Big Sky Daddy

by Linda Ford

  For His Son’s Sake

  Caleb Craig will do anything for his son, even ask his boss’s enemy for help. Not only does Lilly Bell tend to his son’s injured puppy, but she offers to rehabilitate little Teddy’s leg. Caleb knows that getting Teddy to walk again is all that really matters, yet he wonders if maybe Lilly can heal his brooding heart, as well.

  Precocious little Teddy—and his devoted father—steal Lilly’s heart and make her long for a child and husband of her own. But Lilly learned long ago that trusting a man means risking heartbreak. Happiness lies within reach—if she seizes the chance of love and motherhood she never expected…

  Montana Marraiges: Three sisters discover a legacy of love beneath the Western sky

  “I’ll take good care of Teddy. We all will,” Lilly said.

  “He has a special fondness for you.”

  The words melted her heart. “And I for him.”

  Caleb touched her hand and rode away. He lifted his hat at the crest of the hill and waved to her. She waved back and stood watching until he was out of sight.

  He would return tonight, just as he said.

  Because of Teddy, she reminded herself. Not because of her.

  She would not expect any man to return to her. That led only to disappointment and pain. As Rose had pointed out, she’d learned that lesson at a very young age and she’d had it reinforced throughout her life.

  She was more than content living on the farm with her family, tending the garden and the animals. But she’d accept the company and care of Teddy and his father for a short time, even knowing it couldn’t last.

  The pain would be worth the joy of the moment.

  Books by Linda Ford

  Love Inspired Historical

  The Road to Love

  The Journey Home

  The Path to Her Heart

  Dakota Child

  The Cowboy’s Baby

  Dakota Cowboy

  Christmas Under Western Skies

  “A Cowboy’s Christmas”

  Dakota Father

  Prairie Cowboy

  Klondike Medicine Woman

  *The Cowboy Tutor

  *The Cowboy Father

  *The Cowboy Comes Home

  The Gift of Family

  “Merry Christmas, Cowboy”

  †The Cowboy’s Surprise Bride

  †The Cowboy’s Unexpected Family

  †The Cowboy’s Convenient Proposal

  The Baby Compromise

  †Claiming the Cowboy’s Heart

  †Winning Over the Wrangler

  †Falling for the Rancher Father

  **Big Sky Cowboy

  **Big Sky Daddy

  *Three Brides for Three Cowboys

  †Cowboys of Eden Valley

  **Montana Marriages

  LINDA FORD

  lives on a ranch in Alberta, Canada. Growing up on the prairie and learning to notice the small details it hides gave her an appreciation for watching God at work in His creation. Her upbringing also included being taught to trust God in everything and through everything—a theme that resonates in her stories. Threads of another part of her life are found in her stories—her concern for children and their future. She and her husband raised fourteen children—four homemade, ten adopted. She currently shares her home and life with her husband, a grown son, a live-in paraplegic client and a continual (and welcome) stream of kids, kids-in-law, grandkids and assorted friends and relatives.

  BIG SKY DADDY

  Linda Ford

  He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay,

  and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

  —Psalms 40:2

  My father taught me many things: how to shoot a gun, how to drive a car, how to find fossils in a gravel bed, how to recognize the constellations in the sky, but most of all, through his example, he taught me how a noble, kind man should act. This book is dedicated to his memory.

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Epilogue

  Dear Reader

  Questions for Discussion

  Excerpt

  Chapter One

  Bar Crossing, Montana

  Fall 1889

  Did he hear gunshots? Caleb Craig jerked toward the window. “Listen.” He held up his hand, trying to cut short the storekeeper’s detailed description about the young woman who had stepped out of the store as Caleb and his son, Teddy, went in.

  “Lilly Bell,” the storekeeper had said. Twin sister to Rose, the two were the least alike, though to be sure, both were sweet and generous and loyal. Their parents were elderly, but that didn’t mean they were feeble. Oh, far from it.

  A series of pops convinced Caleb someone had set off firecrackers. They were not as deadly as gunshots, but they were enough to start a dangerous chain reaction.

  Before he reached the window, Caleb knew it had already started. Several women screamed. A deeper voice called out. The rattle and creak of wood and harnesses signaled frantic horses.

  “You stay here,” he ordered five-year-old Teddy, and then raced through the door.

  The young woman, whose virtues the storekeeper expounded on even as Caleb hustled out of the shop, wrestled with a rearing horse hitched to a swaying wagon. Packages and sacks tumbled out the back. A redheaded woman raced toward the struggling gal. That must be the twin sister, Rose. An older man hobbled across the street toward them while other people huddled on the sidewalks, watching but doing nothing.

  Caleb saw it all in one glance as he jumped to Lilly’s side and grabbed the harness, his hand right next to hers.

  “Steady there,” he ordered, his voice stern yet kind—something animals understood.

  Breathing raggedly, the horse allowed Caleb to pull his head down. Still holding tight to the animal, as was she, Caleb turned to the young woman. The name Lilly suited her. Blond hair, unblemished skin, blue eyes flashing like lightning.

