Forever in Love (Montana Brides)

by Leeanna Morgan

  She followed him down the stairs. Nathan stopped a couple of steps below her, bringing her eye-to-eye with laughing blue eyes.

  “Just in case you hadn’t notice, we put your suitcases at the end of the landing.”

  She glanced over her shoulder, spying the rag-tag bunch of luggage. “Thanks, I’ll sort them out later. You’re in a better mood this morning. You must have had a good night’s sleep.”

  Nathan frowned, the smile on his face disappearing as quickly as it had arrived.

  A high-pitched squeal had them both turning toward the top of the stairs.

  “Tell Sally I’ll be there soon,” Amy said. “I’ll leave you to fight over the last pancake.” She left Nathan on the staircase, glad of any distraction that kept her out of his way.

  As soon as Amy walked into their bedroom, Catherine’s face broke into a cheeky grin. She’d pulled herself up against the side of the cot, clinging to the wooden rails like a starfish waiting for the next tide to take her to the bottom of the ocean.

  “Good morning to you too, little girl.” A bubble of laughter filled the room as Amy lifted her sister in the air, wrapping a blanket around her body to keep her warm. “Let’s get your diaper changed and some clothes on you before we head downstairs.”

  Catherine grabbed hold of Amy’s hair, tugging it into her mouth.

  “There’s something even better tasting downstairs.” Prying her sister’s fingers loose, Amy moved quickly. She threw yesterday’s clothes into her carry-on and headed toward the bathroom. “As soon as we’ve had breakfast we’re going to sort through our suitcases, then drive into Bozeman and see Doctor Lewis. Then we’re going to find ourselves somewhere to live. What do you think about that?”

  Catherine watched her with unblinking eyes.

  “What? No smile? I thought you’d be incredibly impressed with my plan.” Amy closed the bathroom door and put her sister on top of a fluffy towel, quickly getting her ready for the day ahead. “We might even join a playgroup so you can make some little friends.”

  Catherine gurgled and Amy took that as a definite yes. “Just you wait and see. Before you know it, everything will work out fine. Now let’s go and see what Aunty Sally has been cooking.”

  Amy stood in the kitchen doorway. The three Gray men spread like giant tree trunks around the wooden table. Everyone had inherited the thick mop of dark hair and green eyes that marked the Gray offspring for three generations. Everyone except Nathan.

  He’d been born with blonde hair that streaked to silver in the hot summer months, and blue eyes that turned violet whenever he got annoyed. But they all shared shoulders that were wide enough to withstand anything life threw at them and soft hearts that made those shoulders come in mighty handy.

  Sally had squeezed herself between Matthew and Sean, a cup of something hot steaming in front of her. She grinned when she saw Amy and Catherine. “Come and join the breakfast circus. Nathan put our old highchair beside him and there’s hot food on the counter. Help yourself to whatever you want.”

  Amy frowned at Sally’s toast. “Aren’t you having any bacon?”

  “Weight Watchers,” Sally sighed. “I overdid my portion sizes yesterday, so I’m being extra good today.”

  Sean stood up and moved toward the kitchen. “She’s always on a diet. God knows what for.”

  “Men,” Matthew mumbled around a mouthful of bacon. “Ow.” He shot sideways, almost falling off his chair. “Keep those elbows to yourself, little sister.”

  “Don’t you little sister me, you big Neanderthal. Just because I like being healthy doesn’t mean it’s because I want a man in my life.”

  Matthew looked down at Sally’s elbows and pulled his chair out of the firing line. “I saw Gracie in the hardware store last week and she said one of the Jennings brothers has been sniffing around you.”

  “They have not!”

  Catherine’s head swiveled toward Sally.

  Amy burst out laughing. “Nothing’s changed. Catherine, this is Matthew and Sean, two of the nicest men you’ll ever meet.”

  Catherine gurgled and then buried her head in Amy’s neck.

  “Sweet.” Matthew winked at Sally. “Pity you have to grow up.”

  Nathan pulled the tray off the highchair. “You’d better put Catherine in here. At least she’ll be safe beside me.”

