Under the Open Sky (Montana Heritage Series)

by Michelle Maness

  “Yes, because it’s so easy to get me to do something I don’t want to do!” Amanda was frowning at her brother.

  “Guys can be persuasive.”

  “And I can be stubborn.”

  “And when you’re caught up in a moment…”

  “Trent, I intend to be the one to decide when, if, where, I make that step. Not some prick as you put it. I want it to mean something, okay? So please stop acting like I’m some…whore; would you?” Amanda shot at her brother in frustration.

  “Sorry, Mandy. I didn’t mean it that way. I’m just worried about you. You don’t know how guys think; I do.”

  “No; really? Well we girls have opinions on it too. Did Angie sleep with you for kicks?” Amanda shot at her brother and watched his surprise gaze fly to Jenny.

  “I knew you two were sleeping together; she told me,” Jenny let him know she wasn’t shocked. “And I can answer that one. She was on a cloud; it definitely meant something to her. Are you telling us it meant nothing to you?”

  “No, it meant something to me,” Trent’s voice had gone soft.

  “So why don’t you give me a list of guys to avoid and we’re good,” Amanda suggested.

  “All of them,” her brother offered a smile.

  “Great.” Amanda stood and turned to Jenny. “Jenny, I think I’m bored let’s go to town and see if we can find a couple of horny teenage boys.”

  A pillow hit Amanda upside the head before she could make further comment.

  “Damn, Manny; no wonder your brother worries about you,” Cade was shaking his head and smiling at her antics.

  “If he wouldn’t treat me like an idiot I wouldn’t say such outrageous things,” Amanda launched the pillow back at her brother before laying back down.

  “I’m not in the habit of sleeping around either, well at all actually just so you know I won’t corrupt your sister,” Jenny, her cheeks slightly pink, offered. “I’m not sure why you think I’m so wild.”

  “I know you aren’t wild, Jenny, but you are very bold.”

  “Manny isn’t? Maybe you should be worried about Jenny?” Cade teased.

  “You’re right,” Trent nodded at his friend. “Amanda, I do not want to hear of you getting sweet little Jenny here into any trouble.”

  “Yes, sir,” Amanda nodded.

  “Good, now that that is all sorted out.” Trent nodded and offered his sister a smile; she smiled in return.

  “I think what your brother was trying to say it to look out for heartbreakers like Cade. But you’re taking Cade with you so there’s one you don’t have to worry about us getting into trouble with,” Jenny offered a wicked smile.

  Amanda watched Cade turn several shades of red and started laughing.

  “Oh my God! Cade; I didn’t know you were even capable of blushing!” Amanda ribbed him.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him blush either,” Trent admitted.

  “I take back everything I ever said in their defense; you tell your father not to let those two out of the house together,” Cade muttered causing the others to laugh. “Damn.”

  “That was pretty good,” Trent smiled at Jenny. Amanda watched her friend light up and felt her heart twist slightly. She didn’t hold much hope of her brother seeing past Jenny’s relationship to Angie.

  Content just to be with her brother while she could, Amanda let the conversation move on without her.

  “We really should try and get some sleep, we both have long drives ahead of us tomorrow,” Trent announced.

  Amanda sighed and kept her eyes closed; she wasn’t ready for this.

  “Come on, Mandy, we should go,” Jenny shook her foot.

  “I don’t think I can walk,” Amanda argued.

  “Come on,” Cade came to stand in front of her.

  “What?” Amanda frowned up at him.

  “Stand up,” he ordered. “On the bed,” he clarified when she placed her feet on the floor. He turned and offered her a piggy back ride; Amanda giggled.

  “Are you that spoiled, Mandy, that you can’t even take about six or seven steps across the hallway?” Trent demanded of her as she accepted Cade’s offer.

  “Why should I if I don’t have to?” she reasoned.

  “Good night, Trent,” Jenny waved as she followed Amanda and Cade out of the room.

  Cade dumped Amanda rather unceremoniously onto her bed, before turning to leave.

