Montana Hearts

by Darlene Panzera

  Her father paused and Delaney caught her breath as his gaze fell on her. “I know you think I blame you for your failed marriage, but I was the one who made you feel like you had to go prove yourself. I was the reason you felt you had to marry that creep instead of coming home.”

  “No,” Delaney said, shaking her head. “That was my mistake. My choice. No one can take responsibility for that except me.”

  “Although it’s good to admit your faults,” Grandma said, pinching his cheek as if he were still just a boy, “there’s no sense having a pity party over the past.”

  Delaney nodded. “We need to look forward to the future, right, Grandma?”

  “That’s right, sweet pea,” Grandma said, lifting her chin.

  “I don’t show it very well, not very well at all,” Delaney’s father said, his eyes glistening as his gaze circled to each of them. “But I love you. And I’m proud of you for stepping up and helping your old man out.”

  “That’s what family does,” Bree said, smiling, and a tear ran down her cheek.

  Luke cleared his throat, as if he’d had something lodged, and asked, “Hey, Del, did Meghan get that bug catcher yet?”

  “Not yet,” she said, wiping her own eyes, and teased, “You’ll just have to use tissues.”

  JACE JUMPED OUT of his truck and hurried around the other side to open the door for his mother. She hesitated before getting out and stared at the single-­story house surrounded by vast acres of fields for both hay and cattle. Of course, the last of the hay had been harvested and the ground lay white from the six-­inch layer of snow that had fallen the night before.

  Taking her hand so she wouldn’t slip, he said, “C’mon, Mom. It’s going to be all right.”

  She nodded, but looked as if she didn’t believe him. Her wide eyes stared at the house as if it were haunted. But clutching her purse, she raised her chin, like he’d seen her do before giving one of her campaign speeches, and climbed out of the truck, her confidence intact. Or at least so it seemed on the outside.

  Natalie slid over from the middle of the truck seat and got out behind her. “The Tanners didn’t do too bad,” she said, gazing over the outlying stables, and various sheds.

  “They are hard workers,” Jace assured her. “Oh, and Nat—­they like to tease.”

  “I’m sure I can handle it,” she said, smiling. “After all, I’m used to your teasing.”

  “Yeah, but there’s four of them,” he said with a grin.

  “Teasing would be better than giving us the cold shoulder,” their mother muttered.

  Jace nodded, thinking of his first meet with Ryan and Zach. “You’ve got that right.”

  There was still a lot he had to learn about his new cousins, but since the wolf attack the week before they’d made him feel as if he were a fifth brother. He hoped they accepted his sister as one of their own, too.

  The front door opened, and Aunt Lora stepped out on the square concrete landing. For a moment she and Jace’s mother just stared at each other. Then Lora gave them a smile and motioned them inside.

  Jace entered first, glanced over his cousins’ attire, and raised his brows. “Suits? Were we supposed to dress up?”

  “The only reason I’m wearing this,” Ryan said, pointing his thumbs toward his dress shirt, vest, and blazer, “is because Delaney’s retaking engagement photos.”

  “Me, too,” said Ryan’s son, Cody, showing off his new dress shoes.

  Dean glanced down at his similar attire and said, “We didn’t want Ryan to make the rest of us look like slobs.”

  “Yeah,” Josh said with a smirk. “We wanted to make a good first impression.”

  “Especially since we didn’t do so well the last time,” Zach said with a nod. Coming closer he added, “I didn’t mean to be a jerk around you and Delaney either. I know she doesn’t think I’m the guy for her. I was just looking out for her. I didn’t want her to get hurt, you know?”

  “I’ll take care of her,” Jace assured him, and Zach grinned.

  Then Jace’s mother and Natalie walked into the kitchen and the Tanner brothers went silent. Their eyes were all on Natalie, but they just . . . stared at her. Oh, no. Not good. Natalie dropped her gaze and her skin paled three shades whiter, contrasting all the more with her dark wavy hair, making her look like Snow White. Hurrying to her side, Jace looped his arm through hers and introduced her to Aunt Lora and Uncle Bo, then his cousins, from oldest to youngest, Dean, Ryan, Josh, and Zach.