  Sean leaned against the kitchen cupboards. “Before we all forget our manners,” he stared at Matthew, his twin brother, “I’d like to say welcome home, Amy. What are you going to have?” He waved a fork over the stack of food on the counter.

  She looked between the kitchen and Sally’s pink cheeks. “I’m going to feel like a piglet if I ask for three pancakes.”

  Matthew held a jar of maple syrup in the air. “You might as well go for broke with the syrup. You could do with a little fattening up.”

  Nathan cleared his throat, glaring at his younger brother.

  Matthew grinned back. “Just joking. You’ve still got curves in all the right places.”

  Nathan’s knife clattered to the table. “It looks to me like that sock can’t get any further in your mouth. Weren’t you and Sean about to leave?”

  “We’re on our way now.” Matthew stuck a piece of bacon between two thick pancakes. “We’ll be out of cell phone range until lunchtime.”

  “Don’t forget to order the engine parts for the bike.” Nathan licked a dribble of syrup off his fingers and Amy’s heart leaped in her chest. She pulled her gaze away from his sticky fingers and straight into serious blue eyes. She must be more tired than she thought. And stressed. And brain-dead. And good lord, was that a smile teasing the corner of his mouth?

  Staying in the same house as Nathan could only lead to trouble. And she wasn’t looking for trouble of any kind. No sir-ee. She already had enough issues in her life to last a lifetime.

  Sally’s chair scraped against the floor, her half eaten piece of toast ending up in the rubbish. She looked longingly at the last piece of crispy bacon sitting on the counter. “You’d better distract me fast, Amy, otherwise I’m going to forget about my wobbly thighs and focus on a nice salty slice of bacon.”

  Amy slid a pancake onto her plate. “Pass it to Nathan. He’ll eat it.”

  “Hey, what am I? A human waste disposal?” His indignant look didn’t last long. He swallowed the slice of bacon in one mouthful. “You owe me a favor now, Sally. I’ve saved your thighs from eternal damnation.”

  “And I’ll be forever grateful. Not.” She turned her back on her brother and started rinsing her dishes. “Oops, I nearly forgot.” Sally flicked the faucet off and headed out of the room. “Don’t go anywhere, Amy. I’ve got something for you. Mom asked me to give it to you when you arrived.”

  She walked into the hallway, then came back holding a red box. “This is a gift for Catherine.”

  Amy wiped her hands on a paper towel and took the box from Sally. She opened the flaps and stared inside. Her hands shook as she lifted a small pale pink cardigan out of the cardboard, followed by another jacket, two wooly hats, and three pairs of slippers and mittens.

  Sally smiled. “Mom thought Catherine might need a welcome-to-Montana present.”

  “They’re beautiful.” Amy’s hands stroked the wool. “Do you remember?”

  “Yeah.” Sally rubbed Amy’s arm.

  Nathan frowned at the baby clothes. “What am I missing?”

  “Mom made Amy a gift box for her first winter in Bozeman. Everything was just a little more supersized for a fourteen-year-old.”

  Amy stared at the assortment of clothes laid out on the table. Sally’s mom had told her that every stitch she knitted was a stitch of love. Amy had worn her hand-knitted sweaters like armor, keeping her safe in the trailer park she’d called home. “I’ve still got the pink and orange striped socks she made.”

  Sally grinned. “That won’t be the last knitting coming your way. Mom’s been having withdrawal symptoms since we all stopped wearing her stuff. So what are you
r plans for the day?”

  Amy stacked the clothes in front of her. “I’m going to sort our suitcases out and then I’ve got an appointment with Stan Lewis at the hospital. Do you think I could borrow one of your trucks for a few hours?”

  Nathan passed Catherine a piece of pancake. He put his hand against the side of her face. Turning toward Amy, he frowned. “Are you sick?”

  She shook her head. Stan Lewis couldn’t cure what was ailing her. Nothing could. “He offered me a part-time job at the hospital. I’m going into Bozeman to meet some of the staff and see what’s involved.”

  “With Stan?” Nathan scowled across the table at her.

