Under the Open Sky (Montana Heritage Series)

by Michelle Maness

  “I know,” she sighed as she meandered to a nearby hay bale and seated herself; Big Boy propped his head on her knee.

  “You’ll miss him won’t you?” Cade had stopped and turned to face her.

  Amanda nodded.

  “You two are closer than most brothers and sisters I’ve known.”

  “We always have been. Maybe it’s because we lost our mother so early; I don’t know we’ve just always been close.”

  “Must be nice.”

  “It is. What about you, Cade, do you have any siblings?”

  Cade gave a mirthless chuckle. “Not that I’m aware of but I suppose given my father’s penchant for women that it is a real possibility.”

  “Sorry I asked.”

  “Nah, it doesn’t bother me anymore,” Cade insisted as he turned back to the tractor’s engine.

  Amanda somehow knew it did matter; she let him have his bluff.

  “Want to do me a favor, Manny?”

  “What’s that?”

  “Climb up there and try starting the engine, let me see if I’ve got this or not.”

  “Sure,” Amanda hopped up to climb onto the tractor’s high seat. Big Boy flopped to the ground with a sigh. Amanda’s attempt to start the tractor produced spitting and sputtering.

  “Stop; I see the problem,” Cade stuck his head back in the engine. Amanda waited and admired him as he worked. He had discarded his shirt; his muscles were impressive, his shoulders were bunching as he wrestled with the engine.

  “Okay, try it again,” Cade instructed a moment later.

  Amanda cranked the tractor; its engine rumbled to life.

  “You did it,” she offered him a smile.

  “Fixing engines and things kind of comes natural to me,” he admitted. “You can turn it off. Thanks, Manny, I don’t think I could have fixed it by myself, I needed to see the engine turn over before I could even see where the problem was.”

  “Glad to help, anything that gets me out of the house at the moment,” Amanda climbed down from the tractor.

  Cade moved to the utility sink and grabbed the strong soap her father kept in the barn for washing away grease and animal sweat. The sound of Trent’s truck roaring to life and spitting gravel as he spun down the drive carried through the air.

  “I guess that means Trent has run to see Angela just to spite dad and now Daddy will hide behind a catalogue while Aunt Naomi tip toes around him,” Amanda mused aloud.

  “What will you do?”

  “Sneak back in and stay out of both their way,” she admitted. “I guess I should get back; Naomi will freak if she finds me gone.”

  “Hold on and I’ll walk you back,” Cade pulled his shirt back on. “Does your dad know you sneak out?”

  Amanda grinned and considered it. “I think he suspects I do but I’m not sure.”

  Cade flipped off the light and grabbed an object that looked suspiciously like a rifle in the dim light of the crescent moon.

  “Your father found wolf prints around one of the pastures yesterday and is making all the men carry one of these,” he held up the rifle.

  “He didn’t say anything,” Amanda’s gaze was wide when it met his.

  “He probably didn’t want to worry you and I suspect that he doesn’t know you sneak out,” Cade informed her.

  “I’ll be more careful,” she assured him.

  “Good. I see Angela has left her mark on you as well,” Cade commented as they walked toward the house, Big Boy trotting between them.

  “What do you mean?” Amanda frowned over at him. He motioned toward her outfit and Amanda glanced down. She wore a pair of jean shorts, hemmed, not cut offs and a tank top.

  “Oh, well, she kind of convinced me that my clothing was only making me look even lankier and straighter,” Amanda admitted.

  “You’re out growing it,” Cade assured her. “I know your brother and I like to tease you but you’ll be a knock out one day Manny and it’s driving your brother crazy.”

  “Thanks,” Amanda could feel heat climb into her cheeks. She was suddenly glad the night was rather dark. “I guess you’ll miss my brother too,” Amanda changed the subject.

  “I will, he wasn’t sure of me at first but I think he’s almost decided I’m okay,” Cade offered her a grin.

  “Almost?”

  “Almost,” Cade nodded; his smile was enigmatic. “You should be okay from here. You going back in the same way I’m sure you came out?”

