The Man from Montana

by Julianna Morris

  Mallory’s brow creased. “Mahoney...”

  “That’s right. Don’t you recognize the name? My father owns the Mahoney Horse Ranch and my aunt is the mayor of Elk Point. Gosh, Mahoneys have been in the area for ages.”

  Frustrated anger flew across Mallory’s face before she could conceal it. She wasn’t stupid. Jillian was telling her that she had roots here—family and loyal friends throughout the community.

  “When are you getting married?” she demanded.

  Jillian rose on her toes and kissed Andrew’s jaw. “We haven’t announced our engagement yet, so we haven’t talked about possible dates. But not too long. I’ve always liked the idea of a summer wedding. What do you think, Andy?”

  “Uh, autumn might be better,” he said, trying to contribute to his part of the charade. “Your father will want to be fully recovered from his fall and it’ll be quieter after the major tourist season ends. Much nicer for a wedding.”

  “You’re right, though I hate waiting that long.”

  Mallory’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t have a ring.”

  Jillian gave her a cool, unruffled look. “I work with horses and prefer not to wear it around them. But I keep it with me.”

  Andrew was even more astounded when Jillian slipped a finger beneath the gold chain around her neck and pulled out the engagement ring that Michael had given her. She’d worn it since his death, hidden beneath her clothing as a reminder of love lost but not forgotten.

  The circlet swung back and forth on the long chain, while the long rays of sunlight flashed red on the gold, almost hypnotically.

  Without a word, Mallory turned and stomped toward the parking lot. She got into an old car with mismatched paint and gunned the motor.

  Andrew hugged Jillian as the vehicle screeched out of the parking lot. “You’re a lifesaver. How did you think of that so fast?”

  She laughed. “After the last time we talked, I kept thinking how fortuitous it would be if you’d gotten remarried. But, to be honest, it was my ring that gave me the idea. The clasp on the chain came open today. I didn’t notice right away and spent a good part of the afternoon going over every inch of ground where I’d worked. It was still on my mind when Mallory got here, and I suddenly realized a fake fiancée might do the job, almost as well as a real wife.”

  “The look on her face was priceless. She thought my job as a guide and me being single would sound like the perfect argument in a custody suit, though I’m sure her real goal is to get more money.”

  Jillian nodded. “She’ll probably be back, so we need to keep up the pretense for a while. We’ll have to explain to our parents, and Emma should know. When it’s safe, we can have the most amicable broken engagement in the history of romance.”

  “I agree.” Andrew looked over at his brother and uncle. “In case you didn’t follow that, we aren’t getting married.”

  “I figured,” Clay said. “How did you know Mallory was here?”

  “Tessa Alderman alerted us. You haven’t told her anything, have you?”

  * * *

  CLAY SHOOK HIS HEAD. “Of course not.”

  Whatever questions he had about Tessa, she’d proven her ability to swiftly evaluate a situation and take action. She must have spotted Mallory, as well, and remembered what he’d said about letting the family know if she showed up. He was impressed, especially since Jillian had devised a workable plan to discourage Andrew’s ex.

  It was too bad the engagement wasn’t real. Clay would have welcomed Jillian as a sister. Other ranches in the area had wanted to hire her, but she’d come to work for him. He figured it was mostly because of the family friendship. It helped that the Mahoney spread was just down the road, so she could live there and still get over quickly to the Carson Double C if a problem cropped up. Her father was the one who’d told Clay that a neighboring ranch was going to be sold; his bid had been accepted before the property could even hit the market.

  “I’d better go back to the guests,” Clay told the others. “In the meantime, get together with Aunt Emma and come up with a plan for telling people. We don’t want any surprises.”

  “Any more surprises,” Andrew affirmed, grinning at his pretend fiancée.

  Clay returned to the picnic area and found the Fraziers and Tessa were already eating dessert—homemade ice cream and cake that the kitchen baked in huge pans. Someone had thoughtfully covered his plate with a sheet of aluminum foil.

  “You left so abruptly, and then Tessa disappeared for a while, we wondered if there was a problem. Is everything all right?” Mrs. Frazier asked as he sat down.

  “Sorry it seemed abrupt. I was just taking care of some business. It’s a relief to get out on the trail with understanding people like yourselves.”

  Mrs. Frazier beamed at the sideways compliment, but when he glanced at Tessa, her eyes were coolly thoughtful.

  Though his appetite was gone, Clay dug into his meal again. His clients were here to enjoy themselves, not to be drawn into someone else’s problems. It was important to him that he provide an atmosphere for relaxation and fun. The need for rest and stress relief was why the Carson family had started visiting Elk Point in the first place. His father had been diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat and Dr. Wycoff had ordered him to stop drinking coffee, lose ten pounds, get more exercise and relax regularly.

  Or else.

  Mom and Dad had taken the or else to heart.

  Dad had followed the doctor’s orders faithfully and was in better shape now than twenty-four years ago. He just hadn’t realized that the family vacations and getaways would end in his sons finding something to do with their lives besides the world of banking and corporate finance.

