Forever Dreams

by Leeanna Morgan

  His mom sounded like she was trying to explain something to a five-year-old. There were lots of problems she didn't know about and he'd make sure it stayed that way.

  "It's not as easy as that. Gracie and I have some?issues that we can't sort out."

  "Issues my petunia. Get that head screwed on straight, Trent McKenzie, or this little lady will be heading back home to New Zealand."

  "Gracie's not coming back, mom. Tell her she can keep the Nissan for as long as she needs it. Let me know when her flight leaves and I'll have one of the boys pick the truck up from the airport. I'll call you later."

  He turned off his phone. His mom would be furious, Gracie hated him and Jordan was in for a grilling. Man, his life had taken a serious nosedive.

  ***

  Gracie emptied the last of her suitcases into the bedroom closet and gazed out the window. Two children zoomed past Karen's house on their bikes, a streak of color filling the quiet suburban street. She hadn't intended staying here. In fact, she nearly hadn't stopped to drop Trent's vehicle off at his mom's, but she didn't know where else to leave it.

  When Karen suggested she stay with her until she left for New Zealand, she wasn't sure it was a good idea. Lying to Trent's family and friends about their relationship had been bad enough. Living with his mother after she'd walked out on their phony marriage wasn't going to help anyone. Karen didn't agree, but then she didn't know the reason why Gracie had left her son. After a bit of not-so-subtle arm twisting, Gracie agreed to stay.

  "How's it going? Did you manage to squeeze all of those lovely clothes into the closet?" Karen stood in the doorway with a smile on her face and a hot coffee steaming in her hands.

  "Mostly. I've left the cowgirl outfit and a few other bits and pieces in my bag."

  "Come and have a hot drink. I thought we'd head into town for a picnic. There's a great line-up of musicians playing in the park tonight and it's guaranteed to bring a smile to your face."

  The only thing Gracie felt like doing was shutting the bedroom door and letting the world pass her by. But that wouldn't solve anything. She gazed at Karen. The worried look in her gray eyes reminded her so much of Trent that she nearly cried on the spot. "That sounds like a good idea."

  She pulled a clean pair of sneakers out of the closet. Falling in love with a headstrong cowboy who refused to believe in love had never been part of her plan. Falling in love with anyone had never been part of her plan. She'd come to Montana looking for her father and to enjoy the company of the students she'd met through cyberspace.

  She'd found her father. In a couple of days she'd meet Gerald's students and settle into her two-week teaching role. Mission accomplished, goals achieved.

  Apart from a broken heart and two marriages left in shreds, she should have been the happiest person alive.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Gracie rolled onto her back, pulling the duvet up around her chin.

  There it went again.

  Opening one eye, she frowned at the window opposite her bed. Something or someone tapped lightly on the glass. She held her watch up to her nose. Quarter to seven. Who on earth knocked on a window this early in the morning? And why were they using the window? There was a perfectly good front door about ten steps to their right. Swallowing a yawn, she sat up and grabbed her sweatshirt off the end of the bed.

  She hesitated before pulling back the curtain. Surely it wouldn't be Trent? It couldn't be. He didn't have any reason to be at his mom's house this early.

  The pulse at the base of her neck beat furiously. Catching the edge of the curtain in her hand, she slowly pulled it back. "Jordan? What are you doing here?"

  "I had to pick up some supplies in town." He gave her a cheeky grin. "Where's my cowgirl gone? You're usually in the barn with Daisy by now."

  "I'm on town time now." Gracie looked down at the garden under his boots. "Come around to the front door before you trample your mom's plants to death. I'll let you in like a civilized person."

  Jordan tipped the brim of his hat with his fingers. "Appreciate that, ma'am."

  As soon as his feet passed through the door, he headed over to the kitchen, hunting for leftovers. Gracie smiled, listening to him mumble something into the fridge. "We had dinner in Bozeman last night."

  Jordan gave a satisfied grunt. Lifting his head out of the fridge, he waved two chicken drumsticks triumphantly in the air. "I knew mom wouldn't let me down."

  Gracie poured herself a cup of tea and sat at the table. "So, what are you doing here?"