  Amy put her knife and fork down. “You’re going to get even more wrinkles if you keep looking like a bulldog. And I don’t care if you’ve heard any secondhand gossip about him. He’s been very kind.”

  “I bet he has,” Nathan muttered. He gave Catherine another piece of pancake.

  Sally walked back to the kitchen and opened the dishwasher. “Don’t you have to go into town later this morning, Nathan?”

  He dropped the pancake he was about to eat and glared at his sister. “I’m not leaving until ten o’clock.”

  “What time are you seeing Stan, Amy?”

  “Eleven o’clock.”

  “Perfect!” Sally said.

  It didn’t feel perfect to Amy. She felt like she’d been corralled into a tight corner and didn’t know how she’d gotten there. Sitting in Nathan’s truck making polite conversation wasn’t her idea of keeping her distance. Especially since he didn’t seem remotely interested in giving her a ride into town.

  “I don’t want to be a nuisance.”

  “Don’t be silly.” Sally put more plates in the rack, glancing over her shoulder at her brother. “Nathan wouldn’t have offered if it wasn’t convenient. Isn’t that right, Nathan?”

  Amy didn’t trust the determined gleam in Sally’s eyes. “Nathan didn’t offer. I can drive myself into town.”

  “Nonsense. There’s no point taking two vehicles into Bozeman at the same time.”

  Nathan stacked his coffee mug on top off his empty plate. “Sally’s right. I’ll take you into town with me.”

  Sally wiped her hands on the dishcloth. “Well, that’s settled then. You can meet each other in the front yard at ten o’clock. Now if I don’t get my skates on I’ll be late for school.”

  “Good Lord. Were you planning on staying the week?” Nathan looked at the mountain of gear stacked beside Amy.

  “Welcome to my world. Catherine’s too heavy to carry for any length of time, so I need to take her stroller. And we need her car seat, her bear and a bag of baby essentials.”

  He picked up the backpack sitting on the porch. She knew it weighed a ton.

  “How many essentials does a kid need?”

  “Lots.” Amy patted her jacket pocket and felt the bulge of her wallet. “Are you sure this isn’t too much trouble? Sally kind of pushed you into giving me a lift. I really like driving. I’m happy to go on my own.” She crossed her fingers, hoping he might have changed his mind and suddenly realized he’d be better off on his own.

  It was too late. Nathan had the car seat locked into place. “You’d better get Catherine out of the cold before she gets pneumonia or something.”

  Considering she’d wrapped her sister in a snowsuit the chances of her catching anything was near on impossible. “I won’t be offended if you’ve changed your mind. You must be busy managing the ranch while your parents are away.”

  “There’s nothing that can’t wait until tomorrow.” He held the door open, daring her to find another reason why she couldn’t travel into town with him. Catherine flapped her arms and Amy moved. She added a used vehicle with a high mileage and low price tag to her list of things to buy.

  Nathan closed her door and moved to his side of the truck. “Is there anything you’ve forgotten?”

  She tried to work out if commonsense came in handy purse sized tubes. Or maybe a pair of blinkers to keep her focused on what was in front of her and not sitting beside her with a frown plastered across his face. Or earplugs. Then she wouldn’t have to listen to his deep sexy voice telling her what an idiot she’d been for the last nine years.

  He started the truck and drove toward the front gates. “I’ll take that as a no.”

  “I’ve got everything I need,” she mumbled. Staring out the window, she looked across at the Rockies. Sunlight bounced off a light dusting of snow trailing halfway down the steep slopes. Winter had arrived and she needed to be close to town before the worst storms hit. In a few weeks it would be thanksgiving. By then she wanted to be living in her own apartment with Catherine, working in her new job and settling into Bozeman as if she’d never left. Then it would be Christmas and then the beginning of a new year. Before long summer would be here and just maybe she’d get full custody of her sister.

  “Did you do much skiing in Chicago?”

  Amy pulled her mind away from the future and back to the present. Nathan kept his gaze firmly locked on the icy road ahead. She shook her head, and not for the first time wondered where the last few years had disappeared. “I went up to Wilmot Mountain a couple of times, but the shifts I worked were pretty crazy.”

  “What did you do for fun?”

