Page 40 of Montana Groom of Convenience
Sawyer said nothing. She could only conclude that he didn’t see that this provided the answer for them.
“Jill will be okay here with them. But even better, she can come with us. It will give her a chance to see the rest of her new home.”
This most certainly was not whatSawyer had expected. No. He’d thought to replace Jill’s mom. Judith would be teaching Jill to bake cookies or sew a hem or make a cake or something. He recalled the times he’d visited and had seen Jill standing on a stool at the cupboard, helping her mother with whatever there was to do.
When he agreed to this marriage contract with Carly, he had no idea what she had in mind...and that it was vastly different from what was in his mind. Carly confused him. She was a good cook. The house was clean and tidy. But she was determined to run the ranch. It wasn’t that he was opposed to a woman riding after cows. There had been a woman on one of the trail drives he was on—the trail boss’s daughter. She was as good as any man in the outfit. No, what he was concerned about was what was best for Jill. He mulled over the question.
Jill had donned trousers again this morning, giving him a look of such defiance he’d chomped off any comment. She seemed to like Mr. Morrison fine. And then it hit him. Jill would resent any attempt to make her think of Carly as a replacement for her mother. Perhaps seeing Carly out on the range would make it possible for her to accept a friendship between them.
“Fine, if she wants to go with us, she can.”
Before he finished the sentence, Carly had gone to speak to Jill. “Jill, we’re going to ride out and check on the cows. I have a horse for you if you want to join us.”
Jill’s eyes brightened, and then she banked back her reaction and looked at Sawyer, perhaps wondering if he’d contradict Carly.
“Do you want to come?” he asked.
She looked from the two old men at the table to Carly and then again to Sawyer. She rumbled her lips. “I suppose I might as well.”
Carly chuckled. “Your enthusiasm is overwhelming, Jill. Come along. You can help me saddle up.”
Sawyer followed them to the barn, where Carly handed Jill a saddle blanket and took her to the little roan mare. “Meet Daisy. She was my horse before I trained Sunny. She’ll be glad for someone to ride her again. I’ll get a saddle while you put on the blanket.”
Jill looked surprised. Sawyer guessed she’d never before saddled her own mount, but she sucked in air and hid her uncertainty. By the time she’d adjusted the saddle blanket, Carly was back with a small saddle. As she put it in place, she talked, explaining to Jill how to do it.
Sawyer stood back and watched, enjoying the patient way Carly explained things and how Jill did her best to follow instructions. Perhaps taking the child away from the house might prove to be a good idea.
Carly reached for her horse, and Jill did the same with Daisy. Sawyer followed with his mount. After listening to Carly talk about Daisy, he felt he needed to introduce his horse. “This is Dusty. I’ve had him for three years.”
Well, it wasn’t much but he didn’t feel like going into details about how he’d chosen and bought the horse. Besides, it wasn’t interesting. Just a careful business deal. He saw the dark bay horse, liked his size, andhe was for sale. The horse had proven to have heart. His head jerked back as he realized he’d never before admitted any sense of gratitude or appreciation for the horse. A horse was just a horse.
Seeing Carly’s open affection for her animals made him want to tell Dusty what a fine and loyal friend the horse was to Sawyer. Sawyer shook his head. When had he ever been so...so...absurd?
Carly cupped her hands to help Jill mount.
Sawyer swung to his saddle, and the three of them rode from the yard. Carly stayed close to Jill, quietly offering instructions. They kept to a walk as they rode north.
Carly indicated they should veer to the right and led them toward the river. She raised her voice, addressing both of them. “I like to go to the river. It changes every day. It should be flowing briskly now with the spring thaw. It will rise later when the snow in the mountains melts.” She led the way through the cottonwoods, heavy with their white cotton. Jill followed with Sawyer at the rear.
They drew to a halt by the rumbling waters. The air was filled with the scent of fresh green on the trees and the mushroomy smell of old leaves on the ground.
He arrived to see a duck fly away, squawking protests over the intrusion. A ring of rocks and ashes indicated someone had camped there in the past. “You have people staying here often?”
She shifted to study the cold fire pit. “Annie and I used to camp here, but now that she’s married, she doesn’t have time.”
Jill eyed the place. “I could stay here.”
Sawyer held his peace. An eight-year-old child could not stay out on her own.
Carly studied Jill. “You and I could spend a night here. I’d like that.” She left it at that, not pushing Jill, but as they left the spot, Sawyer noticed that Jill looked back with longing in her face.
They rode onward, climbing rolling hills. Carly pointed out landmarks and gave a history of the area. Sawyer was fascinated with her enthusiasm. “You love the land,” he pointed out after a bit.
She moved to his side. “I’ll do anything to keep it.” She reined away, urging her horse into a gallop. She didn’t slow until she reached the top of the nearby hill, then she dismounted and waited for Sawyer and Jill to catch up.
He swung to the ground and helped Jill down. The girl ran to examine the nearby rocks and pocketed a couple. Seeing her do something he’d also done as a child filled him with fondness for his little sister.
“From here, you can see the northern boundary of your land.” Carly pointed it out. “You can see the river winding to the east.” She sat down on the grassy slope.