  Jordan stopped chewing and looked across at her. "I thought I'd visit my runaway sister-in-law."

  Gracie groaned, sinking lower in her chair. "How did you find out?"

  "It didn't take much. You sent a mile-high dust cloud into the sky on your way out. Trent must have annoyed you big time to send you rushing away like that."

  Gracie stuck her elbows on the table, resting her head between her hands. "We're getting a divorce." She waited for Jordan to at least look surprised, but he kept chomping on the drumsticks. He paid more attention to what was going in his belly than the runaway bride sitting in his mom's kitchen.

  "Fast work. Almost puts my love life to shame." He threw his chicken bones in the trash and grabbed a cup of coffee.

  "You've been talking to Trent."

  "Hard not to when he's stomping around the ranch like a wounded bear." Jordan stared at her for a long time.

  Gracie's gaze drifted around the room. Those blue eyes of his had a way of eating into her heart and she wasn't ready to let anyone see what was crashing around in there.

  "Since you're not enjoying the delights of the Triple L tonight," Jordan wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, "how about you come with me to Charlie's Bar and Grill for a night on the town, Bozeman style?"

  "Thanks, but no thanks. I don't think I'm up to going anywhere."

  "Come on. It'll do you good. Besides, if you're worried about meeting up with Trent, it's not going to happen. I can't remember the last time he came into town on a Saturday night."

  Swallowing a mouthful of tea, Gracie stared at Jordan. "Between you and your mom I've got a busier social life than the day I arrived in Bozeman."

  "We've got to keep you out of mischief somehow. At least if you're with me, I can keep you on the straight and narrow."

  Gracie laughed at the smile on Jordan's face. The man didn't have a straight bone in his body and he knew it.

  He grabbed his hat off the table. "I'll pick you up at seven thirty tonight. And wear something casual but sexy. I don't want my image tarnished by a lovesick ex-sister-in-law mooching in the corner."

  Gracie threw a dish towel at his laughing back as he headed out the door.

  "Was that Jordan?" Karen walked into the kitchen, covered from chin to foot in a purple chenille robe. She yawned, heading toward the kettle.

  Gracie nodded. "He had some supplies to pick up in town. He's invited me out tonight."

  Karen leaned her hip against the kitchen cupboards. "That's Jordan for you. He'll have you dancing your troubles away faster than a speeding train." The kettle boiled and she turned to pour water into her mug. "There was a message on the answering machine when we got back last night. Kristina called."

  Gracie froze. "What did she say?"

  "She wants to come over this morning." Karen pulled a chair out and sat down. "I rang her straight back. She told me about Jim and the letter."

  Gracie's head dropped forward. Tears gathered in her eyes. "I think I've done more harm than good coming here."

  "It needed to come out into the open." Karen patted her hand. "Secrets and lies can fester under your skin until they poison your whole body. I imagine there's been a whole lot of talk going on in the Green household since yesterday, so don't sell them short. We're a tough old community. Family is family and we don't forget that in a hurry."

  "I'm sorry I didn't tell you I was looking for my father. I didn't even know if I'd find him here."

  "You
've found him and that's all that matters. Now go and wipe those tears off your face and I'll get us some breakfast. Kristina's going to be here around nine o'clock. If you don't want to see her, then you'd best call now. Her cell phone number is in the notebook on top of the fridge."

  Gracie stared across the room. Butterflies dipped and swirled in her stomach. She didn't know what she'd say to Kristina. Didn't know what Kristina would say to her. But she had to meet her. After dropping a bomb on Kristina and Jim's life yesterday, it was the least she could do. "I'll go and get changed."

  ***

  When Gracie opened the front door, it wasn't only Kristina waiting for her on the porch. Jim stood behind his wife, holding a battered cowboy hat in his hands.

  "I've been acting like one of the prize-winning steers we raise on the ranch," Kristina said. "I thought if I kept my distance you might give up and stop looking for your father. I should have known you'd have the Green stubborn streak buried deep in you. I'm sorry."

  A rush of tears filled Gracie's eyes. She hugged Kristina tight.

  Kristina rubbed Gracie's back. "I always wanted a daughter, but the good Lord only saw fit to bless me with big strapping sons. I guess he's the one having a laugh now. Are you okay with Jim and I coming to see you?"

