Montana Cowboy Daddy (Big Sky Country #1)

by Linda Ford

  “You know, Miss Isabelle reminds me of your grandmother.”

  “So you said.” Dawson barely remembered his grandmother but had grown up listening to tales of her efficiency and bravery. How she raised the finest chickens in the country and butchered two every Saturday for Sunday dinner. He could not see a city girl like Isabelle doing that. Grandfather had told the boys how Grandmother had helped him put in the crop one year when he’d injured his hand badly and other stories, like— Well, never mind. “Grandmother was no city girl.”

  Grandfather chuckled. “You’re wrong. She’d never been on a farm until we married and I took her home. We did all our courting in the city. But she never once balked. Whatever needed to be done, she dug in and did it.”

  Why had Dawson never heard before that his grandmother was a city woman? Was Grandfather making it up? But he’d never known the old man to be anything but painfully honest.

  He said nothing more, though he could tell Grandfather would have liked to discuss it further. No doubt he would have liked to point out how well Grandmother had adjusted. That was a different era. Grandmother might have been raised in the city but likely had learned how to work.

  Tomorrow, he’d make arrangements for someone to care for Mattie.

  *

  The next day, he arrived a little early for school and waited at the door for the students to arrive. The oldest girl was Tom Shearer’s daughter, Kitty. Far as he could remember of what he’d heard, the girl would be perhaps thirteen. He’d seen her often enough, thought her rather placid, frequently at the tail end of a group of kids. But she would be old enough to watch Mattie.

  She approached now and he called her. She jerked to a halt and stared. “Oh, hi, Mr. Marshall.”

  “Hi, Kitty. I wonder if you might take Mattie home with you after school until it’s time for me to leave. I’d pay you a few cents. You can ask your mama at noon if it’s okay.”

  The information seemed to seep in slowly and then she nodded. “Sure. Ma won’t mind.”

  He turned to Mattie. “You go home with Kitty after school and I’ll pick you up there. Okay?”

  “Okay.” Mattie skipped away cheerfully, Kitty plodding along behind her.

  Dawson stared after the pair. He’d expected resistance on Mattie’s part, so this quick compliance was a pleasant surprise.

  Relieved that his problem was solved, he returned to work on the school.

  *

  Isabelle spent the day pretending she didn’t hear men working next door. And if she glanced in that direction when she went outside for something, it was only because she liked to see the progress on the building. When the time came for the children to be released from school, she hurried to the window overlooking the street, hoping for a glimpse of little Mattie. The girl had stolen her heart. It hurt to know Dawson didn’t want her to spend time with his daughter.

  She watched as one by one, or in groups of two or more, the children ran from the store, laughing and calling to each other.

  The rush ended but she hadn’t seen Mattie. Had she missed the child? Or did she remain at the store with her great-uncle?

  She began to turn away when the door opened again and Mattie exited in the company of an older girl. Mattie chattered away. The older girl nodded once or twice but seemed bored with Mattie’s conversation.

  Isabelle thought of the jar of cookies. Kate and her father had certainly appreciated them, but how she longed to share them with a child.

  It was not to be and she turned her attention to supper preparation, though some of the joy of serving the Bakers had leaked out of the work.

  She had potatoes prepared to cook, carrots scraped and a jar of canned meat from the amply supplied pantry ready to heat when banging on the door surprised her. She opened it. “Dawson, you startled me.”

  “Is she here?”

  She shrank back from the anger in his voice. She guessed he must mean Mattie but she could be mistaken. “Who are you looking for?”

  “Mattie, of course.” He pulled open the door and strode in without waiting for an invite.

  She stood back and watched him, wary of his ire.

  He glanced around the kitchen, saw Mattie wasn’t there and tramped through to the sitting room. Of course, she wasn’t there either, and he faced her, a scowl darkening his features. “Is she in your bedroom?”

  Her cheeks burned. The man was far too bold and overbearing. “She isn’t here. Why would you think she is?”

