Page 19 of River Legacy (Powder River #5)

“Except Treyton hasn’t been behind bars.”

“Not yet,” he said with a sigh. “But I fear he’s headed in that direction. CJ was at least trying to get the Stafford Ranch. Treyton doesn’t seem to have any interest at all in his family ranch.”

“They aren’t going to be happy about the wedding, you know,” Charlotte said. “My fault for turning my son against your family.”

Holden took her hand. “Lottie, this is a new beginning. Our sons will come around or they won’t.

A lot has changed. Cooper and Tilly are married and now have a daughter of their own.

Oakley is married to Pickett. There aren’t any hard boundaries between our families anymore and I’m glad of it.

Of course there are going to be problems, but we’ll deal with them. ”

He drew her to him again, and she pressed her face against his strong shoulder before pulling back to admire her ring. “Holden, it’s beautiful.”

“Oh my God, you’re . . . you’re engaged ?”

They pulled apart to see Oakley standing over them, her mouth open.

Charlotte looked up at her daughter. “Holden just asked, and I accepted. We’re going to have a large wedding so we’re going to need help planning it. I hope I can count on you.”

“You’re really doing this?”

“We are,” Holden said. “I believe congratulations is in order, don’t you, Lottie?”

“Or at least best wishes,” she said.

Oakley was still staring at them. “I never thought I’d see the day.” She seemed to shake herself before she broke out in a grin. “Congrats. Does Tilly know?”

“No one does but you,” Charlotte said. “We’ll put something in the local shopper, but I think word will get out on its own, don’t you? But let’s make this day Tilly and Cooper’s.”

Her daughter nodded, still looking dazed. “When is the wedding?”

“The sooner, the better,” Holden said, taking her hand. “Your mother and I are in love.”

“That isn’t anything new,” Oakley said. “Where do you plan to live?”

“We still need to iron out the details,” Holden said. “But I hope she will live on the McKenna Ranch.” He looked over at her. “If you want, I’ll build us our very own house.”

“We have time to talk about it,” Charlotte said, reflecting how different all of their lives would have been if she’d been his bride living in that house all those years ago. But then, they wouldn’t have the children they did or have lived the lives they’d had.

She felt a surprised sense of accomplishment for having built her own ranch with little help.

Same with raising her children, even if she did wish she could do that part all over again, knowing what she did now.

Still, her life had made her a strong woman out of necessity, and she couldn’t help being proud of that.

“Oh, wait until everyone hears,” Oakley said. “Treyton is going to flip when he hears about this. Not to mention CJ.”

“Let us worry about that,” Charlotte and Holden said in unison as they rose to go see their first grandchild together.

B ack in the hospital, Charlotte was surprised to see her son Ryder had gotten here so fast. She was even more surprised to see that he wasn’t alone.

He had a pretty young woman with long curly coppery red hair, fair skin and jade-green eyes with him.

She was stunning—much like her mother had been, Charlotte thought with a jolt as she recognized her.

As large as the state of Montana was, it never failed to astonish her how small it seemed when it came to running into people she knew or had a connection with.

“Mother,” Ryder said, not appearing all that happy to see her. “I heard you were back.”

She’d left the ranch for him and Brand to run without a word. She’d known he and his brother would do a great job. She would make sure that they knew that. She’d neglected both of them in the past. Ryder probably thought that nothing had changed.

“Ryder,” she said, giving him an awkward hug. “It’s good to see you.” Before he could answer, her gaze went to Victoria. Wasn’t that her name? The last time Charlotte had seen her, she was just a child.

“Victoria Forester,” the young woman said before Ryder could introduce her.

Charlotte saw Victoria give her a questioning look. Maybe the girl hadn’t been too young to remember after all. “I knew your father,” Charlotte said so the woman didn’t have to wonder.

Ryder put an arm around Victoria. “We just stopped by on our way to dinner. We’re doing a night out on the town.” He seemed almost protective of the young woman. Charlotte wondered how close they were. Closer maybe than even Ryder realized.

“Don’t let me stop you,” she said. “It was nice to see you again, Victoria.” With that, Charlotte turned and went out in the hall where Holden was waiting for her.

But not before she heard Ryder ask, “What was that about?”

Whatever Victoria answered, Charlotte didn’t hear. Where in the world had Ryder found this young woman? Was it serious? She couldn’t help but wonder if Victoria had taken after her father.

