Montana Sky: Amanda's Rancher (Kindle Worlds) (Loving A Rancher Book 1)

by Caroline Clemmons

He took a deep breath. “Guess you’ll want a bit of privacy. There’re two single windows in Iris’ room and two sets of double windows in ours. The kitchen has a small window over the sink and a double window by the table.”

  “What about Papa’s room?”

  He chuckled. “He has a double window. Don’t pick flowers for his curtains.”

  “Of course not. He’d need something masculine.” To the sour-faced woman who she now knew to be Mrs. Cobb, she said, “All right, I’ll take the blue and green calico for my daughter’s play dresses since, as you pointed out, they’ll look nice with her beautiful red hair. I also want enough of the white to make two pinafores.”

  Inside Amanda was shaking. How dare Mrs. Cobb insult Iris because of her hair’s color, which was also insulting Amanda? While the pickle-mouthed woman measured off the cloth, Amanda took Preston aside, “Is there a mercantile in Morgan’s Crossing?”

  “Yes, but it’ll be a week or more before I can take off again. You’d better buy enough cloth for ours and Iris’ rooms now.” He shrugged. “Aw, go ahead and get whatever you need. Other store is smaller than this one and no telling what they’ll have in stock.”

  Preston had been poleaxed when he’d caught the first sight of his bride in that fine dress this morning. She’d looked much as he’d pictured, only better. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. And now she was his wife.

  So why did he have this niggling unease? She met the qualifications he’d stressed, her daughter appeared well-behaved. So far, Amanda had been proper and amenable to all the arrangements.

  There was something about her speech that wasn’t what he’d expected. Of course she couldn’t sound like Mama, who’d been reared before the War Between the States. Things had changed since then. That must be the problem.

  He’d keep his misgivings to himself for now and get to know her better. At least she wasn’t demanding or a spendthrift.

  “If you’re sure.” She met his eyes.

  He smiled, appreciating that she asked his opinion.

  She bent to her daughter. “Iris, Daddy said we can get pretty curtain material for your windows. Which do you like best, the pink or the lavender?”

  Iris reached up and touched the latter. “This is pretty, like the sky in the evening.”

  His wife waved at Mrs. Cobb. “I believe you heard my husband describe the windows in each room. I’ll take enough of this green plaid for Papa Kincaid’s windows, the yellow checks for the kitchen, the sprigged lavender for Iris’ room, and the gray with the maroon stripes for our room.” Smiling sweetly, she asked, “Did you get all that?”

  “I did,” snapped Mrs. Cobb. “Do you want the curtains to the window sill or the floor?”

  “The window sill, of course. They’re to be curtains, not draperies.”

  The woman’s face reddened and she clenched her jaw, but didn’t make another comment. When they’d finished, he and Papa carried the purchases to the wagon. Both men guffawed as soon as they were loaded into the wagon.

  Papa said, “Good for you, Amanda, you sure put Mrs. Cobb in her place. Not many as can do that.”

  “Though she certainly had it coming. The woman is rude to everyone.” Preston handed Iris a small sack. “This has to last a lot of days, so go easy on it.”

  Iris peered inside. “Look, Mommy, I have candy. My new daddy gave me peppermint candy.”

  “And did you remember what to say?”

  Iris looked up at Preston. “Thank you, Daddy. I’ve never had a whole bag of candy before.”

  He smiled and snapped the reins, happy he’d thought to add that small purchase onto the bill. “You’re welcome, Iris.” But, he wondered why her father or grandparents had never indulged her.

  Amanda cautioned, “Remember this has to last, Iris. If you eat it fast, you’ll have to wait a long time before there’s more. Plus, you’d probably get a tummy ache.”

  Iris looked into the bag. “May I have one piece now?”

  Her mother leaned near her and kissed her cheek. “Yes, you may, Dear.”

  Preston asked his wife, “Do you want me to tell you about things as we pass or are you tired and want to doze?”

  Amanda sat up straighter and smiled. “Please point out anything you think of. I’m eager to learn everything about our home.”

  That pleased him. He was proud of this land and wanted her to share his enthusiasm.

