Big Sky Cowboy (Montana Marriages #1)

by Linda Ford

  Slowly she relaxed, but she didn’t pull away. Her head rested below his chin and she breathed calmly.

  He made no move to end the hug, either. If they could stay this way, in this place—minus the bear—his past wouldn’t matter. But time did not stand still. Life must be lived.

  “We should warn the others about the bear,” he murmured, reluctant to end the moment.

  “Of course.” She eased back and lifted her face to him. “Thank you.”

  It was he who should thank her, for offering to trust him. “You did everything right. Your pa will be proud of you.”

  “I was never so scared in all my life.”

  For him, it rivaled the moment he’d discovered Lonnie standing over their father, a bloodied shovel in his hand and the man beaten almost beyond recognition. He shook the image from his mind.

  “Where did you leave your berries?” he asked her. “If you dropped your bucket near the bear, we are leaving it behind.”

  She chuckled. “I thought the bear was you.”

  “You think I look like a bear?”

  “No, of course not, silly. I heard something in the bushes and thought it was you. I wasn’t expecting it to be a bear. I left my bucket over there.” She pointed.

  He measured the distance with his eye. Was it far enough from the bear that it could be retrieved safely? He checked for signs of the animal and saw the furry hide farther up the hill. “You stay right here and I’ll get it.”

  He retrieved it, then they returned to the spot where he’d left his and they returned to the wagon. Mr. and Mrs. Bell were there.

  “Ma, Pa, I met a bear over there.” She pointed.

  “Are you okay?” Mrs. Bell grabbed her and ran her hands over her arms and back.

  Mr. Bell stood very close, his eyes full of worry.

  Wyatt smiled at their tender concern. “Your daughter handled it very well. She backed away quietly until she was out of sight.”

  “I remembered all the lessons you drilled into us, Pa.”

  “Good.” Both parents shifted their attention to the bushes around them. “What about the others?”

  “Our berry picking is over,” Mr. Bell said. He cupped his hands and called the others.

  Cora joined him in calling their names and Wyatt added his voice. They paused to listen.

  “Coming,” a distant voice answered, and in a few minutes the three of them broke into sight.

  “We’re done here.” Mr. Bell took their pails and set them in the back. “Cora met a bear. We’re going home while we’re all safe.” He helped his wife to the wagon seat and the others clambered into the box.

  The twins each grabbed one of Cora’s hands, peppering her with questions.

  Cora told them the details of her bear encounter, all except the few precious moments she and Wyatt had held each other.

  Lonnie stared at the three girls.

  Wyatt wished he knew what the boy was thinking. Did he see the affection among the Bell family and want to be part of it?

  Maybe they were safe here. Perhaps they could settle nearby and enjoy a life that included the Bells. Wouldn’t it be nice to learn to live and love as they did?

  Wouldn’t it be sweet to spend more time with Cora?

  He stared at the scenery drifting away as they followed the trail back to the farm and tried to convince himself he had nothing to fear from people in his past.

  If anyone noticed his shudder, they’d likely put it down to the bear. But what scared him as much as seeing the bear facing Cora was knowing she would endure harsh comments and condemnation if anyone ever discovered he’d spent time in prison. Or even worse, Jimmy Stone if he ever discovered Wyatt’s whereabouts.

  Not too many people were willing to overlook that kind of a past.

  Dare he hope no one would ever recognize him? He recalled his reaction to the man at the livery stables. The man in the shadows had looked so much like Jimmy Stone. Would he ever stop looking over his shoulder for the man who had vowed revenge? Jimmy was lazy. Maybe too lazy to follow Wyatt across the prairie. But he was not the sort of man to overlook a grudge.

  Was Wyatt dreaming impossible dreams to think he could escape his past and Jimmy Stone?