  “Night, Manny.”

  “Night, Cade,” she responded.

  “Night, Jenny,” Cade nodded on his way out the door.

  “G’night, Cade,” Jenny called after him and then closed the door before leaning against it to smile at Amanda. “You know, don’t you, that it drives your brother absolutely nuts when you two flirt.”

  “What?” Amanda felt heat climb into her cheeks. Of course she had been flirting, but Cade?

  “You two are always flirting or watching each other when you think no one is looking. It drives your brother positively batty.”

  “Whatever,” Amanda climbed from the bed to turn back the covers.

  “It’s the truth and you know it.”

  “Like you don’t flirt with my brother,” Amanda shot back.

  “Yes, but he doesn’t flirt back; Cade does.”

  “I’m too young for Cade,” Amanda reminded her friend.

  “Which is the only reason he hasn’t made a move. No, I take that back, that and the fact that your brother would kill him,” Jenny predicted as she climbed onto the bed and leaned against the headboard.

  “So are you looking forward to the school year?” Amanda chose to change the subject.

  “Like a trip to the dentist, but at least you and I can keep each other from going insane,” Jenny offered a smile.

  “We’ll have to compare schedules,” Amanda suggested.

  “I’ll pick you up every morning, you’re on my way anyway and that way we can ride together.”

  “You don’t have to do that,” Amanda argued.

  “I want to,” Jenny shrugged.

  “In that case,” Amanda smiled at her friend. Amanda set her clock she wouldn’t miss her brother leaving and climbed back into the bed.

  “I guess we should get some sleep huh?” Jenny mused as she slid further into the bed.

  “I guess so,” Amanda agreed; she doubted that she would sleep a wink that night.

  Eleven

  By the time school started, Amanda was more than thankful for the distraction. She had known she would miss her brother and Cade but she was not prepared for the hole that both left. She hadn’t realized how much she had come to enjoy seeing Cade as she meandered around the ranch or how much she enjoyed fighting with her brother, odd as she found it. In a way it showed he cared.

  Amanda surveyed herself closely. She wanted to make a statement her first day back for her junior year. She had chosen a fitted sundress of white with an over layer of eyelet lace and spaghetti straps. To fend off the cool morning air, she had paired it with a jean jacket and boots. She had straightened her hair, applied light make up and dug through her jewelry box for her locket and a pair of earrings. A light mother of pearl pink gave her nails just a touch of color. Amanda smiled; they weren’t going to recognize her!

  “Mandy! Come eat,” Naomi called up the stairs.

  Amanda clattered down the stairs and entered the kitchen her aunt stopping to stare in amazement.

  “Mandy!”

  “What?” Amanda ran a self-conscious hand over her dress.

  “You look so…” her aunt blinked, “feminine!”

  Amanda laughed before kissing her aunt’s cheek and taking the offered plate of food. “Mornin’ Daddy,” she kissed his cheek and slid into her chair.

  “Good morning,” her dad glanced up; then did a double take. “Well, who’s this joining us for breakfast,” her father, his expression a cross between pride and consternation, surveyed her.

  “Funny,” Amanda commented before popping a bite of pancake into he
r mouth.

  “I take it this is the dress you asked for the money for?” her father queried.

  “Yes, don’t you like it?” Amanda set her fork down and waited for her dad’s answer. She valued her dad’s opinion.

  “Yes, and no,” he responded with a smile. “You look beautiful: too beautiful.”

  “Thank you, Daddy,” she grinned before resuming her breakfast. She had no more than cleared her plate and put in the dishwasher than Jenny was blowing the car horn to let her know she was there.

  “Bye, Daddy, Bye, Naomi,” she kissed both on the cheek and darted out the door; she paused long enough to grab her bag and purse. Jenny stood beside her open driver’s side door waiting.

  “Look at you!” Jenny called and let out a low whistle.

  Amanda opened the passenger door and dumped her bag into the floorboard of Jenny’s car before climbing in.

