Montana Mountain Valley Bride (Western Romance)

by Maya Stirling

  “Do you normally do this yourself?”

  “Noah helps me. You know he can ride a horse.”

  Brodie thought back to his comments about how vulnerable Noah was while living in the mountains.

  “Riding a horse is one thing,” Brodie responded. “Corralling a herd of wild horses is a different matter.”

  As if on cue, the cabin door opened and Noah appeared. He stepped out and peered at the horses by the pool. Bethany sat up straight on her saddle. She moaned with frustration, knowing that she couldn’t call out to Noah without scaring the herd.

  However some of the horses must have sensed Noah’s presence because the entire herd shifted as one and moved away from the waterfall.

  “They’re on the move!” Brodie declared.

  The herd moved, flowing like water across the valley. Within seconds they were running, the sound of their hooves echoing across the valley.

  “Let’s go,” Bethany said and stared to ride toward the creek. “They always follow the creek.”

  Brodie dug his heels into his mount and caught up with Bethany. Both riding fast toward the creek, they dodged their way around scattered clusters of trees until the reached the top of a gully at the bottom of which ran the creek.

  Looking to his right, Brodie saw the horses racing along the bottom of the wide gully. Hooves splashed in the water. A tremendous noise vibrated off the sides of the gully. Brodie felt the ground shaking. Glancing across at Bethany he expected to see her looking nervously at the herd. Instead, her eyes were wide with anticipation. Did she really enjoy this?

  On and on the herd came. They were almost upon Brodie and Bethany. Then, with the herd a mere few yards away, Bethany cried out and lashed her horse with its reins and started down the gully. His heart pounding, Brodie raced after Bethany. They both met the thundering herd at the base of the gully. Brodie feared a collision with the herd but it didn’t happen. Instead, Bethany showed great skill and guided her horse so that it was running parallel with the herd. The speed was terrifying.

  Gritting his teeth Brodie kept pace with Bethany. Then he dug deep and drove his mount’s pace so that he moved ahead of Bethany. Now he was racing a few yards away from the lead horse, the black stallion, matching its speed exactly. All of the other horses trailed obediently behind the lead animal. The stallion’s eyes were wide and its mouth worked ferociously as it picked up the pace. The noise in the gully was deafening.

  Glancing behind himself, Brodie saw Bethany keeping pace. She was bent low, her hair flowing in the wind. Her eyes were wide with primal delight. He could understand how she felt. He felt the same. There was an elemental force here, deep in amongst the herd. He could feel the power of the animals as they trailed the creek. Water foamed beneath the horses’ hooves. Spray swept across Brodie’s face. The angled walls of the gully raced by.

  Brodie strained every muscle in his body to make sure he was not dismounted. To fall beneath the hooves of the herd meant instant death. One more glance at Bethany reassured him that she was as determined as he was to survive this mad rush to the canyon.

  Up ahead, the gully flattened out slightly and Brodie saw the opening of the canyon in the high cliff walls. They were almost at Nate’s cabin. As if sensing a release of pressure, the horses spread out, a few of them climbing the gully walls on either side of the herd.

  With growing astonishment Brodie realized that Nate’s fencing trap had been designed to take advantage of the natural movement of the herd. Admiration and respect swelled in his breast. Eagerness to see this crazy escapade to success seized Brodie with a wild, irrational zeal.

  The herd raced on steadily, bearing down on the canyon entrance. To his right, far ahead, Brodie saw Nate. He was standing near the fence he’d showed Brodie earlier. For a brief few moment the herd broke, gaps appearing between the horses where before they’d barged against one another. Brodie saw a single horse, a white horse with flowing mane, move to the right. He knew what he had to do.

  Brodie swung his mount into the path of the herd. When he heard Bethany cry his name out, he didn’t look back. His concentration was intense as he tugged on his reins, feeling the resistance of his horse. He was shaken from side to side and buffeted by the racing horses.

  This maneuver was perilous but it had to be done. As he cut across the herd Brodie felt one of the horses collide with his own. The force of it was so powerful it almost sent him flying to the creek. Straining every sinew, he managed to hold on.

