Page 75 of Montana Groom of Convenience
He told of getting special treats and being invited into the house to test fresh cookies. Sitting next to the boss lady on the sofa as she read to him and taught him school lessons. “She was a schoolteacher before she married the boss man.”
They had stayed throughout the summer. “The cabin was warm and comfortable. I spent time every day at the main house. The missus took care of me in many ways. I think she saw how hurt and lonely I was and went out of her way to help me. She doled out hugs freely.” He paused as his throat tightened. “It was thelongest we stayed in one place, and I let myself think Pa had decided to settle down.”
It took a moment before he could go on, and Carly waited, letting him take all the time he needed, drawing strength from her touch.
“Then, one morning, he said we were moving on. I’ll never forget the day. There was a cold wind carrying pellets of snow. They stung my skin. I turned my face into the wind, welcoming the discomfort. ‘I’m not going,’ I said. ‘I’ll stay here.’ I ran up to the house and barged in. The missus looked up as I ran into the kitchen. ‘Pa’s leaving, and I don’t want to go,’ I blurted out. ‘Can I stay with you?’ She gave a sad look. ‘I wish you could, but you must go with your father.’ When she tried to hug me goodbye, I pushed her away.”
He relived that moment. The bitter disappointment. “That’s when I promised myself I would never let myself care about anyone.” He’d kept that vow until now. Maybe he should continue to keep it.
But it was too late. He’d already begun to care.
Did he want to retract his earlier decision to show his feelings toward her? Could he if he tried?
Chapter 15
Carly 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 asgood 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?