  They drove toward the mountains, purple with snow-covered peaks even in spring. Although they passed groves of trees, he told her that most of the land was planted in crops or in grass for cattle.

  He indicated who lived down each road they came to, even several that appeared too narrow for a wagon. At one turn off he said, “There’s the road to Gideon and Darcy Walker’s home. He made furniture for Iris and for our bedroom. You’ll like them. Darcy was a mail-order bride as were several of her friends.”

  Papa said, “Including Mrs. Morgan, the mayor’s wife in Morgan’s Crossing.”

  “Oh, I’ll look forward to meeting them. Did you use the same agency?”

  Preston glanced at her over Iris’ head. “Papa had his heart set on a daughter-in-law from Georgia, so I sent to a different place. The other four all used one in St. Louis.”

  “I guess women are scarce out here.”

  “They are for a fact. I’m happy to finally be wed. Being alone is hard, especially in winter.”

  “You mentioned in your letter that winters are long. I imagine I’ll do a lot of quilting and knitting then.”

  “Do you know how to make rag rugs?”

  “I believe I do. I’ve only made one small rug, but I think a large one would be more of the same. What do you do in the cold months?”

  “We read, whittle, play cards, and mend saddles and harness but we still have to see to the stock. Hens don’t lay much in cold weather, so we move them into the barn.”

  “With the kitties?” Iris asked.

  He chuckled. His new daughter sure had kittens on her mind. “Yes, the kitties and grown chickens get along fairly well, but the dogs like to chase the chickens.”

  Iris peered at him and asked, “You have dogs?”

  “Three. They’re cattle dogs so they stay in the barn to warn us of predators.” At her questioning gaze, he leaned toward her. “Predators are bad animals that want to steal or kill our good animals.”

  The child appeared outraged. “That’s mean. They better not get the kitties.”

  Papa said, “The dogs are good about barking if strangers come around, too. We’ll leave the oldest one home to stand guard when we’re gone. His name is Rex and the others are Sport and Sandy.”

  Fear shone from Amanda’s eyes and her voice trembled as she asked, “D-Do you have trouble with strangers coming onto your place?”

  Preston sent her a broad smile. “Don’t worry. We have neighbors stop by, but I reckon you’ll be glad to see them. Some come to see me or Papa for some reason, but I expect now you’ll be getting visitors and invitations.”

  Surprise showed on her face as if she hadn’t expected to see other people. “I’m quite content to be alone except for you two. But, now that I think on it, Iris and I might enjoy meeting other women, especially if they have children to provide Iris with playmates.”

  He was pleased she didn’t expect a fancy social life. Mulling over the children he’d seen, he admitted, “Can’t think of any just her age but I’ve seen several in Morgan’s Crossing who are close. Afraid I’m not a good judge of children’s ages. To me, Iris acts more like she’s four or five.”

  Sadness tinged his wife’s words, “We’ve been through so much that she’s become very quiet and shy. She’s spoken more to you than to anyone in a long time.”

  Pleased, he hugged Iris. “Thank you for talking to me, Iris. I appreciate your trust. I’ll do my best to be a good Daddy to you.”

  Very seriously, Iris stared up at him. “Don’t get dead.”

  Dang. Poor little girl. Her simple s
tatement was like a knife in his gut. “I promise I’ll try to stay alive.”

  Amanda cuddled Iris to her. The poor child had dealt with so much death and change. No wonder she’d been quiet and shy. Perhaps her new home was already making a difference in her behavior.

  Near dusk, they stopped at a rough cabin near a stream. Preston pulled near the door and set the brake. He regretted the need to ask her to spend her wedding night in this primitive place.

  “This is a shelter but that’s all. We’ll sleep in our clothes. Or, you might want Iris to change into something more comfortable. Papa and I just roll up in the bedding we stored in the wagon.”

  Papa climbed down. “I’ll check the place before you ladies go inside.” Papa walked up and opened the door. In a few seconds, he gestured them inside.

  Amanda waited with trepidation. She hadn’t envisioned spending her wedding night in a communal setting, even though in the marriage contract he agreed to wait a month to consummate their vows unless she agreed earlier. After her new husband’s warning, she wondered what awaited them.