  Then he was through the mass of horses and riding in tandem with the white horse. Peering up ahead, he saw the canyon entrance, the creek in the draw and then the line of fencing which ran parallel to the gully. Pulling hard on his reins his horse barged into the side of the white flashing creature racing alongside. The collision caused his own horse to shriek. Brodie drove on, leaning forward. Once again he wrenched on the reins and sped forward ahead of the white horse. The animal changed the angle of its headlong rush. Now it was on the ridge of the gully, almost in line with the oncoming start of the fence near Nate’s cabin.

  Brodie saw Nate standing near the corral at the base of the cliff wall. Nate was ready. All Brodie had to do was deliver the white horse to Nate, and victory would be won.

  The herd was thundering toward the canyon submerged in a cloud of dust and water. The cacophony of the advancing herd echoed off the cliff walls. The herd would plunge into the canyon within seconds.

  Brodie knew he had only one chance. With one swift movement he placed his mount’s head in line with the head of the white horse. Keeping pace, using every ounce of his strength, Brodie guided the horse away from the bulk of the herd.

  As if sensing what was happening, the white horse neighed in panic, and made one final push toward Brodie, but Brodie drove his mount onward, forcing the white horse to one side of the fence.

  Once it was separated from the herd by the fence, Brodie coaxed the white horse forward the final short distance. In the same instant that the horse slid to a halt and reared inside the corral, the entire herd plunged into the canyon.

  Nate moved quickly to pull the gate of the corral shut. Brodie slid to a halt and leaped down from his mount. As he did so Bethany arrived and leaped down. Brodie, Bethany and Nate worked together to secure the captive horse. It wasn’t easy to do so. Brodie climbed into the corral and advanced slowly toward the animal. The horse reared and pawed dangerously at Brodie. Keeping his distance, Brodie secured the horse with a rope and spent the next few minutes pacifying the animal as best he could. Finally, he secured the horse with a combination of picket pin and ropes. The corral fencing had been built high. It was unlikely the horse would be able to jump the fence if it got loose of the ropes.

  The horse whinnied and protested. Its eyes were wide with emotion. It was a spirited beast. As the excitement of the stampeded faded, Brodie was left with the same bitter sense he got every time he had to restrain a defiant new horse.

  Stepping out of the corral, he saw Nate and Bethany standing a few feet away. Apart from the protests of the white horse, the valley was silent. After the deafening sounds of the stampede, the lack of noise was eerie.

  Brodie wiped the dust from his clothes. “That was fun!” he joked.

  Bethany lifted a brow. “You nearly got thrown from your horse.”

  “But I stayed on, didn’t I? The horse doesn’t exist that can throw me,” he stated with more than hint of bravado.

  Nate laughed loudly. Bethany just shook her head.

  Nate came to Brodie and patted him on the back. “That was some good work you both did.”

  The horse in the corral neighed. Brodie turned and peered at the animal. It was a fine specimen, tall and lean, with strong muscles and long legs. It would fetch a good price. If Bethany took it into town. After their earlier conversation he wondered if she might have a change of heart about the whole business of selling horses.

  While Nate worked to secure some of the ropes on the corral fencing, Brodie and Bethany le
d their horses to Nate’s cabin. They tied their horses to the hitch rail in front of Nate’s cabin.

  Peace had returned to the valley. “Are you okay?” Brodie asked Bethany.

  She nodded. “I’m fine. That maneuver you pulled off was dangerous.”

  He shrugged. “I’ve done it plenty of times before.” He saw her skeptical look and then quickly added: “With cattle.”

  “I see,” she said and nodded. “Just like I said. At heart you’re really a cattleman.”

  “Is there something wrong with that?”

  “No. What you did worked.”

  He grinned at Bethany. “Be honest. You were worried about me.”

  Her brows lifted in shock at his suggestion. “What do you mean?”

  “Admit it. When you saw me cut across that herd, you thought something was going to happen to me.”

  Bethany examined Brodie for a long moment weighing him up.

  Finally, she smiled. “I admit I was concerned about you,” she stated softly. “Despite what you seem to think of me, I don’t have a heart of stone.”