  He scrubbed at his chin. “I don’t know what to think. She never acted like this before you—” He seemed to think better of finishing his sentence.

  “Before I came?” She didn’t wait for an answer. Didn’t need to. His eyes said it all. “You’re blaming me for her behavior?” Her anger flared to match his. “I’ve spent only a matter of hours with her. You’ve spent six years with her. How could I have that much influence?”

  “I don’t know.” He didn’t shout but it felt like he had.

  “I can see you’re upset about something. Perhaps if you told me why, I could help.”

  “How?”

  She understood what he didn’t say. What could she—a city woman—do in any situation out here in the West? But she wouldn’t let him know how much his judgment hurt. “I don’t know. Maybe I could say who I saw her with. Or at least defend myself.” Her calm exterior seemed to get through to him and he let out a blast of air as if he’d forgotten to breathe.

  “Who did you see her with and when?”

  She described the older girl. “They left the store when school let out.”

  “That’s Kitty. I arranged for her to watch Mattie after school so I could work. We need to get the school built as soon as possible,” he said as if defending himself.

  She saw no need to say otherwise because she agreed.

  He continued. “When I went to Kitty’s parents’ house to pick her up, Kitty was in her room reading. She came out when her mother called. I asked where Mattie was and Kitty looked surprised, like she’d forgotten she was supposed to watch her. She said, ‘I guess she went to find you.’ But she isn’t at the school, so I thought she might have come here.” He groaned and grabbed the back of the nearest chair as if he might collapse without its support.

  Mattie was missing! Isabelle couldn’t help but recall the child playing in the street the day of her arrival. Was this how she was cared for? And yet he saw Isabelle as a danger to his child?

  “Sit down and let’s think about where she might have gone.”

  He sank to the chair. His hands dangled between his knees.

  Dawson looked so dejected, she longed to offer him comfort, assure him she shared his concern about his daughter, but she guessed he wouldn’t welcome it, so she sat across the table.

  “Where would she go in town? Perhaps to some friends?”

  “I suppose she might have gone to visit a friend.” His head came up and his eyes found hers, his full of despair. She hoped hers offered comfort and encouragement.

  “I need to go see.”

  She felt his worry clear through her body. It tensed every muscle, stung every nerve. “Do you want me to come and help you look?” Not that she could offer much in the way of assistance, but a missing six-year-old was frightening. She couldn’t allow herself to even think of what might have happened to her.

  Hope filled his eyes, replaced quickly with doubt and uncertainty and then hardness.

  She knew before he answered what he’d say.

  “I’ll manage on my own. But thanks for the offer.” He pushed to his feet.

  Even though she’d expected his reply, the words still hurt. She schooled her face to reveal nothing of what she felt. “If she happens to show up here, I’ll keep her until you return.”

  He hesitated before he murmured, “Thanks.”

  She stood in the doorway as he left, his long legs eating up the distance. She watched until he was out of sight. Still she stared down the street, praying Mattie was safe and s
ound, had simply been distracted in her play and forgotten she had been told to stay with this Kitty girl.

  *

  Until you return. Why did her words ring in his ears like a welcome when he’d been anything but welcoming? And he wasn’t about to change his mind. He was only doing what he thought best, even if it was hard and Mattie felt it unfair.

  Where was Mattie? Her name echoed endlessly in his head. She’d never before disappeared like this. People didn’t disappear. Hadn’t he told her that often enough?

  He went from home to home asking after her. No one had seen her since school.

  He turned back to the center of town, taking a different route, watching for his daughter. Dear God, reveal her to me.

  Searching on foot took far too long and he headed for the livery barn and his horse. He’d left Jumper in a small corral with hay. He called the horse to him and led him into the barn to saddle him.

  The interior was dim, so he heard Mattie before he saw her huddled in the corner.

  He squatted down. “Mattie, what are you doing here? Do you know how worried I’ve been when you weren’t with Kitty?” Relieved and angry at the same time, he didn’t immediately reach for his daughter, but at the watchful, waiting look on her face, his anger fled and he held out his arms.