  CHAPTER SIX

  TESSA WOKE AT her usual early hour the next morning and went over to the large horse barn to visit the animals. She’d loved horses since before she could remember; they were such intelligent, sensitive creatures. As a child she’d always confided her secrets to the horses at her grandparents’ ranch—secrets she couldn’t even tell Renee. There hadn’t been many of them, but a few.

  “Hey,” she murmured to Coal Dust, a mostly black Appaloosa gelding she’d grown particularly fond of. It was interesting that at least half of the riding horses owned by Carson Outdoor Adventures were Appaloosas. She’d heard they were popular with rodeo contestants, but knew little more about the breed.

  Coal Dust put his head over the stall door and she stroked his nose. His calm eyes blinked at her.

  “I thought I’d find you here,” said a man’s voice.

  Tessa turned her head and saw Clay at the barn door. “Why did you want to find me?”

  “You let Andrew and Uncle Lee know that Mallory had shown up last night. I appreciate the quick thinking.”

  She squirmed, uncomfortable with the praise. She’d guessed that Mallory was Andrew’s ex-wife and Derry’s mother. The family tension over the woman’s appearance suggested a custody fight was brewing. Tessa didn’t know the rights and wrongs of the situation, yet she hadn’t gotten a good impression of the redhead, and her instincts told her that Derry was already in the best place for him.

  “I just did what you asked if she showed up. What do want me to do this morning, wash down the picnic area?”

  “Already done. It’s scrubbed with soap and water as soon as guests leave to discourage ants and larger pests.”

  Tessa had noticed the barbecue center was designed with concrete flooring and drains where food traces could be flushed away. There hadn’t been any of the usual long-term grease stains or sticky spots on the colorful aluminum tables. She admired Clay’s attention to detail, which made it seem even more unlikely he’d acted irresponsibly on her sister’s rafting trip.

  But it wasn’t the question of fault keeping her in Montana.

  Tessa still didn’t have a clue about why Renee had told the college
where she worked that she was going to do one thing, then done something completely different. She’d put her academic career at risk to come to Montana, to do things she’d always avoided in the past.

  “Take the morning off,” Clay said, breaking into Tessa’s grim musings.

  “I’m happy to work.”

  “I know you are, but there’s a four-hour hike this afternoon with seventeen guests. I usually don’t allow that many in a single group, but they’re retirees who caravan by RV each year. They asked to stay together for the hike, rather than split up, so I want someone else along to ensure they all stay on the trail as agreed. We leave at one.”

  Tessa nodded. “I’ll be at the staging area by twelve thirty, unless you need me earlier.”

  “Twelve thirty is fine.”

  Having the morning free was an opportunity she hadn’t expected. She got her keys and purse and drove to Elk Point. The architecture lacked the Spanish influence popular in Tucson, along with palms, giant saguaros and bougainvillea, but it was a pleasant town, with large old brick homes and a profusion of flowers and other trees. Some were Douglas firs and aspens, others were the deciduous western larch that Clay had pointed out on various hikes.

  At the sheriff’s office, she squared her shoulders and went inside. A young deputy was at the front counter and she gave him a pleasant nod.

  “Hello, I need a copy of an accident report. Th-the victim was Renee Claremont and she died while on a commercial rafting trip on September twenty-fourth last year. The online information I’ve found is minimal, so a more complete report must be available.”

  “I see.” The officer wrote Renee’s name and the date on a sheet of paper. “Are you the family’s lawyer, or is there another connection?”

  Tessa swallowed. “Renee was my sister. Surely, it’s considered a public record.”

  “I’ll have to speak with Sheriff Maitland. Give me your name and contact information. Also, may I see your identification?” he asked politely.

  She produced her Arizona driver’s license and then took the paper and wrote down her name, cell number and email address.

  “If needed, I have our birth certificates,” she explained. “Claremont was my sister’s married name, but the death certificate shows our parents’ names. I can obtain a copy of her divorce decree, too, and other documents.”

  “I’ll let the sheriff know about your request. He’ll determine what documentation is needed.”

  There seemed little else Tessa could do or say at the present time. Elk County was a small place and might operate by its own rules. Regardless, they probably wouldn’t release personal data on witnesses or other individuals, so the full report would have to be edited before they could give her access. If necessary, she could speak with an attorney, but she suspected that would just antagonize everyone and make things harder.

  She managed a smile. “I’ll look forward to hearing from whoever is able to speak with me.”

  Tessa was turning to leave when the deputy cleared his throat. “If you don’t mind my asking, why do you want to see the report?”

  She tried to keep her eyes from tearing. “Renee was my twin sister. My family and I are having a hard time dealing with her death. It might help if we learn more about what happened.”

  “Twin? Jeez, I’m really sorry. I have four-year-old twin nephews. They’re like peas in a pod and totally different at the same time.”

  “Renee and I were fraternal twins, not identical, but I guess you get the idea.”

  The deputy’s expression had softened. “I do, ma’am. I’ll let the sheriff know, but he’s away for a few days, so you won’t hear anything until next week at the earliest. And this is an extra busy time of the year, too, with so many tourists coming into the area.”

