Wyatt: Return of the Cowboy Read Online Free

and you were reaching out to pet the calf right between the ears.”
    “That’s dumb.”
    “It is, kind of. But it helped me.” Wyatt had done passably well in both tie down and team roping but nothing like bronc riding. In that event, he’d excelled until his fall.
    Seth twirled the lariat again. This time, his toss landed true.
    “Wow!”
    “Good job,” Wyatt exclaimed.
    Seth appeared in awe of himself, even going over to the practice dummy for a closer inspection. His entire face lit up. “That was neat.”
    “Keep throwing tosses like that and you’ll be competing in the junior rodeo soon.”
    “My dad, he roped. He worked as a wrangler at Thunder Ranch. Before he left.” Seth rewound the lariat. He didn’t look at Wyatt.
    “I worked there, too. Summers during high school.”
    “Mom says you went away after you and her graduated.”
    “I did. Not because I wanted to.”
    “She said you’re going away again after the anniversary party.”
    “Yeah.”
    Possibly sooner if the reconciliation with his family didn’t improve.
    Seth hung the coiled rope on the calf head, his brow knitted in consternation.
    Such a serious expression for such a young kid.
    “I could watch you practice tomorrow,” Wyatt said. “Tell you stories about being a hand at Thunder Ranch.”
    “Naw. I don’t want to learn how to rope better.”
    “Why not? You’re good.”
    “Because I’m staying in Roundup. With my mom. All the cowboys she knows leave.”
    Seth’s statement hit Wyatt like a kick in the belly. “It’s not like that.”
    The boy didn’t appear to hear him. Hands shoved in his coat pockets, he shuffled to the back door—where Paige stood, sorrow welling in her green eyes.
    Wyatt was responsible for some of her sorrow. What he wouldn’t give to erase it.
    “Come inside, Seth. Dinner’s ready.”
    Wyatt advanced a step.
    Paige gave her head a not-now shake, then shut the door, leaving Wyatt alone, cold inside and out.

Chapter Three
    Wyatt hadn’t been inside the Northern U.S. Savings and Loan since he was sixteen—which was the last time his father had trusted him enough to make a deposit of the saloon’s cash receipts.
    Not that Wyatt had ever stolen from his parents or even considered it. But he’d committed enough other sins, including lying and dishonoring his father and mother. They’d had plenty of reasons not to trust him—and plenty of reasons to believe his admission that he’d caused the automobile accident resulting in his brother’s injury.
    Why hadn’t Jay set them straight? The purpose for their lie had ceased to matter years ago.
    That must be why he’d sent Wyatt the invitation to the party.
    “Good morning, how can I help you?” The teller asked brightly.
    “Is Jay Malone available?”
    “Do you have an appointment?”
    “No, I didn’t think to call first. But I can wait if necessary.”
    “May I tell him who’s here?”
    Wyatt’s gaze strayed to the pair of offices on the opposite side of the bank lobby. Through the large window of one, he spotted Jay, a phone pressed to his ear, his fingers tapping on an electronic tablet.
    “Wyatt Malone,” Wyatt answered, turning back to the teller. “His brother.”
    Her jaw visibly dropped.
    Evidently Jay didn’t talk about Wyatt much with his coworkers.
    “J-just a moment.” She scurried off to knock on Jay’s office door.
    He motioned her in, said something into the phone and hung up. A second later, his head snapped sideways, and he smiled broadly at Wyatt through the window. The next instant, he was on his feet and out the office door on the heels of the startled young woman.
    “Hey!” He skirted the teller counter and met Wyatt in front, pulling him into a hug. “What are you doing here?”
    The same question their father had asked of Wyatt, only his brother said it with gladness rather than anger.
    “It’s great to see you.” In that moment, any remaining resentment Wyatt had toward his brother evaporated.