Page 26 of Montana Groom of Convenience (Montana Cowboys #5)

A few minutes later, Carly rode Sunny from the yard, her journey taking her past Sawyer.

She slowed to study how the planting was going.

And if she did not look at the field, but rather at Sawyer, admiring the way his muscles rippled with the effort of holding Big Harry, well, who was to know? She wasn’t about to tell anyone.

Sawyer noticed her at the trail and pulled Big Harry to a halt. “Howdy,” he called.

“Planting is going good.”

“Yup. I’ll soon be done.”

“I’m going to check on the cows. Jill is staying with Father.”

They stared at each other across the planted field. His hat shielded his eyes, so she wouldn’t have been able to see them even if they were close enough. As she watched, his expression never changed unless she counted the deepening of the grooves beside his mouth.

He touched the brim of his hat. “Be careful.”

She lifted her hand in a tiny salute. “Never.” She didn’t mean it. She didn’t take chances, just didn’t harken to silly rules of society—no trousers for a woman, women couldn’t be cowboys, she should pretty up if she wanted a man. See, she’d gotten married without following those rules.

He tipped his head. “I know. That’s what concerns me.”

“I don’t do dangerous things.”

“I know.”

A silent understanding formed between them. As if he accepted the way she dressed and acted. And as if she promised not to do foolish things. “Okay,” she said, agreeing to the unspoken pact.

Her heart floated as she rode onward.

Not so long ago, she would have ridden the land alone and thought nothing of it.

Still, now, she remembered Sawyer and Jill accompanying her and saw dozens of things she would have liked to share with them.

..the billowing white clouds, the hawk diving for its prey, the antelope racing away, and the profusion of wildflowers.

She would pick some on her way home and put them on Mother’s grave.

She found the cattle had moved to the west, grazing contentedly in a large, open pasture. Twenty more calves had been born. Well-fleshed in comparison to the longhorn stock. Father had done well to start the new breeding program.

She watched for a bit but was anxious to get home and turned back. She picked flowers before she reached the homestead. Again, she passed Sawyer. He was at the far corner, his back to her, so he didn’t notice her return. She rode by without stopping.

Her first thought was to take the flowers to the cemetery, but she reconsidered and as soon as Sunny was taken care of, went to the house. Jill and Father were outside, entertained by the kitten. “I have flowers for Mother’s grave. Does anyone want to come with me?”

“Aye,” Father said.

“Can I come, too?” Jill asked.

“Of course.” The trio climbed the hill, taking their time as Father hobbled along.

She let him go in first and stood back, letting him pay his respects in private.

She looked at the grave markers. Something to the left of Mother’s grave caught her eye.

Four wooden crosses standing side by side.

From where she stood, she could make out the names.

John Gallagher. Sarah Gallagher. Judith Gallagher. Cecil Gallagher. Had Sawyer done this?

There was no other explanation.

“Jill, look.” She pointed.

Jill gasped. “Mama and Papa.” She tiptoed to the markers and sank down to her knees before them.

Carly followed slowly. She hunkered down beside the girl. “Would you like some flowers?”

Jill nodded, her eyes bright.

Carly divided her bouquet in half.

Jill placed a few flowers before her parents’ markers. “Maybe I should give some to Sawyer’s mama and brother.”

“That would be nice.” What a sweet thought to include the two she didn’t know.

Jill drew in a shaky breath.

Uncertain how the child would react, Carly followed her heart and pulled Jill close. When Jill turned to Carly, clinging to her, Carly hugged her, making soothing noises as Jill cried.

After a bit, the tears were spent, but Jill remained in Carly’s embrace. Carly was not the least bit anxious to end the moment. A bond had been forged from her heart to Jill’s. Love had sealed the bond.

“I’m going back to the house,” Father said.

“I better go, too,” Jill said. “Skippy might be missing me.”

“I’ll be along shortly.” She waited until they were down the hill before she went to Mother’s grave. She placed the flowers near the headstone, then sat back.

What would her mother say if Carly could tell her about the confusion and uncertainty in her heart? How her feelings toward Sawyer were changing so that she wasn’t sure how to handle them.

“It isn’t what we agreed on. But I can’t help but admire him for so many things. His steadfastness, his tenderness toward Jill, his acceptance of me, his respect for Father.” She stopped talking. Bringing the words out in the open gave them too much power, made them too real.

You should never be embarrassed to tell someone how you feel.