  She was understandably upset.

  “What idiot set off firecrackers?” he demanded.

  She snorted. “That Caldwell cowboy.”

  Ebner? His boss? Caleb glanced about but saw no sign of the Caldwell foreman. “Is anyone hurt?”

  The redhead rushed to their side. “Lilly, are you okay?” She rubbed her hands over the young woman’s arms. “I saw the whole thing.” She jammed her fists to her hips. “I can’t believe anyone would do such a stupid thing. Not even a Caldwell.”

  Caleb’s neck tensed. He’d been working at the Caldwell ranch a couple of weeks now. Ebner was tough, allowing no slacking and objecting to Caleb keeping Teddy with him as he worked. Caleb had reminded Ebner several times it had been part of the agreement before Caleb had taken the job.

  Mr. Caldwell was away on some errand, leaving Ebner in charge. The foreman ran the place with efficiency. Caleb had certainly seen no si
gn of such wanton disregard for the safety of man and beast.

  “I’m fine,” Lilly said. She sucked in air as if to calm her nerves and faced Caleb. “Thank you for your help. I saw you at the store, didn’t I?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He gave his name.

  “Pleased to make your acquaintance.” The smile she gave him could have changed rain to sunshine.

  “Papa.” Teddy’s trembling voice made them all turn toward his son. Both ladies murmured, “Ah,” as they saw Teddy.

  Caleb understood how the boy would pull at one’s heart. Big blue eyes, tousled hair that refused to be tamed, a look of innocence, though it was impossible there could be any innocence left after what the boy had been through. Teddy leaned on his crutches, his right leg not touching the floor.

  “Son, I asked you to stay inside.”

  “I know, Papa. But what if something happened to you?”

  Lilly’s attention flickered between Caleb and Teddy. Rose’s lingered on the boy.

  “I don’t intend for anything to happen to me.”

  Teddy nodded, his expression more worried than relieved.

  “You stay there while I help these ladies collect their packages.”

  “Yes, Papa.”

  “That’s my boy.”

  An older man approached them. “Are you girls okay?”

  “We’re fine, Pa,” the pair chorused.

  So this was Mr. Bell. Caleb introduced himself. In turn, Mr. Bell introduced his daughters.

  The horse had settled down. Caleb left Mr. Bell holding him and strode to the back of the wagon to gather up parcels and return them to the box.

  Lilly scurried around to pick up things as well. “I hope nothing was damaged.”

  Teddy hobbled along the sidewalk to see better what Caleb was doing.

  Lilly lifted a sack and paused to watch the boy. There was no mistaking the question in her eyes. She was wondering why the boy wasn’t walking.

  If only someone could provide that answer.

  “Caleb.” Ebner rode toward the wagon. “Leave them people to gather up their own stuff. You get our wagon on home now. Hear?”

  “Yes, boss.”

  Lilly glowered at Ebner as he rode away laughing. Then she turned toward Caleb. “You work for them?” She grabbed the package from his hands and shook it as if his mere touch had somehow soiled it.

  “Yes, ma’am. ’Fraid I do.” And if he wanted to keep his job, he needed to do as the boss said. “Glad no one was hurt.”

  She snorted. “I’m sure your boss won’t agree.”

  If only he could explain. But what could he say? His job with the Caldwells was too important to risk losing over a few packages in the dirt. He needed the money to take Teddy to a new doctor down east. Perhaps this special doctor would be able to say why Teddy still wasn’t using his leg though it had healed up. At least on the outside. The several doctors he’d already seen suggested there was nerve damage. Or something. They had all been vague and none had helped in any way.

  “Goodbye.” He included the sister and father in his nod and joined Teddy on the sidewalk. “Let’s get going.”

  The walk toward the wagon couldn’t be hurried even though Teddy had gotten good at walking with his crutches over the past few months. At the wagon, he scooped Teddy up and set him on the seat. “Now don’t you be driving off without me.”

  Teddy laughed. “You know I can’t drive a wagon.” He leaned forward as if to take the reins. “Unless you let me.”

  Caleb climbed up and sat beside his son. “Seems to me it’s about time you learned.” He pulled the boy to his lap and let him hold the reins, his big hands firmly on Teddy’s small ones.

  Teddy turned his face up to Caleb and gave him a smile as wide as the sky.

  Caleb’s heart caught the smile and clung to it, determined not to let the past steal the joy of this precious moment or any others yet to come with his son.

  If only he could go back and undo the past. But he couldn’t. He couldn’t bring back his wife, nor could he stop the thugs from breaking in and taking her life. He’d discovered them and shot them, but in the gunfight Teddy had been injured. Caleb’s throat constricted with the same mire of emotions he’d experienced when he found his son, his leg bloody, his little face filled with terror.

  Caleb swallowed hard and forced air into his lungs. He’d never know if he had been the one who fired the shot that hit Teddy. He lived for only one thing—to see Teddy’s fears end and the boy walk normally again.

  If that required him to work for the Caldwells knowing Ebner could stoop to such dastardly deeds, well, that wasn’t his concern now, was it?

