When Thanksgiving Day arrived, it brought more snow. Thick, fat flakes fell from the sky and blanketed the town. He entered the diner, and the smells almost brought him to his knees as his mouth watered. He watched as Connie and Delaney bustled about. The tables that were usually scattered in the middle of the diner were set end to end to make one long one. Tablecloths with festive turkeys on them covered the tables.
“Hi, Trent,” Connie called out.
“Hey. Do you need any help?”
“No thanks, hon. Just take a seat at the counter while we get ready for the crowd,” Connie said smiling.
“Yes, ma’am.” Trent removed his hat, and coat and hung them on the pegs by the door then he took a seat and kept his eyes on Delaney. She hadn’t looked his way yet but then she did and he saw her smile, walk to him, and stop in front of him.
“Hi. Happy Thanksgiving.”
“Same to you. You look busy. Busier than usual.”
“I’m wondering why I agreed to do this,” she said laughing then gasped when the bell over the door rang. She put the plates she’d been carrying on the counter and then headed for the couple who had entered.
Trent watched as she hugged them both, and when she stepped back from them, he knew they had to be her parents because she was the image of her mother. Then she led them to him, and he got to his feet.
“Trent, this is my mother and father. Arlene and Maury Gates. Mom, Dad, this is Trent Donovan.”
Trent stuck his hand to her mother first then her father.
“It’s nice to meet you both,” he said.
“It’s nice to meet you too, Trent,” Arlene said then glanced at Delaney.
“Do you live here in Clifton, Trent?” Maury asked him.
“No, sir. I’m from Billings. I’m just here on business.”
“Grab a seat, the crowd will be arriving anytime now,” Delaney said to her parents.
Trent stepped back when Connie came rushing toward them and grabbed Arlene to hug her. Both women cried. Maury grinned as Owen hugged him then they switched. Trent missed this. Family. His mother had a brother they had lived close to and spent the holidays with his family, but Trent talked to his uncle a few days ago to tell him he wouldn’t be there this year and his uncle said he understood. Damn, he missed his mother. Would it get better as time went by? He sure hoped so. He knew he’d never forget her, but he expected this pain would ease with time.
“Are you all right?” Delaney asked him.
“Yeah, it’s just going to be harder than I thought to get through the holidays without her.”
“I know. I’m so sorry.”
“I’ll be fine. Go help. People are coming in.”
Delaney smiled up at him. “Yes, sir.” She saluted then walked away from him.
He took a seat back at the counter and watched as people entered the diner and took their places at the long table or in the booths. Some sat at the counter. An older man sat next to him, and Trent nodded at him. He’d seen him in the diner several times.
“How you doin’, son?” the man asked him.
“Just fine sir, and you?”
“Good. I’m Jim Barton. I own a pig farm on the edge of town. Right at the Hartland county line.” He stuck his hand out to Trent, and he took it. “You ain’t from here, are ya?”
“No, sir. I’m from Billings. Here on business.”
Jim Barton nodded then looked around. “I swear it gets more crowded every year. I don’t know how Connie does it, but this year, it looks like she has some help.”
“Yeah, Delaney is helping her, and that’s Delaney’s mother helping too. Connie’s sister.”
“I see the resemblance, except for the different colored hair.” Jim looked at him. “You look familiar too. Have we met?”
“No, sir.”
“I didn’t think so, but you do look familiar.”
Trent didn’t say anything more. When Delaney held up a coffee pot, he nodded. By the looks of the heavy snow coming down, he’d need it. Every time the door opened, the cold air came in. She set a cup in front of him and filled it with the hot liquid.
“Hi, Mr. Barton, would you like some coffee?”
“Whenever you get a chance, Lanie. I’m in no hurry.”
Delaney smiled at him, turned, and picked up a cup, filled it with coffee then set it down in front of him.
“You’d better grab a seat somewhere. It’s getting crowded, and Betty Lou just came in,” Delaney said.
“Why should I care if Betty Lou Harper came in? The woman never shuts up. I don’t know how Sam puts up with her,” Jim growled out.
Trent turned his head to hide his grin. He didn’t know who Betty Lou Harper was, but it seemed like Jim Barton might have a crush on the woman. Trent turned his head back and looked at Delaney. She winked at him then moved on to serve others.
An hour later, Trent was about to unsnap his jeans. He’d eaten entirely too much. Connie came by and set a piece of pumpkin pie in front of him. He was about to tell her he didn’t want any when she plopped a big dollop of whipped cream on it then walked off. Taking a deep breath, he picked up his fork and dug in. He glanced at Jim Barton when he chuckled.
“You can’t tell Connie no.”
“I think I’m beginning to figure that out. I thought you were sitting with…uh, at another table.”
“I was, but those two can drive a crazy person sane. Betty Lou and Bobbie Jo know everything about everyone and feel the need to tell anyone who’ll listen, and if they don’t know ya, they’ll get information on ya someway. Trust me on that.”
“Sisters?”
“Yep, and none nosier. Betty Lou is Sam’s dispatcher, and I know there are times she drives him nuts.”