  Inside, she found bare bunks against the walls. At one end, wood was laid in a fireplace with kindling stacked nearby. The interior smelled smoky, musty, and dusty and the floor was hard-packed dirt. She waved away a fly buzzing around her head.

  Iris stared wide-eyed as she looked around. “Is this our new house?”

  “No, Dear. We’re just sort of camping out here for tonight before we go to our real new home. Pretend we’re… playing house.”

  Her daughter peered around. “I’ll bet there’re spiders.”

  Amanda clasped the little girl’s hand. “Don’t worry. Daddy and Papa will take care of any spiders. Did you know that some spiders eat mean bugs?”

  Iris shook her head but kept her cautious expression.

  Preston lifted Iris. “Your new daddy and grandpapa built a brand new room just for you with pretty furniture perfect for a little princess. Tomorrow, we’ll get to your new home. Soon, Mommy will make those pretty curtains for your windows.”

  Iris hugged his neck.

  Amanda smiled at Preston, thankful he was being so kind to Iris. “Who maintains this cabin?”

  Papa knelt to light the fire. “We do. Just before we leave in the morning, we’ll replace the wood we’ve used. If there’s a problem, like a leak in the roof or a shutter loose, whoever discovers it makes repairs.”

  “Who owns this place and land?” she asked.

  Preston set the basket of foot near the fireplace. “Don’t really know. Everyone uses it as a stopping place on the way from Sweetwater Springs to Morgan’s Crossing. There are a couple of others in the area for the same purpose.”

  Amanda took some of the bedding Preston had carried and laid it on the bunks. How Preston and his father would cringe if they knew this place was no sparser than her room in Georgia. She hadn’t had a fireplace, only a small potbelly stove. At least she’d had glass in the windows, but the clapboard walls were thin, unlike the sturdy logs of this place. Her bed was as narrow as the bunks here but she’d had a thin mattress.

  Preston said, “I’ll show you where you can relieve yourselves. I won’t watch but I’ll be nearby in case you need me.”

  After she and Iris had taken care of their needs, they went inside the cabin. The fire was blazing and the musty smell had lessened.

  Preston touched her arm. “I’ll check around outside and make sure everything is all right. Go ahead and turn in as soon as you’ve eaten.”

  Fear shone from her eyes again. “Will you be gone long?”

  “No, just want to make sure the animals and your belongings are secure.”

  She exhaled and smiled. “Then we’ll wait for you. I’ll get some coffee going.”

  Preston walked outside and checked the mules, hobbled at one side. He walked around the cabin one way, moved out forty feet and circled again. He hadn’t heard of anyone having trouble at this spot, but he didn’t want to take a risk.

  His first sight of his wife flashed in his mind. What a beauty she was. He couldn’t believe his luck. He’d never dreamed from her photo that she would be so gorgeous.

  Moreover, she didn’t appear put off by the primitive state of the cabin. Comparing this place to where she must have lived, he was surprised she didn’t scream or protest. Instead, she’d been agreeable. Only that one flash of fear when she thought he was leaving let him know she wasn’t as comfortable as she pretended.

  What could he expect? He hadn’t been to Atlanta, but he’d been to Austin, Fort Worth, and Denver and he remembered the big houses there. He wondered what her home had been like? He was eager to show her the ranch and get her reaction.

  With a sigh, he went back inside for dinner and sleep.

  The next morning, dawn had barely broken when they gathered up the bedding and climbed into the wagon. Preston made a bed for Iris and Amanda tucked in the sleepy child. She snuggled her dolly close and went back to sleep.

  Preston cautioned, “You’ll have to keep watch when the sun’s up to make sure she doesn’t get burned.”

  Papa Kincaid scooted a trunk aside. “I can rig an awning that’ll keep the sun off her skin.” He set about rearranging the extra bedding to form a shade over Iris.

  “Thank you, Papa Kincaid. That’s very thoughtful of you.”

  “Gotta take care of my new granddaughter.” Then, he stretched out. “Wouldn’t mind a doze myself.”

  Amanda was glad to have the time with her husband. “The mountains look so close, but we traveled most of yesterday and they still seem the same distance away.”

