Big Sky Homecoming

by Linda Ford

  Slowly her head lifted. Even more slowly, her eyes followed and he bit the inside of his lip at the doubt and sorrow that filled her eyes. Oh, Rose, it doesn’t matter where you came from, who your parents were or why your father abandoned you. What matters is your beautiful nature.

  He couldn’t speak the words but he hoped she heard them just the same.

  Mrs. Bell returned to the window. “I see blue sky.”

  Mr. Bell and Billy joined her, exclaiming over the clearing skies.

  Duke stayed at the table, loath to leave. Things had changed between him and Rose. Between him and the Bells. He wanted to believe things had also changed between the Caldwells and the Bells, but he knew Rose wouldn’t believe so until she lived it.

  He especially didn’t want to leave Rose with such a strong reminder that she had no history beyond when the Bells had found her and her sisters.

  But it was time to leave. He pushed up from the table. “I’ll go saddle our horses.”

  Rose gave a decisive nod. “I’ll help you. Billy, you stay here until we bring the horses back.”

  “Okay. Patches doesn’t want me to leave.” He clung to the cat.

  Duke and Rose donned their warm clothes and stepped outside. The sun made them squint.

  “I guess we don’t need to use the rope to guide us.” He almost wished they did. It had bound their hands together in a fight against nature. But it had also bound their hearts together.

  Inside the barn he caught her arm and turned her to face him. “Rose, your pa only spoke of our country when he said that about history.”

  “I know. But it’s true, isn’t it? History is important. It tells us who we are.”

  He planted his hands on her shoulders. “So does looking in the mirror.”

  She blinked.

  He pressed on. “That’s who you are. You go look in your mirror and tell me that any part of you is missing. You have all your body parts. You have a sharp mind and a good heart.” He caught a lock of her hair that had escaped from under her knitted hat. Seems he always wanted to touch it, turn it to see the light catch it, watch it change color from red to gold to ginger. “You have a pair of green eyes like the finest emerald gems and your hair is so—” Would she laugh if he called it gorgeous?

  “Red? Like fire in a woodshed.”

  He gave her a little shake. “Please forget I ever said that. I was a silly, thoughtless little boy looking for attention in all the wrong ways.” A chuckle came from deep within. “And you gave it to me.” He looked into her eyes; knew she saw more than his face. She saw clear to his soul.

  “Maybe that’s why I teased you so much. At least you noticed me.”

  Doubt and belief warred in her expression.

  He didn’t give her a chance to decide which to go with. “And, no, I wasn’t about to say your hair was red like fire.” His voice deepened. “I was going to say it is beautiful.” Surely a better word choice than “gorgeous.”

  “It changes color with every movement.” He turned the strand back and forth, mesmerized by the changes. “It goes from cranberry to gold to ginger to—” Realizing how foolish he must sound, he clamped his mouth shut.

  She laughed; a throaty sound as if it was caught deep inside and only a whisper escaped. “Duke, when did you go from an annoying tease to a romantic poet?”

  The tips of his ears burned with a mixture of embarrassment and pleasure.

  She touched his lips. “I can’t believe this mouth is the one that used to torment me so.”

  “And has now kissed you.” Oh, mercy. What had happened to all his senses that he blurted forth such things?

  Her finger slid away from his mouth but her gaze lingered on his lips. Surely it was an invitation.

  “I’d like to kiss you again,” he murmured.

  In response she closed her eyes and tipped her face up to him.

  If he followed his heart he would wrap his arms around her and kiss her as though there was no tomorrow. But he forced himself to be wise and kept his hands on her shoulders. His kiss was chaste and quick, then he leaned back.

  Her eyes begged for more but he had to be strong enough for both of them. “Didn’t we come here for something else?”

  Her cheeks colored pink and she stepped away. “We need to saddle the horses.” She hurried to the tack room to retrieve Billy’s saddle.

  Duke followed at a slower pace to get his own. All too soon the horses stood ready to lead from the barn.