  She didn’t move.

  He sat on the dusty floor and lifted her to his lap. “Care to tell me what’s going on?”

  She allowed him to hold her but didn’t snuggle close. He closed his eyes against the pain this stiffness brought to his heart.

  “Kitty didn’t want to do anything. I was bored.”

  “I see.” He knew there was more to it than that. Mattie had always been good at amusing herself.

  “She doesn’t talk to me at all. I decided to wait here until time to go home.”

  He smiled at the irony of her sitting in a dark corner in preference to Kitty’s company. “Seems a little boring.”

  One shoulder came up to indicate she didn’t care. “I’ll wait for you here after school.”

  “Oh, little one. That’s not a good idea.”

  “It’s okay.”

  “No, it’s not. You need to do more than sit in the dark.” He felt like his little girl was fading into the shadows. He wanted to hold her tight and protect her from every threat. Including Isabelle? His answer should be a sure and certain yes, but all he found was uncertainty.

  Without trying, she had turned his world into chaos.

  Mattie sat up and faced him. “I could go to Miss Isabelle’s. She’d let me stay with her. I know she would. And I’d be so good and so happy.” She poured drama into her plea. “Please, Papa. I’d like that and so would she.”

  “How can you be so certain she would agree?”

  She jumped up and grabbed his hand, trying to tug him to his feet. When that didn’t work, she put her back to him and leaned forward, her weight pushing at his hands.

  Loving this return to normal, he curled his arm about her waist and drew her to his chest. “You know you will never be strong enough to move me.” He bussed a kiss on her neck as he always did when they played this game.

  She giggled. “There’s more than one way to get you to move.”

  “So you said, but you can’t always believe Aunt Annie and Grandfather.”

  “Don’t let them hear you say that.”

  He laughed outright at her droll sense of humor. “You can be sure I won’t.” He pretended to let her pull him to his feet and lead him from the barn. He told himself it was all part of the game for her to continue pulling him along the street and right to the back screen door of the doctor’s house, where Isabelle stood as if watching and waiting for them to come. Until you return. Like coming home, he thought. A smiling woman to welcome him.

  “You found her.” She threw open the door and ran out to hug Mattie.

  Mattie clung to her neck.

  Dawson watched, confused by the way his resistance mingled with relief.

  “Papa wants to know if I can stay here after school while he works.” The words burst from Mattie before Dawson could think to warn her he hadn’t agreed to such an arrangement.

  His mind raced. Spending time with Isabelle was not a good idea. Mattie would grow more interested in the woman. What would happen to his little girl when Isabelle grew tired of living away from the city?

  Her gaze came to his, questioning, going from disbelief to wonderment. “Really?” The word seemed to come on a gentle breeze.

  Mattie tugged on his hand. “See? I knew she wouldn’t mind.”

  He tried to think how to extricate himself from this situation. But on the other hand, it might provide the perfect solution. Mattie would be where he could see her and she’d get this infatuation out of her system. “It will only be for two or three hours.” Then, as if he needed a more reasonable explanation, he added, “It’s important to get this town rebuilt.”

  Mattie squealed her delight.

  Isabelle smiled brightly.

  Dawson felt his world wobble. He knew he would regret this choice.

  Chapter Four

  Isabelle stared out the window long after Dawson and Mattie had disappeared. After a few moments, Kate came to her side. “I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation. Are you sure it’s a good idea for you to let her stay here?”

  Isabelle jerked about to stare at her friend. “Do you think I’m a bad influence on her? Like Dawson does?” She had no illusions. He’d asked for her assistance simply out of necessity and because Mattie had frightened him by disappearing.

  Kate gave Isabelle a sideways hug. “I was thinking of you. I’m afraid you’ll get hurt.”

  Isabelle shivered. She’d already been hurt once by Dawson’s comment that she didn’t fit in. He hadn’t changed his mind about that. “I like little Mattie.”