  "I'm pleased you've come." Gracie wiped her eyes. "Karen's gone for a walk to give us time to talk. We made a batch of muffins if you'd like to have some?"

  "If those muffins come with a strong cup of coffee then you can count me in," Jim said.

  Gracie smiled at her father. "The strongest you like. Trent?umm, Trent likes his coffee as thick as tar, so I've had plenty of practice at getting it right."

  Gracie walked into the kitchen, hoping Kristina and Jim didn't see the heat washing up her face.

  "Where is Trent?" Kristina asked. "I rang the ranch last night and Adele said you'd come to stay with Karen."

  "He?well, we had a disagreement about something and I'm staying with Karen until I can think things through." Gracie caught the look that passed between Kristina and Jim.

  "Gracie," Jim said. "Take some advice from someone who's done more damage to a marriage than most people do in a lifetime. You can't work anything out alone. It takes two people to make a marriage work and two people to sort out any problems."

  Kristina gazed at her husband. "Even good men can be idiots. Follow your heart, you'll work it out."

  Following her heart wouldn't get Gracie out of the mess she'd created. It would just dig her twenty feet deeper. She looked down at the muffins cooling on the counter. "I didn't know if you'd be talking to each other."

  Jim sighed. "I've still got a long way to go to make up for hurting Kristina the way I did. I hurt a lot of people, Gracie, including you."

  Kristina walked across to the pantry and took out three mugs. "I'd like to write a letter to your mother, Gracie. I need to apologize for destroying the letter she wrote to Jim. If you get a chance, I'd be grateful if you could give me her address."

  Gracie's hand hovered over the coffeepot. "Mom died earlier this year."

  Kristina left the mugs on the counter and touched Gracie's arm. "I'm sorry."

  Gracie nodded. "I'd always thought my father was dead. It wasn't until mom was diagnosed with cancer that she told me the truth."

  Jim left his hat on the counter, looking a little lost. "I'm sorry about your mom, Gracie."

  Gracie's vision clouded. She wiped her face with the back of her hand and poured hot coffee into their mugs. "I'm just happy that you want to talk to me."

  "We want to do more than that," Kristina said. "Jim and I had a good talk about everything last night. We want to get to know you. If you'd like to get to know us, it would mean a lot."

  "I almost forgot," Jim said. "I've got something for you and Karen. Wait here. I'll be back in a minute." He disappeared out the kitchen door.

  Gracie took the sugar out of the pantry and put some muffins on a plate.

  "Look at what I've got." Jim walked into the kitchen with a big basket of strawberries dangling from his hand. "Fresh from our garden."

  "They're huge." Gracie had never seen strawberries as big or as red as the ones in his hands.

  "We breed things supersized out here in Montana."

  Gracie smiled at his lopsided grin. "I've noticed that."

  "Don't believe a word he's saying," Kristina laughed. "You need to show Gracie some photos of her great-great-grandparents. They were both five-foot nothing, but managed to tame a wild piece of land better than anyone twice their height could have done."

  Gracie felt lightheaded. She had great-great-grandparents. She had a whole family tree branching out all over the place. She wasn't Gracie Donnelly, only child, anymore. She had roots.

  Kristina passed Gracie a mug of coffee. "Put those strawberries on the counter, Jim and have your coffee."

  "Yes, ma'am." He grinned at his wife. "I thought you might like to take a look around the ranch one day, Gracie. You're a bit small for a bronco, but if you want to learn how to barrel race I could get you on a horse and teach you all the basics."

  "Don't listen to that husband of mine. He'll have you on the rodeo circuit before the end of the year if you let him."

  A bubble of happiness grew inside Gracie. She'd found her father and a family she hadn't known existed. She should have felt like the luckiest person alive. And she did. Almost.

  ***

  Later that evening, Gracie was ready for a night on the town with Jordan. After talking with Karen, she'd decided to wear a black miniskirt and a deep blue glittery top that showed off her new tan to perfection. She'd twisted her hair into a top knot, adding small diamante earrings from her favorite store in Bozeman. Stepping into a pair of black high-heels, she headed toward the living room.

