A Thrill of Hope

by Marie Higgins

  “Well, what are the chances you can come home for Thanksgiving, too?”

  Holly hesitated in answering. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to spend another holiday with her mother, but Holly still had so much research to do on her own project. Once she reached her small hometown of Montana, the snow would keep her from getting out and about like she’d been used to after living in California for six years.

  “Well, I did have some plans before I came, but—”

  “Holly, I fell last night and broke my leg.”

  When her mother’s words registered in her head, Holly’s limbs stiffened with fear. Ten years ago, her grandmother had died a week after she’d fallen and broken her hip. Was this the fate of all those who grew older? She prayed it wasn’t. She didn’t want to think of her mother’s life being in peril.

  “Mom? Are you kidding me?”

  “No, dear. I fell outside and tumbled down the driveway like a bowling ball heading for the pins.” She cleared her throat. “Thankfully, Liz Saunders saw me and rushed me to the hospital. You remember Liz, right?”

  “Of course, Mom.” She rolled her eyes and shook her head. Was her mom losing her memory, too? Holly and her sisters had grown up with the Saunders family. “Do Ivy and Noelle know that you fell?” Holly prayed her sisters, who lived closer, would have helped.

  “Yes. Thankfully, Ivy took some time off from her classes at college to come be with me. Noelle is on her way, but she’ll need to get back to her husband and baby Cami, because Mark is starting a new job and won’t be able to take time off.”

  Holly frowned. Her mother didn’t have to say anymore. She already knew what her parent was thinking. Holly was the only child out of the three sisters with no responsibilities. Ivy had college, and Noelle had a small family, but Holly... had nothing. Their father died when the girls were teenagers, and Mom had seen to raising them single handedly. She’d done a great job, too.

  Now, they had a family problem, and it was only right that Holly step up and take care of her mother. Brian had said the new project wasn’t starting until January. This would also give her the time she needed to think about her own project.

  Holly sighed and massaged her forehead as a headache quickly grew inside her skull. “Sure, Mom. I need some sleep before I can start on my way tomorrow.”

  “Thank you, dear. I’ve always been able to count on you.”

  Holly was sure her mother wasn’t trying to make her feel guilty, but that nasty emotion still crept over her.

  Normally when she visited her family, she drove about fifteen hours straight through. But not this time. She was too sleepy, and she was needed as soon as possible. “I’ll call and see when I can get a flight home tomorrow.”

  “I’m so glad you’re coming.”

  Holly managed a small smile. “I’ll get there as soon as I can.”

  “I know you will. I’ll have one of your sisters pick you up at the airport.”

  “Uh, Mom? Are you at home or in the hospital now?”

  “I’m at home now. I broke both bones in my leg just above my ankle. The doctor called it a ‘tib-fib’ fracture. He had to put a pins in to keep the bones together. He wants me off my leg for six weeks.”

  “That doesn’t sound fun. It sure won’t make an enjoyable Christmas, either.”

  “Now don’t you worry about that,” her mom said. “Your company is better than any Christmas gift.”

  Holly’s heart twisted. Why couldn’t she stop feeling guilty? Because most assuredly, whether her mother’s leg was healed or not, Holly would be returning to Fairfield, California January 2nd of the New Year to pursue her own dreams.

  RAFE MONTGOMERY URGED his horse into a faster trot. Montana’s cool wind stung his cheeks during his ride. A major winter storm would be here soon. He’d lived in Montana long enough to know the signs of when a storm would hit. The weather man would be wise to take lessons from Rafe.

  He bundled the brown, sheepskin coat around his neck, and tipped the black, velvet Stetson hat lower on his forehead as he hurried toward the main house. Rafe and two of the ranch hands had gathered in the cattle to shelter them from the storm. He still needed to run into town and buy some groceries before the storm hit.

  As he reached the house, he gave a nod to the other two men. Most days, they practically lived at the house, but tonight he was sending them home to be with their families. The animals were all taken care of, and Rafe, and his cousins would be able to run the ranch by themselves.

