Montana Cowboy Daddy (Big Sky Country #1)

by Linda Ford

  “You hear that?” Annie asked.

  “That cracking sound?” Isabelle backed away, not knowing what it meant.

  “The ice is breaking up. This is so exciting.”

  Mattie bounced up and down and edged closer to the bank.

  “Is she safe?” Isabelle asked.

  “Sure is.” Annie squinted at Isabelle. “You worry too much. Just like Dawson.”

  More and more Dawson seemed a reasonable man with reasonable expectations.

  The ice cracked again and again.

  Annie pointed to the bend in the river. “It’s breaking up.”

  Isabelle stared as slabs of ice twisted, churning around, driven by the water that roared past them. She couldn’t tear her gaze from the show. Wondering if the others felt the same fascination, she darted a glance toward them.

  Carly and Annie stood side by side, smiling.

  Mattie teetered on the bank of the river, mesmerized by the show. Isabelle wanted to tell Mattie to stand back, but wasn’t that up to Annie? Surely Annie knew if the child was in danger. Reassured, she watched the ice pile up against the riverbanks, twisting and turning.

  “Isn’t it exciting?” Annie asked.

  “It’s a great show.” Isabelle shifted her attention to the river. The ice piled higher and higher.

  “Ice jam!” The excited words carried up and down the riverbank among the spectators.

  Isabelle couldn’t decide if she shared the excitement or if fear pervaded her thoughts. But no one else seemed worried and they surely knew better than she if this was a dangerous situation.

  The ice dam reached the same height as the riverbanks and water started to flow around it. Still no one moved. Just as Isabelle grabbed her skirts, preparing to run from the approaching water, the pile of ice broke free and frothy water careened toward them. Everyone cheered. Except Isabelle. Her heart still clutched to her ribs. Awesome power. But also frightening.

  Mattie bounced up and down. “That was so good.” Her foot slipped on the damp ground and one leg went out from under her. She stumbled, grasping for a handhold as she slid toward the rushing water.

  Isabelle gasped. The waters pulled at the child’s skirts. Isabelle leaped forward, grabbed Mattie’s hand and jerked her back to safety. She pressed the child to her side. “I think it’s best if you stay close to me.”

  Mattie leaned into her. “You saved my life.”

  “I wouldn’t go that far, but I might have saved you from a good soaking.” Even so, her shoes were wet and her skirts muddied.

  Annie watched, saw that Mattie was safe and turned her attention back to the river as ice churned toward them.

  Water sprayed their faces but no one turned away as the crest passed them and proceeded downstream.

  Annie turned. “Wasn’t that something? I’ve always wanted to see the ice go out. Seeing the jam was even better. Come on. Let’s go.”

  Isabelle hurried back to the wagon, Mattie holding her hand. They climbed aboard. Rather than getting in the back, Mattie perched on the seat between Isabelle and Annie.

  Isabelle thought they would return in the direction from which they’d come but, instead, they went up a little incline, passed through some trees and drew to a halt on top of the hill.

  “I’m in no rush to get back home,” Annie explained and jumped to the ground.

  Carly joined her.

  Mattie and Isabelle still sat on the bench.

  “Mattie’s shoes and skirt are wet. Don’t you think we should take her home and get her dry things?”

  “We were going to look for crocuses.” Annie clearly didn’t want to go back.

  “Crocuses, yay. I’m fine.” Mattie jumped down and waited expectantly for Isabelle. “It’s just my shoes that are wet and I’m not cold.”

  Annie reached into the wagon for a bit of rug. “Here, dry yourself on this.”

  Mattie did so as Isabelle descended…still uncertain as to the wisdom of delaying their return.

  “Crocuses,” Mattie explained, “are purple flowers that came up first thing in the spring. Even before the snow is gone.”

  “Here are some.” Carly called them over and Isabelle saw the fragile purple blossoms. She fell on her knees like the others and drank in the sight of a patch of flowers as big as the backyard in Bella Creek.

