Big Sky Homecoming

by Linda Ford

  She trusted him to do the right thing but there were times he didn’t even know what that was. As now. He’d been taught to honor his father and mother. He’d been raised to respect his father’s authority. It seemed wrong to ignore all that. But his family motto was Honor Above All and there was nothing honorable about Ebner’s activities.

  The ranch buildings came into sight. He rode past the barn and corrals toward the house. Ebner must have been watching for him, for he crossed the yard and followed Duke up the steps.

  Duke turned. “This is family business. You can wait outside.” He stepped inside and shut the door to bar the man but not before he heard Ebner mutter, “We’ll see about that.”

  When Duke walked in, Mrs. Humphrey nodded toward the sitting room. “Your folks are in there.”

  He thanked her and crossed the kitchen to the room so full of pleasant memories.

  Mother and Father sat in comfortable armchairs, reading.

  Mother looked up.

  Father’s mouth tightened to a thin line before he spoke. “What do you have to say for yourself?” The words were stiff and formal.

  Duke squared his shoulders. “Father, I cannot be part of this feud with the Bells. It’s simply wrong to harass them, to damage their property. Mr. Bell was injured when cattle were stampeded over their farm.”

  Mother gasped. “Is this true?”

  Father silenced her with a lift of his hand and spoke to Duke. “Am I to be held responsible for every stampede injury that occurs?”

  Duke nodded. “When it’s instigated by men under your authority, then yes.”

  The hallway door crashed open and Ebner strode into the sitting room as if he owned the place.

  Duke’s spine tingled. The man had gall to spare.

  Mother looked him up and down. “I’m sorry. I didn’t hear your knock.”

  Duke half snorted. Because Ebner hadn’t bothered.

  The man barely spared a glance at Mrs. Caldwell. Instead, ignoring the others, he turned to Mr. Caldwell.

  Mother slowly, deliberately, set her teacup on the table at her elbow and slowly, deliberately, rose to her feet.

  Duke sat back. He’d only seen his mother angry twice in his life and both times it had been a sight to behold.

  Mother swept across the room to crowd Ebner so he had to step back. “How dare you intrude into our home as if you own it?” She kept her voice low but each word carried the weight of a dagger.

  Father sighed, not wanting to make a scene with Mother. “Ebner, you better leave.”

  Ebner’s jaw almost hit the floor before he stomped from the room.

  Mother returned to her seat and told Duke, “Now let’s hear the whole story.”

  Duke sat and began. He wished he could hope this would be resolved the way he wanted but Father’s look was not encouraging.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Ignoring the way her heart thumped against her ribs, Rose rode up to the kitchen door of the Caldwell Ranch.

  Ebner stormed past, giving her a look that turned her stomach sour. She swallowed hard and stared after him. She’d wait to see if he rode from the yard in the direction of the farm. If he did, she’d ride after him and stop whatever mischief he planned. When he stepped into the bunkhouse, she let her breath out in one harsh gust then sucked it in and faced the door.

  Gathering up her courage, she knocked.

  She knew the woman who opened the door. Mrs. Humphrey, who worked for the Caldwells. Her eyes widened at Rose standing in front of her, then she smiled. “About time. Come on in.” She stepped aside and offered to take Rose’s coat. Rose didn’t need help to remove it. She hung it on the nearby hook, tugged her clothes into place and then squared her shoulders.

  “I’ve come to see Duke.” And his father, though she wasn’t brave enough to speak those words aloud for fear the woman would chase her off the place.

  “Through there.” Mrs. Humphrey led her to the door of the parlor. When she hesitated, the housekeeper gave her a little push into the room.

  Mr. Caldwell stared at her, his expression forbidding. “To what do we owe this honor?”

  Mrs. Caldwell turned. “Hello, Miss Bell, how are you?

  “Fine, thank you.”

  Duke pushed to his feet and came to her side. “Rose, what’s wrong?”

