Wild Montana Sky (The Montana Sky Series)

by Debra Holland

  John holstered his Colt, leaped off his horse, and ran toward his wife and daughter. Nick slid off Freckles. Still holding the Winchester aimed at the grizzly, he raced around John and splashed over to Elizabeth.

  Pulling Elizabeth sideways with his free arm, he kept his body between her and the bear. He spared time for a quick kiss, two kisses, relishing the feeling of having her safe, then released her. "I'll be right back. Need to check out that bear."

  Without waiting for a response, he waded out of the water, then climbed back in below the rocks that dammed the pool. Keeping the rifle aimed at the animal, he forded the river, clambering over slimed green rocks.

  Gingerly he approached the carcass, ready to shoot should it rise to life. Studying the animal, he prodded it with his foot. Dead, all right. He picked up one claw-tipped paw, his gut clenching at the thought of how close those claws came to rending his beloved.

  He examined the grizzly. The old shoulder wound with its caked, seeping blood, must have been driving the bear crazy with pain. One of Elizabeth's bullets had caught the animal in the heart. A very lucky shot. "You're going to make Elizabeth one warm rug," he told the dead carcass. He dropped the paw. "I'll deal with you later."

  Turning, he waded back across the river. Elizabeth stood where he'd left her, a forlorn figure in a sodden blue gown, still clasping the pistol with both hands. His heart swelled with pride at her courage, but he also wanted to shake her for scaring ten years off his life.

  #

  Elizabeth didn't know whether to let out the yell of triumph that had knotted in her throat, or succumb to her dizziness and tumble headfirst into the pool. The sensation of Nick's kisses lingered on her lips, adding to her feeling of unreality. She watched him prod the bear, flinching as Nick lifted its paw, and shut her eyes.

  Collapsing into the water will not do, she sternly told herself, trying to instill strength into her trembling knees. Nor did she intend to let her nerveless fingers drop Pamela's gun into the river.

  Behind her, she could hear John and Pamela babbling to each other in relief. She knew she should go to them, but her feet felt glued to the sandy bottom of the pool. She peeked from underneath her lowered eyelids to see if Nick had finished his gruesome examination of the beast.

  Across the river, he met her gaze. Emotions blazing in his eyes turned them to emerald fire. Beneath his tan, his skin was still pale, and lines bracketed each side of his mouth. Her stomach tightened at the thought.

  Nick plunged into the water. Mesmerized, Elizabeth watched his hips move against the current. As she stared at the wet shirt plastered to his slim waist and muscled chest, her heartbeat, which had started to calm, quickened.

  She rotated her body with his progress across the river like the shadow of a sundial following the sun. When Nick reached the bank of the river, he set the rifle on the ground, climbed around the rocks of the dam, and waded purposefully toward her.

  The tension between them increased with each stride. Vaguely, out of the corner of her eye, Elizabeth saw John wrapping Pamela and Lizzy in blankets. As her pulse raced in anticipation, she realized she didn't care if John and Pamela witnessed Nick kissing her. She wanted to declare her love to the world.

  Nick took the pistol from her, turned, and tossed it onto the grass. Placing his hands on her arms, he pulled her to him, the pressure of his fingers biting into the softness of her flesh.

  "I don't know whether to shake you--" Nick emphasized his words with a joggle of her arms "--or kiss you." His tone sounded playful, but seriousness glimmered in his gaze.

  A dry laugh escaped her lips. She leaned toward him. "Kiss me, please, Nick." She put every ounce of her love and longing in the words.

  He searched her face. "Are you sure?"

  "Yes, oh, yes."

  Ever so slowly, he tilted her chin with one callused finger, bent down, and brushed her lips with his. Elizabeth's body quivered in response, and his kiss deepened. He slid his hands around her shoulders, pulling her closer, while his tongue explored her mouth.

  Elizabeth melted into his embrace. Her arms crept around his waist. The wet shirt clung to his body, reminding her of the hot night at the pool and how her palms had felt against his bare skin. Her body shivered with pleasure at the memory.

  In response, Nick's arms tightened around her. On that night, she'd been shocked and tentative about her feelings for Nick. But now everything was different. She ran her fingers over the hard muscles in his back. Rocked with passion, filled with his love, for one glorious moment, all her cares and concerns disappeared.