  Jace was afraid from their reactions that they weren’t going to accept her into the family after all. But seconds later, they were all talking at once and vying for their new cousin’s attention.

  Figuring she was in good hands, Jace walked back to his mother, who was making polite small talk with his aunt and uncle. As if his presence gave her extra courage, his mother opened her purse and retrieved an envelope in which he knew she’d placed a check.

  “I should have given this to you a long time ago,” his mother told Lora. “I’m so sorry. Your brother, Trent, he was a good man. He would have wanted you to have it—­no matter how late.”

  Aunt Lora glanced at her husband, then reached out and took the envelope. “Thanks, Grace.”

  “Thank you,” his mother said, nodding toward Natalie as she and her followers rejoined them. “For welcoming us into your home.”

  Aunt Lora caught Jace’s eye, then turned back toward his mother and smiled. “Not just into our home, but into our family. Are the three of you free for Thanksgiving?”

  Jace hesitated. “I’d love to, but I’ll have to check with Delaney first.”

  “No need,” Aunt Lora assured him. “It’s already been decided that this year the Collinses and the Tanners are eating turkey together. And other dishes, of course,” she added quickly. “For those who don’t eat meat.”

  Jace accepted, and glanced at his watch. He couldn’t wait to get back to Delaney. They hadn’t had much time to speak while being interviewed and writing statements for the authorities the night before, and there was still so much he had to tell her.

  He also needed to make amends with Meghan, who he’d heard was mad at him.

  DELANEY DITCHED THE overalls and put on a dress over warm leggings, then pulled out the rubber band that held her ponytail and let her hair drop loosely about her shoulders. Jace had told her she didn’t need to dress up for him, but she’d discovered over the last few weeks that she kind of liked it.

  Dashing down the stairs, she ran into Sammy Jo, who took her hands and spun her around in a little dance. “Luke showed me the cabin he’s building for us to live in after we’re married,” she said excitedly. “He said he got the idea when he heard that Ryan and Bree are going to move into the extra cabin on the edge of the Tanner property after they marry.”

  “I guess Meghan and I will be the only ones living in the main house with the old folks,” Delaney teased.

  Sammy Jo gave her a mischievous look, then nodded toward Jace as he walked in the door. “Maybe not.”

  Delaney swallowed hard as the stocky, dark-­haired cowboy whose image continuously graced the cover of every regional western themed magazine smiled, his eyes on her—­yes, definitely her—­as he drew near.

  She broke away from Sammy Jo to go to him, but the twins intercepted him first.

  “Look what the papers printed about you,” Nora said, thrusting the newspaper into his hands. “They’re calling you—­”

  “A ‘True Country Hero,’ ” Nadine announced. “For saving Delaney from that ferocious bear and then going up to the mine to fight those poachers.”

  “I didn’t do much fighting,” Jace said, narrowing his gaze as he read the headlines.

  “You know the media prints whatever they like,” Delaney teased. “But I do think the title ‘True Country Hero’ suits you.”

  “I’m sorr
y the sheriff didn’t turn out to be the hero Grandma hoped he was,” Bree said as the rest of the family filtered into the kitchen.

  “That’s all right,” Grandma assured her. “I was married to my true hero for many long years—­your grandpa. And I still have my Clint Eastwood movies.”

  Bree handed them all one of the new trifold brochures she’d printed up to advertise the ranch. “I put Jace’s endorsement on the inside flap,” she said, pointing.

  Delaney read, “ ‘Collins Country Cabins is the best dude ranch I’ve ever had the pleasure of staying at,’ says rodeo champion, Jace Aldridge. ‘In addition to their award winning menu, this rustic, western retreat offers comfort, beautiful landscapes, and as many thrilling activities as your heart can handle.’ ”

  “This is terrible!” Nora squealed.