  “I never said you did,” he retorted abruptly.

  A loud whinnying came from the corral. Brodie peered over at it and saw Nate doing his best to calm the horse down. When Brodie turned back to face Bethany he saw a look of pity on her face. Noticing his attention, Bethany quickly masked her reaction with a blank expression.

  Earlier, he’d seen the way she’d looked at the white horse once it had been secured in the corral. Brodie had expected her to be pleased, but he’d seen darkness in her eyes. Now, once again, there was pain in her eyes. Something about seeing the horse in the corral was troubling her.

  Nate came across to them. “That is one fine specimen we’ve got there.”

  “You could call it that, I suppose,” Bethany said.

  Brodie and Nate exchanged puzzled looks. Nate fetched some water from inside the cabin and gave a tin cup each to Brodie and Bethany.

  Handing the empty cup back to Nate, Bethany said: “I better be getting back. Noah will be desperate to know what’s happened. He usually rides with me. He’ll be really upset he missed out in this.”

  “He’ll get over it,” Brodie said.

  For some reason Brodie couldn’t figure out, his remark drew a scolding look from Bethany.

  “You want me to come with you?” Brodie asked Bethany. He was looking forward to resuming the conversation they’d started at the waterfall. To his consternation she shook her head emphatically. “No. I’d rather go on my own, Brodie.”

  Brodie felt as if he’d been struck with a wooden board. Nate glanced quizzically from Bethany to Brodie and then lowered his head.

  Bethany lifted herself up onto her horse, gave Brodie and Nate one last look and then rode on up the trail toward her cabin.

  Once she was well out of earshot, Nate asked: “What was all that about?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Nate.”

  Nate scoffed. “I may be old in the tooth, Brodie, but I know what a woman looks like when she’s been scorned.” His white brows twisted as Nate grinned wolfishly. “You said something you shouldn’t have?”

  Brodie sighed. “I don’t know. Maybe I went too far. I was trying to persuade Bethany that maybe this place isn’t for her.”

  “The valley?” Nate’s eyes widened. “You tried to tell Bethany she should leave the valley?”

  Just listening to the way Nate said those words made Brodie realize the stupidity of what he’d done back at the waterfall. “But it’s true. She and Noah would be better off in town.”

  Nate came to Brodie and eyed Brodie’s neck. Puzzled by the mountain man’s action, Brodie squinted at Nate. “What you looking for?”

  “Just checking to see if your head is on backwards. Don’t know how else you’d get the fool idea that Bethany Hoxton will listen to a word you say.”

  Brodie swallowed. “Maybe I misjudged our friendship.”

  Nate nodded. “Looks like you did. Then again, what man on this earth can honestly say he understands a woman.” Nate chuckled. “I gave up trying years ago.” He laid a hand gently on Brodie’s shoulder. “You hungry?”

  “Not really.”

  “Never mind. I’ve got some tasty jerky you’ll just love.”

  With that, and with Bethany on his mind, Brodie followed Nate into the cabin.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  “Did you get one, ma?” Noah asked Bethany when she arrived at the cabin.

  “We sure did. A beautiful white horse.” Bethany stepped down from her horse and went to Noah.

  He looked so small and alone, standing at the door. Her heart sank. Today had been the first time Noah hadn’t been involved in capturing a horse. Usually he rode with Bethany, although she’d always insisted he keep a safe distance as they ran with the herd.

  Bethany was pleased her son had been obedient and had remained at the cabin. He must have felt a huge temptation to leave the cabin to see what was happening. It would have been easy for him to wander down the valley, desperately trying to satisfy his curiosity.

  She led Noah into the cabin. There, on the table, she saw the evidence of his diligence. A single sheet of paper with a pencil laid upon it. She looked quickly over his written work, a list of arithmetical sums, and nodded. “Great work, Noah.”

  “Are you going to take the horse to town, ma?”

  Bethany forced herself to smile. That was the last thing she wanted to talk about right now. “It depends on whether we can clear all the obstructions at the entrance to the valley.”

  Noah frowned and scowled at the sling inside which his arm hung. He didn’t need to say a word to express his obvious disappointment that he wouldn’t be able to help clear the rocks and ice.