  She smiled up at him, her lips quavering. “Nothing.” She turned back to Duke’s father. “Mr. Caldwell, I think a neighborly visit is long overdue.”

  The man scowled in a most unwelcoming way.

  “I have come to remedy that.”

  “Do sit down,” Duke’s mother said, and called for Mrs. Humphrey to bring tea.

  The woman hustled in with it all prepared and took her time about leaving. Rose imagined she hovered just outside the door where she could hear the conversation.

  “How was your trip?” Rose asked and thanked the woman for the cup of tea handed to her.

  “I enjoyed the break from the ranch.”

  “It must have been exciting to visit the capital of our new state of Montana. I understand the state legislature building is going to be beautiful.”

  “If it ever gets built.” Mr. Caldwell sounded disgusted.

  “Oh, is something wrong?”

  “You could say that. Some underhanded work going on. People trying to scam money from the taxpayers.”

  Rose looked shocked. “Why, that’s terrible. Where’s the honor in our country?” She set aside her teacup and folded her hands in her lap. This was the opening she had prayed for. Outwardly she hoped she gave the impression of calm. Inside, her stomach filled with a hundred fluttering butterflies. “I am indeed interested in Helena and our new state, but I do have another reason for visiting besides the fact it is long overdue.”

  Mrs. Caldwell nodded. “It truly is.”

  The woman’s welcome and support were an unexpected treat.

  Rose spoke to both Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell and tried not to look too often at Duke for fear she’d be unable to tear her gaze away. “This is not my first visit, however.”

  Mr. Caldwell’s eyebrows pushed at his hairline.

  She rushed on. “Did Duke tell you about his accident?”

  His mother jerked around. “You were hurt?”

  “Nothing serious.” Duke lifted his hair to reveal the red line across his forehead. “Thanks to Rose. She found me staggering around in the snow and brought me home and tended my wound.”

  Mrs. Caldwell reached over and squeezed Rose’s clasped hands. “Thank you.”

  “So you’ve come seeking a reward, I suppose?” Mr. Caldwell said.

  “Not at all. Seeing your son doing well is reward enough.” She wondered whether to add the next bit but now was not the time to hold back. “Helping others is what the Bells do.”

  Mr. Caldwell squirmed ever so slightly at that.

  “No, I’ve come on a more serious errand.” She forced her lungs to work. “When I was here, your son showed me through the main floor of the house.” They needed to be assured she and Duke had not been inappropriate in any way. “He showed me the picture at the bottom of the stairs and told me about the Caldwell land.”

  Mr. Caldwell leaned forward. “It reminds me that I will never let go of my land.”

  “Sir, what I suggest is it makes you capable of understanding how important our land is to us.” She let the statement fall into the silence.

  Duke’s father jerked back. “I want my land back.”

  “Sir, it was never yours. You are doing to my father exactly what others did to your forefathers. If they were cruel opportunists, then what does that make you?”

  Thunder couldn’t have made her shudder any worse than his scowl but she forged on.

  “Duke told me of your famil
y motto. Honor Above All. How honorable is it to try to force an elderly man from his land? To allow—perhaps order—your cowboys to ruin our crops and garden? To harass and kill our animals? To try to burn our barn down? To stampede cows over our land and almost kill our father?”

  Mr. Caldwell rose to his feet. “I’ve heard enough. It’s time for you to go.”

  Mrs. Caldwell rose, too, and planted herself directly in front of her husband. “Cecil, first Duke and now this young lady make these accusations. Is what they say true?”

  “This is ranch business.”

  Rose edged to her feet and tried to creep away. She wanted nothing to do with a family argument.

  Mrs. Caldwell would not be denied. “This is my home. My family. I’ve always been proud of that, Cecil. But now I feel shame clear to my toes. How dare you harass these people? Of course I knew you had tried to buy them out. But they have the right to refuse your offer. However, you don’t have the right to threaten them.” She turned her back to her husband and reached for Rose’s hands. “My dear, I am so sorry.”

