by Jane Porter
“Not outside,” Joe interrupted. “It’s cold. And Runt might make you nervous. The family room would be better. Granddad’s in there watching TV.”
“I don’t want to interfere with his show,” Sophie answered. “What if I wait in the kitchen?”
Joe nodded and she slipped out, but even with the swinging door closed, Sophie could hear Mrs. Wyatt’s voice. There didn’t seem to be a way to escape the conversation.
“I don’t know what you’re thinking, Joe. Springing this on us. Why wouldn’t you tell us?”
“I did tell you,” he answered. “You knew I was going to Bozeman to pick her up from the airport.”
“But I didn’t know she would be staying here.”
“Come on, Mom, that’s not true. You knew I’d changed the sheets on Sam’s bed, and opened the windows to air the room out.”
Silence fell, the silence too long to be anything good.
“So how long is she staying?” his mother asked.
Exasperation sharpened Joe’s tone. “I don’t know. Does it matter?”
Sophie couldn’t hear his mother’s answer, or maybe Mrs. Wyatt didn’t answer. Either way, a heaviness filled her, making her stomach hurt. This wasn’t what she’d expected. She didn’t know what she expected, but it certainly wasn’t… this.
It wasn’t that long before Joe found her in the kitchen. His expression was grim, his hard jaw set. Sophie could see how unhappy he was; he wasn’t unhappy with her, but with his family, and that didn’t bode well… not for them, not for the future.
“It’s okay,” she said softly. “It really is.”
“You heard?” he asked.
“Enough to know that me being here is a problem.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine.”
“No, it’s not.” He turned away, paced the floor. “I live here, work here, rarely leave here,” he said, almost under his breath. “I’m chained to this place, body and soul, and it shouldn’t be an issue for me to invite someone here.”
“But it is,” she answered, “and we just need to adjust our plans. We don’t want to add to the tension. If your mom is this resistant to me visiting, how will she ever reconcile herself to the news that we’re getting married?”
He abruptly stopped pacing. “Let’s go outside and talk. I’ll get your coat.”
The log cabin house had a long covered veranda that ran the length of the house. A pair of rocking chairs were pushed up against one end of the wall while a bench was against another. Joe chose to sit on the railing instead, facing her, arms again bundled over his chest.
He didn’t say anything for a long moment. He stared at a point just over his head, jaw set, eyes narrowed, expression grim. “Sorry. I hate that this is so damn awkward right now. I hate that they’re making you uncomfortable.”
“You’re uncomfortable too,” she said. “And this isn’t going to work if everyone’s upset, because here’s what I know. You’re loyal to your family, just as you should be. You and I are strangers. We don’t have history. We don’t have a relationship—”
“But we will,” he interrupted.
“With time.”
Joe didn’t reply to that, and Sophie watched him, concerned. She’d been through so much these last few months that this tension, this awkwardness, in the big picture was nothing. This wasn’t personal either. She had a feeling his mom would react this way to any woman coming into the house. His mom was afraid of being replaced, and having an outsider—a young woman—here was a threat to her and her comfortable routines. Sophie represented change, and from the sound of it, there hadn’t been a lot of change here at the Wyatts’ ranch in a very long time.
“What if I go stay at a hotel in town, and give your family time to adjust?” she suggested. “There’s no reason I need to stay here. I suppose it was unrealistic to think I could just appear and settle in right away.”
Joe didn’t answer; he just stared out over the dark valley, a small muscle pulling in his chiseled jaw.
She watched him a moment before continuing. “It’s not as if we were going to spend all of our time together these next few days. You’re going to be on the property working during the day. I was going to be here at the house with your mom. But I can see why she’s nervous having me here. You are quite isolated up here and she’s probably worrying about having to entertain me. Why would she want to be alone with a stranger all day? If I were in her shoes, I might feel the same.”
“You’re being very magnanimous,” he said roughly, shooting her an indecipherable look.
