Katlyn (M/F/M red-hot menage shifter romance) Standalone (Shadow Creek Shifters Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

hunt for trophies, only food.”
    “The lords?”
    “It’s a term meant as respect. In many ways, B—”
    Paige stomped her foot, not in a pouty way, but more of commanding way. “Come now. I said dinner is ready.”
    Katyly and Tessa sat at the table that was set for four, with two empty chairs. “Is Angus joining us?”
    “No. He takes his meals with the other ranch hands. I assure you, all the men who work here are well paid and cared for.”
    “I have no doubt, Paige, and I meant no disrespect. I was just wondering if anyone was joining us since there were two empty chairs.”
    “Well, I had hoped they’d be back for dinner, but there’s a fence down on the north side of the ranch and they were determined to fix it themselves.”
    “Oh, the lords that Angus mentioned. Do they have names?”
    “You’ll find out when you meet them, which won’t be until tomorrow sometime.” Plates were set down, loaded with undercooked steak and baked potatoes and corn on the cob.
    Katlyn’s eye must have betrayed her when Paige asked, “Is everything okay?”
    “Yes, it’s just that I prefer my food not still alive when I eat it.”
    “I see.” Paige motioned the woman back who had served them and told them to cook their steaks well done.
    “My apologies.”
    “No need to apologize, Katlyn. I should have asked how you preferred your steak cooked. I prefer mine merely seared on both sides.”
    “Angus promised I’d be able to see the schoolhouse after dinner.”
    “Oh, yes. He can take you there, but it will need supplies and tidying up. Just make a list of what you need and I’ll be sure that you have it. Education is important.”
    “Who will I be teaching, exactly, age-wise?”
    “We have only one schoolhouse and there will be five children of a variety of ages. Reading and writing is most important. Once they have learned that, you can design your own curriculum for each child, as they might differ.”
    “I’m very excited to get back in the classroom and about meeting the children.”
    The steaks were brought back and Katlyn and Tessa dug in, eating more quickly than they thought, until Paige said, “Slow down ladies. I promise I won’t steal your plates away. How long has it been since you’ve eaten a decent meal?”
    Katlyn took a sip of wine, and swallowed her mouthful hard. “It’s been over two weeks. I could hardly call the food we’ve eaten on the road in greasy spoons food, but even that is much better than what we’d eaten before. Angus always made sure we ate, at least. He’s been very kind to us on the road. Is there anyway you’d allow him to help us with the schoolhouse?”
    “Of course he can help you, but please know that his main job here is to protect the cattle.”
    Tessa found her voice now. “We’ve passed sheep in pastures on the way here. So you only have cattle?”
    “That’s a touchy subject. Cattle and sheep ranchers haven’t always seen eye to eye, but we make our peace here. I hope that we can all be friends and perhaps one day you can tell me what you’re running from.”
    Katlyn shoved in a mouthful, carefully averting her eyes. The last thing Katlyn was willing to do was tell Paige what had happened back home. She vowed to keep that in the past.
    Paige’s blue eyes were masked by her hooded eyelids. She wasn’t smiling. It was apparent she was surveying Katlyn like an animal would their prey. Whatever she was thinking had to be very deep, and Katlyn wished she could say something to lighten the mood. “I came to Wyoming to make a fresh start is all I can say.”
    She smiled then. “I didn’t mean to pry. It’s just that I know so little about you.”
    “I went to school for teaching and taught the last few years. There’s not much else to say.”
    “Do you also have a boyfriend back home?”
    “I have no home, but I hope to make this one.”
    “I’m sure you’ve run a background check on Katlyn by now,” Tessa said.
    Paige folded her hands.