Big Sky Cowboy (Montana Marriages #1) Read online

  “Cora’s specialty,” Lilly said. “People come from miles around to buy her butter. And her cheese.”

  “I can see why.” Right then and there, he decided he could live on freshly baked bread and sweet-cream butter the rest of his life. But the meal offered more than that—mashed potatoes and rich gravy, new carrots bathed in butter, cooked green beans fresh from the garden and roast pork.

  A few minutes later, he cleaned his plate and leaned back. “Thank you. That was an excellent meal. I’m trying to remember when I’ve had better.” He tapped his chin. Sure did beat the unpalatable rations they’d lived on for the past week. As a child, every meal had been off flavored by the fear of what their father would do. “Nope. Can’t recall a time. How about you, Lonnie?” The boy had eaten a goodly amount and then some.

  “Sure better’n what you make.” The words had slipped out unguarded, and he ducked his head as if expecting Wyatt to take objection.

  Wyatt laughed. “Sure was.” How he wished Lonnie would stop acting as though Wyatt was about to whip him.

  The others chuckled.

  “We still have dessert,” Cora said, and from the cupboard Lilly brought a chocolate cake so rich it was almost black. Mrs. Bell cut generous slices and served each with spoon-thick cream.

  Wyatt’s stomach thought he’d died and taken it to heaven.

  From the barely audible sighs at his left, he knew Lonnie felt the same. Their ma had seldom bothered with what she called “fancy baking.” As her strength dwindled, and her interest in life faded, so had her efforts at preparing meals.

  Once they were all finished, the girls took away the dishes and poured tea for everyone while Mr. Bell opened a well-worn black leather Bible.

  “We always have a time of Bible reading after supper,” he explained to Wyatt. “I hope you don’t mind joining us.”

  He felt Mr. Bell’s silent waiting and knew the man was asking Wyatt where he stood on faith matters. He didn’t mind telling. “Mr. Bell, I am a firm believer in God’s grace. I’d be honored to be part of your Bible reading time.”

  Mr. Bell considered him unblinkingly for a moment, then nodded.

  Wyatt couldn’t tell if his answer had satisfied the man or not.

  “We are reading the last chapter of Matthew,” Mr. Bell said. “‘Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’” As the older man continued reading, the words refreshed Wyatt’s soul as much as the food had refreshed his body.

  “We’ll pray now.” The Bells again reached out and held hands. This gesture no doubt knit the family members together. He wasn’t likely to be woven into this family, but he and Lonnie could do something similar.

  He reached for Cora’s hand, again feeling a warm rush of emotions threatening to blow away his control.

  Rather than try to understand what it meant, he focused on Mr. Bell’s prayer as he asked God to bless all sorts of friends and neighbors. When he said, “Bless the Caldwells,” Cora’s fingers squeezed Wyatt’s hard. She’d said the Caldwells didn’t welcome the farm in the middle of their ranch.

  Seemed she wasn’t quite as concerned with their well-being as her pa.

  Upon Mr. Bell’s “amen,” the family pushed from the table.

  Wyatt and Lonnie did the same. “Thank you again for a wonderful meal and your hospitality.” Wyatt backed toward the door with Lonnie at his side.

  “No need to rush off,” Mr. Bell said. “Stay and visit awhile.”

  Wyatt glanced about the room. The evening sun flashed through the window and splashed light on the back of Cora’s head as she leaned over the table to gather up teacups.

  She turned and smiled at him. “Of course, we expect you to help with the dishes.” She tossed each of them a towel.

  And as easy as that, he decided to stay.

  Red-headed Rose had her hands in a basin of soapy water and handed him a plate to dry. Lilly took a dish of scraps out to Grub. Mrs. Bell lifted a basket from a nearby shelf and began to darn a sock while Mr. Bell sat at the table, scratching away on a piece of paper. Wyatt glanced at what the man did. Seemed he worked on a design for that four-in-one hoe. Wyatt knew there was a serious flaw in the design. It weighed too much to be practical. Would Mr. Bell find a solution?

