Her Montana Cowboy

by Valerie Hansen

  Why? she asked herself.

  Because I want it to be. Not a very comforting answer but the truth nonetheless.

  Julie parked, then sighed as she climbed out of her truck. Up until July the Fourth, she would have insisted there wasn’t a romantic bone in her body. Now she was so befuddled about her feelings she could barely think straight, let alone behave normally. Keeping a lid on her emotions so she didn’t scare Ryan away was crucial. Unfortunately, attempting to do so was giving her an upset stomach and making her hands tremble at the most inopportune times. Too bad he wasn’t having the same problem so they could talk about it and make jokes the way they often did about other things.

  Cramming her keys into her jeans pocket, she stepped up on the curb and smiled in his direction, noting that he was already coming toward her. The grin on his handsome face was so broad, so appealing, she was certain it was totally genuine. “I hope I haven’t kept you waiting.”

  “Not a problem,” Ryan assured her. “Your friend Rusty kept me entertained.”

  Julie rolled her eyes. “Uh-oh. I hope he didn’t tell ­stories about me. He’s known me since I was a baby.”

  Ryan chuckled, further lifting her spirits. “Nope. I’ll have to remember to ask him about your childhood the next time I see him. I imagine he can spin quite a tale.”

  “You have no idea!” She fell into step beside Ryan and he held the café door for her. The place wasn’t as crowded as the last time they’d been there, and she led the way to a corner booth.

  As soon as she was seated, Ryan dropped his hat on the empty bench and slid in next to her rather than take a seat across the table. His nearness made her pulse jump and kick like a frisky lamb in a spring meadow. Whatever aftershave he was wearing was just right, not cloying like Wilbur’s or too woodsy to suit her. Matter of fact, he was giving off such masculine vibes she was almost dizzy from being so close.

  Settling back in the booth, she turned slightly and put her spine into the corner where the booth met the wood-paneled wall. She hadn’t meant her movement to be noticeable.

  Ryan arched an eyebrow. “Am I crowding you too much? Would you like me to move?”

  There was her chance to ask for breathing room. She knew she should take it, yet something stopped her. “I’m fine. Just kicking back. It was a long day.”

  “You’re a hard worker,” he said with a nod. “I never dreamed there’d be so much to do keeping a herd—I mean a flock—healthy and happy. I may prefer horses and cattle, but I have to admit, those little guys are cute.”

  “I know. You should see them when they’re newborn. They’re more like stuffed toys than barnyard animals.”

  “I imagine thinking that way can get dangerous at times.”

  Surprised, Julie agreed. “You’re right. The rams, and some of the ewes, can be very territorial. I’m just thankful I’m not in the qiviut business.”

  “What’s that?”

  “The undercoat from musk oxen. Alaskan natives gather it when the animals shed. It’s supposed to be the world’s softest wool, but I think mine is a close second.”

  “Guess we should all be thankful,” Ryan teased. “If the locals aren’t crazy about your sheep, they’d probably riot if you brought in a herd of musk ox.”

  “It’s not cold enough here,” Julie replied. “Jasper Gulch is safe.”

  “That’s comforting.” He signaled to Mert and she hustled back to their booth.

  When she recognized her customers, she grinned at the cowboy and winked at Julie. “Good to see you two again. Pie and coffee?”

  Julie shook her head. “No. Real food this time.” She turned to Ryan. “Their specialty is barbecued ribs. I highly recommend them.”

  “Sounds good to me. Baked potatoes?”

  “And a side salad for me. House dressing. And iced tea,” Julie added, not too surprised when Ryan finished his order the same way. Either he was being especially accommodating or they really did have similar likes and dislikes. Did it matter?

  Yes. It did matter. A lot. For some unfathomable reason she wanted to learn every way in which hers and Ryan’s tastes meshed. It seemed important. And interesting. So far she had not found much of anything about which they disagreed—except his lack of faith, which was huge, and ideas of what constituted a real home, she reminded herself, sobering. His life was lived on the road, and she had deep roots. That was an enormous difference, particularly since they were each convinced they’d found their special niche in life.