  Bethany asked Noah if he was hungry, and he told her he was. She busied herself for a while, preparing some food for him. Noah sat at the table and continued to fill the sheet with his carefully-written answers.

  She was grateful for the chance to distract herself. It had been a difficult morning. First, Brodie had opened up to her, attempting to persuade her of his feelings about her decision to remain in the valley. She understood his concerns, which seemed genuine.

  She wondered what he’d been talking about with Nate. When he had returned from Nate’s cabin, Brodie had been tense and wound up about something. She guessed Nate had probably told Brodie some things about Richard. Bethany couldn’t begrudge Nate the right to talk about Richard. After all, he and her husband had been close friends. And Nate had done a lot to help Richard realize his dream of coming to the valley to set up his new life.

  “Is Brodie coming home soon, ma?” Noah asked abruptly.

  Home? Bethany froze. Laying the potatoes on the chopping board, she glanced at her son, shocked that Noah would think the cabin was Brodie’s home. Did Noah actually believe that? Did Noah think that she and Brodie were somehow getting close and friendly? Just how attached had Noah become to Brodie?

  Bethany cleared her throat and smiled at Noah. “He’s with Nate. They’ve got things to do to take care of that new horse we’ve got. He’ll probably be back before dinner.”

  Noah nodded, apparently satisfied with Bethany’s answer. But she wasn’t. Earlier, when she’d spoken with Brodie, she’d seen the intensity of his feelings. He worried about her remaining in this valley. He feared for her safety, and that of Noah. She even thought he was trying to get her to consider moving into town to set up a permanent home. Bethany could not countenance any of that. Giving up her life here was unthinkable. Why couldn’t Brodie understand that?

  But was there more to Brodie’s feelings than simple concern for her and Noah’s safety? Did he have something else on his mind?

  The answer to that question, when it drifted into her mind, made her hands shake and her heartbeat quicken. Bethany calmed herself with a mighty effort.

  Was it possible that Brodie had developed feelings for her? She’d seen concern in his eyes. But, s
he’d also heard passion and emotion in his voice.

  If Brodie was beginning to harbor feelings for her, then what did that really mean? He’d paid her compliments; cast approving glances at her; helped her in every possible way. He’d shown, by every one of his actions, that he wanted to keep her safe; that her happiness was important to him.

  What more evidence did she need? Wasn’t the answer obvious?

  Then one more thought, uncontrollable and terrifying, drifted into her mind. It so shocked her that she gasped.

  Bethany stood stock still, and thought for a long moment. Her heartbeat was pounding faster than it had done when she’d been riding in amongst the stampeding herd. She tried to drag in a deep breath, but her throat had tightened. Dizziness swept over her and, with the back of her hand, she wiped sweat from her brow.

  Excusing herself for a minute prompted a puzzled look from Noah as she made her way outside. Stepping out onto the yard, she breathed deeply. Thankfully the air was cool. Filling her lungs, she managed to compose herself.

  It couldn’t be true, could it? The truth slammed into her with an almost physical force.

  Brodie Cameron was falling in love with her.

  How else could she explain the intensity of the concerns he’d expressed earlier that day? How else could she explain the closeness of his attentions since his arrival in the valley?

  Clasping her hands at her waist, Bethany paced the yard. She was glad she was alone. Her mind was a swirling whirlpool of thoughts which she could not control. A hard knot, tight and impossible to ignore, twisted in her middle. She hadn’t felt such panic since Richard had fallen ill. At times like these, there was only one way to find peace.

  Bethany stopped pacing, and lifted her heart up to her Lord and quietly spoke a heart-felt prayer.

  “Lord. I believe You are guiding me. That You are caring for me, wrapping Your loving arms around me every day, protecting me and granting me Your favor. I thank You for Your love and the blessings You have bestowed upon me and Noah. But, right now, Lord, I’m frightened. Everything seems to be falling apart. And I don’t know what to do. Show me the way, Lord. I trust You, Lord. Help me do what is good and true and right. Help me to choose what is pleasing to You. Amen.