“This is her home. She shouldn’t feel uncomfortable in her own home.”
“She could have been more diplomatic. Granddad, too.”
Sophie shrugged. “Honestly, I far prefer people saying how they feel, than hiding it, or covering it up.” She couldn’t help remembering all the ways Leo kept the truth from her, and all the ways his silence betrayed her. “It’s always better to know where you stand, than have people try to protect you by keeping the truth from you.”
“I agree with you on that.”
“You know, this is probably a blessing in disguise. I’m actually a little relieved. It gives us a chance to get to know each other without being on top of each other or your family.” The dogs suddenly came barreling toward them out of the dark, and Sophie stiffened as they raced up the stairs. Joe uttered a sharp command and the dogs promptly sat.
“They’re good dogs,” Joe said.
She nodded weakly. “Yes.”
“They like you,” he insisted.
She eyed Runt who had to be the biggest German shepherd she’d ever seen in her life. “I’ll take your word for it.”
Joe smiled crookedly and rose from the railing. “All right. Let’s do this. Back to Marietta we go.”
*
Joe made calls on their way to town, using his truck’s Bluetooth on the speaker so Sophie could hear the options. He called the biggest and nicest hotel in town, the Graff, first, and the Graff had rooms but they were pricey and Sophie shook her head. He then phoned a couple of the bed-and-breakfasts. The first two B&B’s were booked up since it was apparently spring break somewhere, but Bramble House just had a room open. It was a small room with a shared bath, but Sophie mouthed that she didn’t mind so Joe asked that they save the room for her, as they were on their way to town now.
“That’s a cute name,” Sophie said after he hung up. “Bramble House.”
“It’s the first big mansion ever built in Marietta. Big red brick with lots of windows and white trim. Built sometime in the 1880s, I believe. The Brambles were also the founders of the big bank in town. Up until last fall, the bank was still a bank. It’s just recently been closed and sold.”
“You know a lot of history.”
“That’s probably all the history I know.”
“I’d love to learn more about Montana.”
“There’s a whole display at the library, which is really close to Bramble House. In fact, everything is close to Bramble House. You’ll be able to walk to town from where you’re staying.”
Fifteen minutes later, he parked his truck in front of the old red brick mansion and lifted Sophie’s luggage out of the back. “Thoughts?” he said.
“I like it,” she said, smiling.
Indeed, she seemed charmed by Bramble House during the brief check-in. When he carried her suitcases up to her room, he thought it was small, but she proclaimed it perfect, and gave the antique bed positioned underneath the steep eaves a little bounce before sitting next in the emerald-green overstuffed armchair and curling her legs under her. “I love it.”
He arched a brow. “You don’t have to sell it that hard.”
“I’m serious. It’s lovely. I’ve never stayed anyplace like this.”
“No?”
“I feel like I’m on vacation,” she said.
Considering the long day she’d had, she looked happy and almost unbearably pretty. “I appreciate your f
lexibility,” he said, “more than you know.”
“We knew there would be hiccups. This is just one of them.”
He opened his mouth to protest and then thought better of it. “Anything you need before I go?”
“No. I’m fine. Exhausted, but fine. I’m going to sleep like a baby tonight.”
“I hope so.”
“Don’t worry about me. I know you have things waiting at home, needing your attention, so let me walk you down.”
“You stay put. I can see myself out. Good night, Sophie.”
“Good night, Joe.” She hesitated, suddenly looking less sure of herself. “Will you call me tomorrow?”
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he answered firmly. “And thank you,” he added, walking out.
Joe found himself thinking about Sophie the entire drive home. She’d seemed fragile and emotional at the airport, and rather quiet and self-contained during the drive to his ranch, but when confronted by a chilly welcome, she’d handled herself well. It was obvious to him her first concern was his family, and making everyone else comfortable, and he respected her for that. It was something he would do—something he did do—and it was reassuring to see that they shared some of the same values. But if she valued family so much, and if family was so important to her, why had she chosen to leave hers and move halfway across the country to start over?