  Nadine followed her sister’s gaze and shrieked. “Oh, no!”

  “What’s the matter?” Bree demanded. “Is there a misprint?”

  “We were supposed to be cover models,” Nora exclaimed. “But this photo has us—­”

  “Working in the kitchen wearing aprons, and bandanas over our hair!” Nadine finished.

  Bree frowned. “What’s wrong with that?”

  “We’ll never attract cute guys that way,” the twins chorused together.

  Delaney laughed. “You mean like the undercover agents working for Fish and Wildlife? Clint and Clay?”

  “They were undercover agents?” Nora squealed.

  “How cool is that?” Nadine said, and laughed. “And we were spying on them!”

  “I got a call from True Montana Magazine this morning,” Delaney announced. “They saw all the articles in the newspaper about the arrests and the poachers’ plot to put us out of business, and they want to feature our ranch in their next issue, using my photos. Jace’s sister, Natalie, offered to help me write the accompanying story that tells the public what really happened.”

  “That will give us even more publicity,” Bree said, her face lighting up. “Who knows? Maybe Natalie could even write a book about it.”

  “And have it turned into a movie,” Nora said, and her mouth fell open. “Do you know what that means?”

  “We could be movie stars!” Nadine said excitedly, slapping her sister a high five.

  Delaney bundled Meghan up in her coat, hat, mittens, and boots and took her hand as they walked across the first snow of the season to Isaac Woolly’s property with the rest of her family. Jace had some kind of surprise over there he wanted to show her, but she didn’t know what it was. Apparently her father did or he never would have insisted on joining them on his crutches.

  Jace had gone on ahead, and when they arrived, Delaney saw him standing outside the Woolly Outfitter mobile unit. His eyes sparkled with excitement as he awaited her reaction, but she didn’t see anything until he pointed up toward the banner hung across the roof.

  Delaney’s Animal Rescue.

  “Jace, I don’t understand. What does this mean?” she asked, coming closer.

  “I’ll explain in a minute,” he promised, and knelt down toward Meghan, who looked up at him with a scowl on her face. Pulling out the hand he’d hidden behind his back, he handed her a little mesh covered cage with a latched door in front. “This is for you.”

  Meghan frowned. “But it’s not my birthday.”

  “We can’t wait,” he told her. “The bugs will all be gone by then. And now that it snowed, we need to save as many as we can.”

  Delaney watched, amused, as her daughter took the bug catcher, gave him a glimmer of a smile, then pouted, “You left and didn’t say goodbye to me.”

  “That’s because it hurt too much,” he said, gathering her onto his knee. “I don’t ever want to say goodbye to you, Megs.”

  Meghan giggled. “I like when you call me Megs.”

  “I like you,” he told her. “And from now on you’ll be able to see me every day.”

  “Okay, Cowboy Jace,” Meghan said, and hugged him around the neck.

  Jace looked up and taking Delaney’s hand, he said, “I found out Isaac was only leasing the land, and after the news hit this morning, the owner was willing to sell it to me on the spot.”

  Delaney’s mouth fell open. “You bought it?” She glanced at the sign again and gasped. “You’re giving me my own animal shelter? What will you do with the rest of the land?”

  “Well, you see,” Jace said, and the corners of his mouth lifted into another grin. “I talked to your father and we decided, with all the publicity, Collins Country Cabins is going to need to expand. I’m going to be a partner and help organize activities when I’m not working my other job.”

  “You mean rodeo?” she asked, unable to believe this turn of events.

  He shook his head. “No, I’m going to apply to be a game warden.”

  “Are you serious?” She glanced from Jace to her father and he gave her a nod to confirm the news. Bree, Luke, Sammy Jo, and her ma all stood watching her reaction and Delaney realized she was the center of attention. She laughed and told Jace, “If you’re a partner, then I guess that makes you part of the family.”

  “Not quite. But there’s something else that would.”