  He rode his horse to the barn, dismounted and took the reins, leading the horse inside. After removing the saddle, and brushing down the animal, he put the horse in a stall. Rafe hurried from the barn and toward the house. As soon as he entered, he rubbed his hands together to get them warm.

  The scent of steak and potatoes wafted through the air. Rafe’s stomach grumbled as he hurried into the kitchen. His cousin, Blake Montgomery – only two years older than Rafe – stood in front of the grill with a fork in his hand. Their families had worked together to keep the ranch successful since they were young boys. But over the years, some of the family took different paths. Both Rafe’s parents died, and Blake’s father died. The only Montgomery men left to run the ranch were Rafe, Blake, and Luca.

  Unfortunately, Rafe didn’t want to be there.

  He removed his hat and swept his fingers through his hair to push it off his forehead. “Dinner smells delicious.”

  Blake glanced briefly at Rafe and grinned before returning his attention to their dinner. “I hope it tastes as good, too.”

  “Did you make it differently from last time?”

  “No.” Blake shrugged. “Not really, sometimes I cook it too long and it’s tough as rawhide.”

  “True.” Rafe moved toward the back door again as he shrugged out of his coat. Coat hooks lined the wall by the door – hooks that had been there since Rafe was a young boy. “Where is Luca?”

  “I think he went into town.”

  Rafe spun around so fast, he missed the hook and his coat fell to the floor. “Why didn’t anyone tell me he was going into town? I would have given him a list of things we need from the store.”

  Blake chuckled, moving away from the grill. He walked to one of the high-back chairs at the table and rested his hands against the fancy-crafted wood. “I don’t think Luca’s purpose in town was to go grocery shopping.”

  Rafe arched an eyebrow. “Then tell me, oh-wise-one, why did your little brother go into town?”

  Chuckling, Blake smoothed a finger and thumb along his thick, dusty-blond mustache. “Luca has a girlfriend.”

  Rafe chuckled. “Well, it’s about time. I didn’t think that boy would ever catch a girl’s eye.”

  “Yep, Luca was the shy bookworm all through school and college. But lately, he’s been going into town so that he can accidentally run into a particular pretty woman.”

  Rafe tried to remember everyone who lived in town who were single, young women. Although he didn’t know every person, he couldn’t think of what girl his cousin would be going gaa-gaa over.

  Rafe shrugged and moved back to hang up his coat, but just as he placed the garment on the hook and looked out the window. Storm clouds were in the distance, approaching quickly. “Do you think Luca knows about the storm?”

  “He should. He’s lived in Montana all of his life.”

  “I’ll call him to see if he could pick up some groceries before he returns to the ranch.” Rafe withdrew his cell and speed-dialed Luca’s number. He waited a few seconds, but it went to voicemail. He grumbled. “It looks like I’ll be heading into town to run some errands.”

  “What errands? I thought you were just going to the grocery store.”

  Rafe shook his head. “Last week, Georgia Kidman asked me to check the props for her annual Christmas program. I told her I would, but I haven’t found the time. I’ll do that first before I drop by the grocery store.”

  Blake gave him an empathetic expression. “You are still doin
g things for that woman? Why?”

  “Because she’s a widow, and her family have moved out of town. Besides, my parents would have wanted me to watch after one of their good friends. She’s a sweet lady, and I’m only too happy to help when she needs it.”

  “So, you’re going to the old theatre?”

  “Yes.” He lifted his coat off the hook and slid his arms inside. “Hopefully, I’ll spot Luca while I’m in town, and tell him to hurry home.”

  “What about my steaks?” Blake whined, pointing to the grill.

  Rafe grinned. “Keep them warm. We’ll still eat them.”

  He grabbed the truck keys from off the counter, before hurrying outside. The large garage was on the other side of the house, so he quickened his step to get there. He couldn’t waste a moment. Not in this weather.

