Page 27 of Storm in Montana (Montana Becketts, Wild Spirit Ranch #3)

Sunlight glinted off the white-painted church boards, bright enough to make Brodie squint beneath the brim of his freshly brushed hat.

He stood near the steps, his dress boots polished to a brilliant shine, his best suit showing only the faintest wear at the cuffs.

Around him, Mystic’s citizens arrived in their Sunday finest, taking advantage of a beautiful, sunny day.

Pastor Ward stood at the church door, greeting his flock with warm handshakes and genuine smiles. His wife, Catherine, moved among the arriving families, her brown hair neat beneath her Sunday bonnet, helping mothers wrangle children up the steps and into the sanctuary.

Brodie’s heart picked up speed at the sound of approaching wagons. He recognized the distinctive creak of the Beckett family’s conveyance, the steady clip-clop of their horses. His fingers smoothed his lapels, though they needed no adjustment.

The Becketts arrived in force. Two wagons, carrying the women and baby Cody, and several riders on horseback.

Naomi sat beside Grayson and Jolene, who held their son in the lead wagon, while Elijah’s wife, Molly, Annalee, and Lily filled the second wagon, their voices carrying across the morning air in cheerful discourse.

Brodie’s gaze locked on Annalee.

She stopped the wagon and climbed down before he could offer help.

Her heavy coat was open, revealing a dove gray skirt and matching jacket, the material fine enough to catch the light as she moved.

Beneath it, a yellow blouse with delicate embroidered flowers drew the eye to her throat where a cameo pin caught the sunlight.

Her hair had been arranged in careful curves beneath her hat, though a few wayward strands escaped to dance in the morning breeze.

When she turned toward the church steps, her eyes found Brodie’s, as if drawn by some invisible force.

“Sheriff Gaines,” she said, her voice carrying a hint of playfulness. “You’re looking quite proper this morning.”

“Miss Beckett.” He offered his arm, his heart thundering against his ribs. “Might I escort you inside?”

Her hand settled in the crook of his elbow, warm even through the layers of clothing.

They climbed the steps together, accepting Pastor Ward’s greeting with polite nods.

Inside, the church glowed with morning light streaming through its simple windows, the wooden pews gleaming with years of careful polish.

They sat with the Beckett family, Brodie quite aware of Annalee’s presence beside him. The familiar scent of lilac water drifted from her hair, mixing with the church’s perpetual fragrance of beeswax candles and old hymnals.

Pastor Ward’s message focused on faith and perseverance, drawing parallels between Biblical trials and the challenges of frontier life.

Brodie heard the words as if through water, his attention repeatedly drawn to the woman beside him.

When the congregation stood to sing, Annalee’s clear voice rose above the others, straight and true as an arrow’s flight.

The service passed in a blur of hymns and prayers, punctuated by the rustle of Sunday clothes and the creak of wooden pews.

Brodie’s thoughts kept circling back to the small velvet pouch hidden in his desk drawer back at the sheriff’s office.

He’d purchased the ring weeks earlier in Bozeman, choosing a simple gold band.

Now it seemed to call to him across the distance, urging him to action.

As the final hymn faded and the congregation began to file out into the churchyard, Brodie turned to Annalee. “Would you do me the honor of joining me for lunch?”

A flash of regret crossed her features. “Oh, Brodie. We’re having a big family dinner at the ranch today. Mama’s been planning it for days. It’s a celebration of ending the wolf pack threat.”

“Of course,” he said, masking his disappointment with a polite nod. “Another time, perhaps.”

Annalee’s laugh caught him off guard, bright as spring water. “Brodie Gaines, you cannot possibly be this dense.” She laid her hand on his arm, her touch sending warmth through his whole body. “You’re coming to dinner with us. You’re practically family already.”

Her words hung in the air between them, full of promise. Around them, townsfolk and ranchers chatted, and children chased each other across the newly swept steps. Brodie saw only Annalee’s face, her eyes bright with something very much like love.

“I’d be honored,” he managed, his voice rough with emotion.

“Good.” She squeezed his arm once before releasing it. “Though you might want to change out of your Sunday best first. I’m certain my brothers will change to complete some chores Grayson mentioned at breakfast.”

The morning sun caught in her hair as she moved toward her family’s wagon, leaving Brodie standing in the church doorway with a smile he couldn’t have hidden if he’d tried. Perhaps, he thought, watching her go, today would be the day after all.

Afternoon sunlight streamed through the Beckett ranch house windows, turning everyday objects into works of art. The dining room table groaned beneath its burden of Sunday dishes, each one representing hours of loving preparation.

Naomi moved between kitchen and dining room, directing her daughters as if she were a general commanding troops.

Lilian and Molly arranged silverware with artistic precision, while Annalee carried in a platter of roasted chicken, its skin golden-brown and crackling.

The scents of sage, thyme, and rosemary filled the air, mingling with the sweet aroma of freshly baked bread and apple cake.

Brodie stood somewhat awkwardly in the parlor with the Beckett men, his church clothes exchanged for more comfortable attire.