  “How beautiful,” she murmured and sat back on her heels to look about. Hills rose toward mountains on her left. The river sang to her right. A field of flowers was before her. Newfound friends were on either side. So many new and pleasant things that her heart felt ready to overflow.

  Annie broke the spell by jumping up. “Let’s eat.”

  Isabelle didn’t immediately move. Mattie sat quietly at her side, studying her.

  “Do you like the flowers?” Mattie asked.

  “I do.” Her throat seemed a little tight.

  “What else do you like?”

  Isabelle turned to the little girl. “The mountains are majestic. The river is powerful and awesome.” Recognizing the hunger in Mattie’s face, she caught the little chin in her hand. “But the best thing of all is your friendship.”

  Mattie lowered her eyelids, then slowly lifted them, her blue eyes wide and solemn. “I like having you for a friend,” she whispered.

  Her eyes stinging with unshed tears, Isabelle hugged Mattie. Affection for this child had found a ready and waiting welcome in Isabelle’s heart. She got to her feet and held out her hand to Mattie. “Let’s go see what your aunt Annie has for us to eat.”

  Carly and Annie sat in the back of the wagon, and Isabelle and Mattie joined them. The sun warmed them as they shared sandwiches and cookies.

  Mattie finished eating and asked permission to go play.

  Isabelle was content to watch and listen as Annie and Carly talked of people they knew.

  She analyzed her feelings. She’d enjoyed the outing. Felt accepted by the others. Perhaps this was where she belonged…helping Kate and her father by taking care of the house, enjoying doing things with Annie and Carly, and spending time with little Mattie, who so eagerly accepted her hugs.

  The idea seemed ideal. Then why did it leave her restless and anxious, as if she had overlooked something important? And why did Dawson’s name and face rush to her thoughts? Would he ever come to see her as more than a city girl?

  How long could she hide the truth about her inheritance?

  Chapter Ten

  Dawson looked up as the doctor and Kate returned. Maybe now Isabelle would feel free to come outside and watch the progress. He hadn’t seen her since morning, but then, he had been rather busy helping put up the bell tower. A crowd had gathered to watch but Isabelle was not among them. He was certain of that.

  They were about done for the day and men were cleaning up tools and bits of lumber.

  Doc wandered over. “It will be nice when it’s done and the children are in the school.”

  Sadie stood nearby. “I can hardly wait. I’m hoping there’s lots of shelves for books. Dawson, do you know when the supplies are coming in?” Logan had ordered desks and books for the school but they had yet to arrive. “I’m a little short of reading material.”

  “I have a box of books,” Doc said. “Why don’t you have a look and see what you’d like to borrow.”

  Sadie seemed more interested in studying the building than getting books. “Dawson, would you mind going with the doctor and bringing back books you deem appropriate for the school? I can use them in the temporary classroom.”

  Glad of an excuse to go to the house, he readily agreed. “I suppose you don’t want me to bring back advanced anatomy or a directory of medical conditions.”

  Sadie chuckled. “Perhaps not.”

  “I’ll do my best.” He accompanied Doc through the front door and into the doctor’s examining room.

  The door to the living quarters stood open but Dawson could see no one moving about. His curiosity grew as did a restless need to see Isabelle. He wished he could deny
such an urge.

  Doc indicated a crate. “I believe the books are in there.” He lifted the lid, which was already loose. “Are these mine? I don’t recall them.”

  Dawson opened the flyleaf of one of the books. “Says ‘John Baker.’ That’s you.”

  Doc nodded, looking confused. He rubbed his head. “But I don’t remember these books.” He stared toward the living quarters. “Kate? Kate?” Doc’s voice brought his daughter at a run.

  “Father, what’s wrong?”

  “Why are we here?”

  She drew his arm through hers. “You never think clearly when you’re hungry. Come and eat something.” She looked at Dawson, silently questioning his presence, and he explained about the books.

  “Take what you need. I have to see that Father eats right away.” She hurried them out of the room.

  He could hear her murmuring to Doc as dishes rattled.

  He hunkered down to look through the books.

  A door opened and closed somewhere and Isabelle’s voice reached him. Excited, full of joy. He listened closely.

