Montana Mountain Valley Bride (Western Romance)

by Maya Stirling

  Richard’s feelings had been shaped by what had happened during the Civil War. Nate had never been involved in that, and had listened with horror to some of Richard’s descriptions of his time in the war.

  “And you live here with Bethany?” Brodie asked.

  “Not exactly,” Nate said.

  Bethany interrupted quickly, anxious that Brodie would not get the wrong impression about her living arrangements. “Nate lives in a cabin down there,” she said and pointed to the far end of the valley, close to the canyon entrance which opened out eventually on the other side of the mountain.

  “I help Bethany and Noah in whatever way in can,” Nate said and then smiled. “And I’ve been training Noah in the ways of the mountain. You know, hunting and trapping. He’s a strong boy and he’ll make a fine mountain man when he grows up.”

  “Nate’s the reason why we’ve been able to continue living here since Richard passed,” She was still working to get used to the idea that Noah might end up living here for a long time. That was one of the doubts with which she was still battling.

  Nate jammed his rifle into the ground and leaned on it. “Richard was a good man. A fine man,” Nate said and sighed. Bethany’s heart sank at the mention of Richard. Brodie’s quick glance at her showed concern and sympathy.

  “It was real shame when he passed the way he did,” Nate continued.

  Bethany saw Brodie nod. He looked like he was still trying to make sense of what he’d found in the valley. This must have been the last thing he would have expected to find, Bethany reflected.

  “Help me unpack these bags,” Bethany said to both Brodie and Nate.

  The men busied themselves removing the contents of the pack horse bags. Nate looked at the extra horses. “Where did these come from?”

  “We had some unwanted guests on the trail,” Brodie said. He explained what had happened with Tyrell and Rufus. As he did so, Nate’s brows furrowed into deep ridges.

  When Brodie had completed his account of the trouble with Shadley’s men, Nate peered straight into Brodie’s eyes. “Seems like you’re owed a whole heap of thanks,” he said.

  “I did what was right,” Brodie replied. “I only wish I’d caught up with the men before they found Bethany.”

  “Those men didn’t hurt you, did they, Bethany?” Nate asked urgently.

  Bethany shook her head. “They mainly had foul mouths.” She saw Brodie’s skeptical look. “Brodie was a great help.”

  “They didn’t follow you?” Nate asked.

  Brodie patted one of the horses. “I made sure they couldn’t.” He chuckled. “I took their horses and their guns and left them with the only thing they need. Their legs. Right now, I reckon they’ll be starting a long walk back to Inspiration.”

  Bethany glanced up at the darkening sky. Heavy cloud cover was starting to gather. Up here, in the mountains, the weather could change in an instant.

  When they took the contents of the saddle bags into the cabin Bethany saw Brodie examine the interior. She wondered what he thought of her humble abode. Judging by his blank expression he was doing his best to mask his reaction. She was proud of her little home in the mountains. It was modest, and the furnishings were basic, but it was her home. It was the place where Noah had known security, and at least some kind of happiness.

  After the supplies had been brought inside, Brodie turned to Bethany. He shifted on his heels and looked suddenly awkward. “Guess I’ll be going,” he said.

  For some inexplicable reason her heartbeat quickened. Before she knew why she’d done it, she blurted out: “You must be hungry. I can prepare some food for you. You’ve been in the saddle all day. You mustn’t leave without eating something.”

  Brodie shrugged. “I have to get going before it gets dark. Once I get off the mountain, it ain’t that far to the ranch,” Brodie objected.

  “You’re a rancher?” Nate asked. He seemed surprised, and even a little impressed.

  “My brother and my sister own a spread,” Brodie confirmed. “It ain’t much. Just a thousand head.”

  Noah was stacking some of the tins on a shelf. When he heard Brodie’s words he gasped excitedly. “You live on a ranch, mister?”

  “His name is Brodie,” Bethany corrected her son.

  Noah came to Brodie. Now there was a completely different expression in Noah’s eyes. Gone was the earlier suspicion. That had been replaced by wide-eyed amazement. “Must be fun living on a ranch,” Noah said enthusiastically.