  Mert delivered their iced teas and left again.

  Julie took the opportunity to study Ryan while he stirred sugar into his glass.

  Notions of making him a permanent part of her life lurked in her mind, yet she knew better than to nurture those ideas. A sure way to make him miserable would be to try to tie him down when he wanted to be free to roam. On the other hand, merely thinking about living a nomadic life without her family and her animals sounded like a terrible trial. Ryan was right when he’d suggested they enjoy each other’s company but take care to avoid getting too serious.

  She squeezed the lemon wedge over her iced tea, then dropped it in and poked it with her straw while she organized her tumbling thoughts.

  “You were absolutely right,” Julie said.

  His smile was quizzical before he chuckled quietly. “Of course I was. About what?”

  “Us. We should concentrate on having fun, here and now, and not worry about the future.”

  “I said that? Hmm. Pretty astute for a rodeo rider.”

  “I thought so.” She took a sip from her straw. “I’m starting to wonder how hard it’s going to be to say goodbye to you at the end of the month.”

  “We could stop hanging out together, I suppose.”

  “We could.”

  Setting aside his glass, he reached for her hand and laid his gently over it. “Is that what you want?”

  All she could do was stare at the way his hand fit so perfectly over her smaller one and shake her head.

  “Me, neither,” Ryan said. His grip tightened for an instant before he released her and reached for his tea again. “So what are we going to do tomorrow?”

  “Pack and ship fleeces, for starters,” Julie said. “That is, if you don’t mind. Faith helps me when she can, but it’s always nice to have an extra pair of hands.”

  “As long as you don’t try to pull the wool over my eyes,” Ryan gibed.

  Julie groaned dramatically. “That was a terrible joke.”

  “I know, but I’m running out of Bo Peep references.”

  When Julie smacked his arm, she was careful to keep her touch tender and her expression easygoing. “Enough. My family knows better than to call me that to my face.”

  “Hey, I learned it from your brother.”

  “Yes, and I gave him what-for that night, too. It would be far better for you to forget you ever heard it.”

  Ryan made a tsk-tsk sound before breaking into a face-splitting grin that made the constant twinkle in his eyes even stronger. “Afraid I can’t do that, ma’am. I have a real good memory, especially for anything that strikes me funny.”

  “That would be me?”

  “Yes, ma’am, Miss Peep. That would be you.”

  One realization refused to leave Julie’s mind during their meal. She truly did not care what Ryan called her as long as he was smiling and had that characteristic twinkle in his eyes. The more time they spent together the less she noticed the little scar on his chin and the more she was willing to tolerate just about anything in order to be with him.

  That was patently foolish, of course. She knew it as well as she knew her own name—whatever that was. The inane thought made her chuckle softly. She covered her mouth with her napkin to stifle the noise.

  “You okay?” Ryan asked. He leaned
to the side to pat her back as if she was choking.

  She managed a nod and a muted “Fine” before losing control and laughing out loud.

  Ryan leaned away. “What’s the matter? Is there barbecue sauce on my chin?”

  “No. You look great.” She paused for another snicker. “I tend to be a little silly when I’m tired or nervous.”

  “So which is it?” he drawled, studying her.

  “Stop looking at me that way.”

  “What way?” By this time, his wide grin had returned in force and there were tiny crinkles at the corners of his mesmerizing eyes.

  Julie knew this part of their dinner conversation could easily carry them into dangerous territory. Nevertheless, she decided to speak her mind.

  “Like a hungry coyote eyeing a sheep,” she said, softening her comment with a smile of her own.

  “Not me,” Ryan insisted. He continued to study her expression, but there was no rancor in his. “I’m as mild as one of your little lambs. Ask Cowboy Dan. He trusts me.”

  “I know he does. That’s one reason I’m not worried about spending more time with you. If Dan says you’re okay then you are.”