  “Rose.” He couldn’t leave with her thinking he didn’t enjoy their kiss. “This has been the best day of my life to date but I hope to have more just like this, only without the storm.”

  “It has? You do?”

  He chuckled softly. “You have no idea how much I hope for it.”

  A slow smile curved her lips and she lowered her gaze. “Me, too.”

  Her shy response pleased him clear to the depths of his being. “Then count on it.”

  “I will.” Her smile reached his heart and took up residence. He walked from the barn, his head high, his shoulders back, tall and proud. There was something about Rose. There’d always been something about Rose that made him want to shout her name.

  He led the horses to the house and Billy stepped out, bundled up to leave. He still held Patches in his arms.

  “I guess you have to put her down now,” Duke said.

  Rose leaned close and whispered in his ear, her breath tickling not only his cheek but his every sense. “He can take the cat if that’s okay with you.”

  Duke tried to think but found it difficult with Rose leaning so close. Mrs. Humphrey often kept a cat in the kitchen. It had never been allowed in the rest of the house. He saw no reason Billy couldn’t do the same.

  “Billy, do you want to take the cat home with you?”

  Billy looked ready to burst into tears. “Can I?”

  Duke nodded. “If it meets with the Bells’ approval.”

  All of them nodded and smiled. It struck Duke how generous they were. How they took pleasure in doing things for others.

  “Goody, goody.” Billy smiled so wide it must have hurt. “She can ride inside my coat.” He tucked the cat in so only her head peeked out at Billy’s neck. Patches licked his chin once then settled in as if she knew exactly what Billy expected of her.

  Duke helped Billy into his saddle. They said their goodbyes and thank-yous, and rode away. At the top of the hill, he turned. Only Rose remained in the doorway. He lifted his hand to wave goodbye and she waved back. He watched her for the space of three heavy heartbeats, then, with a final wave, rode over the hill. He glanced back but the farm was now out of sight.

  He turned his attention toward breaking a trail for them through the snow-covered track.

  The sun reached its zenith before they approached the ranch. Duke sniffed. Was that cigar smoke? Had his parents returned? It would be an answer to his prayer if they had. He could ask his father for reassurance that the feud was over.

  He went to the barn first and he and Billy took care of their mounts. When they were done and ready to cross the yard, Billy picked up Patches.

  “Can I take her to the house?”

  “She can stay in the kitchen. Mrs. Humphrey says a good cat keeps the mice away.”

  Billy was immediately defensive. “Patches is a good cat.”

  “I know she is. Now let’s go to the house.”

  The smell of cigar smoke grew stronger and Duke threw open the door expecting to see his father. His greeting stalled in his throat. Ebner leaned back in a chair, his boots resting on the kitchen table, one of Father’s cigars clamped between his teeth.

  Billy skittered away to the farthest corner.

  “So you survived the storm.”

  “We’re here.” The to
ne of Ebner’s voice grated Duke’s nerves, as did his posture. Did he have plans to move in and take over the Caldwell Ranch?

  Ebner’s boots clattered to the floor. “Where you been?”

  “We found shelter.”

  “Let me guess. You just ‘happened’ to find shelter at the Bells’. Boy, your pappy is going to wonder whose side you’re on.”

  “I expect my father would be grateful I am safe and sound. Besides, didn’t he inform you he has no more interest in feuding with the Bells?”

  Ebner narrowed his eyes but didn’t answer. His look grabbed Duke’s throat. Did the man intend to ignore direct orders? Or only make it plain he obeyed them reluctantly?

  “By the way,” Duke continued, “does he know you go into his office in his absence and help yourself to his cigars?”

  Ebner pulled the cigar from his mouth with no sign of guilt. His eyes narrowed to slits. “Your pappy considers me a valuable asset to his business. He counts on me to carry out his wishes.”