  Chapter Sixteen

  The next day, Cora wanted to help Wyatt on the barn. He had the doors and stall partitions to install. But Ma needed all the help she could get sorting and preparing berries. Besides the serviceberries that were processed in syrup, the chokecherries had to be cooked. They’d put them through a sieve and then add sugar to the pulp before cooking the mixture into jam. It was hot, time-consuming work, but no one complained, knowing how delicious both would taste during the long winter months.

  As much as possible, Cora sat outside the kitchen door, sorting berries where she could watch Wyatt and Lonnie work. Or if she had to be in the kitchen, she often glanced out the window.

  “You can’t keep your eyes off him,” Rose teased.

  “I feel I should be helping with the barn.” It was a poor excuse and she knew everyone saw through it.

  The twins had quizzed her last night about how Wyatt had rescued her. Fortunately it had been too dark for them to see the warmth that flooded her cheeks and stained them a telltale pink. All she’d said was that he dragged her away and then retrieved her pail of berries.

  She was not prepared to reveal how tightly he’d held her. And how she’d held him just as tightly. Reaction to the scare explained only a portion of why they’d clung to each other.

  She, for one, had welcomed the excuse to be in his arms, finding comfort and strength she’d ached for since—

  Maybe since she’d told him about her papa. Or was it since he’d caught her as she about tumbled from the partly finished loft floor? Or maybe when they’d shared the awe of seeing a new foal. She couldn’t say where it had started. Only that she was at home in his arms, his heart beating soundly beneath her ear.

  But from the way the twins winked at each other and rolled their eyes each time they caught her looking toward the barn, she had to wonder if they guessed more than she meant to confess.

  By the time the berries were done, it was late afternoon and the kitchen was so hot Cora feared Ma would have heatstroke.

  “Let’s eat outside,” she suggested.

  “Good idea,” Rose said. “You set up a table for the food and we’ll carry it out.”

  Pa helped with the sawhorses and planks that created a table.

  Wyatt and Lonnie trotted over, their hair wet from soaking it in water they pumped from the well.

  They gathered in a circle, holding hands.

  “Let’s sing the blessing, Pa,” Lilly said.

  So they sang the doxology. And if anyone noticed that Wyatt’s voice was indeed more of a growl than a tune, they didn’t mention it.

  “How much did you get done on the stalls?” she asked Wyatt, who sat beside her on the warm, dry grass.

  “One more good day should see them finished.”

  “Done already? I never thought to see it go so fast.”

  “Helps to have lots of hands.”

  She wasn’t sure if he meant the work bee of a few days ago, or the help he and Lonnie provided.

  “All the help has been an answer to prayer,” Pa said.

  “Amen,” Ma added.

  * * *

  Cora insisted on helping finish the barn the next day. Not that Wyatt objected. His mind twisted and turned with possibilities. Could he discover how she’d feel about a man who had been in prison without implicating himself or Lonnie? Or was he building dreams on nothing but fluffy clouds of wishing?

  They stopped for dinner and then hurried back to work. The sun had barely passed its zenith when they hung the last gate on the last stall.

&nb
sp; “Done!” She clapped her hands as Lonnie put away the tools. She went to the door and smiled at the bright landscape. Her sisters worked in the garden. Her ma sat in the shade of the house, shelling peas. Noises from the work shed indicated where her pa was.

  She called them all over. “Thanks to Wyatt and Lonnie and our friends from town, we have our barn. Isn’t it great?” She walked them all through and took the twins up to the loft. Lonnie followed, but Wyatt remained on the ground with her folks.

  “Ma, Pa,” she called from the loft door, and they looked up at her. “This calls for a celebration. Let’s go on a picnic.”

  Lonnie looked as eager as any of them.

  Wyatt schooled his face not to reveal his own anticipation of the idea.

  Mrs. Bell shook her head. “I’m too tired. But you young people go ahead if you like. You all deserve a break from the work.”

  “Can we take the wagon?”

  Mr. Bell agreed they could. They decided to take a picnic supper and go to Chester’s Pond.