Through the doorway, he caught glimpses of Annalee as she helped with the final dinner preparations.

She’d changed into a simpler dress of deep-blue cotton, her hair loosened from its formal arrangement into a more casual style.

“Dinner’s ready,” Naomi announced, and the family moved to their places with the comfortable familiarity of long practice.

The meal began with grace, Pastor Ward’s morning sermon still fresh in their minds as they bowed their heads.

Then the passing of dishes commenced, accompanied by the cheerful chaos of family conversation.

Roast beef and chicken shared space with mashed potatoes, cream gravy, green beans flecked with bacon, golden corn pudding, and rolls still warm from the oven.

“Pass the rolls this way,” Nathan called from his end of the table. “Before Joshua claims them all for himself.”

“I’m a growing boy,” Joshua protested with a grin, though he handed over the bowl.

“You stopped growing years ago,” Elijah pointed out, reaching for another piece of bread.

Brodie found himself seated beside Annalee again, their shoulders occasionally brushing as they reached for dishes or shifted in their chairs. Each accidental touch sent sparks through his nerve endings, making it hard to concentrate on his food.

“The chicken is wonderful,” he said, forcing himself to focus on something besides Annalee’s proximity.

“Annalee made it,” Naomi replied, a knowing glint in her eye. “She has quite a talent for cooking.”

The conversation flowed easily, punctuated by laughter and gentle teasing.

Grayson and Jolene shared news about their expected trip to Helena.

Parker talked about plans to gather wild mustangs from a valley north of the ranch, and Molly spoke of an assignment to photograph the mayor of Bozeman and his wife.

Through it all, Brodie felt the weight of the upcoming proposal in his chest.

When Lilian brought out the apple lump cake, its cinnamon-sugar topping glistening in the late afternoon light, Brodie knew it was time. When the cake had been sliced and passed around, he turned to Annalee, trying to keep his voice steady.

“Would you like to take a walk with me after dessert?”

She looked up from her cake, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “I’d love to.”

The rest of the family suddenly became very interested in their dessert, though Brodie caught several knowing looks exchanged around the table. Even Naomi seemed to be hiding a smile behind her napkin.

After the meal, they bundled up against the crisp air. Brodie offered Annalee his arm, and together they stepped out into the late afternoon light. Their boots punched through the packed snow as they made their way toward the barn.

“I heard you’re expecting another new foal,” Brodie said, his voice steady despite his racing heart.

“Cody thinks it will be within the next few days,” Annalee confirmed.

The barn door opened with a familiar creak, releasing the warm scents of hay and horses into the winter air.

Inside, the atmosphere shifted to something more intimate, more enclosed.

Shafts of sunlight pierced through gaps in the walls, creating pools of gold in the shadowy interior.

The horses moved in their stalls, nickering soft greetings at their approach.

In one of the larger stalls, a mare and her foal stood together, the colt’s spindly legs looking barely capable of supporting him. He peered at them with liquid brown eyes, curious but cautious.

“Annalee,” Brodie began, turning to face her. His carefully prepared speech dissolved in the face of her beauty, leaving only raw truth behind. “I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember.”

She drew in a sharp breath, her eyes widening.

“I love your courage,” he continued, taking her hands in his. “Your strength. The way you face every challenge without flinching.”

Tears gathered in Annalee’s eyes, but she didn’t look away.

“I know being a sheriff’s wife won’t be easy. There’ll be long nights and worried days. But I promise you, every moment we have together will be worth it. Every sunrise will find me grateful for another day with you.”

The horses shuffled in their stalls, their movements a gentle counterpoint to the racing of his heart. Brodie drew in a deep breath, squeezing Annalee’s hands gently.

“I want to build a life with you, Annalee Beckett. I want to face whatever comes our way together. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

Tears spilled down Annalee’s cheeks as she swiped at them with one hand, a brilliant smile breaking across her face like the sunrise. “I love you so much,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “Yes, Brodie. Yes, I will marry you.”

He pulled her close, kissing her with tender affection, their embrace witnessed only by the curious eyes of horses and one young colt.

Right there, surrounded by the familiar sounds and scents of the barn, Brodie felt more at home than he ever had in his life.

Everything he’d ever wanted, ever dreamed of, stood in his arms.

When they finally separated, Annalee’s eyes sparkled with both tears and laughter. “Mama’s going to be insufferable,” she said. “She’s been planning this for weeks.”

“Weeks?”

“Since the day I stepped off the train from Philadelphia.” She reached up to touch his face, her fingers tracing his jaw. “Though I’ve loved you much longer than you can imagine.”

Outside, they could hear the sounds of the ranch continuing its daily rhythm. Horses nickering, cattle lowing in the distance, and the familiar creaks of the barn settling around them. None of those mattered as they existed in their own world, where past and future met in one perfect present.

The colt moved closer to the stall door, stretching his neck to investigate these strange humans who’d invaded his domain. Annalee laughed, the sound pure joy, and Brodie knew with absolute certainty he’d made the right choice. This was where he belonged. This was home.