  “Who are you trying to impress?” Jenny demanded as they turned around and started for the highway.

  “Nobody; everybody. It’s a new year and I feel different this year, Jenny,” Amanda shrugged.

  “You certainly look different,” Jenny offered on a wide smile. “Where’d you get the jacket?”

  Amanda glanced down at her jacket. It was the perfect slightly frayed and worn jean jacket; its faded color lent it a character a new jacket lacked.

  “From Cade. I forgot my jacket one night when I had gone to town with him and Trent to pick up supplies for their dorm room and he gave it to me. He said to keep it; he had bought a new one,” she explained.

  Jenny’s brows rose.

  “What?” Amanda demanded.

  “That was his signature jacket for like the past two years of school.”

  “Okay; so?” Amanda waited for Jenny to make her point.

  “Just saying, he wore it like all the time and it was kinda his signature.”

  “Oh,” Amanda shrugged. “Guess he wanted a new look for college. Anyway, it was perfect for the dress.”

  “Right,” Jenny, an enigmatic smile on her face, nodded. It only took a matter of minutes to arrive at the school, park, and cross the parking lot.

  “I’ll see you in first; I’ve got to run by the office,” Jenny informed Amanda.

  They had received their schedules in the mail and after comparing found that they would share first period, third and therefore lunch, and finally sixth; the final period of the day. It probably helped that they were both in all honors courses. Their penchant for boldness and out spokeness aside, the two of them probably qualified as brainiacs.

  “See you there,” Amanda returned as she walked past the mural of the trapper without pausing to nod. She went straight to her assigned locker to put her lock on and waved at a couple of girls she had met through Jenny over the summer. She had known who they were, but had never really spoken to them before prior to summer.

  “Omigosh! Mandy; is that you?” Samantha was staring at Amanda with wide eyes when she turned from her locker.

  “Hey, Samantha,” Amanda smiled as she noted that her friend looked just as she always had. They had spoken briefly a time or two over summer but the childhood friend she had once shared all her thoughts with now felt like a stranger.

  “You’re a knock out!” Samantha said it like an accusation.

  “Okay,” Amanda felt heat fill her cheeks.

  “Wow; I just can’t get over it. I’ve never seen you in a dress outside visiting church with you and never make up. How was your summer?”

  “It was good, over all. Well, except for Trent’s accident.”

  Samantha had called to offer her condolences after she had heard about it. That was the last time the two had actually spoken.

  “How was yours?” Amanda returned.

  “Good. Boring but fine,” Samantha shifted uncomfortably as though she wasn’t sure what to say. “How did things go with Cade as your dad’s new hand?”

  “Cade worked out well; in fact, he and Trent left for college together about a week ago.”

  “Really? Wow. I didn’t figure him for the college type.”

  “He’s a natural at fixing things and smart,” Amanda shrugged.

  “Sure; I mean I never really knew him.” Samantha played with the edge of her book bag strap. Her gaze, seeming to pause on the jacket a moment, slid over Amanda before she again shifted her weight.

  “You weren’t on the bus,” Samantha blurted it as though she had been handed a life line.

  “Oh, yeah, I rode with Jenny, Angie’s little sister, we kind hit it off this summer.”

  “Right; that’s good. I’m sure she needed a friend after losing her sister. How’s your brother?”

  “He had a hard time dealing but I think he’s slowly starting to come around,” Amanda shared.

  “That’s good. I should get going before I’m late for class.”

  “See you around,” Amanda offered.

  “Yeah,” Samantha offered a strained smile.

  Amanda parted ways with her friend; she was wondering what had happened between them. She rounded the corner to find Chris Atkins leaning against a locker talking to a friend. She slowed her steps as she studied him for a moment and recalled the fierce crush she’d had on him last year. He was still good looking and she would be flattered should he look her way but she was no longer quite as enamored with him, she realized with a sense of satisfaction and relief. She watched as he looked up, his gaze sliding over her before he offered her a lazy smile. Amanda, her insides flipping slightly, smiled in return; she had admitted she would be flattered if he noticed her. She couldn’t resist sneaking another peak at him as she turned to enter her homeroom; he was still watching her! Amanda’s smile widened as she entered the room, her lower lip between her teeth.