  Mrs. Caldwell turned to Duke. “So this is what your argument was about? I mistakenly thought you and Ebner had argued about your authority. Whatever you decide to do, I will stand with you.”

  She turned again to her husband. “I married a man I admired for his integrity and honor. What happened to that man?”

  At first Mr. Caldwell looked angry and defensive, then his expression changed. He reached for his wife’s hands. “I’m still that man, though for a little while I’ve forgotten it. But I promise you I won’t disappoint you again.”

  She smiled at him. “I know you won’t.” She patted his chest affectionately.

  “I didn’t know the details of what Ebner did.” He hung his head. “I chose not to know. Then Duke came to me making it impossible for me to pretend I didn’t know.” He turned to Duke. “I tried to fire Ebner yesterday but he said he would go to the sheriff and say I’d done it all myself.”

  Duke held his arm out to shake his father’s hand. “I’m glad to know you believed me. I wish I could say Ebner is all talk and threat, but I’ve seen enough of him to know he’s a real danger.”

  “Mr. Caldwell,” Rose said, “I can honestly say I never saw you doing any of those awful things but lots of times I saw Ebner.”

  “That should be enough to prove your innocence, Father.”

  Mr. Caldwell sank back to the chair. “Except I’m not innocent. You’re right, young lady. I was doing all the things I resented others for doing.”

  “I speak for my entire family when I say we’re ready to forgive you and start over.” She stood in front of him. “Let’s end this feud and start being the kind of neighbors we should be.” She held out her hand to Mr. Caldwell.

  “Agreed.” He rose and they shook hands.

  Mrs. Caldwell stood at her husband’s side. “I’m proud of you.”

  Mr. Caldwell smiled at his wife. “And now I have something to deal with. Duke, do you want to come with me?” He led his son from the house, purpose in every step.

  “Goodbye to Ebner,” Mrs. Caldwell said. “Or should I say ‘good riddance’?” She studied Rose with the same blue-eyed intensity Duke did.

  “Your son is very much like you,” Rose said.

  “Thank you. But I believe he’s the best of both of us. And you, Rose Bell, are quite the gal.” She tucked her hand around the crook of Rose’s elbow. “Do you want to watch Ebner ride away?”

  Taking Rose’s agreement for granted, she led them to the kitchen window. Mrs. Humphrey joined them in watching the two Caldwell men confront Ebner.

  Ebner waved his arms in protest but the Caldwells didn’t back down. Then Ebner stomped away to the bunkhouse. Duke and his father stood side by side waiting for Ebner to reappear, saddle his horse and ride from the ranch.

  Mrs. Caldwell brushed her palms together as if ridding them of something dirty. “That’s the last we’ll see of him. If I know my husband and son, they made it clear that it would be in the man’s best interests to never again show his face. Now, my dear, let’s have tea and you can tell me all about yourself.”

  When Rose left a short time later, she had the Caldwells’ agreement to come to tea at the Bells’ on Friday.

  Not until Duke had escorted her almost back to the farm did she realize that would be Valentine’s Day.

  The end of the feud between the Bells and the Caldwells was better than any valentine card but she hoped she and Duke would get some private time so she could give him the card she’d made.

  They reined to a halt at the top of the hill and slipped from their horses. He came around to stand in front of her.

  “I can’t believe you confronted my father.” He ran his finger along her chin. “It reminded me of the time you confronted Morty back in school—all fierce and defensive.”

  It was on the tip of her tongue to say she was very protective of those she loved—

  Was it true? Did she love him? The thought both excited and frightened her. After all, she had promised herself she would never allow herself to become vulnerable by opening her heart.

  She smiled, her heart bursting with the secret of her feelings. She moved to within inches of him. “You need to know how much I admire you. How I see you as a good man with noble intentions.”

  His eyes darkened. “Not the nasty little tease I used to be?”