  “What?” Amanda turned and frowned at him.

  “That’s quite an acrobatic act you do,” Cade teased.

  Amanda opened her mouth to speak, closed it and shook her head.

  “I thought Trent was the only one who knew my secret to getting in and out,” Amanda admitted.

  “I was coming across the field one night and spotted you, as I said, it’s quite impressive.”

  “One of the advantages to be freakishly long legged,” Amanda offered with a smile and shrug. “Good night, Cade.”

  “Night, Manny.”

  Amanda turned, surveyed the house for movement and then sprinted across the yard. At the corner of the porch she leapt lightly onto the railing, grabbed the edge of the roof and used her momentum to swing herself up. A moment later she scrambled over the edge and was at her window. She turned to set her screen back in place and glanced back toward the edge of the yard to where she and Cade had parted under the large oak tree. Cade raised a hand and turned to move away. Amanda grinned and turned to throw herself across her bed and reclaimed the book she had discarded earlier when the fighting had started.

  Amanda woke, slightly disoriented as to what had woken her, only to hear her brother’s truck door slam a moment later. Trent was home. Amanda scooted into a sitting position and glanced at her bed side clock. It was nearly three in the morning. With a shake of her head, she placed her book on the nightstand and stood to dress. The last thing she had remembered she was reading. Amanda heard her brother’s bed room door ease shut and breathed a sigh of relief. Apparently her father was already asleep. Amanda slipped her gown on and turned back her covers before climbing into the bed and turning her lamp off. She laced her fingers behind her head and stared at the ceiling.

  Allowing herself to admire Cade would only land them both in trouble, she acknowledged to herself. Not admiring him when their paths so often crossed proved quite difficult, however. Her brother had invited her along on many of their outings into town and usually was in Cade’s company when he was at work on the ranch. Trent had even taken to inviting Cade to have dinner with the family. He was too old for her, at least at this point. She figured it was a crush she would outgrow, it only seemed reasonable considering how little experience she had with the opposite sex. Of course the older, slightly dangerous man had caught her attention; she was human. Amanda rolled onto her side and closed her eyes.

  A moment later they snapped open as chills ran down her spine. She sat up, her gaze on the window. Another long, melancholy howl lifted onto the night breeze and filtered into her window. Amanda stood and moved to the window. An answering howl sounded from another direction and Amanda removed her screen to sit on the porch roof, her knees drawn to her chest and arms wrapped around her knees. The wolves were creating a symphony now, calling and answering each other in the night’s stillness. In the corrals by the barn, the horses were snorting and calling in distress; below, Big Boy whined deep in his throat.

  Amanda heard the front door open and the screen door snap shut below her and knew that her father was on the porch. He would be concerned for the livestock, she knew. The screen slapped shut again and her father’s voice floated up from somewhere in the hall below. She tracked his process back to his room and then a few minutes later back out onto the porch and then watched as he appeared in the yard, rifle in hand. He seemed to be waiting, her brother moving to stand beside him, and a few minutes later Amanda watched several of the hands join them in the yard.

  The men’s voices rumbled below he
r but their words were indistinct. Her father was pointing and several of the men were nodding. A few moments later the men were clearing out of the yard, her brother and Cade hanging back a moment, apparently in conversation. The wolves’ calls seemed to be coming from every direction now, some coming closer and closer to the house and barn. Amanda watched as Cade glanced up and then did a double take; he grinned and offered her a nod. Amanda smiled and raised a hand in greeting. Trenton looked up and glowered at her.

  “Get in the house, Mandy; there are wolves out in case you missed the racket.

  “They can climb porch posts can they?” she called back in defiance.

  “Get in the house!” he reiterated.

  Staying where she was, Amanda rolled her eyes and ignored him. Unless wolves had somehow mastered the art of climbing she figured she was perfectly safe where she was. Her brother finally turned and stormed off; Cade followed behind at a slower pace.