  “What are you smiling about?” Jenny demanded as Amanda approached. Jenny’s gaze slid past Amanda, her eyes lighting.

  “Way to go, Mandy,” Jenny smiled as Amanda slid into a desk. Amanda glanced up to find Chris still watching her from the door. She felt heat climb into her cheeks as he sauntered her direction. She knew he wasn’t in honors English, not with his reading issues, and he was headed straight for her.

  “Mandy right?” he asked as he slid into the desk beside hers.

  “Right,” she smiled as she took off her jacket and hung it on the back of her chair.

  “You’re Trent’s sister.”

  “Yeah,” she nodded.

  “Thought so.”

  “Excuse me, Mr. Atkins, that’s the bell; are you scheduled to be in here?” Mrs. Yancy inquired of Chris.

  “No, ma’am,” his acknowledgment gained laughter from the class.

  “Then perhaps you would like to find where you do belong?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Chris stood. “See you around, Mandy,” Chris nodded before he left the class.

  “Now if we can get down to business we have some reading to do and some papers to write,” Mrs. Yancy announced.

  Amanda was still smiling as she was handed a book and instructed to write her name in the front of it. She had actually done it; she had gotten Chris Atkins attention!

  __________________________________

  Amanda was loving her junior year of school. She had always lived, largely by choice, on the fringe of the social scene at school. She was now enjoying being in the middle of it. Chris Atkins had seemed disappointed when she informed him she couldn’t date until she was sixteen, but oddly enough Amanda herself hadn’t felt too let down. She and Jenny had become all but inseparable, often at each other’s house studying together and hanging out. Most weekends found her and Jenny in a throng of other school kids at whatever gathering place had been deemed the it spot for the week. The only flaw Amanda could really find was how terribly she still missed her brother and Cade but she wrote often and they were both pretty good about writing her back in a fairly timely manner.

  This Friday night found her seated on her bed experimenting with nail polish colors.

  “I sti
ll can’t believe that Cade Winston, bad ass of Big Creek High writes you on a regular basis. I figured you’d lost it when you included the supplies in his box,” Jenny admitted.

  Amanda had received another letter and had shared with Jenny what the guys were up to.

  “He has no family, Jenny. Well, at least none he would care to write. Why should he be the only one not sending and receiving letters?”

  “Right, that’s the only reason you write him,” Jenny nodded with a teasing grin.

  “Of course,” Amanda nodded; then ducked her head to hide her smile.

  “I can’t believe it’s almost Christmas.”

  “I know; me either,” Amanda agreed. “Which one,” she stuck her toes out for Jenny’s scrutiny.

  “Definitely the lavender; as though anyone will see it. What does your family do for Christmas?”

  “The traditional stuff. We give some gifts to the hands on Christmas Eve and then go to services at church. Christmas day is all about the bird and presents and family. What about you guys?”

  “We’ve always celebrated fairly traditionally. This year Mom and Dad are talking about going out of town. I don’t think they want to be reminded of the empty place at the table and the missing presents under the tree,” Jenny’s eyes were troubled.

  “I’m sorry, Jenny; I know you guys miss her.”

  “Yeah, well,” Jenny stood and moved to rearrange things on Amanda’s desk.

  “Do they blame my brother?” Amanda voiced the question that lingered at the back of her mind.

  “Not really. I mean they were a little angry for a time, but I think they recognized themselves in your brother and Angie. Mom and Dad were high school sweethearts who had to fight to marry.”

  “I didn’t know that.”

  “Yeah, I think they empathized with them.”

  “Where are your parents thinking about going for Christmas?” Amanda steered the conversation back to the holidays.

  “Hawaii. I can’t imagine Christmas with sand,” Jenny was grinning as she sat down on the edge of the bed, her left knee pulled to her chest.