Page 14 of A Montana Fake Marriage (Sagebrush Ranch Sweethearts #1)

After breakfast, they sat in the living room.

The fire flickered in the hearth, and presents were passed around.

She held onto Caleb’s hand, her fingers laced with his as she rested her cheek against his shoulder.

This position had become so second nature, she’d started to take it for granted.

Soon, they wouldn’t have this connection.

Soon, they’d be moving on with their lives separately. Come spring, they’d be divorced.

A box landed in her lap, and she looked up, startled to see Mack grinning down at her. “That one is from Noah and me.”

It was about three feet long and only ten inches wide. She glanced up at Caleb, who hid his smile and shrugged at her. The red and white wrapping paper had been haphazardly taped to the box—about what she would have expected from two cowboys.

Carefully, she tore at the paper and revealed a box with the word Ruger across the top.

“It’s a good beginner’s rifle,” Noah offered.

Mack elbowed him in the ribs. “Let her open the box first”.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she lifted the lid to the box and found a wooden rifle with a steel barrel.

“It’s a single bolt action rifle. It’s what we learned with,” Noah spoke again, this time dodging Mack’s attack. He smirked at his brother then.

Mack rolled his eyes. “I helped pick it out, but Noah swore you’d want it.”

She didn’t know what to say. Her fingers trailed over the gun reverently. She’d had so much fun that night at the rodeo, but she’d completely forgotten about how she’d enjoyed shooting. “Thank you,” she whispered, suddenly feeling guilty that she hadn’t gotten them anything.

Before she could express her apology, Caleb got to his feet. He retrieved two identical boxes and handed them to his brothers. “Those are from us.”

Her wide eyes took Caleb in, but all he did was drape his arm around her shoulder and pull her close. He’d picked out a matching set of new cowboy hats—the sort they wouldn’t be caught dead working in. No, those hats were too nice for work. They’d want to go out dancing with them.

Then Caleb placed a flat square box on her lap. It reached across both of her legs and to her knees. She offered him a smile. When she opened the box and pulled back the tissue, she gasped. The blue and white gingham dress from the vintage store had been neatly folded.

“I got the boots to match, but I didn’t have a box for them.”

She held back the tears as long as she could and wordlessly pulled him in for a hug.

“Thank you,” she rasped. “It’s perfect.” When she withdrew to look at the dress again, she let her trembling fingers trace over the fabric and the fine stitching.

After she’d gotten her first paycheck, she’d gone back to look for the dress, but it had been purchased. Now she knew who the culprit was.

Caleb had bought the dress all those months ago and had kept it a secret. She couldn’t speak even if she wanted to, otherwise, she’d end up crying.

“We have a gift for you as well,” Caleb’s mother commented. Tana moved to sit on the armrest where Will was seated. “I know we were discussing the possibility of where you two could move.” She exchanged a loving look with Will.

Caleb’s father pulled an envelope out of his shirt pocket and handed it to Caleb.

Sammie watched the envelope with moderate trepidation. They wouldn’t, would they? Her eyes seemed to say exactly what she was thinking because Caleb squeezed her hand reassuringly as if to tell her they’d be okay.

Then he dropped her hand and opened the envelope.

“It’s a deed.”

Will nodded. “That’s a small parcel of land, no more than an acre, here on Sagebrush property. Eli wanted to gift it to you, and we’re going to help with a down payment to start building.”

Sammie gasped, and her eyes darted up to Caleb, but he wasn’t looking at her. He was still staring at the deed. He didn’t look upset, but his jaw was tense. In all likelihood, they would have given him the land for the house no matter who he married. And it would remain his even after they split.

Sammie’s vision blurred as she was hit with that all-too-familiar desire to be part of this wonderful family. She could see herself staying here: working here, living out the rest of her days with him by her side.

She reached for his hand and squeezed it, pulling him out of his own stupor. He flashed a smile at his parents. “It’s too much.”

His mother shook her head. “We’ve been fortunate these last few years. It’s something we want to do for you—both of you.”

Will waved a hand at them. “Just make sure you build something beautiful together. Something you can be proud of.”

Tana dropped her loving gaze down to her husband and squeezed his shoulder. “I couldn’t have said it better myself.”

“Thank you,” Caleb murmured.

Sammie nodded. “Yes, thank you.”

“Well,” Tana said, wiping a tear from her eye. “I believe we’ve got plans over at the big house for lunch. Perhaps we should all get dressed before Eli sends over one of his boys to wrangle us like he does the cattle.”

A few chuckles sounded throughout the room. Caleb met Sammie’s gaze, but he didn’t say anything. She couldn’t blame him. There was so much she couldn’t say aloud, either.