  After climbing into his dark blue Chevy Silverado, he pulled it out of the garage. He left the radio off, mainly because he had so much to think about. For the past two years, he’d been working on the ranch with his cousins, but profits were down, and the future didn’t look promising. The only reason he stayed to keep the family business going was because guilt had eaten at his gut. When his father died, and then his uncle, there was no one else to run the place except for Rafe, Blake and Luca. Rafe’s brothers weren’t ranchers any longer. They had other lives.

  He had just completed his family practice residency program when his father, and subsequently his uncle, had passed away four months ago. He’d been in the process of interviewing all over the country, and Rafe had several offers on the table, but for the moment, everything was on hold while estate business was sorted out. It was a mess, and taking far longer to get in order than Rafe had anticipated.

  Rafe was impatient to return to practicing medicine. Thus far, the practices he’d been offered partnership with had been very understanding of the situation, but Rafe knew they couldn’t wait forever, and that those offers would soon start slipping away. The ranch was in his name now, and he’d been giving serious consideration to selling the place. Blake and Luca both had college degrees, but how could they accomplish anything stuck here? Selling the ranch was the only option. He just hoped his cousins would understand and agree with him.

  Blowing out a frustrated sigh, Rafe shifted on the seat. He played with the knobs that controlled the heat until a nice warm temperature blew out of the vents. He sat back in the seat and kept his gaze on the road.

  Up ahead, the edge of town appeared, getting clearer the closer he came. He loved living in Timberland, mainly because it was a close-knit environment. Most everyone was friendly, and the town was so peaceful.

  The buzzing of his cell brought him alert and he pulled it out of his pocket. Caller ID read Katherine Livingston. He smiled and clicked the call.

  “Hello,” he said cheerfully.

  “Hi, my darling man. What are you doing?”

  Her pretty face popped into his mind. Not only did Katie look like a model, the tall, blonde bombshell was also a school teacher. Katie had looks and intelligence. “I’m actually driving into town to get supplies before the storm hits tonight.”

  “That’s why I’m calling.”

  He held his breath, not liking the sound of her suddenly gloomy voice. “Why? What’s wrong?”

  “Because of the storm, I won’t be able to drive into Timberland to come see you. By the time school lets out, and after I get things organized in my classroom, I’ll be lucky to get home before the snow starts to fall.”

  Rafe sighed heavily and frowned. He and Katie had planned for her to come spend Thanksgiving with him and his cousins at the ranch. They rarely saw each other since school had started up in August. And of course, the only teaching position she found was one in Billings.

  “I understand, Katie.”

  “I’ll try to make it for Christmas though. School will be out for two whole weeks. I hope you still want to spend that time with me.”

  His smile returned, but it wasn’t full. “Of course, I do. Knowing we’ll see each other in about a month will be the only thing getting me through the Thanksgiving holiday.”

  “I’m glad you’re not mad.”

  “No, Katie. I’m not. I just wish we lived closer.”

  “Me, too.” She cleared her throat. “But remember, my uncle is the director of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Billings. Just say the word and he’ll find you a position.”

  “Thanks. I’m still thinking about it.”

  “Good.”

  In the background, Rafe heard a man’s voice asking her something. He frowned again, not understanding the words. But he didn’t like the tender tone of the stranger’s voice. Only a man who had feelings for a woman sounded like that.

  “Hey, Rafe, I gotta go. Another teacher is here to discuss the Christmas party our classes will have.”

  “Hmm... Okay, I guess.”

  “Talk to you later, my darling man.”

  As Rafe hung up and slid the cell back in his pocket, his over-active mind was putting together his feelings along with what they were talking about. Katie had always been a spontaneous woman. She loved surprising him. Some days, she’d show up to the ranch unannounced. Once, she met him at his church on Sunday, ready to spend the day with him. On three different occasions, she even led him to believe that she couldn’t come to see him, only to show up at his front door.

  Nodding slowly, Rafe bit back a grin. Was Katie planning another surprise? They’d arranged their schedules to be together during her Thanksgiving break, and now, all of a sudden, she couldn’t come? For some reason, that didn’t sound like his Katie.