  “Kate, I wish you had been free to join us today. We had the most wonderful trip into the country. What a beautiful place. I do believe I’ve fallen in love with it.”

  Dawson smiled. He understood the attraction of the rugged hills. Grandfather had done them good to bring them here.

  “We saw the river break up.”

  Dawson jerked to his feet. That was Mattie speaking. Uninvited, he stalked into the kitchen.

  Mattie practically hung from Isabelle’s hand. Her shoes and stockings were wet.

  Anger burned through his veins. He’d started to trust her, to know she would care for Mattie as carefully as he would himself. He’d even allowed himself to think she might consider staying in the area. After all, he’d seen her eagerness to learn the basic skills a woman needed and he’d heard her admire the countryside on more than one occasion.

  His trust and hope had been misplaced. She didn’t even know enough to protect a child from the icy, raging waters of a river.

  Before he could think to couch his question in gentler tones, he confronted Isabelle. “What do you mean by taking my child out to the river? Don’t you know she could have drowned? Look at her feet. Did she fall into the water?” A city woman out in the country. What did she know about the dangers? How could he think she would protect Mattie?

  “Papa.” Mattie’s shocked voice dampened Dawson’s anger. “Aunt Annie took us for a drive. Why are you so mad at Miss Isabelle? She didn’t do anything bad. She—”

  At the look on Dawson’s face, Mattie stopped talking.

  Dawson’s anger shifted to his sister. What was Annie thinking to take Isabelle along on a trip with Mattie? He would have to make it clear it was not to happen again.

  He spun on his heel. “I’ll see to those books. Mattie, come with me.”

  “Yes, Papa. Goodbye, Miss Isabelle. It was a fine outing.”

  Dawson almost relented at the quiet sadness in her voice but there was far more to be concerned about than a momentary disappointment. He gathered up a few of the books, not bothering to finish going through the crate. “Let’s go.”

  Before he reached the door, Isabelle spoke from behind him. “Mr. Marshall, I apologize for whatever it is I have done to offend you.”

  He stopped, turned slowly. “And I apologize for speaking so harshly.”

  They considered each other. Both had apologized, but did either of them mean anything by their words?

  He grimaced a smile and continued out of the house. He’d make sure this didn’t happen again. He carried the books to the back of the store. Annie and Carly visited with Sadie.

  “You look like thunder,” Annie said.

  “He got mad at Miss Isabelle,” Mattie supplied without prompting.

  “Why on earth would you do that?”

  Again Mattie answered. “He thought she took me to the river and let me fall in.”

  “I didn’t say that.” At least, not in those words, but he had been harsh. And apologized rather insincerely. “But your feet are wet. How did that happen?”

  Mattie hung her head. “The water rose over the banks and I slipped in it. Almost fell.”

  “I knew it.” The words exploded from him. He closed his eyes and tried to control the flood of emotions raging through him. Anger. Fear. Regret. Regret? Yes, regret that Isabelle reminded him so much of Violet and his failure as a husband. “Mattie, go into the store and ask Uncle George for a candy stick. He can put it on my bill.”

  “I need something in the store, too.” Sadie slipped away.

  Dawson waited until they both left the room to confront Annie. “What were you thinking?”

  Annie did not flinch before his demanding glower. “I knew it. You keep seeing her as another Violet. She’s nothing like that woman. In fact, Isabelle was the first to see Mattie get too close to the water. When her foot slipped, Isabelle grabbed her.” Annie gave a dismissive wave. “Not that she was ever in any danger. Do you think I’d let something bad happen to her?” Her eyes narrowed. “I have looked after her for three years. Have I ever done anything that would put her in danger?” She jammed her fists to her hips and squinted at him. “A woman who reminds you of Violet shows up and suddenly I’m not fit to watch her?”

  “No, of course I didn’t mean that.” He rubbed at his neck. What did he mean?

  “She’s not like Violet, you know.”

  “I think she is more like Violet than you’re ready to admit.” How many times had he come home to find baby Mattie alone in the house? Untended. Her diaper soiled. He’d finally swallowed his pride and asked Ma to watch her. Violet had not objected when he’d said she was to take the baby over to his mother.