  Lifting Meghan off his knee, Jace stood and took both her hands in his. “I called your lawyer and he said that Steve is willing to relinquish parental rights if we marry and I adopt Meghan. That way he won’t have to pay child support.”

  Delaney stared at him, not sure she understood what he just said. “Wh-­what?” she stammered.

  “You’ll never have to worry about him again,” Jace assured her. “Of course, I realize you might not be ready for a real marriage, so if you agree, we can continue to be friends, or date if you want to. I know you said you’d never marry again unless it was with someone you could call your best friend, so I promise you,” he said, his voice hoarse, “I’m going to do everything I can to be the greatest best friend you ever had.”

  Tears filled her eyes as she looked at the wonderful man before her who had taken every step he could think of to make her and Meghan feel special and keep them safe. “You already are, Jace,” she choked out, her heart in her voice. “You already are.”

  He hesitated. “Does that mean—­?”

  “Yes.”

  Jace grinned. “Is that a direct answer?”

  Returning a smile, she nodded. “Yes. Yes, I will marry you.”

  “What? No redirection or sidestepping?” he teased.

  She shook her head and laughed and Jace drew her into his arms. “I love you, Del.”

  “I love you, too,” she said, and Jace gave her a heart-­stopping look that flooded her with warmth, made her dizzy, and caught her breath all at the same time.

  He captured her mouth in a tender kiss, then pulled back and announced to the rest of her family. “We’ll have to marry right away. Does next week work for all of you?”

  Delaney glanced at Bree and Sammy Jo, who looked on with identical ear-­to-­ear grins. “Will you two be my bridesmaids?”

  They both nodded their heads vigorously and shouted in unison, “Yes! Of course!”

  Then as Jace drew his head toward her again, Delaney heard her mother say, “She’s only known him four weeks!”

  “An intense four weeks,” Luke defended.

  Her father chuckled. “Better than knowing him just one day.”

  Jace smiled, his mouth just inches from her face. “I want us to know each other for an entire lifetime.”

  “Me, too,” she said, closing her eyes.

  Then his lips touched hers, and Delaney melted against him, and kissed him back, dreaming of the wedding, their future together, and all the other possibilities that could now be theirs—­as she, her handsome hero, and Meghan all lived happily . . . ever . . . after.

  Keep reading to check out Darlene Panzer
a’s

  second Montana Hearts romance,

  MONTANA HEARTS: SWEET TALKIN’ COWBOY

  Darlene Panzera continues her heartwarming western series

  with a roughed-­up cowboy, the feisty girl next door,

  and the deal that brings them together.

  If it wasn’t for an injury to his leg, Luke Collins would be riding rodeo broncos all day, every day. Until he heals, he’s determined to help his family’s guest ranch bring in money any way he can. But when a cranky neighbor gets in the way of his goal, Luke turns to the only person he knows can help: the gorgeous, rodeo-­barrel-­racing spitfire next door.

  It’s no secret: Sammy Jo’s father is a pain in the neck. But if anyone can persuade him, it’s her. So when Luke asks for help, Sammy Jo is more than willing to make a deal with the handsome cowboy. The cost? He’s gotta get back up on that horse—­with Sammy Jo’s help, of course.

  As teamwork reveals a deeper connection, Luke finds himself falling for the beautiful girl next door. But to win her heart? He’ll just have to do whatever it takes.

  Click here to buy!

  An Excerpt from

  MONTANA HEARTS: SWEET TALKIN’ COWBOY

  A LOUD SCUFFLE sounded from within the cabin, followed by a thud, as if something had bumped against the interior wall. Luke Collins stopped his trek down the dirt path in front to listen and wondered who or what was inside. The two unfinished cabins at the end of the row on his family’s guest ranch were supposed to be empty.

  He glanced down at his two-­and-­a-­half-­year-­old niece and tightened his hold on her small hand.

  “Onkle Uke, what’s that?”

  “What’s what?” Luke asked, keeping his tone light to hide his alarm.

  Another thud creaked the woodwork beside them.

  “That,” Meghan said, her blue eyes wide.