  Jordan was busy talking to his mom when she walked through the doors. "You're here early." Gracie smiled as his eyes skimmed her outfit. "Do I look okay?"

  "More than okay. Half the men in Bozeman will want to find out who the pretty little redhead on my arm is, and the other half don't count 'cause they're married. And before you ask, mom has already fed me. Are you ready to paint the town red?"

  "I don't know about red. A pale shade of pink is about all the fun you'll get out of me tonight."

  Jordan hooked his hand around Gracie's arm. "Did I ever tell you that pink is one of my favorite colors? See you later, mom. Don't wait up."

  Gracie walked over to Jordan's mom, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "I've got my key. Thanks, Karen."

  ***

  Charlie's Bar and Grill sat on street level of a building built nearly one hundred years ago. A long, thick, timber bar, ran along one side of the room with a big square hatch providing easy access to food from the kitchen. Wrought iron lights hung above each wooden booth, shining soft cream light on the people laughing and talking below. A jukebox glowed red and orange in the far corner, picking random country and western songs from its playlist. The restaurant was full of people enjoying thick steaks, cold beer, and toe-tapping music.

  Jordan introduced her to a group of his friends. She enjoyed a few dances with some of the men and easy conversation with their female partners. Word hadn't made it onto the general grapevine that Trent and Gracie were getting a divorce. To her relief, no one seemed to think it strange that Jordan had brought his sister-in-law out on a Saturday night.

  Jordan dropped his glass of beer on the table. "Jeez. Don't look behind you. Trent's arrived."

  Gracie choked on a peanut she'd swallowed. Jordan's big, beefy hand thumped her on the back, nearly sending her flying across the room.

  "Oops, sorry. I forgot you're such a tiny thing." He pulled her close, trying to hide her beside his considerable bulk. "Just stay there and don't move. If we're lucky, he'll ignore me and not see you."

  Gracie rotated her shoulder blades, checking no bones had been broken. She quickly grabbed her glass of water off the table, trying to control her coughing before Jordan tried his
anti-choking moves again.

  "Are you okay, Gracie?"

  Looking up into Trent's gray eyes, she gulped back the water washing down her throat. The glass in her hand shook so much she had to put it down. She took a deep breath. Other than the love-of-her-life standing in front of her, not willing to admit he felt the tiniest bit smitten toward her, she was just dandy.

  "Fine, thanks. You?" Gracie stretched her face muscles into what she hoped looked like a polite smile. Forty-eight hours ago she'd been happily living on the Triple L. She'd resigned herself to being Gracie McKenzie for another few months and enjoying the hottest sex of her life. Her biggest worry had been how she'd tell Trent's family that their marriage had been a lie.

  Two days later here she was, passing the time of day with her soon to be ex-husband, in a downtown bar in Bozeman.

  Gracie stared at Trent's clean shaven face. He didn't look as though he'd become an emotional wreck without her in his life. He looked, well?normal. Leaving him high and dry on his beloved ranch didn't seem to have made a dent in his life. She thought he would have looked a little rough around the edges. A little lacking in sleep. But he looked?perfect. Too damn perfect.

  She felt like snarling at his lack of insight into the workings of the female brain, let alone a lovesick heart. Wiping her hands down the side of her skirt, she tried to act as if it was no big deal that he was standing in front of her.

  "What's taking you so long, sugar?"

  Jo-Jo Allen squeezed her size one body between Jordan and Trent. With everyone's attention focused on her tight white T-shirt she hooked her hand through Trent's arm and wrapped her body along his side.

  The piranha of the West had arrived.

  "Trent darlin', I'm ready for you," Jo-Jo gushed.

  Gracie's eyebrows rocketed off her face.

  Trent cleared his throat.

  He'd need to do a lot more than that to keep Gracie from throttling him.

  Jordan bristled at her side. He glared at Trent, tugging Gracie out of Jo-Jo's reach.

  Pulling her spine stiff, Gracie maximized every last inch of the heels strapped to her feet. At least one brother had morals. Her husband's standards had dropped so low that if he scuffed his cowboy boots against the ground, he'd be knocking on the gates of hell.