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desk. How many crying kiddos had been in here for her to soothe?
    He sat a little straighter.
    She reached for an apple-shaped candy dish mounded with Hershey’s Kisses. “Want one?”
    Shaking his head, he said, “I’m maxed out on sugar.”
    Apparently she wasn’t, as she proceeded to unwrap three of the treats before popping them in her mouth. Her expression was one of pure pleasure. Damned if she didn’t look in the throes of an orgasm. The notion produced pressure beneath his fly, along with the asinine urge to lick a speck of chocolate from the corner of her lips.
    Wyatt cleared his throat. “I, ah, wasn’t going to come tonight.”
    â€œWhy?” Was she aware that when she leaned forward, resting her elbows on her desk, her shadowy cleavage popped into view? “This was a big deal for the twins. I know they wanted their favorite uncle here.”
    Wyatt snorted. “Cash is everyone’s favorite.”
    â€œDon’t sell yourself short. The girls talk about you all the time. Bonnie refers to you as her favorite oil king.”
    â€œNice,” he said with a chuckle. After taking one of her candies, he added, “My Ethiopian residence card came today.”
    â€œAre you excited?”
    â€œYes and no. As much as I’ll be relieved to get out of here, it’s strange to think the next time I see Esther, she’ll be walking.”
    â€œHow does that make you feel? Any regrets?”
    He took more candy. Had Natalie always smelled so good? Like a mix of flowers and chocolate and the faintest hint of a just-sharpened pencil?
    â€œWyatt?” she asked, waving her hand in front of his face. “Earth to Wyatt.”
    â€œHuh?”
    â€œI asked if any part of you regrets leaving.”
    Funny, but at the moment, the one thing Wyatt knew he’d miss about Weed Gulch was Natalie. His whole life she’d been right under his nose. How could he have not taken the time to know her before now? “Other than hot and cold running water, electricity and reliable meals, I think I’m good.”
    She laughed, which made him smile, too.
    Which was nice. If only for a little while.
    Â 
    â€œI S W YATT HERE ?” O N Saturday morning, Natalie had found a travel book on Ethiopia at a yard sale. Hoping she’d run into Wyatt at Georgina’s latest gathering on Sunday afternoon, she’d brought it along.
    â€œNo,” his mother said, “he hasn’t even left the county lines, but for all the time he spends with me, he might as well already be gone.” Georgina, dressed in a Victorian period costume complete with a huge feathered hat, daintily sipped her chamomile tea. While all of the ladies present looked to be enjoying high tea, Cash and Dallas had holed up in the movie room. The mere thought of manly Wyatt eating petit fours and discussing the perfect Thanksgiving side dishes brought on a smile. “He said he had business in Tulsa, but I was up all night and this morning with indigestion and never saw him leave.”
    â€œHmm…” Natalie hid behind her orange spice.
    Truth was, she hardly knew him well enough on a personal level to be disappointed by not seeing him today, so why did she now feel pouty? She’d been looking forward to giving him her gift. She’d never met anyone brave enough to just pack up and run away. Sure, lots of people talked about it, but Wyatt had the balls to actually do it. She admired him for that. And as anxious as she was about tackling the frontier of single-motherhood, she planned on adopting Wyatt’s fearless attitude when it came to raising her child.
    â€œI’m tired of talking about my horrible son,” Georgina said above a classical crescendo, “let’s talk about you. I’m concerned. I spoke with your mom the otherday at gardening club and she said she’s afraid you’re hiding something from her.”
    Natalie lightly shook her