Montana Ranch Series: Love on Willow Creek, Lightning over Bennett Ranch, One Touch at Cob's Bar and Grill, Last Chance for Love, Love Under an Open Sky

by Dawes, Casey

  “Pleased to meet you.” Jess took Callie’s hand in a firm handshake. “I hear you’re from England.”

  “Yes.” Callie nodded although she returned the handshake with gratitude. She hadn’t expected to be accepted so easily. People back home were not so friendly.

  “What’s wrong with your voice?” Jessie leaned in closer, concern creasing her forehead.

  “Jess, could you take a look at Willow Cat’s left fetlock? She’s favoring that leg,” Bridget said quickly as though sensing Callie’s unease. “And check on Aleria, although I’m certain Joel will have her calmed down. She jumps at anything now.”

  “Sorry about that,” Bridget said after Jess left. She poured two cups of coffee, then sat opposite Callie at the wooden table. “Jess is kind, she’s just concerned. I haven’t told anyone anything except that you’re visiting from England. But I suppose we should get our stories straight.” She sat back, taking sips of her coffee.

  Chapter Four

  “It’s tonight?” Callie gasped, for the second time. She held bags of new clothes in her hands. Who would have thought Bozeman would have stores selling such pretty clothes? The purple knee-length dress was the prettiest she’d purchased that day, rivalling anything she’d ever seen in London.

  Her feet ached from all the walking, but she didn’t think she’d ever had so much fun. Bridget proved to be a great friend and a good laugh.

  “We didn’t tell you because we were scared you might put off your visit, but it means a lot to have you at our engagement party,” Bridget said, smiling at Tom as he bounded through the kitchen door on his way to hold Bridget in his arms. A quick peck on her lips was all he did in her presence, Callie noticed.

  “Who didn’t tell who what?” he asked with a beaming smile, his arm around Bridget’s shoulder.

  “We didn’t tell Callie about the party.” Bridget gazed up into his eyes, making Callie feel a little uncomfortable because the love they had for each other was obvious for anyone to see. Should she make her excuses and leave?

  “You are coming?” Tom asked as the smile dropped from his face and a frown built. “You’re family and it wouldn’t be the same without you. Say you’ll come.”

  “Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Callie told them both. “Will I know anyone there?”

  “Of course.” Bridget grinned. “I think Joel Masters will make an appearance at some point.”

  “Oh, I didn’t mean him,” Callie spluttered, although she did mean him, and by the smirk on Bridget’s face, she realized her cousin knew it too. “I suppose I’d better get ready.”

  She headed to her room, bags still in hand, knowing the moment she left the kitchen, they would kiss. What wouldn’t she do to have a man like that; a man who loved her as much Tom loved Bridget?

  She set her purchases out on the bed, the pretty purple dress taking pride of place. She’d bought a pair of delicate black sandals with enough of a heel to make her legs look sexy, but not too high that she couldn’t walk in them. She wanted to make a good impression should anyone ask her to dance— should Joel ask her to dance. She could only hope.

  She sat on the bed, pulling out the various cosmetics she’d bought, although in the week she’d been here, she hadn’t touched either blusher or mascara to her skin. No one here seemed bothered if her skin wasn’t perfect or that the sun had raised a line of freckles over her nose. Michael would have had a fit if he’d seen them. Here, no one seemed to care.

  Her voice improved just as the doctors said it would, but apart from a few exploratory notes, she hadn’t sung since her plane landed, and she realized, she didn’t miss it.

  It had been a week since she’d seen Joel Masters though, and that she did care about. He’d come early several mornings to check on Aleria before she’d been awake. Had that been deliberate? Was he trying to avoid her?

  She felt she owed him an apology, although Bridget told her otherwise. Joel could be downright rude at times, Bridget had reassured her and she had nothing to apologize for. Aleria was unhurt and spooked at everything. Anything could have set her off.

