Page 1 of Montana Groom of Convenience
Chapter 1
Bella Creek, Montana, 1891
They were dead! His plan had been to deliver his eight-year-old half-sister, Jill, to her mother’s cousin and her husband in Bella Creek. The local sheriff’s explanation that the couple had passed away several months ago brought a stop to that idea.
Twenty-three-year-old Sawyer Gallagher stared at Jill as she devoured her breakfast. He didn’t know the first thing about little girls, nor what they needed. He didn’t even have a home. For years, he’d wandered from place to place. Now, what was he supposed to do with his little sister? He couldn’t take her with him on a cattle drive or even if he got a job as a ranch hand. That sort of life wasn’t suitable for a young girl.
As he pondered his problem and how to solve it, the words of the conversation at a nearby table reached him.
“He’s going to sell the ranch.”
Sawyer angled his head to study the woman who spoke with such feeling. He couldn’t say if she expressed anger or pain. His position gave him a view of the woman’s profile. She leaned toward her friend, strands of straw blonde hair drifting about her face. The rest was in a loose braid hanging down her back. She wore a dark blue print dress.
His gaze went downward, and he grinned at the sight of a sturdy pair of cowboy boots peeking out from under her skirts. Both the boots and hem of her dress were caked with mud.
He returned his attention to the pair at the table. Her companion was also blonde, though much darker. And much neater.
“No! You can’t reason with him?”
“You do realize we’re talking about my father—the most stubborn Scotsman I’ve ever encountered.”
Her friend chuckled. “I dare say he’s the only one you’ve ever encountered.”
The girl shuddered. “Don’t care to meet another.” She leaned closer to her companion. “Do you know what he told me? I need a man to run the ranch now that he’s been injured. Doc says his leg won’t mend properly. Says he’ll never be able to use it like he used to. He can’t ride anymore. Can’t walk behind the plow. Can’t drive Big Harry.” With each item on the list, the gal’s voice grew more sorrowful, and her shoulders sank.
“I’m sorry to hear that. But, Carly, he’s never allowed you to work with the Clydesdale.”
She sat up straight. “I could.” Her shoulders sank again. “But he forbids me to do so. Says it takes a man.”
Amusement sparkled from the second woman. “So you’re out to find a man?”
Carly, as her friend called her, jerked forward. Her jaw jutted out. “That’s exactly what I’m going to do. I said I’d hire someone, but Father says only marriage will ensure stability, so I need to find someone to marry.” Her gaze circled the room, momentarily rested on Sawyer, lowered to Jill across from him, and returned to her companion.
Sawyer’s breath whooshed out. He had the feeling he’d just escaped disaster.
“You’d marry to save the ranch?”
Sawyer shared the speaker’s astonishment.
“Indeed, I would. Too bad your brothers are already married. You don’t happen to have some male, unmarried cousins I haven’t heard of?”
“I can’t believe you’re asking.”
“It’s not like I’m expecting love and romance. I only want a man to sign a piece of paper and pretend to be my husband.”
“Carly Morrison! Dismiss this notion at once. It’s folly. Better to pray God changes your father’s mind.”
“Might as well ask for the mountains to disappear.” Miss Morrison sank back.
“There’s always Billy Cameron.” The woman laughed.
Carly shuddered. “Please, I’m not that desperate. You can smell the man coming a mile away. I’ve been with Father to visit him. The man never washes his dishes. Just lets his dog lick them clean. Yuck.”
“Glad to hear you aren’t that desperate.” Her companion rose. “I must go. I’m going to ask Hugh to pray for you.”
“So long as you both pray I’ll find a husband.” She scowled. “Father has given me two weeks to do so.”
“That doesn’t even give you time to find a mail-order husband.” The friend pulled on her gloves. “I’m sorry, but it doesn’t sound very hopeful, does it?”
