Page 76 of Montana Groom of Convenience
No point in worrying about what might have been.
Sawyer and Carly took care of their horses and then they went to the house.
“I made supper, thinking you might be back tonight,” Beth said.
Carly gave her a one-armed hug. The child had lost both parents, been treated poorly by a so-called stepfather, and had taken care of her two younger siblings until Logan and Sadie rescued them, and yet she remained cheerful and sweet.
Carly knew she must do the same and she could with God’s help. Like Mother used to say, ‘Disappointments can make us better, or we can allow them to make us bitter.’ To honor her mother, she would not be bitter.
The girls set the table while Carly washed off the dust of the trail.
Beth had made a meatloaf, carrots, and mashed potatoes.
“This is excellent. Thank you.” Carly said.
“It certainly is,” Sawyer added.
“Aye, I’ve been well taken care of while you were away.” Father’s smile of approval brought a pink stain to Beth’s cheeks.
“Jill helped me.”
The child beamed with adoration for the older girl.
As soon as the dishes were done, Carly said, “Good night. I’m tired.” Then she remembered Beth had been sleeping in her bed. “One of you girls can bunk with me.”
“I will,” Jill said. The girls followed her to the room, and Jill crawled in beside Carly, snuggling close. It left Beth crammed into the shorter bed, but she insisted she didn’t mind.
“Did you miss me?” Carly asked in a teasing tone.
“Granddad said things would change when you got back.”
“Change? How?” Did he intend to put Sawyer in charge and confine Carly to the house?
“He said you and Sawyer would be different after spending time together.” She giggled a little. “Said you’d be really truly married.”
It wasn’t about the ranch. But was his opinion about their marriage any more welcome? She took slow, deep breaths. Like Sawyer said, other people’s opinions didn’t matter.
Except this was Father, and his opinion mattered a great deal.
The next day, she said she was going to check onthe cows. They’d let the bulls rest a few days, then take them out to the herd.
Sawyer said he’d accompany her.
“I’ve been doing this without an escort for a long time.”
“But now you don’t have to.”
“Ack, daughter, let the man go with ye.”
She scowled at them both.
Sawyer simply smiled as if unconcerned with her attitude. He kept up the same cheerful spirit as they rode to the northwest in search of the cows. “’Tis a bonny day.” He imitated Father’s accent so well Carly laughed in spite of herself.
Sawyer continued to imitate Father, pointing out the ‘fair meadows,’ the ‘fine cattle,’ until Carly’s bad mood entirely vanished.
They found the cattle grazing near the creek. Sawyer glanced over them, then turned away. But he didn’t head toward home.
Carly followed. “Where are you going?”