  Callie ran a brush through her silky locks, thanks to the wonderful session they’d shared at the salon in town, stared at her reflection and saw a different person than the one who’d sneaked out of her hospital bed and run away to the airport.

  A soft buzzing sound made her open a drawer as she retracted her cell phone. Without thinking, she raised it to her ear.

  “Hello?”

  “Where are you?” A gruff voice growled down the line.

  “Michael?” Callie didn’t know she could get a cell phone signal here.

  “Do you have another manager who has scoured the globe, searching for you?”

  “I sent you a message. I said I needed a few days away. I’m fine, thank you for asking.”

  “Of course you’re fine. I said you’d be fine and you’ve had your vacation. It’s time to come home now. You can get a plane and be home by tomorrow morning, if you’re quick.”

  “Tomorrow morning?” she gasped. That meant she’d have to leave now, and would miss Bridget and Tom’s party.

  “There’s a plane out of Bozeman airport at seven o’clock p.m. your time. I’ve reserved you a ticket.” Michael sounded fierce, and instantly she felt she wanted to obey him as she’d done all these years, but something stopped her.

  “You know where I am?” she asked, feeling the walls starting to close in on her. “How do you know?”

  “What can I say? Your mother loves me and wanted to tell me all about your impromptu trip to your cousin’s ranch. But you’ve had your fun and it’s time to get back to work. I’ve got people coming in on Monday who want to talk about the new album and the tour. If you want to build your profile, you need to show your face around. I’ve nearly managed to get you on Oprah, but you can’t just disappear whenever you like…” Michael ranted on but it wasn’t anything Callie hadn’t heard before and bored her. She didn’t want to go on Oprah or record a new album. She especially didn’t want to go on tour—not now. Not ever.

  But she didn’t think she would ever have the courage to say that to Michael. He wouldn’t understand. He had always been so ambitious, but Callie didn’t feel the same anymore. She didn’t think she’d ever been that ambitious.

  “I can’t get back for tomorrow morning. My cousin, Bridget is having an engagement party and I’ve made some new friends here…” Callie began to explain how Bridget had taken her under her wing, and was even teaching her how to ride a horse even though their size frightened her. Jessica had been very kind too, explaining about the snakes in Montana, allowing her to touch a non-aggressive Milk snake. Callie didn’t shriek that time although she didn’t plan to get one for a pet.

  “I can arrange for you to go to parties here and when you release the new album, there will be lots of functions you’ll attend,” Michael snapped. “Be on that plane. I’ll meet you at Heathrow.”

  Callie stared at the silent phone long after Michael ended the call. That’s how he handled anything he didn’t like from Callie. He issued orders, knowing she was too placid to rebel.

  “I’m not getting on that plane,” she muttered defiantly.

  “What plane?” Jessica stuck her head around the door. She hadn’t bothered to knock, but Callie liked the carefree manner of the house. She felt as though she had sisters now.

  “It doesn’t matter.” Callie stood, quickly wiping the wetness from her eyes. She wouldn’t miss this party for the world and if she had to return to London, at least, she hoped, she would have seen Joel Masters for one last time.

  Chapter Five

  The bar was full of happy people, wanting to wish Bridget and Tom good luck on their engagement, and to meet the English cousin no one knew about. Callie moved toward an empty table with a handwritten ‘reserved’ s
ign on it, and sat down to await the re-appearance of Bridget and Tom. A crowd gathered around them to join in on the congratulations.

  A pretty waitress brought over a tray with two tall iced drinks and a glass of beer.

  “Bridget drinks diet cola and I thought you might like the same,” the waitress said with a wide grin. “But I can bring you something stronger if you like.”

  “No, this is fine, thank you.” Callie returned the smile, knowing an iced soft drink would be best for her throat.

  A band played in the corner and she found her fingers tapping to the beat. Callie loved music, but the endless pressure of singing and being seen had taken its toll. It was nice to just sit in a public place, and not be rushed by people wanting to talk to her, sign an autograph or just stare at her. The folks here nodded politely, offered smiles and soft greetings, but otherwise left her alone. It was a good feeling. Unfortunately, the peace didn’t last long.