  Cora took the dishes from Wyatt and Lonnie as they dried them and put them into the cupboard. Their hands brushed each time and Wyatt’s skin grew warmer with each touch.

  “We’re done.” Rose carried the wash water outside and dumped it on the flowers.

  “I’ll take the slop to the pigs,” Lilly said.

  “Can I help?” Lonnie asked, and received an invitation to join Lilly.

  Wyatt stood near the kitchen cupboard wondering if he should wait for Lonnie or excuse himself.

  Cora took the towel from Wyatt’s hand and went outside to hang it to dry.

  He followed her out of the house. He moseyed over to the corner of the garden and leaned against the post.

  Cora joined him there. “Lonnie seems to have forgotten about the rabbit.”

  “I hope so.” Wyatt tried to think how to express his appreciation for her family’s kindness, but everything he thought of sounded like an invitation for her to ask more about his family. He’d said about all he meant to say on that subject. His teeth creaked as his jaw clenched. There were so many secrets to protect. He would never forget the sight of Lonnie standing over their bleeding father, trembling, tears running down his face.

  He shuddered.

  Cora no doubt took it to be because of Lonnie and the rabbit. “He is so tenderhearted. I believe that means he can become a strong, confident man who is no longer afraid people will treat him as his father did.”

  Wyatt forced himself to relax. “He’s young. He can change.” With good examples like the Bells to teach him. Unless someone learned the truth of their past. He silently vowed that if anyone discovered he’d been in jail, he would never reveal it was Lonnie who had beaten their father.

  Cora touched his arm. “God led us to find Lonnie this afternoon. I truly believe He directs our every step. Remember that verse in Jeremiah where God says His thoughts to us are for peace and not evil, to give us an expected end?”

  An expected end? Wasn’t that a warning not to think he could change anything?

  He hadn’t asked the question aloud, but she addressed it anyway. “Pa says the expected end means the kind of end we can expect from God. So it means good things, blessings, His tender care.”

  Wyatt couldn’t take his eyes from her glowing face as she spoke. His heart caught her faith and swelled with joy at what God had promised. “You believe so deeply.”

  She nodded. “The more I choose to believe in God’s love and goodness, the more blessed I feel.” She smiled up at the sky. “Sometimes I could dance for joy.”

  He’d like to see that. He’d like to dance with her. What better time than now, he thought as he reached for her.

  But Lonnie jogged toward them just then and Wyatt stepped back. He realized how foolish it would be to let his guard down. “We’ll be going now,” he said to Cora. “Good night.”

  He and Lonnie made their way back to the campsite. “We need to give the horses some oats.” If he fed them well while they rested they would be in good shape for more travel when the time came. His insides twisted at the thought of leaving. He shook his head hard. Had he so quickly forgotten who he was?

  Wyatt paid special attention to Fanny. “She’ll have that foal any time now.”

  “Lilly let me help feed the pigs,” Lonnie called from where he fed the horses. “They’re so sweet. At least, the baby ones are. Do you know Lilly names each of them and they come when she calls?”

  “Uh-huh.” He had a hard time keeping his attention on talk of pigs when his thoughts hovered between hope and despair.<
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  “Lilly says they’re a lot smarter than people think.” Lonnie continued to chatter about the pigs as they tended the horses and while they prepared for bed. At least he seemed to have forgotten the incident on the prairie.

  Later, as they lay side by side in their bedrolls, Lonnie sighed. “Do you think I’m broken inside like Cora talked about?”

  So the incident hadn’t been forgotten after all. Wyatt considered his answer carefully. “I think our pa was broken. We might be broken a little because of that, but didn’t she say sometimes people don’t realize they aren’t normal? So they don’t know they need fixing.”

  “I guess.”