  He didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but he hoped that she was already in Timberland, just waiting to surprise him.

  Rafe put that out of his mind for now. He had supplies to pick up and a few errands to run before this evening. The first thing on his list was doing a favor for his family’s long-time friend, Georgia Kidman. He had fond memories of the older woman, especially around the holidays. Growing up, she was always the lady who put together the annual program, and of course, Rafe’s parents made sure all of their children were involved.

  He parked his truck in front of the old theatre. William Clark Sr. still owned the building and allowed the community to use it for anything they liked.

  The wind gusts were stronger now, which meant the storm was coming faster. He hurried inside the building, entering through a side door. One small light lit the hallway, which told him someone else was here. But as he stood still listening, he didn’t hear anyone.

  He shrugged and continued walking. Perhaps the janitor left the light on.

  As he neared the back of the stage, and the small hallway where the prop room was located, his mind wandered to an event that happened when he was seventeen-years-old. He would never forget when he planned to meet his girlfriend in the prop room to steal a kiss, only to have another girl in there. Holly Kidman was humiliated terribly, and had never looked directly at him since then. Rafe, of course, was more upset about his girlfriend breaking up with him because he’d kissed another girl.

  The closer he walked to the door, a noise from within startled him. It almost sounded as if someone was grumbling inside the room. Yet, the light hadn’t been turned on. The door was opened slightly. He could see the outline of a woman. She wore a short-sleeved sweater that dropped below her bottom, skinny jeans, and her long hair was pulled back in a ponytail.

  Excitement jumped to his throat. Katie was here after all! She must have called Blake to find out where Rafe would be this evening. That could be why his cousin had asked him so many questions about why he was coming to the theatre.

  Grinning like a Cheshire cat, Rafe tip-toed inside the room. Katie had her back toward him. But as he closed in, she turned. He couldn’t see her face very well, but her eyes widened in shock.

  “Gotcha!” Rafe said before gathering her in his arms and covering his mouth over hers.

  TWO

  Frozen in fear, Holly couldn’t b
reathe. The stranger who had taken her in his arms and kissed her like there was no tomorrow, smelled very nice, and he kissed extremely well. Flashbacks from when she was a twelve-year-old girl, kissing a boy for the first time in this very room, brought back horrible feelings of being inadequate and the humiliation that followed. Hadn’t she locked away that horrible moment in time in her mind so she wouldn’t relive it? So why had fate decided to bring it back and let it slap her in the face?

  The man’s muscular arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer to his body. She quickly placed her hands on his chest to stop him. Unfortunately, it didn’t work. Of course, it surprised her that his chest felt as muscular as his arms. And his warm body was quite comfortable to lean against.

  He tore his mouth away from hers and trailed tiny kisses along her jaw toward her ear. A shiver of delight ran through her, and she questioned her own sanity. It had been months since she’d dated a guy. Well, to be quite honest, it had been a year, but this bold stranger was bringing back those longing, lonely feelings she’d suppressed in order to focus on her career.

  “What’s wrong, sweetheart? Cat got your tongue?” he muttered as his lips traveled down her throat. “Or are you just so overjoyed to see me that you’re at a loss for words?”

  She swallowed hard, trying to bring back her voice. “Umm... I-I-”

  “I missed you, too, my darling woman.”

  His lips moved back and met with hers. He was being so tender, so loving, even if he had the wrong woman. Regardless, a burst of pleasure exploded in her chest before she could stop it. Heated tingles spread over her, starting from the tips of her long, heavily moisturized hair, right down to her manicured toenails.

  Slowly, she relaxed against him, even though she tried not to. He was still a stranger – a stranger who smelled good, felt good, and was extremely gentle with her. But that didn’t matter. She needed to focus. I’m still kissing a strange man! Once he finally pulls away and sees her in the light, he’ll wonder why she kept kissing him, knowing it was a case of mistaken identity.