  “I hear you’re a singer.” A tall brunette sat down uninvited, at the table, her long legs crossing at the knee. She leaned forward as though sharing a secret with Callie. Her tone wasn’t kind and Callie wondered what she had done to deserve such spite. “I heard you’re famous.”

  Callie shook her head, but before she could answer, another voice interrupted.

  “I’ve never heard of you.” A second dark-headed woman sat down on the other side of Callie as though to keep her from leaving. Long, tapered and garishly painted fingernails tapped on the tabletop, although the checked tablecloth stalled the tapping noise. Her tight blue dress, low cut and sitting high on her thighs, made Callie feel overdressed in her long black skirt and pretty pink blouse.

  “No, I’m not famous,” Callie lied, feeling a little penned in by these two women. She took a long drink from her glass as though to hide her uneasiness. The diet cola seemed to sooth the itch in her throat.

  “That’s not what I heard. You’re all croaky, how can you sing with a voice like that?” the second woman sneered. She was pretty in her own way, although her makeup was a little heavy and her fingernails looked as though they could damage skin. “I’ve heard a lot about you. I heard that you’ve been sniffing around Joel Masters like a cat after a mouse, but he’s not available. You should learn to leave another woman’s man alone.”

  “I haven’t—” Callie began but a stern voice interrupted her denial.

  “What have you heard, Clara?”

  Callie looked up into Joel Masters’s scowling face as he glared at the woman asking the questions. He wore a pale blue shirt and dark blue jeans and held a light brown hat in his right hand.

  “I heard she was a dried-up, has-been looking for a rich husband.” Clara stood, running her hand down her tight dress as though wanting to bring attention to her trim figure, but her smile drooped when Joel didn’t look in her direction.

  “You’d know all about that, wouldn’t you?” Joel didn’t seem to notice the woman’s efforts as his eyes moved to Callie’s bemused face. “I think I owe you an apology.” He threw his hat on to the table, extended his hand past the indignant Clara and waited until Callie placed her palm on his before he led her to the dance floor. He moved her closer to him, his arms around her as the band started a slow dance. Callie recognized it as a faster song, but it suited the slower beat.

  “I’m sorry about Clara,” Joel muttered as he gathered her against his broad chest.

  “Is she a friend of yours?” Callie asked, looking up into his face. He grimaced.

  “Let’s just say she was a mistake I don’t intend to make again.” He shook his head as though to remove memories he didn’t want to remember. “Clara has her own idea on what makes a relationship and that’s one-sided. Anyway, I didn’t ask you to dance to talk about her.”

  “You didn’t ask me to dance,” Callie reminded him, which brought a broad smile to his face.

  “You’re right, I didn’t. That’s just another thing I need to apologize for. So, I’m sorry, miss for being a total idiot in the stable. I should have realized that you would have been frightened by a snake if you didn’t know it was harmless.”

  “It doesn’t matter.” Callie sighed, breathing in the scent of the man as they slow-danced. She’d never smelled anything quite so sexy, a tang of woodland and manliness.

  “Of course, it matters. I was the fool. Kind lady, will you please forgive me?”

  “Kind sir, you are forgiven.” Callie grinned, her words enhanced by his chuckle. She felt his arms tighten around her and she didn’t think there was anywhere she’d rather be. London, Oprah and the recording studios could wait…just for a few days.

  She closed her eyes, resting her head on the firmness of his chest and tried to remember a time when a man has asked her to dance just because he wanted to dance with her and not because of who she was. Being famous had many drawbacks, but here, she wasn’t a personality, she wasn’t famous and thank goodness, no one wanted an autograph.

  Here, she could be just Callie.

  “So, are you famous?” Joel whispered, his breath tickling her hair.