  Amanda, listening to the eerie calls, remained where she was for some time. She finally stood and moved inside before climbing back in her bed to stare out the window, sleep slowly over took her. She dreamt she was a wolf, moving silently and gracefully over the land, surrounded by tall towering trees and rushing streams, never seeming to quite reach a destination.

  Six

  Amanda leaned against the arm of the couch, her gaze fixed on the TV screen but her thoughts elsewhere. Her father and brother had been arguing again; this time so much that Amanda feared that they would come to blows. Both had stomped out of the house. Now the house was quiet, her aunt puttering in the kitchen, leaving Amanda to a little peace and quiet. Summer was almost over leaving her with mixed feelings. On one hand she dreaded her brother leaving, on the other she was beginning to think it was the only thing that would stop the fighting. The sound of a truck roaring to an abrupt stop in front of the house brought Amanda to her feet. By the time she stepped onto the front porch Cade, his shoulders set in a tense line, was rushing up the steps.

  “What’s wrong?” Amanda demanded.

  “Your dad sent me to get you and your aunt.”

  “Why?” Amanda’s stomach knotted.

  “Trent and Angela were apparently eloping; they had an accident.”

  “What?! Are they okay?” Amanda was shaking now.

  Cade shook his head, “I think Trent will be.”

  Amanda shook her head. “Angie’s okay; right?” tears spilled over to run down her cheeks unchecked.

  “No, Manny, she isn’t, the truck hit the light pole on the passenger side,” Cade shared, his own voice breaking slightly, “the doctor said Angie never had a chance.”

  Amanda was sobbing now. Angie had befriended her, in ways taken her under her wing; she couldn’t be gone. How would Trent ever stand it? Amanda welcomed Cade’s embrace as he let her cry while sobs shook her slender body.

  “What on earth…Mandy?”

  Amanda heard her aunt’s question but she wasn’t able to answer.

  “Mr. Jennings sent me to get you and Amanda, Miss. Jennings, Trent has been in an accident; I think he’s okay, but you’re needed. Angie was with him and she didn’t make it,” Cade explained.

  “Dear Lord. Alright, just let me get my purse,” Naomi said before turning back to the house.

  “Are you alright, Manny?” Cade asked as Amanda slowly recovered from the shock of his news.

  “I don’t know,” she answered honestly as stepped from his arms and attempted to collect herself.

  “Your shoes,” Naomi stepped out the door and extended a pair shoes to Amanda before shoving tissue in her hands.

  “Thanks, Aunt Naomi,” Amanda sat down on the swing long enough to pull her shoes on before following Cade to his truck. Leaving the outside for her aunt, she climbed into the middle. The cab was quiet as they started for town, Naomi finally broke the silence.

  “I guess this is one of those times when it would have been to my benefit to get my license,” she mused.

  “I don’t think your brother would have wanted you to drive even if you could have,” Cade informed her.

  “No, probably not,” she acknowledged.

  “Have you seen Trent yet?” Amanda queried of Cade.

  “No. I came up on the aftermath of the accident and recognized your brother’s truck. By that time they had already taken him to the hospital and I rushed there. Your dad found out from a friend on the force who recognized his truck and pulled him over to tell him what had happened. The doctor had spoken with your dad by then and he asked me to come get you.”

  “How’s Daddy?” Amanda asked tentatively, she was afraid she already knew the answer.

  “Pretty torn up; he’s blaming himself.”

  Amanda winced at having her fears confirmed. “What a mess,” she sighed.

  “You okay?” Cade glanced down at her.

  “No, I’m not but I’ll have to be,” she predicted.

  “Why’s that?”

  “They’ll need me.”

  “Mandy, you can’t fix your father and brother,” Naomi chastised.

  “Somebody has to be strong and neither of them can be at the moment,” she argued.

  As they turned into the hospital, however, she was feeling anything but strong. She wanted to turn and run from whatever horrors waited ahead. She couldn’t; Jennings didn’t run, they faced whatever life handed them, her father had ingrained that in her for years. Tonight was the first time she would fully put that to the test. Not waiting for her aunt to ease down from the passenger side, Amanda followed Cade out the driver’s side. By the time Naomi stood on the pavement, Amanda had rounded the truck and was waiting for her. The trio entered the hospital and hurried to the emergency room where Sterling sat, head in hands in one of the molded plastic chairs that lined the waiting room walls.