  Ryan was shaking his head. “I don’t know that I’ve ever been vetted by a dog before.”

  “Believe me,” Julie said, “you’re better off with Dan than with my father. Dad is not fond of cowboys.”

  “I’d gathered that from stuff you said before. Don’t worry about hurting my feelings. Rodeo riders are a strange breed. We don’t please a lot of girls’ fathers.”

  “You have experience dealing with that?”

  “Some. I mostly concentrate on winning competitions,” he finally said. “There’s not a lot of time for a social life when I’m on the road all the time.” Scanning the dining room, he huffed. “This is as long as I’ve stayed in one place in years and it feels strange.”

  “In that case, I’m even more glad you’re winning.”

  “Thanks. Just remember, I’m not used to sticking around, and cut me some slack if I get too antsy. I do have plans to make a few side trips between competitions and check out some horses a friend of mine is thinking of buying.”

  “I understand perfectly,” she said. And she did. When anything disrupted her routine, she tended to feel unsettled until she was able to restore order.

  Blotting her lips with a napkin to buy thinking time, Julie glanced at her companion. There was something in his demeanor that spoke to her heart and convinced her he was truly lonely, in spite of his claims to the contrary.

  “Dan is like that, too,” she finally said. “All I have to do is give him a new task and he settles right down.”

  “You planning to tell me to run around the pasture and herd your sheep for you?”

  Julie shook her head. “Not unless you drive me crazy in the office. I really am behind in my shipping and computer updates. It’s really bad for business to fail to fill orders promptly, particularly from new customers.”

  “Fair enough,” Ryan said. “Shall I bring breakfast again tomorrow morning?”

  “No. If we’re going to grill those steaks, I’ll need to stop at the grocery store tonight anyway. I’ll pick up something for breakfast and lunch, too.”

  “I’m not volunteering my help to force you to feed me,” he said flatly. “You know that, right?”

  “I know. It will probably be Faith who does the cooking anyway.” The arch of one of his eyebrows caught her attention. “What?”

  Ryan shook his head. “Nothing. I hope you’re not inviting your sister over because you’re afraid of me, that’s all.”

  “It’s not that.” Julie paused, looking for the right words to explain herself. “It’s scriptural. As a Christian, it’s my job to keep from giving anyone the wrong impression about my morals. I trust you completely, but not everybody who sees us together is going to be that accepting. The only way to keep others from assuming I’m sinning is to use Faith as a chaperone.”

  He rolled his eyes. “And I thought you were a modern woman.”

  “I am. I just happen to care what my personal life looks like to unbelievers. It’s important.”

  “People like me, you mean?”

  “Maybe. How long has it been since you went to church?”

  “How do you know I ever did?”

  “Just a hunch. So how long?”

  “Since my early teens. After Kirk was killed, Mom quit going and so did I.”

  Pondering, Julie nodded. Something told her it was too soon to ask him to accompany her the following Sunday. She’d wait. Get to know him better. Let him trust her more.

  And then what? she asked herself. Will I have the courage to press him to go with me and take the chance he’ll back off completely?

  Yes, she answered. She’d pray about it, and when the time was right, she’d count on God to show her. And to provide the right words.

  Even if Ryan ultimately rode off into the sunset like the hero in an old Western movie, she was going to plant the seeds of faith while he was with her. Whether or not they took root and grew wasn’t up to her, it was up to the Lord Jesus. All she’d have to do is back off and not get in His way.

  That was far easier to say than to do.

  Ryan caught her smiling. “What’s so funny? Are you laughing at me?”

  “No, no. At myself,” she admitted without hesitation. “There are times when my mind gets too busy and makes me feel totally out of control.”

  “Maybe you need to chase sheep, too?” he gibed.

  Julie wondered why it was so easy to find humor in everything when she was with Ryan. If her spirits were lifted much more, she’d want to get up and dance around the café. Now, that would attract plenty of attention!

  “Maybe I do,” she told him. “I certainly have been wired lately. I guess seeing the centennial celebration begin has energized me.”

