Chapter One
Franny Perkins had plenty of experience being the odd one out. She was an only child who’d grown up with her nose in books, her head lost in her own imagination and no one around her quite knowing where shefit. Including herself.
She’d fit here, for a while. The Young Ranch in rural Wyoming. Oh, she was no rancher—she was allergic to just about every animal known to man. But she liked the mountains, the quiet landscapes. She even liked the cold—though deep in a Wyoming summer cold was a bit of a fond memory at the moment.
What she didn’t like, at all, was playing third wheel. And with Copeland Beckett moved into the ranch house now that he and her cousin, Audra Young, were engaged, Franny was once again relegated to odd man out.
She’d stayed awhile. She didn’t want Audra to feel bad, or think that Copeland’s moving to the ranch had made her leave. Audra was the kind of person who would take the blame like that. So, Franny had taken her time, built her story, and now was putting it into action.
“It’s only temporary,” Franny assured Audra, even though it was a lie. “Just while I write the book. My agent was really excited about the idea of being able to sell it based on real-life experience.” She’d just about finished packing everything she would need to move into the little apartment in Hope Town only a thirty-minute drive away. That was nothing. Especially around here.
Audra watched her pack her toiletry bag with mounting suspicion, but Franny kept the easy, breezy expression on her face. “It’ll give you and Copeland some time to learn how to live together before I come back.”
“Youarecoming back.”
“Of course I am.” It was a lie, and Franny hated to lie, but she’d hate it more if Audra felt guilty for a choice Franny had made. “Once the novel is finished.”
By then, Copeland and Audra would likely be married, maybe even starting a family if she stretched it out long enough. If needed, Franny would create a new excuse. She wouldnothorn in on her cousin’s new life. Not like that.
Franny shouldered the pack of things she’d need tonight, then hefted her last box. She’d left a few things behind to give Audra the illusion that she’d be back. Some old clothes she didn’t wear, a few books she’d never read again.
Audra followed her down the stairs to where Copeland was carrying the heaviest of Franny’s belongings into the moving truck. He looked like he was just about done, so it was perfect timing. He’d drive her out to Hope Town in the intimidating moving truck, then go return it for her since the return center was close to his work at the police station where he had a cruiser.
It’d give Franny some time to unpack before Rosalie picked her up on her way out to the ranch so Franny could come back and get her car, eat one last dinner with her cousins while the men made themselves scarce and then make that final break—driving to her new place. Alone.
“I can ride with and help you unpack and—”
Franny turned to Audra and spoke firmly. “And you have chores to see to. I’m thirty minutes away, Audra. Besides, I’ll be back after we unload the truck to pick up my car. We’ll have our girls’ night dinner. Youaremaking brownies, right?”
“Yes, right.” Audra frowned. Her gaze drifted toward the back—where her ranch stretched out and there were indeed chores to be done and responsibilities to be met.
So Franny marched herself to the truck, put the box she’d carried in the back before Copeland brought down the door.
He walked over to where Audra now stood on the porch stairs. He murmured something to her Franny couldn’t hear, then gave her a quick kiss before heading for the driver’s side. Franny made sure her smile was cheerful and easy as she got into the passenger side.
Without much discussion, they started off the ranch and out to the highway. Franny wouldn’t let herself wring her hands, though that’s what she wanted to do. She didn’t understand why she felt so damn nervous when she knew that this was what needed to be done.
New beginnings. Life steps. It was natural to feel…tofeel. Wasn’t that one of the biggest reasons she’d had to move away from her parents? She had shoved down her feelings so much so as to never worry or hurt them that she was afraid she didn’t have them anymore.
Feelings were good. Feelings were her job. And her life was fairly sheltered, more or less, but less since coming to Wyoming. Life experience helped her write better books.
So this was all good. She’d never lived alone before. It was long past time she checked off that life experience.
“Thanks for the help, Copeland,” she said, wanting to distract herself from her thoughts at least a little bit. Copeland wasn’t much of a conversationalist, but she was desperate.
“I’m supposed to talk you out of it on the way.”
“But you’re not going to. Because I’ve already decided.” She slid him a sideways glance. “And because you don’t want to talk me out of it.”
He sighed, looking seriously at the road as he drove. “It’s a big house, Franny. There’s room. I don’t want you to think you’re not welcome any more than Audra does.”
“It’s not about being welcome. It’s not about…you guys.” Another lie. She wrinkled her nose, trying to focus on the positives rather than her lies. “Besides, you twolovebirdsdeserve to have all that room to yourselves.”
Copeland pulled a face. “Please never use that word again in my presence.”
She grinned. Copeland wasn’t the most affable guy—not like Rosalie’s husband, Duncan. But it was obvious, no matter how prickly he was, he loved Audraso much, and made herso happy, and that was all that mattered to Franny. That her cousins, who were also herfriends, were happy.
She didn’t mind being the odd man out on that front. She was young, and sure, who wouldn’t like a little romance? But she hadn’t moved to the middle-of-nowhere Wyoming to find a man, even if she had the occasional fantasy about being whisked away by an upstanding taciturn cowboy.
