog.”

  “Maybe I should just mention it to my neighbour. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind taking a look around to make sure everything is okay.”

  “Would that be your gorgeous neighbour? Dark hair, blue eyes, what’s his name again? Evan?”

  “Ethan.”

  “Right, him. Did you want him to check out your place, or you?”

  She laughed softly. “Stop that. I told you, he has a girlfriend. And I like her, not that I’d put the moves on him if I didn’t. He’s—I don’t know—gorgeous, yes, but not my type.”

  “Yeah, come to think of it, your past boyfriends have been kind of ugly.”

  “Very funny. That’s not what I meant at all. Ethan is, well, forceful. Not mean or anything, just—”

  “Arrogant?”

  “No, just really in command. Again, not in an abusive way or anything, he’s just not my type, okay?”

  “Got it, I think. And he’s taken so it doesn’t matter anyway. He’d just be convenient being right next door.”

  “Ha! Right next door has a different meaning here. His property is huge.”

  “Yeah, I keep forgetting you live in the boonies now.”

  “Prairies,” she corrected. She loved the area, and still couldn’t believe her good fortune at coming across the property. Extremely reasonably priced, even considering how long it had remained unoccupied, she couldn’t pass it up, no matter how much work it required. It still needed much, so much, and she did need to hire someone to help.

  “What about that guy you saw in the feed store? You said he was hot too.”

  “Oh no, no way. That was Sawyer. I mean, yeah, he was hot. Actually a lot of the men here are, but he was giving off a huge prick-vibe.” When Tansy snorted in amusement, Saffron chuckled before she clarified. “You know what I mean. He’s definitely arrogant. So, nope, no way.”

  “I hear that.”

  She refrained from commenting. Tansy’s boyfriend Tymyn was one of the most arrogant men Saffron had ever encountered. Born Timothy, his self-bestowed name was pretentious, and that was just the beginning. She hated Tymyn, and his effect on her sister. Tansy had always been an idealist, but Tymyn had managed to twist that somehow and now she was as intolerant of others as she proclaimed them to be. Where Tansy used to have strong opinions, but respected others’ rights to have their own, now it seemed anyone who didn’t share Tansy’s views was an enemy, hence the uncomfortable tongue-lashing Tansy had just unleashed on her. Although Saffron really didn’t want to talk about Tymyn, she wanted to discuss her own life less. Cringing, she asked her next question.

  “How’s the shop going?”

  T ‘n’ T’s Tea Entity was a teahouse conceived of by Tansy, and realized by the couple. Of course, Tymyn’s input had turned it into the awful pompous shit-show that Saffron saw it as, but she had to admit they’d done quite well with it. She smiled inwardly at how it would go over like a lead balloon here in Bison Bluffs, but it did great business in the upscale Toronto neighbourhood within which it resided.

  “Great,” Tansy enthused, “it’s really building up a clientele. The online store Tymyn started is doing really well too.”
>
  “Oh good,” she returned, glad the store was fairing well for Tansy’s sake, but not understanding how it could. She couldn’t conceive of anyone paying outrageous prices for a cup of tea, no matter what kind of exotic blend of tea leaves and other natural ingredients it contained, but, every time she’d visited the store before moving from the city, she’d found it filled almost to capacity.

  “Yeah, um, Tymyn wants to have a baby.”

  Floored, Saffron’s grip on the cellphone tightened. While Tansy’s words alone would have done that, her tone helped the process along, as she sounded more than uncertain. She sounded lost.

  “But, you’re not even married,” was all Saffron could think to say.

  “Really? That’s your takeaway? Who cares about that? You know we don’t believe in that religion-imposed ridiculousness to begin with. No, the problem, Saffron, is that I don’t want a baby. I thought he understood I don’t want to contribute to the overpopulation of the world.”

  She thought Tansy’s reason for not wanting a baby was as ridiculous as her reason for not wanting to marry, but didn’t comment. Her sister and she had always been almost polar-opposites, but still shared a close bond that she wouldn’t jeopardize over differing ideals. Instead, she decided on a diplomatic approach to the situation.