  Duke noted that Ebner hadn’t said Father’s “orders.” That gave him hope that Father didn’t know the specifics of what Ebner had been doing. Duke simply could not believe his father would stoop to approving some of the underhanded, cruel things Ebner had done to the Bells. After all, grandfather would certainly have drummed the Caldwell motto home to his son as thoroughly as he had to his grandson. Honor Above All.

  He drew himself up tall. He was the Caldwell here and as such he had authority over Ebner. “I’m in charge while my father is away and I certainly don’t need to explain myself to you. Now, if you’ll excuse us...” He tipped his head toward the door.

  Ebner didn’t move, his scowl challenging Duke.

  Duke refused to budge.

  Ebner snorted. “You aren’t near as big as you think you are.” He stomped from the room and slammed the door as he left.

  “What did he mean?” Billy’s voice trembled.

  “Nothing. It’s just talk.”

  But a warning shuddered up his spine. Ebner was not a man to take lightly.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The next day Rose hitched the horse to the sleigh Pa had built. It wasn’t a thing of beauty but would travel the snow-covered roads easily so she could go to town and back.

  As she worked, she considered the two days of the storm. She’d been kissed twice, Duke had promised the feud was over and he said he’d deal with Ebner. But was it all just a dream—a span out of time? Duke hadn’t returned to visit. Not that she’d expected it. There really hadn’t been time, although the hours had passed so slowly that the past day had felt like three days. Yesterday she’d glanced out the window so often that Ma had asked if she’d expected someone to come calling.

  “No, just feeling cooped in. I think I’ll go for a walk.” She’d had to wade through snowbanks but it had been better than being indoors wondering and waiting, regretting and wishing. The walk had been invigorating. The frozen river lay between whipped-cream drifts of snow. The tree branches wore a snowy covering, their shimmering surface reflecting the blue sky. She’d stood on the bank overlooking the scene for a long time, her thoughts soothed by the beauty and peacefulness in front of her.

  “A reminder of God’s power and majesty.” She’d spoken the words aloud in the silence. She needed to trust God to take care of all the petty details bothering her.

  She’d returned to the house more peaceful and had spent the rest of the day working in the barn. It hadn’t skipped her attention that Duke seemed closer in there.

  Now, as she finished harnessing the horse, she turned to survey the hill in the direction of the Caldwell Ranch. She had no reason to expect Duke to visit and yet she wished he would.

  Likely she’d see him in town. Eagerly, she loaded some vegetables into the sleigh and covered them to prevent freezing, then with a final glance to the crest of the hill, said goodbye to Ma and Pa and started toward town.

  At the fork that led to the Caldwell Ranch, she paused. Nothing moved but the clouds in the sky. Realizing the irony of her longing, she laughed. For years she had glanced up the hill and down the road with dread and had released a sigh of relief when she’d seen nothing headed her way. Now here she was wishing for a rider to approach.

  Her feelings toward Duke certainly had changed...but until she could be certain the Caldwell cowboys posed no further danger to the Bells, she must continue to be cautious. She would take care of business in town and hurry home to make sure the Caldwell cowboys didn’t do any damage while the place was unguarded except for Ma and Pa. Pa would no doubt think he could ward off any cows or cowboys riding across the land. She didn’t want him to do anything to slow his healing.

  Her muscles tensed. Her chest grew tight. She urged the horse forward and the sleigh skimmed across the snow-covered trail.

  It took the better part of an hour to distribute the vegetables and visit the three people Ma had asked her to take medicinals to. She went to the store for the mail and the few supplies on Ma’s list. A pink and red valentine card displayed under the glass counter caught her eye. On the outside was a lacy white heart filled with red roses. What would the verse inside say? She puffed out her cheeks. Likely something syrupy sweet. Not the sort of thing she’d give to someone like Duke.

  Would she give him a valentine card this year? He’d kissed her, didn’t that mean something?

  She half turned away, then looked again at the valentine.