  “I understand. Thank you for the help.” Tessa felt as if she was escaping as she went out the door. Talking about Renee was hard and she didn’t like showing emotion to strangers. Tears didn’t help anything and she was half-afraid that if she started crying, she’d have trouble stopping.

  She sat in her SUV for a few minutes, composing herself.

  Finally, she took out her phone and began looking up shops that might carry the drafting tools she needed to work on her landscape designs. Over the past few months, she’d learned focusing on a task could help restore her equilibrium.

  None of the stores in Elk Point looked promising, but there were more possibilities in Kalispell. It wasn’t a long drive, so she headed for the larger community and quickly found what she needed, or at least workable alternatives.

  Her brief stay on the Carson Double C had quickly made her accustomed to peace and quiet, so the more bustling atmosphere of the shopping area was jarring. She shook her head at the thought; it was nothing like Tucson, a far larger community. Adjusting had taken a day or two after her vacations to places like the Caribbean, and it wouldn’t take long once she’d returned home from Montana.

  * * *

  WHEN JILLIAN ARRIVED at work that morning, she discovered the news of her supposed engagement to Andrew had already spread. She accepted the congratulations of the other wranglers with mixed emotions.

  At the time, a fake engagement had seemed the best way to discourage Andrew’s ex-wife. But now Jillian was less certain it had been the best solution, especially since only their close family could be told about the deception.

  Trust wasn’t an issue, just the realization that the more people who knew a secret, the easier it was for someone to accidentally slip and reveal the truth. Besides, it also meant fewer people would be required to lie for them.

  Michael’s ring shifted between her breasts and she sighed. He’d been gone for several years and she hadn’t forgotten him, but the loss was more of a melancholy memory now, instead of the fierce, stabbing pain it had been for so long. One thing she was certain about, though, was that Michael would have approved of her using his ring to help protect Andrew and Derry.

  “Thanks, everyone,” she said to her team, who seemed genuinely pleased on her behalf. “But there’s a three-night horseback tour group going out this morning, so we’d better get busy. Richard, you’re going along as support on this one, right?”

  “Yup.”

  The coveted assignment of going on overnight trips was rotated among the wranglers. Their duties were to look after the horses, including saddling and unsaddling them, ensure the animals were properly secured each evening, set up and break down camp and help guests with any riding issues. But a lot of time on a trip was just spent riding or enjoying the food and company. Now that Lee Sutter was in charge of the kitchen, the meals served on trips were particularly delicious. She didn’t take a turn in the rotation herself; spending days away from the Carson Double C and her father’s ranch was too much of a challenge.

  Once the group left a couple of hours later, she had some breathing space. Since she knew Andy had the day off, she went over to the house he shared with his aunt and uncle.

  It was Emma who came to the door. “Hi, Jillian. What’s up?”

  “I’m second-guessing myself. I keep wondering if I made things worse by announcing a fake engagement. What if Mallory finds out it isn’t true?”

  “How can she? Come in. I made fresh play dough, so Derry and Andrew are having fun. Reminds me of when I used to babysit Andy before Lee and I were married.”

  At the door of Derry’s playroom, Jillian’s doubts vanished as she watched father and son. Andy adored his little boy. They belonged together and she wanted to do whatever she could to help. While he might have nothing to fear from Mallory, it wasn’t worth taking any risks.

  “Hey, Derry,” she said.

  “Jilly,” the three-year-old exclaimed, jumping up and running over to give her a hug. He was an enthusiastic bundle of energy, always excited and happy.

  “What are you doing?” she asked as he dragged her to the
small table, where Andrew was sitting on a child-sized chair, his long legs stretched out to one side.

  “Makin’ stuff.”

  “I see.” Colorful bags of Emma’s homemade play dough were on the table and Derry had pressed several lumps together and flattened them.

  “Is that going to be a rainbow, Derry?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  He returned to shaping the dough and Jillian kneeled on the floor to watch. Even at his young age, he showed artistic promise. Not so much with play dough, perhaps, but his drawings were unusually advanced for a child barely out of the toddler stage...at least in her opinion. She didn’t know how many times she’d wondered how his mother could have turned her back on him. His sunny, easygoing personality had been evident, even as a newborn.

  They’d spent a good deal of time together since he was six months old. After Mallory left, Jillian had taken care of Derry while Andrew and Clay renovated the second ranch house on the Carson Double C. Andy had been living at the ranch when he got married—it was Mallory who’d wanted a fancy apartment in the middle of Elk Point. Moving back to the Carson Double C had made sense.

  Andrew’s mother would have come to care for Derry, but Laura had been recovering from carpal tunnel surgery on her wrist. Then Laura’s sister and brother-in-law had offered to retire in Elk Point and lend a hand. They were healthy, in their late forties and well able to look after a child. One thing had led to another until Lee was playing a huge role in making the adventure company an even bigger success.

  “What are you thinking about?” Andrew asked.

  “About those weeks when you were fixing up the house.”

  “You were a pal to watch Derry for me. I wouldn’t have been comfortable leaving him with anyone else in Elk Point.”

  She shook her head. “The hard part was letting Emma take over.”