  “Daddy,” Amanda called as she neared. She watched her father stand and almost stopped dead in her tracks. Her father seemed to have aged ten years since he had left the house earlier that evening.

  “Hello, Mandy,” her father, blinked against tears as he hesitated; he was clearly uncertain what to say.

  “Have you heard any more on Trent?” Amanda asked.

  “No.”

  “How are you?” Amanda watched her dad closely.

  The man shook his head as it fell forward as though weighted. “I drove him to this, Mandy; I was too hard on them.”

  “Daddy, you can’t…no, don’t.”

  “I did,” her father’s gaze was tortured. Amanda hugged her father; his sobs tore at her. It was a few minutes before her father managed to gather himself.

  “Thanks for going for the women, Cade.”

  “You’re welcome, sir,” Cade had seated himself in a nearby chair. The doors to the E.R. opened and Amanda jumped up as her brother entered the waiting room. He stood and stepped away from the wheel chair he had been seated in. His arm was in a sling and a large bandage covered his forehead, but he was on his own two feet. Amanda rushed to his side and he wrapped his good arm around her as he buried his face in her hair.

  “I’m so sorry, Trent,” Amanda whispered around her own tears.

  “I can’t stand it, Mandy; I can’t stand it!”

  “I’m so sorry,” she repeated. She had no idea how long they stood like this, sharing their tears before her brother finally pulled away and wiped his eyes on his sleeve. Amanda watched as his gaze found their father’s and her heart nearly broke. The anger in her brother’s gaze was evident, as was the self-recrimination in her father’s.

  _______________________________________________

  Amanda followed her father, brother, and aunt in the house following Angela’s funeral and slipped up the stairs to her room. The funeral had been one of the hardest events of her life. Amanda had only just begun to understand what a charmed life she had led until now. She had no real recollection of her mother’s death, leaving no lingering sting, except that of the unknown. This was the first time she had actually lost someone she cared about. S
he recalled the grief of Angela’s family and her own brother’s tearful apology to them and felt tears sting her eyes again. Would they ever recover from this she wondered? Amanda lay across her bed and drifted into a fitful sleep.

  Amanda woke, her room cast in dark shadows as night descended outside. She rose and changed from her dress into jeans and a t-shirt before adding her boots to the ensemble. She was thinking about going down stairs when the fighting started; Amanda cringed.

  “I’m sorry, Trent; I don’t know how many other ways to say it!” Sterling’s voice carried up the stairs.

  “It doesn’t matter anymore, Dad, she’s gone; she’s never coming back, I suppose that makes you happy doesn’t it?!” Trent flung at their father.

  Tears streaming down her face, Amanda hurried to her window and across the porch; she hit the ground running. She couldn’t stand to stay in the house and listen to her father and brother fight any longer. She didn’t know which was worse: the dead silence of the past few days or the awful words her brother was now slinging at their father. She had just made it through the open barn doors, her target the ladder to the loft when an arm hooked her by the waist pulled her around in a one-eighty against a firm chest.

  “Woe, what’s wrong, Manny?”

  “They hate each other, Cade, they hate each other and I can’t stand it,” she sobbed.

  “They don’t hate each other, Manny, they’re hurting.”

  “Then why don’t they help each other?” Amanda demanded.

  “Men are thick headed like that, sweetheart,” Cade’s hand lightly rubbed her back.

  “I’m sorry, Cade; I didn’t know anyone was in here. I just wanted to escape for a while,” Amanda straightened and palmed the tears from her eyes; she was suddenly embarrassed by her outburst.

  “I had just turned off the lights to leave when a whirlwind blew through the door,” Cade teased her lightly as he flipped the lights back on. He crossed the barn to the sink and the rough industrial towels beside it; He tore several off and handed them to Amanda who had managed a small semblance of a smile at his joke.