  “Guess so. Any word yet on the time capsule?”

  “I don’t think so. Cord has been working with the sheriff’s department and Dad is in such a tizzy I heard he almost bit poor Deputy Cal’s head off. So far there’s been no progress.”

  “Suspects?”

  “Only the ones I already mentioned. And I doubt Ellis Cooper is that kind of man. Lilibeth Shoemaker might be behind it, though. She’d probably need help lifting the box, so maybe whoever helped her will come forward.”

  “If she’s guilty. What makes them suspect her?”

  “Threats she made after she was defeated for the title of Miss Jasper Gulch.” Julie pulled a face. “It probably wouldn’t have hurt her pride so much if one of her chief rivals hadn’t won again this year.”

  Ryan laid a hand over Julie’s before he said, “If they were really looking for the prettiest girl in town, they would have chosen you.”

  Chapter Eleven

  By the time Ryan finished helping Julie for the entire day, he was more weary than he’d have been driving his truck all the way from Jasper Gulch to the Calgary Stampede. It was too bad he’d have to miss that rodeo this summer, but he’d made his choice to stay in Montana, and his prospects were certainly looking promising.

  Plus, the scenery is fantastic, he added to himself, thinking of Julie more than the majestic mountain ranges and National Park lands in the distance.

  Ryan stopped himself. Was he crazy? Apparently, because hardly a moment went by that the pretty sheep rancher wasn’t on his mind.

  “I wonder what might have happened if I’d chosen to go to Calgary,” he muttered.

  Julie had been in the house. Carrying a salad bowl toward the table in her backyard, she had apparently overheard him. “I’m glad you came to Jasper Gulch instead,” she said pleasantly.

  Although her unexpected arrival gave him a start, he managed to control his r
eaction—or so he thought. “It is funny how things work out sometimes, isn’t it?”

  “If you’re talking about coincidences, I don’t believe in those, either.” She placed the wide bowl on the table and smoothed the cloth.

  “You are a strange lady, Miss Peep.” Hardly were the words out of his mouth before she jammed her fists onto her hips and made a face at him.

  Ryan waved her off. “Sorry, sorry. I keep forgetting.”

  “Oh, sure you do. Just like my rotten brothers conveniently forget whenever they want to tease me. You all get a kick out of making fun of me and my sheep. Now that you’ve seen my operation and worked with me to ship orders, you, of all people, should appreciate that I’m a true businesswoman.”

  “I never said you weren’t,” Ryan replied, thoroughly enjoying her temporary snit. She was always pretty. When she was fired up like this, she was a real knockout. Her hair was smoldering fire, her cheeks were a summer sunset, her eyes gleamed robin’s-egg blue—and when she gazed at him the way she was now, the vision of loveliness nearly took his breath away.

  He decided it would be in his best interests to distract himself. “Are the steaks defrosted? This fire’s almost ready.”

  “Any time. I put potatoes in the microwave to start them cooking in case we didn’t have time to get them done on the barbecue.”

  “See?” He knew he was grinning foolishly but couldn’t help himself. “You know a little about cooking.”

  “Only because I’ve watched Dad and Cord cook outside a lot. Mom usually bakes the potatoes in the oven, though. Dad is famous for getting the coals too hot and blackening side dishes.”

  “I’m sure the salad won’t be overcooked as long as you leave it on the table,” he joked.

  “Good to know.” Julie half turned. “What kind of dressing do you want?”

  “What are my choices?”

  “Ranch, ranch and ranch,” she said with a wry smile.

  “In that case, I’ll have ranch.”

  “Excellent choice.”

  Watching her head back to the house, Ryan was left shaking his head. There was something so charming about this young woman, he was repeatedly astounded. Not only was she intelligent, she had a wit sharper than anyone he’d ever encountered. Yes, she had a strong work ethic, but so did he. Those tendencies led her to labor hard on the ranch and kept him traveling, yet inside they were more alike than not.