  A pitiful cry from Lizzy pulled Elizabeth and Nick apart. Elizabeth's joy fled, and she saw her fear mirrored in Nick's eyes. As one, they turned and splashed to the log where the Carters sat.

  "Hush, dearest," Pamela crooned to the child cradled in her arms. "The water will make you feel better."

  John had his arm around Pamela's waist, while the other held his daughter's limp hand. Pamela looked up at Elizabeth, hope in her eyes. "I think the immersion helped. Her skin feels cooler."

  Elizabeth placed her palm on Lizzy's forehead. "You're right. She does seem cooler."

  The sound of hoof beats startled them. Both men's hands dropped to their guns. John swiveled around on the log and stood up. Nick stepped in front of Elizabeth.

  Elizabeth's nerves jangled. She resisted the temptation to clutch Nick. What other disaster could possibly happen today?

  Dawn, mounted astride a gray Appaloosa, appeared around the bushes. She'd exchanged her proper clothes for a dress of soft, tan leather, patterned in tiny colored beads. Hitched to her knees, the dress exposed shapely brown legs. She wore moccasins of beaded leather.

  Both Nick and John's postures relaxed, and their hands ceased to hover near their guns.

  "That grizzly's made me as jumpy as all git out," muttered John, a sheepish look on his ruddy face.

  Elizabeth barely had time to wonder why Dawn was wearing such strange clothing, when an elderly Indian woman, riding a brown Appaloosa with a white spotted rear that looked almost like Freckles, followed Dawn around the bushes. She nodded in greeting.

  Elizabeth gasped in surprise. Like Dawn, the old woman was dressed in beaded leather, a brightly patterned blanket draped across her shoulders. Blue feathers were tucked into white hair braided back from a dark face, wrinkled like a walnut. Her wise brown eyes surveyed everyone before dropping to Lizzy.

  "Herbal woman," said Dawn. Then she repeated a long unpronounceable Indian name. "She make Lizzy better."

  "It's Good Earth Woman," Nick said. "Red Charlie's great aunt. She's a renowned healer among the Indians."

  "I've heard of her," John said. "Helped Joe Green when nothing else seemed to work." He turned to look at his wife, whose face had brightened with hope. An unspoken message passed between them. John ran his fingers through his sandy hair. He gave the Indian a slight bow and waved toward Lizzy. "Please."

  The medicine woman dismounted, approached Pamela and Lizzy, knelt down in front of them, and spoke in her language to the child.

  Lizzy shrank against her mother. Then the gentle tone of the old woman's voice, and the power in her ancient eyes, seemed to reassure her. She relaxed, and a spark of life glimmered in the blue eyes, which had been lifeless for so many days.

  The medicine woman gestured for Pamela to lay Lizzy on the grass. Silently, she examined her, the gnarled brown hands moving in a slow, but competent, way over the wasted little body.

  When she finished, she rocked back on her heels and spoke to Pamela. Dawn translated.

  "It is good you brought her to water to quiet her inner fire." She pulled her medicine bag into her lap and opened it. Bringing out a leather-wrapped packet, she exposed crumpled brown leaves that gave out an aromatic scent. "Make into tea. Drink several times a day. Make her strong."

  Pamela nodded, her gaze never leaving the old woman's face.

  The Indian leaned down and touched Lizzy's forehead. Then she looked up, and a smi
le lightened her wrinkled face. "Be better soon." Dawn relayed her words.

  Tears welled up in Pamela's eyes and trickled down her cheeks. "Thank you," she whispered.

  John bowed his head. He covered his eyes with one hand, while the other dropped to Pamela's shoulder and squeezed.

  Trying to remain composed, Elizabeth choked down a lump in her throat. To no avail. Her own tears of sympathy and relief blurred her vision.

  Nick pulled her into his embrace. A quick glance at his face showed wetness in his eyes, clinging to his dark lashes. He rested his cheek on her head and held her tight. She snuggled against him, feeling so very grateful to have his strength to depend on when she needed solace and comfort--or when she needed love....

  The weeks of worry slipped away from her, almost as if a protective screen had fallen between the pain of her long vigil over the sick child and this moment. Now in her love for Nick, and his for her, she felt elevated above sorrow and worry, filled with triumph. The long numbness of the last few days, no, if she was honest with herself, the last ten years, passed away. In its place arose a glorious feeling of belonging to this rugged land, and to the man holding her.

