Page 32 of Montana Groom of Convenience (Montana Cowboys #5)

C arly withdrew her hand from Sawyer’s. She eased around the tree trunk until cool air drifted between them. She’d almost convinced herself he’d changed and that he might be willing to reconsider their arrangement and allow it to be more than a business deal.

“I promise I will never turn Jill away,” she said. It seemed to be the most she could offer to a man who admitted he would never care.

“It will keep her from feeling the same way I did.”

“What about you?” She hoped her tone conveyed only mild interest when she ached beyond hope for so much more for him and from him.

“I have a partnership in the Morrison Ranch. That means I have a reason to belong.”

“A partnership?”

“Yes, your father said I was a partner. I assumed you knew.”

“Of course he did.” It was news to her. News that made it so very clear that she would never be seen as good as a son. Even a son-in-law Father barely knew earned more respect from him than she did, even after years of hard work trying to prove herself.

She pushed to her feet, her limbs barely under control. “Wake me when it’s time for me to take over.” She made her shaky way to her bedroll, knowing she would spend the next few hours staring into the dark, trying to pretend this news didn’t upset her.

She took over her watch when Sawyer called her. She walked around the corral enclosure. Not because she felt she needed to check anything but because her insides were too restless to allow her to sit.

By dawn, she was weary but anxious to be moving.

Sawyer scrambled from his bedroll and hurriedly made coffee. Seemed he was anxious to get back to his ranch. His and Father’s.

Neither of them had much to say as they ate a quick breakfast and got the animals on the move again.

The bulls were a little cantankerous, not wanting to be pushed onward. Several times, they turned back, wanting to return to their stable. It kept Carly and Sawyer busy, guiding them in the right direction. Carly welcomed the diversion as it made conversation almost impossible.

If only it would make thinking impossible.

They paused briefly around noon, thinking the bulls would welcome a break but, one raced away. Sawyer was in his saddle in moments, herding the animal back. Meanwhile, the two others took off in the opposite direction and Carly went after them.

“We better keep them moving,” Sawyer called as he brought the stray back.

“Yup. ”

The sun was an orange ball on the peaks of the mountains when they turned the bulls into the corrals at the Morrison Ranch. Carly refused to think it might soon be known as the Gallagher Ranch.

The animals looked about, saw the fences, and knew they didn’t have to go anywhere for the rest of the day. They leaned into the shelter of the fence, prepared to enjoy their new home.

Father and the girls came over to admire the animals. “Ye made good time,” he said.

“Had to keep them moving,” Carly said, struggling to keep sharpness from her tone. She loved her father, but he’d betrayed her. She glanced toward the hill where the five graves stood behind a wooden fence. Would she never count as much as a son would have?

No point in worrying about what might have been.

Sawyer and Carly took care of their horses and then they went to the house.

“I made supper, thinking you might be back tonight,” Beth said.

Carly gave her a one-armed hug. The child had lost both parents, been treated poorly by a so-called stepfather, and had taken care of her two younger siblings until Logan and Sadie rescued them, and yet she remained cheerful and sweet.

Carly knew she must do the same and she could with God’s help. Like Mother used to say, ‘Disappointments can make us better, or we can allow them to make us bitter.’ To honor her mother, she would not be bitter.

The girls set the table while Carly washed off the dust of the trail .

Beth had made a meatloaf, carrots, and mashed potatoes.

“This is excellent. Thank you.” Carly said.

“It certainly is,” Sawyer added.

“Aye, I’ve been well taken care of while you were away.” Father’s smile of approval brought a pink stain to Beth’s cheeks.

“Jill helped me.”

The child beamed with adoration for the older girl.

As soon as the dishes were done, Carly said, “Good night. I’m tired.” Then she remembered Beth had been sleeping in her bed. “One of you girls can bunk with me.”

“I will,” Jill said. The girls followed her to the room, and Jill crawled in beside Carly, snuggling close. It left Beth crammed into the shorter bed, but she insisted she didn’t mind.

“Did you miss me?” Carly asked in a teasing tone.

“Granddad said things would change when you got back.”

“Change? How?” Did he intend to put Sawyer in charge and confine Carly to the house?

“He said you and Sawyer would be different after spending time together.” She giggled a little. “Said you’d be really truly married.”

It wasn’t about the ranch. But was his opinion about their marriage any more welcome? She took slow, deep breaths. Like Sawyer said, other people’s opinions didn’t matter.

Except this was Father, and his opinion mattered a great deal.

The next day, she said she was going to check on the cows. They’d let the bulls rest a few days, then take them out to the herd.

Sawyer said he’d accompany her.

“I’ve been doing this without an escort for a long time.”

“But now you don’t have to.”

“Ack, daughter, let the man go with ye.”

She scowled at them both.

Sawyer simply smiled as if unconcerned with her attitude. He kept up the same cheerful spirit as they rode to the northwest in search of the cows. “’Tis a bonny day.” He imitated Father’s accent so well Carly laughed in spite of herself.

Sawyer continued to imitate Father, pointing out the ‘fair meadows,’ the ‘fine cattle,’ until Carly’s bad mood entirely vanished.

They found the cattle grazing near the creek. Sawyer glanced over them, then turned away. But he didn’t head toward home.

Carly followed. “Where are you going?”

“Come and see.” They passed through the band of trees and reached the edge of the creek. Sawyer swung down from his horse and gave her an are-you-coming look.

Curious, she followed. The banks of the creek rose, growing more rugged. He reached back and offered her his hand to help her. She took it even though a tiny, nagging portion of her brain warned her she couldn’t hold hands and remain annoyed.

But then, she didn’t want to remain annoyed.