Trent chuckled as he looked to where the women sat with their heads together. He sure hoped they didn’t head his way. He’d seen them looking at him earlier, and he was sure they were trying to figure out who he was. He quickly looked away when they glanced at him again then put their heads back together.
“You’re on their radar, son. Watch your back,” Jim stood, slapped him on the back, and then left the diner.
“Hey, you’d better eat that pie or Aunt Connie will be after you,” Delaney said when she stopped in front of him again.
“I ate way too much, I’m stuffed.”
Delaney leaned over the counter. “We’ll just have to work it off,” she whispered.
Trent groaned. “I’m not sure I can move.”
She grinned. “I can.”
Trent grinned when she winked at him again and walked off. She was a sassy little thing, and he really enjoyed the time they spent together. He just wasn’t sure what would happen when he left. Nothing. Nothing would happen. Once he drove out of Clifton, he’d leave it all behind including his brothers, and never look back.
****
Lanie’s feet were killing her. She wanted to go home, get in that big tub, and just relax the rest of the night. She looked over to where Trent sat and wondered if they were going to get together later. He’d never said, and she hadn’t asked. Taking a deep breath, she walked to where he sat and hopped up on the stool next to him.
“So, do you want to get together later?”
“I thought that was a given, Delaney. When I said I couldn’t move, you said you could. Did I misunderstand?”
Lanie laughed. “Nope. My place or yours?”
“Mine. I have to go take care of Ginny. You come out when you’re done here. How’s that?”
“Perfect.” She glanced around the diner, then kissed his cheek, and hopped back off the stool and headed for the kitchen but stopped to watch him putting his coat and hat on then go out the door. Her mouth dropped open when she saw the way the snow was piling up.
“He’s very handsome,” her mother said from behind her.
“I know, but he’s leaving soon.”
“That’s a shame. Trent is way more man than Brett is.”
Lanie spun around, but her mother
had already disappeared back into the kitchen. Sighing, Lanie walked to the pile of dirty dishes and started helping Barney wash them. He was just a kid at nineteen but he worked hard.
“We’re going to head to Connie’s house and settle in. Will we see you tomorrow?” her mother asked her as she pulled on her coat.
“Yes, I’ll come over tomorrow sometime. I’m not sure when though, it depends on the weather.”
“Whenever is fine, honey. We’ll see you tomorrow if you can get there. Don’t try to drive if it’s bad out. We’re staying a while. I really wish your sisters and cousin could have been here too.” Her mother leaned closer to her. “Your father and I are moving here,” she whispered.
Lanie squealed and hugged her. “I’m so happy to hear that. When did you decide to do that?”
“On the way up. I’m also doing my best to try to talk your sisters into moving here. Deidra can work anywhere, I’m not sure about Rissa.”
“Rissa could work here if she wanted to. Nolan won’t come with her though.”
“I agree, but something isn’t right there but until she tells me what’s going on, I’ll let it be. I do wish your sisters would move here, along with Sloane. She’s like another daughter to your father and me. We love her too. Her parents travel so much that it wouldn’t be a stretch for them to come up here to see her. Now, that she’s divorced and lost the bakery, nothing is holding her in Albuquerque.”
“I agree. We’ll work on that together. I’ll see you soon.” She hugged her parents and watched them go out the door.
Lanie wished her two older sisters, along with Sloane, would move here too. Since Deidra was an illustrator for several children’s books, she could work from anywhere, but Lanie wasn’t sure if Rissa would leave Nolan. What a joke he was. Lanie sighed; she would never say that to Rissa, she could never hurt her sister. She just wished that when Rissa had broken it off with Nolan back in August, she never would have taken him back. Something she was going to get out of her sister one day was why. She was going to see if they’d come up for the holidays, at least. She wasn’t sure what Sloane was doing for the holidays, but it had to be hard on her being alone.
Lanie was so ready to go home and get a shower before she went to Trent’s cabin because she knew she smelled like the diner. She called Trent and told him her plans, and she would be there after that. She’d be leaving soon. There was no way she was going to miss any opportunity to be with him. She didn’t know what she was going to go through when he left Clifton.
“You’re the one who agreed to no strings,” she mumbled.
It was dark outside when she walked out of the diner and headed for her SUV. The snow was still falling, and the wind was blustery, making it extremely cold. She unlocked the door, climbed in, and sat there shivering so much that she had a hard time inserting the key. Her breath fogged up the inside of the windshield, and her teeth began to chatter. After wiping off the inside of the windshield, she turned the wipers on to remove the snow then put the vehicle into Drive, pulled out of the parking lot, and headed home. The snow blew sideways, and when she put the high beams up, she couldn’t see anything but snow, so she quickly lowered them again. The roads were covered and getting worse.
“Oh, please don’t do this to me. I want to see Trent,” she said aloud.
Reaching over, she turned the heat on high then turned it back off when cold air blew from the vents. She wrapped her glove-covered hands around the steering wheel and sat forward to peer out the windshield. The wipers had a tough time keeping up with the snow. She slowed the vehicle more in case anything ran out in front of her but why anything would be out in this was beyond her. Even animals were smart enough not to be out in this mess.