  Wyatt continued, silently praying Lonnie would understand he could one day become whole. “The Bells seem nice, don’t they?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “The sort of family we wished we had. Maybe if we watch carefully we can learn to be like them.”

  “Did you like how they prayed together?”

  “It was good.”

  “Cora’s nice, don’t you think?”

  “They all are.” Though he’d taken little note of Rose and Lilly. Natural enough, he reasoned, seeing as he spent most of his time working beside Cora.

  “But Cora seems extraspecial. She’s so smart and kind and—I don’t know. Just real nice.”

  “Indeed.” He could add more description—beautiful, full of faith, generous, determined, loyal—

  That stopped him. Her loyalty belonged to her family. She’d do everything she could to protect them.

  He flipped to his side and tried to find a comfortable position. Tried desperately to ignore the mocking words in his head.

  He posed a risk to their security and acceptance. She’d defend her family against him if she learned he was a jailbird. He’d grown used to the idea that people would shun him because of his past. Had figured he could survive without their approval. But he hadn’t figured on meeting someone like Cora who made him want to start over with an unblemished slate.

  He flipped to his other side and groaned. No matter how hard he tried to make it happen, he knew his heart would bear a permanent wound when she found out the truth and—

  He couldn’t even think how she’d react.

  How he’d continue to breathe and eat and walk.

  * * *

  Cora and the twins retired to their bedroom. She saw Lilly and Rose exchange knowing looks.

  “What?”

  Lilly perched on the edge of her bed. “He makes you laugh.”

  “Don’t I usually laugh?”

  Lilly nodded. “But you sounded real happy talking to him in the garden.”

  Cora tapped Lilly’s arm. “I’m always happy.”

  “But not that kind of happy. Aren’t I right, Rose?”

  The pair nodded.

  “Honestly, I have no idea what you mean.”

  “We know you don’t, which is really sad.”

  Cora wouldn’t admit there was a hint of truth to their observations and didn’t reply.

  Rose sighed. “It was kind of fun telling our stories, wasn’t it?” She glanced from Cora to Lilly and back again. “I like having company.”

  Cora tipped her head. “I never thought of it before.” They attended church every Sunday in Bar Crossing and each Saturday went to town to sell their goods and buy supplies, but their friends very rarely visited the farm. No doubt they didn’t want to get involved in the feud the Caldwells wouldn’t abandon.

  She and Anna, the preacher’s daughter, always found plenty to talk about when they got together. Though, on closer examination, Anna did most of the talking.

  It was nice to have visitors on the farm, but she didn’t want to admit how much she enjoyed Wyatt’s company. Not even to herself. “Life is simply fun if you let it be.”

  The twins agreed.

  The three of them crawled into their beds and opened their Bibles to read a passage—something Ma had taught them. At first, she’d read to them, but as they grew older they were each presented with Bibles of their own. In the flyleaf of each Ma had written a blessing. Although Cora knew the words by heart, she turned to that page first. “To the daughter of my heart: You are strong and bold in life. May you also be strong and bold in your faith. May our love hold you close all the days of your life.” Their parents had given each of them a special verse, and Ma had penned Cora’s below the blessing. “Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

  She breathed in the words, let them settle deep into her heart with a comforting touch. Throughout the day, she’d discovered surprising longings and desires welling up. Always when she was around Wyatt. When he touched her. When he revealed tenderness and strength at the same time.

  She needed to keep her thoughts focused on God’s will and God’s ways and not be drawn aside by her silly reactions to a man she barely knew.

  She read a few verses and closed the Bible. Rose turned out the lamp and the twins’ deep breathing soon informed her they had fallen asleep. Cora lay awake thinking of Wyatt and Lonnie. What could she—all of them—do to help the pair?

  The next morning, she waited until breakfast was over, the dishes done and the twins had left the house to do chores.

  “Ma, Pa, can I talk to you?”

  Her parents returned to their chairs. She sat between them.

  “Ma, remember how you said that God had brought Wyatt and Lonnie here so we could help them?”