Her mother had said those words when Carly spoke of her admiration for a teacher but confessed she didn’t feel she could tell the woman.

Sometimes, she silently argued, it was more than embarrassment that kept her from saying what she felt. Sometimes, it was that she’d given her word and meant to fulfill her promise.

She spent some time praying for strength and wisdom before she returned to the house to make supper.

“Carly,” Jill said at bedtime. “Can you read to me?”

It was the first time Jill had taken advantage of Carly’s offer, and Carly couldn’t decide if she wanted to laugh or cry. She would have liked to share the moment with Sawyer, but he had gone to take care of Big Harry. “I’d love to read to you.”

Jill climbed into bed, Skippy in the crook of her arm. She moved to the far edge of the bed. “There’s room for you beside me.”

Her heart was so full it felt like it might burst., Carly lay down beside the child and drew her close, pleased when Jill snuggled against her. “I’m going to read from the Bible storybook my mama read to me when I was your age.”

Jill nodded. “Okay.”

Opening the book to the first story, Carly read about creation. Finished, she closed the book. “God made a beautiful world,” she said. “And it’s still beautiful.”

“I know. Like the flowers and Skippy.”

“Like you.” Carly planted a kiss on Jill’s forehead.

Jill looked up at her. “And Sawyer?”

Carly’s cheeks grew hot, but she hoped Jill wouldn’t notice. “I don’t think he’d like to be called beautiful.”

“Well, he’s handsome.”

“I suppose he is. Now, do you want me to hear your prayers?”

Jill nodded and scampered from under the covers to kneel at her bedside.

Carly knelt beside her. This was so much like it had been with her mother that her throat tightened.

Jill said a child’s prayer and then added her own thoughts. “Help us be able to stay here forever. Help Sawyer and Carly to be in love. Amen.”

The words slammed into Carly, and she remained on her knees as Jill climbed back into bed. How was she to tell the child that her prayer must be refused? “Jill, honey, people can live together and be happy without being in love.”

Jill studied her with wide-eyed innocence. “Then you aren’t really married.”

She had a point. “That’s between Sawyer and me.”

“And God.” Jill burrowed deeper under the covers, closed her eyes, and gave a satisfied sigh as if she’d spoken the final word on the matter.

If only life could be that simple. “Good night.” Carly placed another kiss on Jill’s forehead and left the room.

Father lay back in his armchair, snoring softly.

Carly tiptoed out to find Sawyer, determined not to let the reasoning of a little girl affect her. She was halfway to the barn when she saw him standing at the fence that enclosed the seeded wheat field and went to join him.

“I finished the oats today,” he said.

“You’ll be glad to be done with farming, I expect.” Most cowboys resisted any sort of farming, even though hay must be cut, and feed had to be grown.

“I kind of enjoyed it. There’s something satisfying about turning up the soil and then planting the seed and knowing it will supply the winter’s need.”

Carly chuckled. “That sounds like something Father would say.”

He turned to study her, a smile creasing his face. “I consider that a fine compliment.”

“Now then, wouldn’t Father be pleased to hear it.”

They smiled at each other. She had no thought in her head, just the heartfelt enjoyment of the moment that hovered motionlessly between them .

He shifted his gaze to her right and then brought it back to her. “How did you find the cows?”

“They’ve moved west a mile or so. About twenty more calves.”

He took her hand and pulled it through his arm, and they walked along the path toward the river. “I am impressed with the look of those calves.”

For a while, they discussed the cows and Father’s breeding program.

They reached the trees along the river, and he took her hand to lead her down the path, keeping her fingers wrapped in his when they reached the edge of the water.

He crossed his arms, still holding her hand, pressing it to his chest. “Tomorrow is Saturday. We should do something special now that the crop and garden are in the ground.”

Her heart picked up speed. “Special? Us?” Who exactly did he mean, and what did he have in mind?

“You and me and Jill if she wants to come. I’d include Father, but he can’t ride anymore. Poor man.” He paused. She waited. “As I worked, I’ve been eyeing that hill past the barn. Been wondering what’s beyond the top of it.”

She could tell him, but she’d far sooner show him. “We could ride out and see.”

His fingers tightened around hers. “Kind of what I thought.”

“Let’s do it.”

“Yes, let’s.”

The next morning, Carly woke up early, an eager smile on her lips. It didn’t make sense to be so excited about a ride across familiar land, and yet she was. She sprang from her bed and rushed to the kitchen to make breakfast .

Jill followed to let Skippy outside.