*
Sophie was in bed, lights out, close to finally falling asleep when her phone rang. She never got calls late at night and she reached for her phone on the nightstand. It was Sarah, her sister. Sophie felt a pang, hurt colored with a terrible sadness. She and Sarah had once been close, but her betrayal with Leo cut deep. Sophie wasn’t sure if she and Sarah would ever be close again, much less friends again. Sarah was her sister so she couldn’t hate her, but she certainly didn’t like her.
She put the phone back on the nightstand, without answering. Sarah could either leave a message or not. If it was serious there would be a voicemail. If it was Sarah just trying to apologize, she could save her breath. Sophie didn’t want an apology. She wanted life the way it used to be. She wanted life where she trusted people, especially her sister. Never mind her fiancé.
Sophie and Leo had been together for years. It wasn’t like they had some whirlwind romance and fell in love on an impulse. No, they’d been dating for almost three years, and engaged for a year. How and when did Leo fall out of love with Sophie and in love with Sarah instead?
Sophie mashed the pillow beneath her cheek, her insides churning, heart on fire again.
She was so tired of feeling this way. She was so tired of feeling hurt and angry and guilty and sad and disappointed. That was why she’d answered the ad and come to Montana. It was why she was so determined to marry Joe and start a new life.
New hopes, new possibilities.
New home.
New family.
Joe might never love her, but if he was kind to her, and respectful… if he didn’t cheat on her and break her heart… if he was honest, hardworking, and loving with their children that would be a good life. That would be a life she’d be proud of. Romantic love was no longer important.
She wanted honesty, integrity. Truth.
And love? Well, that was terribly overrated, because love shouldn’t wound and hurt. Love shouldn’t break her heart. Love shouldn’t have made her feel absolutely… worthless.
*
The morning arrived bright and clear with a strong brisk breeze. After breakfast, and armed with a small walking map provided by Eliza Bramble, Sophie headed for the big park with the library and courthouse to look for the walking path that followed the river. She walked a good mile and a half, enjoying the view of the mountains in the morning sun gleaming on snowcapped Copper Mountain. She used her little map to identify buildings and landmarks. Crawford Park. The rodeo and fairgrounds. Marietta’s hospital.
She came back a different way, walking through a poorer side of town, before crossing the railroad tracks and passing the four-story red brick Graff Hotel, which Joe had called last night to check on availability and rates. She could see why it’d been so expensive. Peeking through the front doors, the lobby was all rich paneled woods and gleaming marble. Definitely a posh place for Marietta.
Descending the hotel steps, she headed to the handsome old train depot which was closed at the moment but looked like it had been reimagined as a restaurant and bar before crossing Front Street to check out the movie theater, the menu taped in the window of the Chinese restaurant, and then the colorful display of formal gowns in Married in Marietta, the local bridal store. The vivid hues of the gowns in the store window told her it must be almost prom season. There was a sign near the front door that said Help Wanted, and Sophie shuddered, thinking that would be the worst job in the world.
She no longer had her wedding dress—she’d asked one of the women she worked with to donate it somewhere, perhaps to a charity that could get some money for it—but she could still picture the gorgeous white silk, the fitted bodice, and exquisite beading on the full skirt. It had been an impossibly expensive gown, just as everything in her wedding had been elegant and lavish. Looking back, it was a ridiculous waste of money, but when planning the wedding, it had seemed so romantic and special the cost hadn’t troubled her.
Maybe that was another reason marrying Joe at the courthouse, or flying to Las Vegas for a chapel ceremony there, appealed.
No fuss. No flowers. No white gowns with long lace veils.
Just the vows, the commitment, the marriage.
Sophie’s phone rang. She hunched her shoulders and ignored it, suspecting it was Sarah again. She walked down a block and headed for Main Street, and only checked the phone after it stopped ringing. She was wrong, though. It hadn’t been Sarah, it was Joe.
She called him back.