  As if suspecting Caleb might be having second thoughts, Ebner rode up beside him.

  “You’ve got to understand something. The Caldwells don’t get along with the Bells. We’ve been feuding ever since the Bells had the gall to file claim to a piece of land right plumb in the middle of Caldwell land. Seems some ignorant file clerk made a mistake. But will the Bells do the right thing and go farm somewhere else? Nope. They’ve got to keep on causing trouble. No one who works for the Caldwells can figure on being friends with the Bells. Understand?”

  Caleb nodded. “Don’t see I’ve got any cause to have truck with them.”

  “See that you don’t.” Ebner rode away, leaving Caleb to muse about his words.

  “Papa, that man at the store, Mr. Frank, he said the Bells were nice people.”

  “Uh-huh. I expect they are.” The way Rose and Mr. Bell had clustered around Lilly to make sure she wasn’t hurt sure made him think so. It’d been a long time since he’d seen such care and devotion. Or rather since he’d experienced it. Amanda had been an efficient housekeeper and a good mother to Teddy, but she’d been distant and critical when it came to Caleb. He stilled his thoughts. One didn’t speak evil of the dead even in his mind.

  They rumbled down the road toward the Caldwell ranch, Teddy so focused on handling the horse that he never lifted his eyes from the animal.

  Something in the bushes to the side of the road caught Caleb’s attention. At first he thought someone had discarded a cow hide and wondered if there were rustlers about, but then he made out a nose and ears. A pup. Dead by the look of it.

  He didn’t want Teddy to notice, so he leaned over the boy. “Remember, you must always hold the reins as if something could startle your horse. Never get so relaxed he could get away from you.”

  Teddy pulled his hands from Caleb’s and straightened, leaning hard into Caleb’s shoulder as he turned to look to the side. “Papa, it’s a dog.”

  “Don’t you want to drive the wagon still?”

  Teddy patted Caleb’s shoulder. “He’s hurt.”

  “Son, we have to get back.” Please, Teddy. Let it go. You don’t want to see any more suffering and death.

  “Papa, he needs our help.”

  When Caleb continued onward, Teddy pounded his shoulder. “Papa, you can’t leave him. You can’t. He’s hurt. You have to help. Stop. Please stop.” Tears mingled with Teddy’s demands.

  Caleb pulled the wagon to a stop and held Teddy by the shoulders. “Son, he’s dead and I don’t want you to see it.”

  Teddy flung his father’s hands off his shoulders. “You don’t know that. What if he’s only hurt?” He pursed his lips and gave Caleb a narrow-eyed look. “You ain’t gonna just leave him there to die, are you?”

  “He’s already dead.” How could such a small body hold so much stubbornness?

  “Then we need to bury him.”

  Caleb would have protected his son from ever again seeing blood and death and burial, but the boy seemed to have other thoughts on the matter. “Very well.” He jumped down, lifted Teddy to the ground, handed him his crutches and grabbed a shovel out of the wagon. He
followed his son to the dog.

  A pair of eyes opened and followed their approach.

  “Papa, he’s alive.”

  Caleb knelt by the dog. It had been slashed, and whimpered as if in pain. He saw it was a female. “Teddy, she’s barely alive and she’s hurting.” He pushed to his feet. “I want you to come back to the wagon.” He waited for the boy to obey, but Teddy only looked at him in puzzlement.

  “Why, Papa?”

  “Just do as I say.” Caleb’s feet felt heavy as rocks as he went back to the wagon and reached under the seat. He had to do what he had to do. It will be a kindness. The poor animal shouldn’t be allowed to suffer.

  Teddy hobbled after him, saw Caleb reach for the rifle and screamed. “No. You can’t shoot my dog.” He scrambled to the animal so fast Caleb held his breath for fear he’d fall and further injure himself.

  “She’s my dog.” Teddy huddled forward. “Ain’t nobody ever gonna hurt her.”

  “Son, she isn’t going to live.”

  “You’re wrong.”

  He tried every argument to convince Teddy of the futility of trying to save the dog, but his son would not relent. Though Caleb saw nothing ahead but sorrow and regret, he couldn’t stay at the side of the road any longer. He wrapped the injured dog in a gunny sack and carried her gingerly to the wagon. “We’ll take her home and stay with her so she doesn’t die alone.” He made the animal as comfortable as possible.

  “I’ll stay with her.”

  Knowing when to concede defeat, Caleb lifted Teddy in beside the dog and continued on his way. At the ranch he pulled up to the storage shed and unloaded the supplies. Thankfully Ebner wasn’t around to demand he explain why it had taken so long to get back. It also saved Caleb from confronting the man about how he’d treated the Bells.

  His task done, he carried the dog over to the covered wagon he shared with Teddy. He could have joined the others in the bunkhouse, but it wasn’t the sort of atmosphere he wanted Teddy exposed to. It would soon get too cold to sleep in the wagon—he counted on having enough money to head east before then.

  “You know what Mr. Frank said?” Teddy sat beside the dog, rubbing a spot behind the animal’s ear.

 
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