  “Sure, it’s a good life,” Brodie replied. “But there’s plenty of hard work to do. Those cattle don’t look after themselves.”

  “You get many rustlers?” Noah asked.

  For a moment Brodie seemed taken aback by that question. He glanced quickly at Bethany and Nate.

  “I’ve been telling him stories,” Nate admitted. “I heard cattle thieving is a big problem for folks like you.”

  “It can be,” Brodie replied. “We’ve had a few problems over the years. Mostly we deal with it ourselves. The sheriff helped out a couple of times.”

  “Was there any shootin’?” Noah asked.

  “Sometimes.”

  “Did you shoot any rustlers, Brodie?”

  Bethany figured it was time to cool Noah’s enthusiasm a little. “Mr Cameron has had a long day, Noah,” she told her son, resting an arm on his shoulder. “You get along and stack those tins.”

  “Maybe we can talk about my ranch some other time,” Brodie said.

  Noah’s eyes lit up. He made his way to the shelves to resume the stacking of the tins.

  Bethany heard a sudden rumble of thunder. Moving to the open door of the cabin she peered up at the sky. Dark clouds had gathered. “Looks like there might be rain, or even some more snow.”

  “I should be heading back,” Brodie insisted.

  Admitting defeat, and feeling disappointment stirring inside her, Bethany nodded. “Aren’t you worried you might get caught in the rain? Or that it might get dark before you get back to the ranch?”

  Brodie grinned as if that was just about the silliest thing he’d ever heard. “I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

  Bethany was also sure that, whatever the elements threw at Brodie, he’d be able to cope comfortably. His physique had been shaped by outdoor work. She was secretly certain that Brodie Cameron was well able to look after himself. As Brodie got ready to leave, Bethany recalled the natural authority he’d displayed when he’d faced down Tyrell and Rufus. Even though she’d felt genuine anxiety, even some fear, she’d also felt confident that Brodie would win out if it had come to a conflict with the two gunmen. And so it had proven to be the case.

  Outside, Brodie rose up onto the saddle of his horse. Bethany stood alongside the horse. “I think I owe you an apology.”

  Brodie shook his head firmly. “You don’t owe me anything, Bethany. That’s just plain nonsense.”

  Bethany frowned. “I was unkind to you, earlier. I realize that now. It wasn’t Christian of me. But I don’t know what came over me.”

  “Didn’t help that you had two ruffians doing their best to hurt you.” When he gazed into her eyes she felt something shift inside her. The sensation took her completely by surprise. Was she sad to see him go? If that was so, what on earth did that mean? When the answer drifted into her mind it shocked her. Emotions churned inside her, like an unsettled sea. She quickly cleared her mind and looked up at Brodie.

  “I had no idea they were following me,” she admitted, trying hard to mask her emotions with a blank expression on her face.

  “That kind are used to creeping up on folks,” Brodie declared. “It’s how they make their living.” His mouth turned down with plain and obvious disgust. “You won’t be seeing them again.”

  Thunder rumbled in the near distance. Wind swept up the valley shaking the trees.

  A thought occurred to her. “What about the next time I come into town. Won’t they be there?”

  “I’m going to speak with the sheriff
. I reckon I can persuade him to deal with Tyrell and Rufus. Even if I have to put myself up as a witness to what they did to you.” As he said those last few words she saw his jaw tighten. He was still angry about what the two men had put her through, she told herself. That realization made her heart warm. The idea that Brodie Cameron cared for her was strangely comforting.

  Another rumble of thunder echoed across the valley. The sky was darkening by the second. Bethany recognized the sudden change in the weather. She was used to it. A powerful wind gusted up the valley. Flurries of snow drifted in the air. She staggered with the force of the gust. Over on the plain the groves of trees danced in the wind.

  Brodie cast a quizzical eye up at the sky. “Looks like a storm is coming.”

  “And more snow. You better get going.”