He kept her hand in his as they reached a wider spot. Ahead lay a small waterfall.

“How did you know about this?” she asked .

“I could hear it. Plus, Logan told me about it. He said there was a really big waterfall on Wolf River toward the town of Wolf Hollow.”

“There is.” Did he know that she and Annie had visited the rough mining town of Wolf Hollow a few times before their fathers had forbade it? What would he think if he knew?

“We should go see it sometime.”

She almost protested. They’d found the town dirty. The occupants, for the most part were rude. Then she realized he meant the waterfall. “It’s certainly worth a visit. Jill would enjoy it.”

“I suppose she would, though I wasn’t thinking of her.”

She met his gaze, the water reflecting in his irises turning them more blue than green, and she had the feeling of falling. No floating. On a soft cloud. Speech had abandoned her.

He smiled gently and took her hand to lead her closer to the falls. They stood watching the tumbling water, listening to the gurgle, and feeling the spray on their cheeks.

He sank down on a damp rock and pulled her down beside him.

She did not resist.

Neither of them spoke. There didn’t seem any need. Peace settled into her soul.

He picked up a handful of rocks and tossed them, one by one in the creek.

She did the same.

He threw one across the stream.

She threw hers across. “Mine went farther. ”

“We’ll see about that.” He stood and released a rock that went into the trees on the far side.

She stood and threw hers as hard as she could. It went into the trees.

They took turns throwing rocks, each crowing that theirs had gone the greatest distance until they finally collapsed in a fit of laughter.

After a bit, they made their way back to the horses and headed home.

Carly’s insides ached. If only they could be like this all the time. The ranch forgotten. The terms of their marriage forgotten.

Sawyer had hoped that the few pleasant hours spent at the waterfall would mark a change in their relationship. He couldn’t explain how he thought it would look, but one thing was clear over the passing days. Nothing had changed.

He and Carly worked together amicably enough.

They laughed about things. They talked about their pasts.

His admiration and affection grew as he came to understand how difficult it had been for her at times as she took over much of the ranch work and tried to be both son and daughter to her father.

But if he mentioned that topic, she closed up immediately and the conversation went no further.

They attended church together. Sat together. Heard the same sermons delivered by Hugh. They ate meals around the same table and spent most of every day together or at least in close proximity. And yet the mile-wide canyon had grown deeper.

He’d taken to going for an early morning walk while Carly, with Jill’s eager help, prepared breakfast. His steps often took him to the river, where he sat on a fallen log to think and pray. Daily, he asked God to lead him and guide him.

I don’t want to fail to keep my word. But, Lord, I care about her in a way that frightens me, and I don’t know what to do. He smiled as he realized Carly’s faith and her oft-quoted comments from her mother had brought him back to the trust in God he had as a child.

Mostly he decided to let things go along as they were. Safe and uncomplicated.

He returned to the house at Jill’s call, determined to continue along the same route.

Father Morrison said grace. “I’ll be going to town today.”

He got immediate attention from both Carly and Sawyer.

“Who goes to town on a Tuesday unless there’s an urgent need?” Carly asked.

“Aye, my need ’tis urgent.” The man continued to eat as if he hadn’t just made an announcement that made no sense.

Jill looked from one adult to another, the news equally confusing to her.

Carly stared at her father, then shifted her gaze to Sawyer. Would he ever meet those brown eyes without his heart giving an extra-hard beat?

“You know anything about this?” she asked.

“I’m unaware of any pressing need to go to town.”

Father Morrison made a deep-throated sound. “Aye, and is that not the trouble with ye both? You are so unaware.”

Sawyer studied the older man. “What are you saying?”

Father Morrison cleaned his plate, wiped it with his piece of bread, and sucked back more coffee, keeping his curious audience waiting. “Very well, I might as well tell you I have business to conduct in town. Now, who is going to give me a ride, or do I have to take meself?”

“I’ll take you.” Sawyer hoped he’d learn what the old man was up to by taking him.

“I’m going, too.” Carly likely shared the same desire.

“Good. I can go, too. Can I buy a candy stick?” Jill ate the last of her breakfast in two bites.

“Yes,” Sawyer and Carly answered in unison. He guessed Carly was as distracted by this news as he was.

The kitchen was clean, and the others ready to depart by the time Sawyer drove the wagon to the door and then they were on their way.

Carly sat in the back with Jill while her father sat beside Sawyer, which made any private conversation between Carly and Sawyer impossible. They’d have to wait until town to speculate what her father was up to.

“I’ll go to the Marshalls’ store,” he announced and climbed slowly down. His steps were slow as he favored his injured leg.

Jill hurried ahead to choose her candy.

Carly and Sawyer followed her father. He went directly to the counter. George Marshall joined him.

“What can I do for you, Robert?”

“I want to post an ad here and place one in the paper. It’s ready. I just need postage.” He handed over a sealed envelope, and Mr. Marshall got a stamp, glued it, and put it on. Only then, did he open the sheet of paper that held the ad Father wanted to post.

He looked up at Carly and Sawyer. “Did you know about this?”

They shook their heads.

Mr. Marshall handed the paper to them.

Sawyer took it, and Carly read it as he did.

For sale. One ranch near Bella Creek, Montana. Good grass. Good cattle. Imported Hereford Bulls. Oats and wheat seeded.

The skin on Sawyer’s face tightened. He’d worried about Carly changing her mind, but he’d never considered her father would.

Carly’s cheeks blanched, and she stared at the words as if doubting what they said. Then she spun around and strode from the store. He watched through the window as she hurried down the street and out of sight. Where was she going?

What were he and Jill going to do for a home? What about Carly? What was going to happen to her? To them?