  He’d been taken for a fool once by a city woman. He didn’t intend it would happen again. “I’m taking Mattie home.”

  He stalked out the back door and stood in the afternoon sunshine. He’d tell Annie not to let Mattie near that woman. He’d tell Mattie the same thing. Except what could he say that didn’t sound judgmental?

  *

  Isabelle dried her eyes. She’d had a little cry with Kate to comfort her. “I don’t suppose I will ever fit in here.” What she really meant was that Dawson would never see her as a capable woman. His opinion would sink even lower if he knew the truth about who she was and her pampered upbringing.

  Kate set a cup of tea before her. “Drink this. It will make you feel better.”

  Isabelle chuckled. “I’ve never found a cup of tea solved my problems, but thanks.”

  Kate rubbed Isabelle’s arm. “I don’t mean to suggest it will. Only God can lead you to where you feel you belong.”

  Isabelle twisted her cup around. “I have asked Him to guide me and thought for a bit that I belonged.” There was no need to add that she thought Dawson had accepted her. She gave her dear friend a miserable look.

  Kate got a distant look in her eyes. “Sometimes He allows hard things in our lives.”

  “I’m sorry. Here I sit bemoaning my life when you’ve had to give up your dreams.” Kate had hoped to follow in her father’s footsteps and become a doctor, but after her father’s accident she had given up the idea, saying her father needed her.

  Kate smiled. “I don’t mind. Father is all I have—besides you, of course.”

  Warmed by Kate’s friendship, Isabelle began to relax. Yes, it hurt to be poorly judged by Dawson, but she had done nothing she regretted.

  A knock came at the back door and Annie hustled in, Sadie in her wake. She rushed to Isabelle’s side and hugged her. “I understand my brother scolded you royally. I apologize for him. Sometimes he is such a hard man.”

  “It’s okay. He apologized.”

  “Good thing or I might be forced to drag him back by the scruff of the neck and insist he do so.”

  It was a picture that brought a burst of laughter from Isabelle. “That I’d like to see.”

  Annie shrugged. “Yeah, me, to
o. So, you want to bake a cake? I’ll teach you how to make Ma’s famous chocolate cake.”

  Isabelle hurried to her feet. “I can’t think of anything I’d like better.” A useful diversion was exactly what she needed.

  Annie stood by as Isabelle followed her instructions. “You’ll have to forgive Dawson. His wife was not suited to ranch life. She did all kinds of foolish things. I guess that’s why he is always warning me not to take risks.”

  Isabelle wanted to know more but it wasn’t her business and she didn’t intend to pry.

  Annie pointed to the cocoa needed for the cake. “She was killed when she raced her horse against some of the miners from Wolf Hollow and her horse lost his footing and threw her. She died instantly, which, I suppose, is something to be grateful for.”

  Isabelle measured the ingredients as Annie listed them. It amazed her that Annie could make a cake without written instructions.

  “Ever since then, Dawson is cautious. I do wish he’d lighten up. He’s only twenty-six and I think he’s handsome, even if he is my brother. He needs to get married again for his sake as well as Mattie’s.”

  Isabelle’s hands stopped moving. Dawson would want a farm woman, a woman experienced in cooking, doing laundry, milking a cow and a hundred other useful things. The thrill of making the cake seemed suddenly very rudimentary. “I expect he’d be a good husband,” she murmured.

  Time to turn the conversation to something else…something that didn’t make her feel so inept. “You have a lot of responsibility running a household of five men and caring for Mattie. I admire you for doing it so well.”

  “I appreciate that.” Annie’s smile thanked her more than words could. “Now, be careful as you break eggs into your cake. No one likes to eat eggshells.”

  The girls shared lots of good laughs as Annie taught Isabelle how to make the famous Marshall chocolate cake. It was baked before Annie departed. She left a bowl of frosting to be applied when the cake cooled.

  “Join us for supper,” Kate said to Sadie. “We have tons of food.”