  “There are prairies, then low hills with forests, then the mountains. Our house faces the road, but the back porch has a fine view of the peaks. We sit out there in the evening when the weather cooperates.”

  “That sounds pleasant.” More than pleasant, he’d painted a picture of an ideal life. Excitement built in her. “How much longer before we arrive?”

  “Since we got an early start, we should be there around noon. I can ride to Sweetwater Springs in a day, but with a wagon, I need a day and a half. On the other hand, in less than half an hour, I can drive the team to Morgan’s Crossing.”

  “But there’s no railroad there?”

  “No, it’s really a mining town. They struck gold several years ago. Michael Morgan owns the mine and the town.”

  “And his wife was a mail-order bride?”

  “So I’ve heard. I don’t get over there often, but I believe her name is Prudence. Pretty woman but reported to have a temper. Caught the store manager cheating and had her husband throw the man out.”

  She digested these facts. “So she has a new manager now. Maybe she’ll have more of the things we need for parlor draperies and such.”

  “Couldn’t say but reckon you’ll meet her soon. She’s hired a clerk named Ralph Jones to do the day-to-day running of the store.”

  Chapter Six

  The sun had passed the overhead mark when they turned off the main road. Amanda forced herself not to lean forward in anticipation of seeing her new home. Iris had remained on the cushion of bedding after she had woken, playing with her doll in the shade. When they turned, Iris climbed onto the seat between Preston and her.

  As they drove down the road, she saw the shape of buildings in the distance. When they drew closer, she made out a large barn with other ranch buildings clustered beside a low house. Formed from logs, the freshly-planed lumber of the new rooms contrasted with the softened shade of the original house. The wide porch across the front held a couple of chairs and a bench. A large brown dog lay on the porch but roused when the wagon approached.

  “What a charming ranch set up, Preston. You and Papa must have worked so hard to accomplish all this.”

  Beaming at her, he pulled the wagon near the front. “We’ve worked seven years to get this place to this state. I admit I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished.”

  “I’m so appreciative of you welcoming Iris with her
own room. You have no idea how much that means to me.”

  Papa leaned forward and chuckled. “He’s late beginning a family. Doesn’t hurt to have a head start.”

  Iris sat between Amanda and Preston. She appeared to take in everything. “Where are the kittens?”

  Preston gestured to the largest barn. “In that building right there. First we have to get your and Mommy’s things inside so you can see your princess room. After we’re settled a bit, I’ll take you to see the kittens. There are rules about going into the barn, so you’ll have to listen closely.”

  “I will, Daddy. I want to see the princess room.”

  Amanda wanted to see inside the house—her house. She couldn’t believe she was so lucky. Immediately guilt attacked her. How could she rejoice when her sister lay in her grave?

  Deciding she couldn’t help her sister by grieving now, she vowed to take pleasure in her home and handsome rancher husband. Amanda’s rancher. But now she was Amanda, so he was hers. How did life get so confusing?

  She skipped up the steps and waited while Preston made a grand production of opening the door to welcome her.

  “I know it’s not fancy like you’re used to in Atlanta, but for a Montana Territory home, this is real nice. Sturdy and warm in winter. With the pump at the sink, you won’t have to worry about carrying water.”

  She stepped inside, surveying every inch. “Fine craftsmanship everywhere I look. You’ve done beautiful work and planning.” This was the nicest place she’d ever lived, that was for certain.

  Iris tugged her hand. “Where’s my princess room?”

  Preston swept her up and tickled her. “Right this way, Princess Iris.” He carried her into a room off a small hallway and set her down.

  She squealed and ran from one thing to the other. “Mommy, see my room. I have a big bed. Ohh, look at the bed for my dolly.”

  Amanda stood beside her husband. Staring at a wedding-ring patterned quilt covering the bed, she said, “What a lovely room perfect for any girl. And what a beautiful quilt.”

  He slid a hand around her waist. “Gideon Walker’s wife sent the quilt. Some of the women get together for sewing bees. I figured she could use this furniture until she’s grown. Gideon made it. He gave her the doll bed as a welcome gift.”