  “I’m not sure you were the tease I made you out to be.” She’d wait until Friday to give him the card she had prepared for him. Surely those words would convince him that her feelings had changed.

  He leaned forward until their foreheads touched. “I’m very glad of your moral support.” His voice deepened. She tipped her head and their gazes fused. Their lips were a breath apart. His eyes smiled and he claimed her mouth in a sweet kiss. She wished it would last forever but he eased away. “You better go let your parents know you’re safe. Won’t they be pleased to know the feud is truly over?”

  “They certainly will.” They parted ways as she rode down the hill and he waited to wave to her as she reached the barn before he rode for home.

  She was glad the feud was over but the fact didn’t mean near as much as her discovery of what lay in her heart.

  He’d not said a word about his feelings. She might well be mistaken in thinking he felt the same as she. It wouldn’t be the first time. Her lungs clenched at the idea.

  But the joy of the time they’d shared would be worth whatever pain might lay in store.

  She snorted. As if she believed that. But she clung to the thought because the alternative was too dreadful to contemplate.

  * * *

  Ma fussed with the array of cookies and the chocolate cake she’d made. Rose draped an arm across her shoulders. “Ma, I wouldn’t have invited them if I’d thought it would upset you.”

  Ma gave a quick laugh. “I’m glad you did. It’s time we became proper neighbors. But I want everything to be just right. After all, they’re the Caldwells.”

  “Nonsense,” Pa said. “They’re ranchers, neighbors...people just like us.”

  Ma nodded, then grabbed a tea towel and wiped a cup. Again.

  Rose smiled. Her parents were going to be pleasantly surprised.

  Billy clutched Patches to his chest. “Are you sure Ebner left?”

  “I watched him ride away with my own eyes.” She understood it would take time for Billy to feel safe again.

  She glanced out the window. They would come in their buggy so they would have to follow the road. Still, her glance went to the well-used trail over the hill. A horse and rider appeared. “Duke is coming.” She rushed out to greet him and accompanied him to the barn as he led King inside.

  He released the horse and hurried back to Rose’s side. He swept her off her feet in a hug. “I h
ave missed you so much. When was the last time we had a chance to visit? To enjoy each other’s company? There has always been other things to deal with—Billy, Ebner, my parents.” He set her feet on the floor but kept his arms around her.

  Her heart threatened to explode with warm, sweet joy. “I missed you, too.” More than she dare confess, though if he were to offer any clue as to his feelings—

  Her heart did a little flip in anticipation of giving him her valentine. She’d changed the wording of the verse at the last minute and hoped she wasn’t being too bold.

  He lowered his head so he could search her gaze. “Why are you smiling so?”

  “I’m happy.”

  “Because the feud is over or because I’m here?”

  “Yes.” She boldly tipped her head. She planted her hands on either side of his neck and thrilled to the drum of his pulse against her palms.

  The blue of his eyes offered sunshine and so much more. “Rose Bell, sweetest flower of all.” He caught her mouth with his own.

  She pressed her hands to his head and clung to him, feeling the crisp winter air in his hair, tasting it on his lips. She wondered if her heart would ever beat normally again.

  The rattle of harness and the creak of leather warned them that Duke’s parents had arrived. They ended the kiss.

  Their gazes refused to part. His eyes glistened as if they had stolen stars from the night sky.

  She expected hers were equally bright.

  He brushed a fingertip to her lips.

  “I hear your folks.” Her voice sounded as though it came from the most distant corner of the farm.

  He nodded but didn’t move.

  When she heard her pa call out a greeting to the Caldwells, she caught Duke’s hand and propelled him toward the door. “Come on. We have to go.”

  As they stepped outside, he dropped her hand and hurried toward the buggy to help his mother down.

  Rose rushed forward. “Come in. So glad you could make it.”

  The Caldwells stopped at the door. Pa offered his hand. “We are glad you’ve come.”

  Ma squeezed Mrs. Caldwell’s hand. “I’ve prayed for this day. Do come in.”