  She and her classmates had exchanged valentine cards at school. Ma had insisted she give everyone a card. Even Duke. Like most of her friends, she and her sisters had made their own cards.

  A smile accompanied the memory. One year she’d made a card covered with roses and inside had written “Roses are red. Violets are blue. Skunks stink and so do you.”

  She had waited until she was at school to complete the poem knowing Ma would forbid it.

  That was the year Duke had given her a huge, rose-covered card with a syrupy verse inside. What had it said? As if she could forget, especially as it came almost directly from one of Ma’s favorite poems that she read every Valentine’s Day.

  Love is like a red, red rose that’s newly sprung in June.

  Love is like a melody that’s sweetly played in tune.

  She’d thought he meant the words to mock her hair and would have torn the valentine to shreds but Lilly had snatched it away, saying, “It’s too beautiful to destroy.”

  “Here you go, miss.”

  Rose jerked her attention to the storekeeper who held out a sack full of her supplies. She gathered up the sack and returned to the sleigh. But nothing could stop her thoughts from returning to the memory of that card.

  Had Duke meant the verse as a compliment?

  Had she been guilty of cruelty throughout their school days, dismissing his offerings with harsh words and actions? The idea lay like a hot, accusing rock in the pit of her stomach.

  She climbed onto the seat of the sleigh and looked up and down the street. No sign of Duke. She couldn’t say if she was grateful or otherwise. She needed to apologize about the valentine and dreaded the idea he might hold some resentment over her bad behavior, but more urgent than that, she longed to see him. To assure herself he was okay.

  Another fact hit her. In all her time in town, she’d not seen Ebner, either. She’d feel much better if she saw him. At least she’d know he wasn’t up to mischief at the farm.

  She turned down the street toward Lilly’s house. If she didn’t stop by for a minute or two, Lilly would worry that some harm had come to them at the farm. Besides, she needed to speak to her sister.

  Lilly threw open the door as soon Rose drove up and rushed out to hug her.

  “I can’t stay but a moment. I need to get home and make sure Ma and Pa are all right.”

  Lilly pulled her indoors. “How di
d you fare during the storm?”

  “Good. Duke and Billy rode out the storm with us.”

  Lilly stood back and stared. “And you are both still alive?”

  Rose laughed. “It was actually okay.” She told Lilly everything, except about the kisses in the barn.

  “Do you really think he persuaded his father to end the feud?”

  Rose shrugged. “He was quite certain he had.”

  Lilly tilted her head. “Do you trust Duke?”

  Rose stared at her twin. “I do but I don’t.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “When he was there and we were face-to-face, I believed him, trusted him, but now—” She fluttered her hands. “I wonder if I’m being too easily swayed.” She pushed to her feet. “I need to get home. You know what Pa would do if Ebner tried to start trouble.”

  They hugged and Rose left the house. Her footsteps ground to a halt when she saw Duke waiting by the sleigh. “What are you doing here? Where’s Billy?” She glanced up and down the street.

  “Billy’s at the store and I’m here because I want to take you out for a meal.”

  “I can’t. I need to get home.” Her tone hardened. “I don’t trust Ebner not to bother the farm while I’m gone.”

  “He won’t be doing that today. He’s over at the blacksmith shop getting his horse shod and then he has some other business to conduct.”

  Rose stood rooted to the spot. Did she want to go with him? Yes. Oh, yes. But dare she?

  “At least join me for tea. They do a very nice tea at the hotel dining room.”

  The door to her sister’s house creaked open and Lilly stepped out. “Say yes,” she whispered in Rose’s ear. “You know you want to. Hello, Duke,” she called.

  “How are you, Lilly?”

  “Fine, just fine. Rose thinks tea sounds lovely.” She gave Rose a little push.

  Rose nodded. “It does.” She finally lifted her eyes to Duke’s. At the claiming look in his eyes, the way his gaze drifted to her lips, heat surged to her cheeks. She hoped anyone watching would put her heightened color down to the crisp winter air.