“Good morning,” he said, when he answered.
“Walking back to Bramble House. I’ve been out exploring.”
“Where did you go?”
“Everywhere. I started with the library, and then the courthouse in Crawford Park and went along the river, and then over the bridge. I saw pretty much everything.”
“Marietta must seem small to you.”
“Not really. It’s actually bigger than I thought. When we came yesterday I thought Marietta was just Main Street, but there’s so much more to the town. What are you doing?”
“I’ve taken care of all the morning chores and thinking that I’d come into town and meet you for lunch. Are you free?”
“Is that a trick question? I have nothing to do. I’m only here in Montana for you.”
For a moment, there was just silence and then Joe spoke, his voice deeper than before. “I like the sound of that. I’ll pick you up at noon.”
*
Sophie showered and washed her hair, taking pains to blow it dry so that it was straight. If she hadn’t straightened it, it’d be long unruly curls, and left to their own devices the curls would get bigger and wilder and impossible to manage. Far better to straighten her hair into submission, just the way she wanted to get control of her life. It was time to be practical. Efficient. Time to show fate she was the boss.
But checking her phone, she spotted a text from her mom. “I just heard you left your job at Brazer Farms, and that you’ve sold your condo, too. Is it true?” Sophie felt a sharp twinge in her chest. She hadn’t wanted to deceive her mom, but at the same time, how could she continue working for Leo’s family? There was no future for her with Brazer Farms, no future with the Brazer family, and no need for a condo two miles from the Brazer Farms headquarters.
She texted her mom back. “I didn’t want to worry you. But everything is good, I promise.”
Her mom wasn’t satisfied. “Where are you?”
Sophie hesitated then texted, “Montana.”
Her mom answered immediately. “WHAT!?! Why?”
“I had a”—Sophie paused, thinking carefully about her word choice, before continuing—“o
pportunity in Montana and I’m here exploring options.”
Her phone buzzed a new text, this one from Joe. “Here.”
“On my way down,” she answered him, before texting her mom, “I need to go, but I’ll call you soon. Love you. Xo”
*
Climbing into Joe’s truck, Sophie could immediately tell he wasn’t in a good mood despite the smile he flashed at her.
“Hey,” she said, closing the door and reaching for her seat belt. “Everything okay?”
He nodded and gave her another tight smile. “Great.”
Her field of work was dominated by men and she had three brothers, giving her plenty of experience with the adult male and it was clear that Joe was anything but great, but she didn’t know him well enough to know if she should push for more, or let it go. In the end, she decided—for now—to let it go. He’d talk to her if he wanted.
“How did you sleep?” he asked, shifting into drive.
“Good.” She watched him a moment, intrigued by his profile with the flat brows, straight nose, firm mouth, hard defined chin. Photos hadn’t done him justice. He was handsome… rugged. Cowboy handsome. The kind of man that thrilled her, but also intimidated her because he wasn’t extroverted or with a laidback charm like Leo. Joe struck her as a man who held everything in, keeping his cards close to his chest. “The bed was perfect, and the breakfast was amazing. Muffins and coffee cake, eggs, fruit, potatoes. I ate enough for two.”
The corner of Joe’s mouth lifted. “You’re making me hungry, but I suppose after all of that, you’re not ready for lunch.”
“Oh, I am,” she answered cheerfully. “That was hours ago.”
“Good. We’re heading to Livingston to pick up a horse trailer for my brother and I thought we’d grab lunch there before heading home.”
“I’m all in.”
He glanced at her, his gaze sweeping her face before he smiled properly, a smile that warmed his light blue eyes. “Yes, you are, and I have to say, I like that about you.”
The drive to Livingston took about twenty minutes and they stopped downtown at Pinky’s Café for sandwiches before continuing on to a ranch further north off of Highway 89. When Joe had said he needed to pick up a horse trailer, Sophie had pictured the typical small two horse trailer, but it was a huge luxurious trailer with spacious living quarters and stalls for three horses.