  “I know. Promise me you’ll be careful not to get too involved.”

  “I’ll just have her after school for an hour or two.” She knew that wasn’t what Kate meant. But her warning had come too late. Isabelle’s heart had gone where it wasn’t welcome, and whether she got a chance to spend time with Mattie or not, she would not come away from this without more hurt, if only from the knowledge that she didn’t fit in.

  Sighing softly, she turned from the window. “I want God to use me to help Mattie. Nothing more. Nothing less.” Because she must confine herself to what was possible.

  “Then let’s pray for that.” Kate took Isabelle’s hand and bowed her head. “Our Father who art in heaven. Thank You for giving Isabelle this opportunity, especially after Dawson made it sound like he’d never allow it. We ask You to use Isabelle. Give her wisdom and words to help a little girl deal with the facts of her life. And, God, I ask You to protect Isabelle’s heart. I don’t want to see her wounded again. Amen.”

  Isabelle’s lungs filled fully for the first time in the last hour. “Thank you.” She squeezed Kate’s hand. She’d gladly go ahead with this plan even knowing she might be hurt in the end. One thing her life had taught her—she could survive pain. And she’d gladly bear such in exchange for the opportunity to spend time with Mattie. Yes, she would also see more of Dawson, but she had yet to decide if that was a good thing or not.

  Why did she feel this attraction to him when he saw her as unsuitable and someone who would never fit in?

  The only answer she could give herself was that she’d seen tender moments in him, in how he dealt with Mattie. A man of honor and integrity with a capacity for deep, enduring love. And, she warned herself, a man who had high expectations of others.

  She shook off the warning and set supper on the table. No patients required the doctor’s attention that night, so Kate helped her clean up the kitchen then suggested a walk.

  They roamed the streets of the town, pausing often to speak to people sitting on their porches or working in their yards. The town’s people welcomed them, asked how they liked the place and made comments about the unseasonably warm weather…usually fol
lowing it up with a dire warning that it wouldn’t last. A man with a star on his chest stopped as they walked on the path across from the church. She would guess him to be about her own age or a little more. He had brown hair, brown eyes and a deep, grooved smile. A strong-looking man, though she began to think all men in western Montana were strong and handsome. The sign on the building behind him read Sheriff.

  “Howdy, ladies. Pleasant evening, isn’t it? Allow me to introduce myself. Jesse Hill. How are you liking Bella Creek?”

  “It’s so peaceful and quiet,” Isabelle said. “I’ve always lived in a city and there is constant noise.” She chuckled. “I suppose it’s your job to keep it peaceful and quiet.”

  “I do my best,” Jesse said. “Saturday nights are the busiest and noisiest but most of the rowdies head on over to Wolf Hollow, where they’re free to carouse.” He fell into step with them as they continued on their way home. “Dawson is supposed to make sure you folk are feeling welcomed and have everything you need. Is he doing his job?”

  Kate jabbed Isabelle in the ribs with her elbow. Isabelle looked at her friend in surprise. What was that for?

  Her expression innocent, Kate answered the sheriff. “He’s doing his job just fine.”

  Isabelle still didn’t know why Kate was so amused. In her opinion, Dawson had failed completely at making them feel welcome, though he’d perhaps offered her a second chance by allowing Mattie to spend time with her.

  The sheriff escorted them across the street to their door. “Good night, ladies. If you need someone to remind Dawson of his responsibilities, let me know.” He laughed as if he’d told a good joke. “Might not do any good but I can try. Dawson is as stubborn as a long-eared mule.”

  Isabelle watched him stride away, her heart sinking like a rock. Seemed she had little hope of making Dawson see her as more than a city woman.

  *

  The next day, Dawson continued to work on the schoolhouse. Still just one man showed up. The expected help always had excuses. Had to get firewood. Needed to milk the cow. A pig to butcher. Company coming. Perhaps when his father and Conner and Logan got back, there would be a little more manpower on the scene.