They exchanged a heated look and the older man cleared his throat. “We’re in sales and finance management, which is also pushing a lot of paper around just like Ms. Santos mentioned earlier. Nothing too exciting but it makes life easier when you’re working with someone you can trust and rely on.” He cut the younger man at his side a hard look and went all in to change the subject. “So, what kinds of things do we need to be on the lookout for while we’re on the trail for the next few days? Like Webb said, I’m not exactly a great outdoorsman and I Googled a wide range of things that could eat us or maim us throughout the excursion, so I do have my reservations.”
Lane chuckled and Cy lifted a quizzical eyebrow and stated, “It’s the wilderness so we will undoubtedly encounter local wildlife. There are elk and a variety of deer but they typically smell and hear the horses so they steer clear. There are bears and an occasional big cat but we ride out armed and take care to make sure all the campsites we set up are as safe for you and our animals as possible. There are birds, fish, plus more wild game than you can shake a stick at, but that’s why you’re here. To get close to it all, to be part of the wild in a way you won’t be back at home. People have existed with the wildlife in these parts since Wyoming was settled. It’s part of what makes this land so special.”
“What about other people?” That question came from the younger of the two men and seemed more pointed than it should. There was nothing and no one out here, even though the town of Sheridan was an adorable and touristy location. The commute back to ‘civilization’ was an hour away from the ranch and the likelihood of running into another person out of the blue seemed impossible. That had both the teenagers at the table scowling when they realized exactly how isolated they were going to be for the next few days. If I was saddled with the kind of parents they had, I would be longing for kids my own age and the Internet as a distraction, as well.
Lane was the one who fielded that particular question. He did it with a grin and a rueful shake of his head. “No one around for miles and miles. Most of the trail we follow is on our land with some of it crossing through the national forest. Occasionally, we’ll run across a rafting trip on the river or another guided trip at one of the two established campgrounds we use so you can catch a shower, but those times are few and far between. Occasionally, a lost hunter stumbles across our path. They generally hurry along because we make too much noise for them to shoot at anything. We always carry a satellite phone so if there’s an emergency, we can get in touch with Brynn back here at the ranch, but it’s just us and the horses once we ride out tomorrow.”
“So, if something goes wrong, if someone gets hurt, what’s your standard operating procedure in that scenario?” That question was posed from the younger man, and if I didn’t know any better I could have sworn there was a hint of confrontation in his tone.
Cy must have heard it too because his big body stiffened and he sat up straighter in his chair as he replied, “We’ve had a few minor injuries since we started doing the guided tours. We’re dealing with horses, unpredictable weather, and people from the city who aren’t always forthcoming about their actual skill level. We’ve had a few folks get too close to the campfire and one got a pretty nasty gash from a fish hook, but so far, the biggest injury we’ve encountered is a broken leg when one of the horses got spooked and threw a rider.”
Cy’s jaw went hard and his gray eyes turned flinty with his own kind of accusation. “It was the rider’s error and could have been prevented if he had been honest from the get-go about how inexperienced he was. He wasn’t on a gentle mount and he paid the price for it . . . which is why we make everyone sign liability waivers.”
The other two men exchanged a look and the younger one slumped back down in his seat, some of his bluster gone in the face of Cy’s unwavering confidence. “I’ve heard stories about people getting lost out here for days, just disappearing.”
Lane shook his head and that grin that never seemed to waver stayed firmly on his handsome face. “Not on our watch.”
There was an exchange of looks across the table like neither of the men really believed the reassurances given. However, the besotted teenager picked that lull in the conversation to change the subject, and when she did, it put me and Em on the hot seat so I couldn’t wonder what was really going on with the two men across the table anymore.
“So, what about you guys? Are you here because you love to fish, too?” There was sarcasm in her tone and a challenge in her gaze that must have come from the fact I couldn’t stop watching her crush or the way he was with the beautiful redhead at his side. She was a perceptive little thing, which meant there was no way she missed her mother’s anxiety or her father’s shady behavior.
Emrys tapped her fingers on the side of her glass and offered the young woman a friendly smile. “I actually really do love to fish and I’ve even been known to hunt a bird or two. My dad always wanted boys but was stuck with three girls. He took us out and did all the things he would have done if we had been sons instead of daughters. I begged Leo to come with me because I thought it would be fun to see if I still could hold my own with the boys. We both have pretty busy jobs back in the city so this seemed like the perfect girl’s trip, even if it is as un-girly as you can get.”
The teen lifted her eyebrows and cocked her head to the side. “You don’t really look like you know how to fish and hunt.”