  Ma explained to Pa what Cora meant.

  Cora continued, “Maybe we could help them more by having them join us for dinner and supper.” She turned to Pa. “They need to see how a good father behaves.”

  Pa smiled at her praise.

  Then her parents looked at each other. They never spoke a word and yet she knew each somehow understood what the other was thinking.

  Cora always marveled at how they could communicate this way.

  Pa spoke first. “We know so little about them.”

  Ma nodded. “Only enough to know they’ve been badly hurt.” She turned to Cora, who was about to point out that Wyatt had said their father beat them. “Yes, he’s told you about his father. But my concern is that badly hurt people can sometimes be dangerous.”

  Cora stared. “You think Wyatt or Lonnie might hurt us?” She couldn’t believe it, though her only evidence as to his goodness was the way her heart jumped when he touched her and the tenderness he showed toward Lonnie. And Lonnie? Why, he couldn’t even hurt a rabbit.

  Pa touched her hands. “If I thought Wyatt presented a danger to us I wouldn’t let him stay. But I fear you might grow too fond of him.”

  She ducked her head to avoid his probing stare. She’d warned herself of the same thing, but nevertheless had grown more fond of him than she cared to admit. Not that she meant it to get out of control.

  Pa continued. “I just don’t want to see you get hurt again.”

  She nodded. “I think I’ve learned to be careful about trusting a man.”

  Ma shook her head. “I don’t think that’s what Pa meant. It’s okay to trust, but only when you know the truth, the whole truth.”

  “No dark secrets. No mysterious past. No unanswered questions.” She listed the things she considered necessary.

  Pa patted her hands. “Exactly. You’re a sensible girl. I know you’ll follow your head and act wisely.”

  “I believe you’re correct in suggesting we ought to invite them to share our meals,” Ma added.

  Cora thanked them both for their wisdom and left to do her chores. She was sensible. She would offer help to Wyatt and his brother, but she’d also guard her heart.

  When she went outside, Wyatt and Lonnie we
re already working on the barn, nailing the loft floor into place. She should be helping them but had the cows to tend first.

  Wyatt looked up and waved. His hat shadowed his eyes but his smile flashed. Her heart picked up its pace in response. Too many unanswered questions, she reminded herself, but smiled as she continued on her way. She hurried through her chores so she could join Wyatt working on the barn.

  Wyatt and Lonnie, she corrected herself.

  But it wasn’t Lonnie’s smile she wanted to see more of.

  She sought Pa’s words of advice and pushed them to the forefront of her thoughts.

  Somehow, with loads of determination, she’d work with Wyatt, she’d help them both and she’d keep her thoughts and heart firmly under control.

  How hard could it be?

  Chapter Eight

  Later, Cora hurried up the ladder so fast that Wyatt called down a warning.

  “Careful. There’s very little floor for you to stand on.” He reached out a hand and held hers firmly as she climbed to his side. He didn’t immediately release her hand, and she didn’t think to pull away as she looked into his dark eyes and smiling face.

  Lonnie pounded a nail. The sound made her remember her purpose in being there. To help, she reminded her stalled brain.

  “You started early,” she said.

  “Yup. I wanted to get some solid footing up here before you came.” He continued to smile at her, making it difficult to tear her gaze away. “I don’t suppose I can persuade you to leave the work to us?”

  “Why would you want to?” Her tongue felt stiff, making her words slow.

  “What if you get dizzy? What if your foot slips?”

  His concern delighted her. When did anyone ever worry about her like that? Pa was protective but thought her self-sufficient. The twins looked to her for direction much of the time. Ma was affectionate but had taught her to be independent. And her papa—well, he hadn’t concerned himself about her safety even when she was five.

  She realized that Wyatt waited, as if thinking she might take herself down to the ground. She laughed. “I won’t fall.”

  “Promise?” A smile lingered on his lips, but his gaze was dark and demanding.