AllFreeNovel Stories worth discovering

Widowed in Wyoming

Page 84

by Samantha Cole

Willow pointed toward the counter. “Right there.”

Amanda picked up the denim garment and tossed it to her. “Better cover the sleeve.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Shaking her head, she carried her overnight bag into the small room at the back of the RV and changed into jeans, a T-shirt, and sneakers.

When she came out, Willow had on the jacket and sunglasses. With the wig completing the disguise, she looked convincing enough to fool anyone watching from the road.

“Okay, I’m impressed.”

Willow grinned. “Told you this would work.”

Fen appeared in the doorway and gave her an appraising once-over. “Damn, Willow. I almost didn’t recognize you.”

Amanda hoped the paparazzi had the same problem. She’d spent all day looking forward to tonight, and the possibility that one stubborn photographer might ruin it had her nerves humming.

A few minutes later, she watched from inside the RV as Fen and Willow crossed to his car. Willow climbed into the passenger seat and kept her face angled away from the road while Fen got behind the wheel.

They pulled away, leaving Amanda with the part she hated most—waiting to find out whether the paparazzi took the bait.

Settling onto the sofa with her overnight bag beside her, she kept her phone in hand. The first text from Fen’s number came within a minute.

Fen

It’s Willow. Decoy is rolling.

A snort escaped her. Apparently, being married to a former U.S. soldier had rubbed off on Willow.

Another message arrived shortly afterward.

Fen

Three targets took the bait. One unaccounted for.

What? Four paparazzi vehicles had been parked along the road earlier. Where the hell was the fourth?

Tempting as it was to get up and peek outside, she stayed put. If one photographer had decided to remain behind, she wasn’t going anywhere. Not when doing so could expose Grady, Dale, Jeremiah, and everyone else at the JP Ranch to the same circus she’d brought everywhere else.

Her phone buzzed again.

Fen

Fourth target acquired. All in hot pursuit. Hold position and await further intel.

Okay, Willow was having entirely too much fun with this.

Some of the tension left Amanda’s shoulders as she sank back against the sofa. Her co-conspirators would make sure they were far enough away before giving her the go-ahead. After taking their followers on a long tour around Antelope Rock, they'd stop at the Spur & Bull, where Willow would slip into the ladies' room, ditch the disguise, then leave through the back door. Dale had left his truck behind the building so she could drive home without attracting attention.

Fen, meanwhile, planned to have dinner at the bar before heading back to his B&B for the night. By the time the paparazzi figured out Amanda wasn’t with him, she’d be safe in Grady’s arms.

The next several minutes felt like twice as long as they should have. By the time her phone finally buzzed again, Amanda was ready to climb the walls.

Fen

The coast is clear. Operation Get Your Man is a go.

A laugh escaped her as she grabbed her overnight bag and headed outside. Most of the production crew had already left, and the few people remaining were finishing the cleanup. No one paid her any attention. More importantly, the stretch of road beyond the ranch was finally free of paparazzi.