  “No,” Callie lied. She didn’t want to spoil this wonderful feeling by thinking about that part of her life. He didn’t need to know, she wouldn’t be here long enough to worry about it. She could enjoy the rest of the evening by being just Callie. As the music ended, she found herself led out outside into the coolness of the night.

  “I thought you might need a breath of fresh air.” Joel moved closer, one hand resting on her waist.

  “It was a little warm in there,” Callie agreed, lifting her head to peer into his handsome face. She’d never seen such a good-looking man before. It was a shame she wouldn’t be here long enough to get to know him better. She would have liked that.

  Joel bent his head down as his arms snaked around her. His lips were gentle, yet they demanded more. Callie raised her arms around his neck to encourage him further. She’d never been kissed like this before. As her legs quivered a little, her heart pounded and her mind filled with possibilities she should never imagine.

  “I’m sorry.” Joel ended the kiss, regret written on his face. “I shouldn’t have done that. I don’t know what made me do it.”

  “I won’t mind if you do it again.” Callie closed her eyes in anticipation, and opened them again to Joel’s soft chuckle.

  “Shouldn’t you be angry?” He laughed.

  “No, why should I be angry? It was very nice.”

  “You don’t mind a man you don’t know kissing you?” He bent low as though to kiss her lips again but instead placed a soft peck upon her cheek.

  “Not when he kisses like that. The first kiss, not that one.” She laughed, and smiled up into his face. “If I want to know more about you, I can just ask Bridget.”

  “Or you could ask me.” He placed an arm around her shoulder as though she fitted his embrace perfectly.

  “And you could ask me. We could trade secrets.”

  “I’ll go first. Why did you come to Montana?” he asked.

  “I needed a break.”

  “Everyone says you’re a famous singer,” Joel said, as a frown crossed his brow. “I don’t know who to believe.”

  “I’m not,” Callie lied again. Bridget could tell him the truth once she’d left. There would be a plane leaving for London the next day. She could catch that one, although she wished she didn’t have to. “Are you rich?” she asked, in a teasing tone.

  “Why do you ask?”

  “I’m just curious.” She smiled, knowing her own wealth possibly exceeded his. “Are you married?”

  “No,” he snarled, dropping his arm, and stepping away from her. “I don’t know what you’re up to, or who put you up to it, but I don’t play that game anymore.” With a nod, he quickly walked away back into the bar, and left Callie alone under the twinkling stars wond
ering what went wrong.

  “I’m on my way home,” Jessica whispered as she walked past. “Are you not enjoying yourself?”

  “Can I come with you?” Callie grabbed Jessica’s arm, seeing her as an exit from the situation. She didn’t know what she’d said that was so wrong but once she’d told him that she wasn’t famous, he didn’t want to know. Was he like all the others and only wanted to know her if she was famous and rich?

  Chapter Six

  Callie woke late, her eyes swollen and her throat sore from crying in the night. She could hear voices out in the yard and the whicker of horses. She showered and dressed before venturing into the kitchen.

  “I’ll have one of those too,” Bridget said as she entered the room and sat at the wooden table. “You left early last night. I worried, but Jessica said you came home with her.”

  “I was tired,” Callie lied, keeping her back to Bridget as she poured the coffee into mugs. “I didn’t want to ruin it for you.”

  “You didn’t. As I said, I was worried. One minute, you were dancing with Joel Masters and the next, I couldn’t see you. Are you sure everything’s okay?”

  “No.” Callie rushed to the table, and put the two mugs down before she plonked into a chair. “Everything isn’t okay.”

  “Want to tell me about it?” Bridget reached for her coffee, and took a sip.

  “I had a call from Michael.”

  “Who’s Michael?”

  “He’s my manager and he wants me to go home, but I’ve only been here a week and I didn’t want to miss your party. I like being here, it’s nice. No one bothers me and you’re all so friendly but…” Callie paused. How could she continue? She still didn’t know what she’d done to upset Joel again.

  “Does this have anything to do with Joel Masters?” Bridget asked.

  “Two women came and sat at the table, asking questions,” Callie began.