  #

  A sky-filling flash of lightning, closely followed by a clap of thunder, caused Elizabeth to gasp. Overhead and toward the south, the dark clouds had turned the sky pewter and the pine trees in the foothills to a gray-green color. But surprisingly, to the north, sun shone through patches of blue sky.

  "It's fixin' to be a big storm," said Nick. "Best head back to the house." He looked down at his wet clothes, then grinned at her. "Although I don't think a little more water will bother us a bit."

  As if releasing all the weeks of prayed-for rain, no sooner had he spoken than the heavens opened up. Fat drops pelted down.

  Pamela snatched up Lizzy, wrapping her in the blanket, while the medicine woman handed John the precious packet of herbs.

  With his free hand, John clasped Good Earth Woman's hand. "I thank you."

  Perhaps the old woman couldn't understand the English words, but John's tone and heartfelt look conveyed his gratitude.

  From within her cocoon of blankets, Lizzy's blue eyes solemnly surveyed the old woman.

  The herb woman waved a kind of salute and pronounced what seemed to be a blessing before turning toward her horse.

  John immediately became business-like. "Hand Lizzy to me. Put your shoes on, then mount Belle," he told Pamela, taking his daughter from her.

  Elizabeth grabbed up the gun belt, already spotted by rain.

  "That's an old one of John's," said Nick his mouth quirked in amusement. "Did you actually wear it?"

  Not caring about the rain, Elizabeth cocked an eyebrow in a signal for him to watch. Slowly extending the gun belt to the full length, she wrapped it twice around her waist before buckling the belt. Then she leaned down, scooped up the Colt and jammed it in the holster.

  "Well, I'll be." Nick laughed. Reaching out his arm, he pulled her to his side, and gave her a quick kiss. "I'll have one made for you."

  Elizabeth sat on the log to put on her shoes. When she finished, Nick extended his hand to help her up.

  "Come on, you two." John called to them.

  Laughing, hand in hand, they ran to the horses.

  "This time," said Nick, "you're riding Freckles. And when we're home and dry, I want to hear how you managed to handle Outlaw."

  "Oh, a Sunday ride in the park."

  Nick shook his head, but his eyes twinkled. "Rides my demon horse, shoots a grizzly, my, my, proper Miss Elizabeth Hamilton, who'd ever have thought it?"

  Elizabeth blushed and looked down. Then she saw that her skirt was still tucked up. With all the excitement, she hadn't even noticed her dress. She shrugged, not caring.

  Nick helped her into the saddle. "Freckles isn't familiar with a lady's skirt, but he's a steady one," he said, handing her the reins. "You'll be fine."

  Looking around for his hat, which had somehow become dislodged in his earlier rush to Elizabeth, Nick picked up the Stetson and clapped it on his head. He mounted Outlaw, reined the horse toward the ranch, and motioned Elizabeth to follow.

  At first Nick seemed to be watching her to make sure she wouldn't have problems with Freckles. Then he relaxed, giving her a grin of approval.

  In the glowering sky, a splintering pitchfork sparked from cloud to ground, followed by a thunder shot from God's rifle.

  No longer afraid, Elizabeth turned her face to the sky, relishing the coolness of the rain on her skin. She'd been hot and dry for so long! And not only her skin, but in her soul. Inhaling the rich scent of dampened grass and wet earth, she breathed a prayer of thanksgiving.

  As they neared the ranch, Elizabeth saw a buggy pulling up to the porch. Caleb’s buggy.

  Oh, no, she thought in dismay, keeping her face averted from Nick. Why today of all days, had Caleb finally appeared at the ranch? Although she'd rehearsed what she'd say to him if he ever again showed up to court her, she'd planned to look her best. With one hand, she tried to tighten the loose hairpins in the wet knot of hair, sagging at the back of her neck. Glancing down at the saddle that necessitated her riding astride--her sodden, blue calico dress kilted up to her knees.

  Elizabeth lifted her chin. She'd make the best of the situation. She was a blue-blooded Boston lady--no, Montana lady, and thus would present a genteel appearance regardless of her attire. At least that's what her mama had always said. Now, if only she could get off this horse in a relatively decent fashion....

