Nelson's Brand

“You aren’t. How do you like Wyoming?”

“Very much. It’s beautiful.”

“We think so.” Marie studied her curiously. “Winnie’s very secretive about you. You aren’t a fugitive Hell’s Angel or anything, are you?” she teased, trying not to give away what Dwight had told her about the other woman.

“I don’t think so,” Allison said, leaning forward to add, “but what if I have memory failure and I’ve got a motorcycle stashed somewhere?”

“As long as it’s a Harley-Davidson, it’s okay.” Marie grinned. “I’ve always wanted to ride one.”

“Horses, okay. Motorcycles, never.” Her brother grinned. “She’s a former rodeo champion, or did I mention it?” he added.

“Are you, really?” Allison asked, all eyes.

“Gene, too,” Marie said, sighing. “He was world champion roper one year, before he hurt his hand. He doesn’t compete anymore. He’s bitter about so many things. I wish he could stop blaming Dwight and me. We love him, you know. But he won’t believe any of us do.”

“Maybe he’ll come around someday. It’s a blessing that he has so much to do that he doesn’t have time to brood,” Dwight added. “We supply broncs and bulls for rodeos,” he told Allison. “It’s a full-time job, especially since we’re always shipping or receiving livestock. The paperwork alone is a nightmare.”

“It sounds complicated. And dangerous,” she added, thinking about the wildness of the animals involved. She wasn’t a rodeo fan, but she’d seen the kind of animals cowboys had to ride in competition when she and Winnie had lived in Arizona.

“Working around livestock is always dangerous,” Dwight agreed. “But it goes with the territory.”

“And we have a good safety record,” Marie chimed in. “Have you ever seen a real rodeo, Allison?”

“Yes,” Allison nodded. “Once, when Winnie and I were little.”

“I remember the candy better than I remember the rodeo,” Winnie laughed. “I imagine Allie does, too.”

“I’m afraid you’re right,” Allison agreed.

“We’ll make a fan of you, if you stay here long enough,” Dwight promised. “How about some music, Marie? We might as well drag the band out of the barbecue and make them work.”

“I’ll get them started.”

The dancing was fun, but by the time Allison and Winnie went home, Gene Nelson hadn’t made another appearance and Allison was disappointed. She was fascinated by him, despite what she’d heard about his reputation. He liked sophisticated women, and tonight she’d pretended to be one. But he’d walked away and left her. She sighed miserably. Even when she was pretending to be a siren, she was still just plain old Allison, she thought dully. It was too much to hope for, that a man like Gene would give her a second glance.

With determination, she smiled and danced and socialized. But her heart wasn’t in it. Without the elusive Mr. Nelson, everything had gone flat.

The elusive Mr. Nelson was, in fact, feeling the same way. He’d had to force himself to leave the barbecue, because he’d wanted to dance with Allison. But getting involved with her would only create more problems and he’d had enough. He thought about going into town to the bar, but that felt flat, too. He was losing his taste for liquor and wild women. Maybe he’d caught a virus or something.

He strolled past the bunkhouse, hearing loud laughter, led by the redheaded Rance. It was Saturday night, and he couldn’t forbid the men liquor on their own time. But one of these days, he was going to have to confront that venomous rider. He’d been needling Gene for days. The man was sweet on Dale Branigan, and fiercely jealous of Gene. He could have told him there was no need, but it wouldn’t have done any good.

He kept walking, his mind still on the way Allison had looked in that sundress. He paused to check two of the sick calves in the barn, marveling at how much he’d changed in just one day and one night. Maybe it was his age, he thought. Then a picture of Allison Hathoway’s soft hazel eyes burned into his brain and he groaned. With a muttered curse, he saddled a horse and went out to check on the night herders—something he hadn’t done in months.

Chapter Three

Allison wasn’t comfortable talking to Winnie about Gene Nelson, but she was too curious about him not to ask questions. He’d warned her away himself, telling her that he was bad medicine. But she was attracted despite the warnings. Secretly she wondered if it could be because of them. She’d led a conventional life all the way, never putting a step wrong. A renegade was bound to appeal to her.

“You can’t get involved with him,” Winnie said quietly when Allison couldn’t resist questioning her the next day.

“He didn’t seem like a bad man,” Allison protested.

“I didn’t say he was,” Winnie replied, and her expression was sympathetic. “In fact, there isn’t a nicer man than Gene. But he’s gone wild since he found out about his father. You heard what Marie accused him of yesterday. She wasn’t kidding. Gene makes no secret that he has only one use for a woman, and he’s done a lot of hard drinking and hard living in the past few months. Because everybody around Pryor knows it, just being seen with him could ruin your reputation. That’s why I don’t want you to go out with him. I’d never begrudge you a little happiness, but Gene could cost you your respectability. And that’s something you can’t afford to lose, my friend, in your chosen vocation.”

“Yes, I know,” Allison murmured. Her heart sank. Winnie was drowning all her dreams. “You said that Gene didn’t know about his real father?”

“No. He was just four when his mother divorced his father and married Hank Nelson,” Winnie said, startling her. “Until six months ago, when his stepfather died, he never knew that he wasn’t a blood Nelson.”

Allison’s tender heart ached for him. “Poor man,” she said huskily. “How terrible, to find out like that!”

“It’s been terrible for all of them,” Winnie said honestly. “Don’t get me wrong. Dwight and Marie don’t feel any differently now than they ever did about Gene, but it’s changed everything for him. He worshiped Hank.”

“No wonder he’s embittered,” Allison said softly.

“None of that,” Winnie murmured dryly. “Your soft heart will be your undoing yet. Now let’s talk about something besides Gene. I don’t think he’s got a soft spot anymore, but he could hurt you if you tried to find it, even for the best of reasons.”

“Yes, I know,” Allison replied. “I sensed that, too. But you don’t need to worry,” she added with a sad smile. “I’m not the type of woman who could appeal to a man like him. He’s very handsome and suave. I’m just…me.”

“You weren’t yourself at the barbecue,” her friend murmured tongue in cheek. “You were light and flirtatious and carefree. Gene has no idea who and what you really are, and that kind of secret is dangerous to keep.”

“Any kind of secret is dangerous to keep,” she replied with a gentle smile.

“Amen. Just trust me and keep your distance.” She patted Allison’s hand gently. “Don’t underestimate your own attractions, my friend. You’re a knockout when you dress up, and that warm heart of yours attracts everyone, including men like Gene.”

“It never has before,” Allison sighed. “Well, not the right kind of men, anyway.”

“One of these days the right man is going to come along. If anybody deserves him, you do.”

Allison smiled. “Thanks. I could return the compliment. I like your Dwight very much.”

“So do I.”

“Will you live with his family when you marry?”

“No,” Winnie returned, grateful for the change of subject. “There’s another house on the ranch, where Dwight’s grandfather used to live. It’s being remodeled, and we’ll live there. I’ll take you to see it one day, if you like.”

“I would.”

Winnie smiled. “You’re so much better than you were when you first came here,” she said gently. “Is it easing off a little?”

Allison nodded. “Every day, thanks to you and your mother.”

“That’s what we both hoped. Dad will be home soon, and then we can do some sightseeing. You know I’m hopeless at finding things, and mother hates to drive distances. There’s a lot of history around here.”

“I know. I read all the books I could find about northern Wyoming before I ever dreamed I might actually come here.” She lowered her eyes. “I had hoped it would be for a happier reason, though.”

“So did I.” Winnie sipped coffee. “What do you want to see?”

“The nightly rodeo in Cody,” came the immediate reply. “Not to mention the historical center there. And there’s a place called Sho shone Canyon just outside it, on the way to Yellow stone…”