  In spite of the storm and snowfall he looked like he wanted to linger a while. Bethany figured that, now that she was alone with him, he might have things he wanted to say to her.

  Brodie peered all the way down to where the canyon opened into the valley at the far end. “Where does that canyon lead?”

  “The other side of the mountain,” she replied. “The plains beyond.”

  He thought for a moment. “Guess that’s the long way home,” he observed. “It would take me a couple of days to make my way around this mountain range.”

  He was right about that. Bethany had only been down that canyon once. It wound its way down the mountain for a mile or so and emerged out on a flat plain. The canyon itself, narrow and treacherous, was barely passable in parts. It was the only other way into the valley. Since Richard had brought her and Noah here, no-one had ever come up that canyon.

  But there was one thing which did use the canyon as a way of reaching the valley. Glancing up at Brodie she toyed with the idea of telling him about that. The impulse to share her secret with him was strong. But her lips remained sealed. She told herself that the time might come when she would share that secret with him. Now wasn’t that moment.

  “This place sure is special.” Brodie said and looked softly at Bethany. “But I guess you know that, already.”

  “We know how lucky we are.”

  Brodie frowned. “Isn’t life hard here? You seem to have what you need, but isn’t it lonely up here?”

  Feeling a sudden chill in the air, Bethany took a step back from the horse and wrapped her arms around herself. She’d asked herself that very question so many times before now. She already knew the answer.

  Snow started to fall, suddenly heavy.

  “Life isn’t any harder up here than it would be in some town or other.”

  His brows lifted. “You believe that?”

  “I do. With all my heart.” She glanced across at the cabin. “And Noah is so happy here. I can’t imagine him living anywhere else. Besides, this is what my husband wanted. I guess I’m trying to honor his memory and respect his wishes.”

  Brodie didn’t reply. He just gazed at her and then nodded slowly. Turning his horse he touched the brim of his hat. “See you around, Bethany.”

  Realizing that he was leaving now triggered another wave of emotion in her. She raised a hand. Her words of farewell caught in her throat.

  Brodie rode up the trail which would take him to the narrow crevasse. Watching Brodie leave, seeing him disappear into the suddenly heavy cloud of snowfall, a sadness wrapped a cold hand around her heart. Since she’d first encountered Brodie, she’d grown to appreciate his concern for her. The realization that she’d miss him should not have surprised her, but it did.

  As Bethany made her way back to the cabin a boom of thunder shook the mountain range. The ground shook beneath her feet. The chickens, in their coop, shrieked in panic. Inside the cabin Nate and Noah were sitting at the table. Nate gave her a quizzical look as she closed the cabin door.

  “Storm brewing,” Nate said.

  “More snow coming,” she added.

  Nate’s brows furrowed into deep ridges. “It’ll be a long ride home for Brodie,” Nate observed. “Especially in that snow.”

  Bethany was silent for a moment. Worry clawed at her. “I’ll make some food,” she announced.

  Bethany went to the kitchen area and busied herself checking the supplies she’d brought from town. Her mind was filled with thoughts of Brodie Cameron. She wondered when she would see him again. There were enough supplies for a couple of weeks, so she’d have no reason to go into town for a while.

  Brodie had told her he’d take care of the situation with the two men who’d accosted her, and she believed him. Once he did that, it might be safe for her to go to the mercantile again.

  As Bethany prepared food for Noah and Nate she listened to the storm lashing against the cabin walls. Gusts of wind made the walls shake. She was used to this. It was all part of mountain living.

  A short while later she was cutting some carrots when the cabin door flew open. Bethany whirled as wind and snow swept into the room. A figure stood outside the door, shadowed by the swirling snow. The figure, dim in the light, was buffeted by the wind. Nate rose quickly to his feet, instinctively ready to grab his rifle. But there was no need. Bethany saw the man’s features beneath the snow-covered hat.

  “Brodie!” Bethany exclaimed, rushing across the room.

  A huge gust of wind and snow blew Brodie into the room. He was soaked to the skin. Nate and Noah rushed to Brodie.

  “What happened?” Bethany asked Brodie.