  Nick dismounted, looping Outlaw's reins around the porch rail, then strode around to her. Reaching up, he placed his hands on her waist, and lifted her from the horse.

  Elizabeth leaned down and untucked her dress.

  As if freeing her to go to the banker, he quickly released her, but she squeezed his shoulder in a silent gesture of reassurance before she turned to Caleb. Behind her, she stayed aware of Nick leading the horses toward the barn. She sighed, wishing she were going with him.

  "Elizabeth." Caleb touched his hat, his face expressionless.

  "Caleb." Elizabeth didn't intend to make this easy for him. Nor was she going to invite him in--they could talk on the porch.

  Caleb climbed out of the buggy, tossed the reins around the rail, and ran up the steps. Shaking the raindrops from his suit, he took off his hat and dropped it on a rocker. Up close she could see a bruise shadowing one cheek. He studied her. "You're thinner."

  Under his scrutiny, heat had risen in her cheeks, but she refused to drop her eyes.

  "Perhaps you should change out of your wet clothing."

  "After the heat of the last weeks, being wet feels refreshing." Her voice sounded as cool as the rain.

  He shifted his weight. "It is a welcome relief."

  Elizabeth knew she was being a terrible hostess, but she didn't care.

  "How's Lizzy?"

  Elizabeth didn't mince words. "She almost died."

  He winced. "But she's better?"

  "We think so. Her fever's down. She's not completely out of the woods. An Indian herbal woman gave us some a tea for Lizzy to drink to help her get better."

  "An Indian herbal woman?" He lifted a skeptical eyebrow. "I doubt she'll be able to help."

  Like the thunderstorm, anger overwhelmed Elizabeth. It took every ounce of ladylike discipline she possessed to restrain herself from shouting at him and pounding her fists on his chest. But she couldn't stop the fury from blazing from her eyes.

  At the look on her face, Caleb stepped back a pace, and cleared his throat. "Bank business has kept me very busy these last few weeks---"

  She chopped the air with her hand. "I'm well aware of why you haven't been around, Caleb. And I'm thankful for it. It's opened my eyes to your true character."

  Caleb looked like he'd been struck by the lightning, forking across the sky. He opened his mouth to reply.

  Elizabeth's words raced out, preventing him from speaking. "You claimed to be fond of Lizzy, to be
fond of me, but you were too afraid of catching Lizzy's illness to be here when we needed you. It wasn't business, and don't you dare pretend it was."

  A shamefaced look crossed his face. "I'm sorry you feel that way. I do have responsibilities. Will you forgive me?"

  The contrition in his voice softened her anger to a light rain cloud. "I believe in time I will."

  "How much time?" He stepped closer and put his hands on her shoulders. "In time for a September wedding?"

  Elizabeth gasped, too stunned by his suggestion to even twist out of his grasp.

  He smiled, mistaking her reaction. "Why don't you go put on some dry clothes--" he looked her up and down "--and we'll discuss it."

  "No, Caleb." She stepped back out of his grasp. "I meant it when I said I've awakened to your true character." She lifted her chin. "I want a husband who will stand by my side no matter what comes, and you've proven you're not that man."

  "I see." Once again his face was expressionless, but anger flashed in his eyes.

  Elizabeth knew she'd wounded his pride. But not his heart. She stood her ground.

  He leaned over to pick up his hat and carefully placed it on his head. "Then I will take my leave of you."

  #

  Elizabeth clutched the porch rail, watching Caleb's buggy recede into the distance. Her anger drained away, and with it her energy, leaving her as limp as a deflated hot-air balloon. Too much had happened today. Her mind whirled with thoughts, and she couldn't settle on what she felt.

  Nick strode through the barn doors and looked around. Even at a distance, she could see the relief on his face when he saw Caleb's buggy headed out of the valley.

  Suddenly her confused feelings crystallized. I need Nick. Gathering up her heavy wet skirt, Elizabeth leaped down the stairs and rushed toward him.

  He ran to meet her. She flung herself into his arms, and laughing, he picked her up and spun her around.

  Overhead, the dark clouds parted, and a circle of blue sky appeared. The sun's rays burst through, enveloping them in light.