  “Fun?” She didn’t have much time for fun.

  “Yeah, you know. Going out with your friends and doing whatever single women do in big cities.”

  Thinking about her life in Chicago made her feel depressed. She’d buried herself in her job. Every now and then she saw a show or a movie, but mostly she worked. “I saw a few Chicago Cubs games at Wrigley Field.”

  “I didn’t know you were a baseball fan.”

  She wasn’t, but Angie, another new doctor at the hospital had been. They’d tried to organize their shifts so they saw at least three games a season. If it hadn’t been for Angie her social life would have been even more dismal that it was. “It grows on you.”

  They turned out of the driveway and headed into town. A cold wind tore through brown brush fields surrounding the highway. They passed a barn, framed with twisted timber older than most people Amy knew. Most of the roof had long since blown away and half the siding had disappeared. But it was still there. Still standing after it had been abandoned to mother nature decades ago. “I’m surprised the McGill barn hasn’t collapsed. I thought it would have fallen in on itself, but it doesn’t look any different.”

  “Evan swears it’s haunted. He came home late one night and saw small round lights flicking in and out of the walls. He stopped to take a look, but no one was there. The lights disappeared, but there was a weird feeling in the air. He reckons it was the spirit of his great-granddaddy, rounding up the tribe of kids he had.”

  Amy smiled, remembering Evan and his wife Jill from the last thanksgiving dinner she’d had with the Grays. They were in their late fifties, and proud grandparents to half a dozen children. She’d happily listened to what their family had been doing, laughing at the inch thick mini-album of photos Jill had pulled from her handbag.

  Amy looked over her shoulder. Catherine’s fingers were plucking at some toys attached to a plastic chain on the edge of the car seat. She wanted Catherine to have what Nathan’s parents had created, what Evan and Jill were part of. She wanted her sister to have a family who loved her, memories of happy times that would see her through any rough patches that were bound to come her way. People and places that would be her soft place to fall.

  “How’s Catherine doing back there?”

  “She’s tired. She’ll probably fall asleep soon.”

  Nathan nodded, moving his hands around the steering wheel, then back to where they’d started. “I’m surprised you decided to move back to Bozeman.”

  Here it came, Amy thought. Grand inquisition number two. “Were you softening me up with the easy questions first?”

  He shot her a look that was as cold as the valley they were driving through. “There are no
easy questions where you’re concerned. And I’ve got a hunch that the answers aren’t going to be all that easy to figure out either. You’re like one of those jigsaw puzzles that dad likes doing. The ones where you have to make the picture in front of the one you see.”

  “Wasgij.”

  “What?”

  “That’s the name of the jigsaws,” she muttered. Not that he probably cared. Not that she cared. The useless piece of informational fluff had just popped into her brain.

  “So why did you come back?” he asked.

  “For Catherine.”

  “Are you sure it wasn’t to hide from your mother?”

  “I’ve never had to hide from her. She manages to forget I exist most of the time.”

  He gripped the steering wheel, frowning at everything and nothing at the same time. “Why did you leave so suddenly when you were eighteen?”

  “I’ve forgotten.” Like hell she had, but she wasn’t raking over something that had happened nearly a decade ago.

  “I’m not going anywhere in a hurry,” he growled. “With all the ice on the road it’s going to take us at least another forty minutes to get into town. If you think you can hold out that long, go ahead.”

  “I don’t need to hold out. I left because I had to start my scholarship.”

  “You never came back, apart from when Sally and mom wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

  She leaned forward and turned the radio on. Country music filled the cab, but it couldn’t drown the guilt thumping inside her body. “I was busy.”

  Nathan moved faster than the clouds cart-wheeling over the mountains. The music stopped. “I might have believed that once. But I don’t believe it now.”

  She looked outside, staring at a crop of spindly trees standing tall and naked under the blue sky. “We’ve had this conversation before.”

  “It’s not called a conversation when I’m the only one doing the talking.” She’d managed to dodge his questions once, but the growl in his voice told her she wouldn’t be able to ignore him again. “I left because I had to.”

  “You didn’t leave. You ran.”