  Cora explained to Wyatt. “It’s a pond created by a small landslide. It’s a beautiful spot.”

  “Sounds nice.” He thought the driest spot on the bald prairie would be pleasant enough to thrill him.

  “I’ll get the wagon,” Mr. Bell said, and Wyatt went with him to hitch up.

  By the time Wyatt drove up to the house, the girls had a box full of food and several quilts ready to load.

  He wondered if Lonnie would sit by him on the seat, but he scrambled in beside Lilly and Rose, his arm on the box of food as if he had to make sure it wouldn’t disappear.

  “I’ll ride with you,” Cora said with a sweet smile.

  He tucked the smile and her offer into his hopeful thoughts. Starting over might be possible. His heart thudded against his ribs in eager anticipation.

  “Turn that way.” As Cora pointed to her left, her arm brushed his and optimism walloped into him. Don’t expect acceptance until you get it. But the warning seemed unnecessary. Hadn’t she already said she trusted him?

  They took a direction away from town, for which he was grateful. Would he ever feel comfortable around others? Perhaps he’d always fear having his past revealed. Wasn’t that reason enough to confess it? But how could he tell her the whole truth? It would mean condemning Lonnie, and he’d spent a year in prison to prevent that.

  They followed the river for a few miles, then she pointed again. “There it is.”

  A grove of trees prevented him from seeing a pond, but no doubt she knew how to reach the water.

  “Turn here, and then there’s a trail that will take us through the trees.”

  He saw the tree-shrouded opening and followed it.

  The twins and Lonnie crowded to his back.

  As soon as the water came into sight, Lilly sighed. “This is one of my favorite spots.”

  “Me, too,” Rose echoed.

  Cora said nothing and Wyatt glanced at her. She caught his gaze and smiled so widely, so invitingly that he forgot about the water, the twins, Lonnie...everything but the joy of this moment, the anticipation of sharing the afternoon with her.

  “Ahem,” Rose said. “Did you forget we’re here?”

  He jerked away. “It’s a very pretty place.” What he meant was that any place was beautiful with Cora at his side, smiling so sweetly, so trustingly.

  Would the truth steal it away?

  He stopped the wagon and jumped down. The others scrambled from the back, but Cora waited for him to help her down. He didn’t mean to hold her longer than he should, but his hands lingered at her waist as she lifted her face to him.

  Perhaps she’d meant to thank him, but no words came from her mouth as their gazes caught and held, hers so deep and burning he felt as if the sun had seared his insides.

  “Come on, you two,” Lonnie called, and they slowly backed away from each other.

  His hands lingered, reluctant to let her go.

  “Look,” Lonnie called.

  Cora’s smile seemed as regretful as he was. But they traipsed over to join the others.

  Lonnie had found an arrowhead with a broken shaft attached. “Do you think there are Indians here?” He glanced around, a mixture of fear and excitement on his face.

  Lilly pulled Rose close. “There aren’t, are there?”

  Wyatt wished he could reassure them all that they were safe. The government had recently established a reservation for the Natives and they had supposedly gone willingly, but only thirteen years ago, Colonel Custer had been badly beaten by Sitting Bull and his angry braves.

  It was enough to make them all look intently into the trees searching for Indians.

  Cora laughed nervously. “Even if they left the reservation, they’d be back in the hills where there’s lots of game.”

  Lonnie squinted into the trees. “’Less they want revenge for us taking their land.”

  Wyatt groaned. “Thanks, Lonnie. That’s reassuring. Let me see the arrow.”

  Lonnie reluctantly handed it to him. “I want it back.”

  Wyatt examined it. “This is old. Look at how the end of the shaft is rotting. It’s likely been here a long time.”

  “Might be from Custer’s last stand.”

  Wyatt didn’t bother pointing out that the battle had taken place to the southeast, many miles away.

  Cora let out a long breath. “Just the same. Maybe we should head back home.”