  He removed his hat and slapped it against his leg. Running a hand through his hair, he grinned. “Darned snow, that’s what!”

  “But why did you come back?” Bethany asked abruptly.

  Brodie peered into her eyes. “I had no choice.”

  “What do you mean?” Nate asked.

  “The pass is blocked. There’s no way through,” Brodie continued.

  “What!” Bethany exclaimed.

  “The storm must have loosened some of the snow lying on the rocks above the crevasse,” Brodie explained. “When I got there, the whole pass is blocked solid twenty feet high. The ice and snow has come down from the hills above and filled the pass. I tried to get through, but there’s no way anyone will be able to make it until the snow melts.”

  Bethany exchanged an astonished look with Nate. The mountain man shrugged. “It can happen, I guess. Maybe we can dig our way through.”

  Brodie shook his head. “I climbed up as high as I could on the snowfall. It’s rock solid all the way into the crevasse. We’ll never be able to dig through that. Looks like there’s some rockfall mixed in with it.”

  Nate frowned. “That’s bad.”

  Noah smiled at Brodie. “You’re stuck here with us, Brodie.” Noah seemed to think that was a good thing. Bethany was still trying to come to terms with the discovery that Brodie might well have to stay at the cabin for a day or two.

  Bethany went to the door and gazed outside. The snow was falling heavily now. It was settling on the ground. She closed the door and turned to see Brodie watching her carefully. What did he expect her to say?

  “If you’re going to be staying, then I guess I’ll have to cook some extra food,” Bethany said and smiled at Brodie.

  CHAPTER NINE

  “I might try the canyon,” Brodie said as he sat at the table after eating the delicious food Bethany had made.

  Nate, sitting across from Brodie, frowned. “And head for town? I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “How come?”

  Nate leaned back on the rickety wooden chair. “These mountains stretch for miles north to south. But you’ve lived here long enough to know that. There ain’t many ways through them.”

  “There’s a pass a few miles south of here,” Brodie stated.

  “But in these conditions you’d likely freeze to death trying to reach it,” Nate said. “The canyon’s dangerous, too. Rocky terrain that’s hard on horses.”

  Nate was right, Brodie reflected. It might be possible to use the canyon at the end of the valley to reac
h the plain to the west of these mountains. But it was a long ride south to the pass. If his mount injured itself in the treacherous conditions, Brodie reckoned he might not survive the journey home.

  Sitting at the head of the table, Bethany smiled at Brodie. “Looks like you’re just going to have to stay here until the crevasse clears.”

  Now why did she look so pleased about that idea? Brodie had no clear answer to that question. Bethany had already set up a makeshift sleeping area in the corner of the room. Brodie would use the bedroll he had brought with him. The food she’d served up, some bacon, beans and biscuits, had brought warmth back to his body. Even though the storm was still raging outside, here inside the cabin it was cozy. The fireplace cast a warm glow on the features of Bethany, Nate and Noah.

  Noah chuckled. “You’re stuck here.”

  Bethany looked scoldingly at Noah. “There’s nothing funny about being trapped in the mountains, Noah.” Brodie could see she wasn’t actually annoyed at Noah. She was just trying to be a good mother.

  “I’ve been in worse situations,” Brodie said.

  Nate lifted a brow. “You got some good rancher stories?”

  “I guess I have. We’ve been working our spread long enough.”

  “We like stories, don’t we, Noah,” Nate said and rested an arm across Noah’s shoulders.

  “Yup,” the boy said. “Especially ones about rustlers and outlaws.”

  Bethany smiled. “We’ve been reading some of those dime novels. I buy them from time to time, when I’m in town.”

  “I like Ned Buntline’s stories the best,” Noah declared.

  “We read something called Hawk-Eye The Hunter, recently,” Bethany said.

  Nate scoffed. “Those are fairy stories. That man ain’t been anywhere near the mountains in his entire life. I can tell.”

  Bethany grinned. “Noah’s an expert on mountain living. Whenever I read a story about someone living in the mountains, he just laughs.”