Stranded With The Rancher. Rebecca Winters

no one knew how long they would be stranded.

      That realization filled her with an excitement she hadn’t known in years. Alex would welcome all the extra time given her to get to know Wyatt Fielding better.

      Taking advantage of her privacy, she warmed some water. After a quick sponge bath, she brushed her teeth and also gave her hair a good brushing. Then she put on a pair of her designer jeans and a clean blouse. For want of an extra sweater, she wore the same yellow crewneck with it.

      Once she found the recorder in her suitcase, she sat down on the stool and talked into it about what she’d learned from Wyatt so far. When he returned, she’d get his voice recording.

      While she waited for him, she prepared a list of questions on her laptop. In Casper, she’d made several recordings with experts. Alex listened to them now and planned to discuss what she’d already learned to see if Wyatt was in agreement or not.

      When three hours had passed, she put her things aside and went out to the privy. After coming back, she washed her hands, then took stock of the food supplies. Wyatt had stacked canned goods against the rear wall of the tent. The tortillas and ground beef stood out and she decided to make tacos for lunch.

      After putting the cleaned skillet back on the little stove, she popped open a can and poured in the beef to heat it. She would use the smaller pan to warm the tortillas. Then she made a fresh pot of coffee.

      Before long she heard voices outside the tent and looked toward the opening. She was thrilled to see Wyatt walk inside.

      “Sorry you were left so long.”

      “No problem. I have lunch ready.”

      “Give me five minutes to set up one of my pup tents outside—we have an injured ewe. Then I’ll be back.”

      Wyatt grabbed the shovel and went back out. A minute later he returned and walked over to a corner where he kept a lot of gear. He carried a tent bag on his shoulder with careless male grace.

      She stepped outside to watch him set it up. Then he walked over to the camper. In a minute, he and Pali came from that direction carrying the injured sheep and put it inside. Next, Wyatt returned to the larger tent with the shovel before he reached for a small satchel and went back out. Before long he came in and took off his parka.