Read Online Katlyn (M/F/M red-hot menage shifter romance) Standalone (Shadow Creek Shifters Book 1) by Madison Johns - Free Book Online
Authors: Madison Johns
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with baked potato and carrots, but instead of partaking of the meal, Paige was intent on drinking red wine from a silver goblet.
“This is delicious,” Katlyn said.
“Yes, Mary is the best cook in these parts. We lured her away from our neighbor, Jonathon O’Reilly,” Paige explained.
“So how was the fencing, Paige?” Brendan asked.
“Someone had to have knocked it down. Several fence posts were ripped from the ground again.”
“Any signs of sheep wandering in our pasture?”
“There was wool tangled in the fence.”
“But no sheep on our property?”
“Not according to the ranch hands, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t on our side of the fence.”
“We need more proof than that before I’m able to lodge a complaint at the Rancher’s Committee.”
“Why not just speak to your neighbor about it?” Katlyn suggested.
The corner of Brendan’s mouth quirked upward. “That’s not how we handle things. The committee insists that we file an official complaint and allow them to deal with it. Too many gun-toting ranchers in Wyoming. There’ve been a few murders in the past, even.”
“Oh, my. That’s pretty serious.”
“Yes. It’s bad enough having to deal with the livestock being mauled by predators in this area.”
Katlyn had to ask, “Like what kind of predators? Mountain lions?”
Brendan’s eye narrowed to slits and for a fraction of a second they appeared cat-like. “Mountain lions aren’t the only predators around. There are plenty of wolves and bears, too. Also some ranchers are of a mind to sabotage their neighbors.”
“Do you think your fence was compromised so that sheep could graze on your property, or another reason?”
“Since we haven’t lost any livestock, it’s hard to say. Or isn’t that the case, Paige?”
“No, the cattle are fine, but a few calves are missing.”
“Why didn’t you tell us that earlier?” Chase demanded, half rising from his chair.
“Don’t worry. Angus is out there tonight, and they’ll turn up.”
Chase sat back down. “We can’t risk losing even one head. Is someone fixing the fence, at least?”
“Yes, don’t worry. I took care of it.”
* * *
When dinner was finished, dessert was brought, which consisted of a warm brownie and ice cream. It was gobbled up fast and Katlyn left with Brendan and Chase in a red pickup truck. It rumbled up the drive and under the Shadow Creek sign, heading to the south. The pavement was smooth for the most part and they passed more ranches. The mountains were in the background and grass blanketed the ground in most places, but there were also barren areas where nothing grew.
As they roared into town, businesses lined the main street that resembled an old west town with all wooden buildings with false fronts. They parallel parked along the curb and made their way across the street and into a store called The Central Clothing Company.
“Are you sure the place is still open?” Katlyn asked.
“Sure is. Paige called and told them we’d be stopping by. Sales have been too meager in this town to pass up business.”
The bell rang and a woman dressed in a red gingham-style dress greeted them. “Hello, there. Who do you have hiding behind you Brendan?”
Katlyn waltzed around him, and when she did, the woman remarked, “Boy, but you’re sure a tall one.”
“Six foot,” Katlyn volunteered. “I hope you have something that will fit me. I’m the new teacher at the ranch.”
“Did you have anything in mind?”
“I’d love some comfortable dresses, like thin cotton.”
“Is that all?”
“No, she’ll need a complete wardrobe. She lost everything back east in the floods there,” Brendan explained.
The woman’s brow shot up, “Oh, my. Where were you from?”
“Massachusetts,” Brendan replied.
“Hardly,” Katlyn began. “Ohio.”
“Poor dear. They must not have reported that on the news. I thought Ohio was having a dry spell this year.”
“Well, not everything
“This is delicious,” Katlyn said.
“Yes, Mary is the best cook in these parts. We lured her away from our neighbor, Jonathon O’Reilly,” Paige explained.
“So how was the fencing, Paige?” Brendan asked.
“Someone had to have knocked it down. Several fence posts were ripped from the ground again.”
“Any signs of sheep wandering in our pasture?”
“There was wool tangled in the fence.”
“But no sheep on our property?”
“Not according to the ranch hands, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t on our side of the fence.”
“We need more proof than that before I’m able to lodge a complaint at the Rancher’s Committee.”
“Why not just speak to your neighbor about it?” Katlyn suggested.
The corner of Brendan’s mouth quirked upward. “That’s not how we handle things. The committee insists that we file an official complaint and allow them to deal with it. Too many gun-toting ranchers in Wyoming. There’ve been a few murders in the past, even.”
“Oh, my. That’s pretty serious.”
“Yes. It’s bad enough having to deal with the livestock being mauled by predators in this area.”
Katlyn had to ask, “Like what kind of predators? Mountain lions?”
Brendan’s eye narrowed to slits and for a fraction of a second they appeared cat-like. “Mountain lions aren’t the only predators around. There are plenty of wolves and bears, too. Also some ranchers are of a mind to sabotage their neighbors.”
“Do you think your fence was compromised so that sheep could graze on your property, or another reason?”
“Since we haven’t lost any livestock, it’s hard to say. Or isn’t that the case, Paige?”
“No, the cattle are fine, but a few calves are missing.”
“Why didn’t you tell us that earlier?” Chase demanded, half rising from his chair.
“Don’t worry. Angus is out there tonight, and they’ll turn up.”
Chase sat back down. “We can’t risk losing even one head. Is someone fixing the fence, at least?”
“Yes, don’t worry. I took care of it.”
* * *
When dinner was finished, dessert was brought, which consisted of a warm brownie and ice cream. It was gobbled up fast and Katlyn left with Brendan and Chase in a red pickup truck. It rumbled up the drive and under the Shadow Creek sign, heading to the south. The pavement was smooth for the most part and they passed more ranches. The mountains were in the background and grass blanketed the ground in most places, but there were also barren areas where nothing grew.
As they roared into town, businesses lined the main street that resembled an old west town with all wooden buildings with false fronts. They parallel parked along the curb and made their way across the street and into a store called The Central Clothing Company.
“Are you sure the place is still open?” Katlyn asked.
“Sure is. Paige called and told them we’d be stopping by. Sales have been too meager in this town to pass up business.”
The bell rang and a woman dressed in a red gingham-style dress greeted them. “Hello, there. Who do you have hiding behind you Brendan?”
Katlyn waltzed around him, and when she did, the woman remarked, “Boy, but you’re sure a tall one.”
“Six foot,” Katlyn volunteered. “I hope you have something that will fit me. I’m the new teacher at the ranch.”
“Did you have anything in mind?”
“I’d love some comfortable dresses, like thin cotton.”
“Is that all?”
“No, she’ll need a complete wardrobe. She lost everything back east in the floods there,” Brendan explained.
The woman’s brow shot up, “Oh, my. Where were you from?”
“Massachusetts,” Brendan replied.
“Hardly,” Katlyn began. “Ohio.”
“Poor dear. They must not have reported that on the news. I thought Ohio was having a dry spell this year.”
“Well, not everything
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