“T hat baby was so adorable,” Victoria gushed as they drove to the café after they’d congratulated Tilly and Cooper and left. “They looked so happy.”

Ryder hadn’t said anything since leaving the hospital. She suspected he was still shaken after running into his mother—not to mention realizing that Charlotte knew Wendell Forester, had apparently been to his house and had recognized Victoria.

“Our parents met at our house years ago when I was just a girl,” Victoria told him. “I probably only remember because my mother and I came home. She grabbed her favorite vase and threw it at your mother before demanding she leave and never come back.”

Ryder groaned. “Do not tell me my mother and your father had an affair.”

She shrugged. “My mother suspected as much, but if they did, it was short-lived. I never saw your mother again or heard her mentioned.”

He shook his head. “Charlotte must have been between husbands.”

“Small world, huh?” Victoria said with laugh. “It’s not like we’re related.”

“No, but... it is still creepy.” He shook his head as he parked again near the café.

There were fewer vehicles than before. Climbing out of the pickup, he came around to open her door as if they were on a real date.

Victoria was touched and saw people inside looking through the windows at them, definitely curious. If they only knew.

The moment Ryder opened the door to the café, she caught the aroma of roast beef and felt her stomach growl. He saw her rub her belly and chuckled as they found an empty table where he pulled out a chair for her. She felt the stares of everyone in the café, including the waitress.

“Thanks, Penny,” Ryder said when the woman brought over two glasses of water and a menu, which she put in front of Victoria.

“Ryder, you already know the special tonight. What would you like to drink? Do I need to run across the street for something... stronger?”

“I’d love iced tea,” Victoria said and looked at him. “And the special,” she said, handing Penny the menu. She figured it was the roast beef since she’d already smelled it. But it didn’t matter. If Ryder was having it, so was she.

He smiled. “I’ll take the same, including the iced tea.”

“She thought I was going to be difficult, didn’t she?” Victoria whispered, leaning toward him. “Is it me, or are all your dates difficult?”

Ryder chuckled and seemed to relax. “I haven’t had much time to date.”

“What? One of the most eligible bachelors for miles around?”

“I’m serious. Brand and I have had a ranch to run all by ourselves.”

“But now your mother’s back.”

“Right. I have no idea what she has in mind. I can’t see her taking over again, but she might. With my mother, I never know.”

“You sound so thrilled.”

“Mother is... difficult. Now with CJ back too...” He shrugged.

“I still can’t believe he was at the ranch.

I knew he wouldn’t abide by any rules our mother set.

He never has.” He shook his head. “I’d hoped you wouldn’t have to meet either of them.

My mother can be worse than my sisters when it comes to butting into other people’s lives. ”

“You are so lucky to have so many people who care about you.”

Ryder didn’t look like he felt lucky. Their specials arrived, roast beef, green beans and mashed potatoes with brown gravy, a roll and banana cream pie for dessert.

Victoria couldn’t believe how hungry she was, even though she’d had that huge breakfast. Maybe it was the fresh air and exercise, or maybe it was being here with Ryder instead of her friends who were always watching their weight—and hers too.

She ate with abandon, looking up to find Ryder grinning at her.

She recognized that look in his eyes and wasn’t surprised when he said, “Want to go dancing after dinner? The Deacon Brown Blues Band should be startin’ up over at the bar by the time we finish.

It’s a band out of Wyoming. I was thinking we could make a night of it. ”

Victoria broke into a huge smile. “Saturday night in Powder Crossing. I want to experience it all with you.”

T hat was what Ryder was afraid of. Experiencing it all, as he later pulled Victoria into his arms on the dance floor at the bar. He worried about how hard his heart beat with her in his arms. At the café, he’d looked over at her and realized that he never wanted this night to end.

But it would end. Tomorrow. He wasn’t sure how she would get back to Billings.

Maybe he’d take her. He could imagine what Brand would say if he took off with Victoria tomorrow.

He tried not to think about it as they moved to the music.

Just as he tried not to think too hard about how she felt in his arms.

Maybe what worried him the most was that this woman who’d sneaked into his life had practically met his entire family even though he’d hoped she wouldn’t during her short stay. His family was going to make more of this than it was. She would be leaving tomorrow.

Maybe.

He assumed that her father would send someone for her.