As she crawled along, she knew she was not going to make it to Trent’s tonight, and it almost brought her to tears. She didn’t know how much longer he’d be in Clifton and neither one of them said anything about continuing to see each other. But why would they when he lived over four hours from here? She knew he’d never stay here and wouldn’t ask her to leave with him. She slapped her hand against the steering wheel. Damn it! Her heart was not supposed to get involved. After what she’d gone through with Brett, she swore it would be a long time before she’d even risk her heart again and now this gorgeous cowboy comes to town, and she’s falling way too fast. They’d only been seeing each other for three weeks.
She breathed a sigh of relief when she spotted her driveway, and a big grin lit up her face when she saw Trent’s truck sitting there. She hit the button to open the garage door and pulled inside. When she stepped out, Trent was beside her; he leaned down and kissed her.
“You read my mind,” she said against his lips.
“I knew you wouldn’t make it to the cabin. Is it okay?”
“Of course.” She squatted down to rub Ginny’s ears. “Hi, sweet girl. I’m glad you’re here too.”
They entered the house with Ginny following them. Lanie took her hat, coat, and gloves off then turned to take Trent’s then she led him to the living room.
“Please take a seat while I grab a quick shower. I smell like the diner.”
Trent wrapped his arms around her and put his face against her neck.
“I happen to like the way the diner smells.”
“How about a bath instead? Then you can join me.”
“I’ve joined you in the shower before too, remember darlin’?” He grinned.
Heat filled Lanie’s cheeks. Oh yeah, she definitely remembered that. Smiling, she turned out of his arms, took his hand, and led him to the bathroom.
****
Jake sat in the recliner and did his best not to grin when Olivia leaned forward on the sofa to stare at Wyatt.
“So, you just think if you believe it’s not true, it isn’t?” Olivia asked Wyatt.
Wyatt glared at her. “I didn’t say I didn’t believe it. I said I need more proof than a letter and a birth certificate.”
“Oh, well just ask him for his blood then,” Olivia said with sarcasm then sat back and stared at her husband.
“Wyatt, you’ve seen Trent. He is your brother. You're just stubborn about this—” Becca said.
“Wyatt? Stubborn?” Olivia burst out laughing.
“I have nothing on you, sweetheart.”
“Pffft. Jake, do you believe Trent?” Olivia asked him.
“Yes. I see no reason for him to lie—”
“No reason? Are you serious? He wants something, that’s reason enough,” Wyatt shouted.
“He hasn’t asked for a damn thing. He came here looking for his father who happens to be our father, and that’s all,” Jake snapped.
“You have to face it, Wyatt, he’s our brother,” Gabe added.
“Even if I do face it, I still think he’s here for some reason other than knowing his father. Our father. You need to call Dirk and make an appointment, or I’ll go talk to him myself.”
“Becca, does he look like them?” Emma asked from her place on the sofa beside Gabe.
“Yes, he does. He has the same dark eyes and black hair and his curls more on the ends, like Wyatt’s. There is no doubt in my mind that he’s a Stone and I think they all need to accept him.” Becca looked at Wyatt.
Jake stared at Wyatt. He knew this had to be hard on his youngest brother, but he had to accept it as he did. Trent was their brother, and once they talked to their attorney to see if Trent was entitled to anything, they’d go from there. Even if Trent wasn’t, Jake knew he couldn’t just let him leave Clifton and never see him again.
“I’m not accepting anything until we talk to Dirk,” Wyatt said.
“You are so hardheaded,” Becca snapped then looked at Olivia. “How do you put up with this stubborn man?”
Olivia shrugged. “He’s great in bed.”
Gabe choked on his coffee and Emma slapped him on the back.
Jake ran his hand around the nape of his neck. This was just too much for all of them to take, but Wyatt was being ridiculo
us.
“What do you plan to do if he is entitled to something?” Jake asked.
Wyatt stood and paced. “I don’t know.” He shook his head. “I really don’t. I just can’t get over the fact that Dad did this to Mom. I thought he loved her.”
“He did love her—”
“Really? A man in love with his wife would never seek out another woman,” Wyatt said through clenched teeth.
“Some people can get past that, cowboy. Maybe your mother did,” Olivia said quietly.
“Really? Could you forgive me if I did it?”
“Oh hell, no. I’d cut your balls off and feed them to you.”
Jake ran his hand over his mouth to hide his grin, but he glanced at Gabe to see him with his head down, and his shoulders were shaking. Emma and Becca started laughing, and Jake knew his wife would do the same thing to him, but she didn’t have to worry about that. None of them did. The Stone men were loyal and faithful. Well, he thought they were before all this happened. He blew out a breath.
“I agree with you, Wyatt, but it happened. It happens all the damn time. There are men like us who believe in their wedding vows, and I thought Dad did too, but for some reason, he strayed.” Jake ran his fingers through his hair. “And I have no idea why.”
Chapter Nine
Lanie leaned back against Trent in the big tub with his arms wrapped around her and his chin resting on her shoulder. This man was quickly taking up space in her heart, and she wanted to kick herself for letting him in. This is not what was supposed to happen. Falling in love was not part of the plan. Love? You think you’re falling in love?
Trent Men of Clifton, Montana Book 9 Page 9