  The twins shook their heads. “There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

  “I can’t chance that.”

  The twins faced her, a wall of protest. “Stop worrying about us. We’re all grown up now.”

  “You’re only eighteen.”

  The twins looked at each other then back to her. “Most girls our age are married. We’ll likely be old maids because no one is ever good enough for us.”

  Wyatt laughed at the sorrowfulness of their words. “What does she do? Stand at the end of the lane and beat suitors off with a stick?”

  Lilly looked guilty. “No. But she doesn’t need to. She just scowls at them and they turn tail and run.”

  “I’d say if they aren’t prepared to fight a few battles, maybe confront opposition from your family or the community, they aren’t worthy of you.” His words swelled within his heart. Was he willing to face opposition in order to be with Cora? More important, would she face it to be with him?

  Rose nodded. “That’s true.” She faced Cora. “We are staying and enjoying ourselves.” She and Lilly marched away.

  Cora scowled at him. “Don’t be encouraging them to be foolhardy.”

  “I didn’t mean to.” Were they being reckless, or was she being overly cautious? Overly protective? That might be the flaw in his hopes. Cora might be willing to face his past, but it wasn’t likely she’d let anything threaten her sisters’ happiness and security.

  “Come on.” Cora grabbed his hand. “We’re going to make sure no one is lurking in the trees.”

  He willingly allowed her to lead him into the bushes. But she had serious searching on her mind. They looked behind every tree, parted the bushes to make sure no one hid in them, examined the ground in open areas for tracks. Crows flew from the treetops cawing their protest. A rabbit skittered away. But they saw nothing that meant a threat.

  They returned to the edge of the pond. “Are you satisfied?” he asked, half amused.

  “I guess so.” The others circled the water, examining pebbles and bits of wood. Lonnie tried to skip rocks.

  Cora sat on a fallen log and patted the spot beside her. “It’s nice to see them enjoying themselves, isn’t it?”

  “Yup,” he said, though he thought the Bell sisters always enjoyed life. It was Lonnie who had relaxed and grown happy here.

  Reaso
n enough, he decided, to risk telling Cora part of the truth and measure her response. He’d thought of several ways to broach the subject but none seemed to fit.

  “Do you think you’ll ever forgive your real father for leaving you?”

  She continued to stare toward the others but her fingers clenched. “I don’t think about him much at all. He didn’t care about us when we needed him and we don’t need him now, so it doesn’t matter.”

  But it did matter. She hurt because of it and obviously hadn’t forgiven him.

  He realized his own fists were clenched and made an effort to loosen them. It didn’t bode well for him that she didn’t forgive her own father.

  Why should she forgive Wyatt? Though he’d done nothing wrong. Except keep a potentially hurtful secret. But he’d only done it to protect them all.

  “Maybe he had a good reason for leaving you. Maybe he sincerely meant to return but couldn’t through no fault of his own.”

  She fixed him with blinding accusation in her eyes. “Why are you defending him?”

  He shrugged. “I’m not. I don’t even know him. All I’m saying is there might be an explanation.”

  Her look challenged him to find one.

  “Maybe he was in trouble with the law and had to run.”

  “A criminal as well as a man who abandons his children? I hardly find that comforting.”

  “What if he had been blamed for something he didn’t do?”

  “An honorable man would have made sure his family was safe. He’d put their needs ahead of his own.”

  He nodded. So that was his answer. He must put her needs, her sisters’ needs and Lonnie’s needs before his own selfish desires. So be it. He’d been doing so for years, so it wasn’t anything new.

  He took Cora’s clenched hands and rubbed the backs of them. “You are absolutely right. I don’t know why I thought I needed to bring it up. Guess I just like to find a sound reason for why people do things that leave us confused.”

  Her hands relaxed and turned palm to palm with his.

  “That’s very noble of you,” she said, her eyes filled with sunshine. Sweetness filled the air. She so quickly put aside little annoyances, if not so readily the big things in life.