Beneath Montana Skies

by Mia Ross

  “Now, Sally,” her husband said, “I’m sure Ty needs to get back to work.”

  “Perry’s covering for me, so I’m good.” He’d owe his old buddy big-time, but after the coup he’d just pulled off against the big, bad energy developers, he couldn’t care less. “If you’ve got pictures, I’ve got plenty of time.”

  Friday afternoon, Morgan was on the front porch playing Go Fish with Allie and Hannah when a delivery truck pulled into the driveway and continued on to the house. The driver held a small folder-style envelope in his hand as he approached them and stopped at the base of the steps.

  “Excuse me, ladies,” he said pleasantly, touching the brim of his company’s ball cap with a friendly smile. “I have a registered delivery for Morgan Whittaker. Is she around?”

  “That would be me,” she answered, setting her cards facedown on the table to meet him on the lawn. She noticed that the package had come from a bank in Helena, but she couldn’t imagine what might be inside. It definitely was addressed to her, so she tipped the driver and gave him directions to his next stop a few miles down the road.

  After he’d gone, she tamped down her curiosity long enough to lose four more hands of the game that Allie had an uncanny knack for. “You’re turning into a real expert at this. What’s your secret?”

  “I ask you for the cards you asked me for earlier.”

  “That’s really cool. How can you remember all those turns?” Hannah asked, clearly baffled by her twin’s stunning memory.

  “I just can.”

  That kind of laser focus was a feature of autism, Morgan knew. It was nice that among the many challenges Allie faced, there were some skills that came naturally to her. Morgan made a mental note to mention this development to Allie’s teacher when school started. Hopefully, they could use it to hone her abilities and help keep this special girl on the path to a good, fulfilling life.

  Once they were bored with beating her at cards, she took them inside for a snack and some art time. Summer vacation went by so fast, and it was nearly September. She loved her job, but there was nothing like spending long, lazy days with her daughters, laughing and playing with them. Childhood came around only once, and she’d gladly work until midnight if it meant she could spend the afternoon with her girls.

  While they munched and drew, she opened the cardboard sleeve and set the contents on the table. The pages were stapled onto an official-looking backer, and at first she didn’t understand what she was looking at. There was no letter of explanation, and a peek back inside the sleeve showed her it didn’t contain one.

  Interesting, she thought, turning her attention back to the document. It was a sales agreement for some land in the area, and she wondered if someone had donated it to the conservancy anonymously, to keep folks from discovering who they were. And then, she saw the line that explained it all, and her heart shot into her throat.

  “Undeveloped tract of land referenced herein is gifted to Morgan Jo Whittaker, in perpetuity, to use, preserve and protect for the remainder of her life, and thereafter, for the lives of her heirs.”

  Morgan was no lawyer, but she had enough knowledge of property grants to recognize that what she was holding in her hands was absolutely priceless. The location of the acreage in question registered with her immediately, and she took out her phone to call Ben.

  “Yellow,” he answered, punctuating his greeting with a grunt that told her he was still wrestling with the cranky antique baler out in the back hay field.

  “How’s it going?”

  “Slow and hot. What’s up?”

  “I need you to come in and keep an eye on the girls for a little while,” she explained. “I’ve got an errand to run, but I’ll trade you the time after dinner tonight.”

  “Not a chance, sis. Between the ranch and the conservancy, you’re doing enough already. I’m happy to get something to eat and hang out with Allie and Hannah till you come back.”

  Her youngest brother could be a royal pain in the neck when he wanted to be, but apparently this wasn’t one of those times. “Thanks, Ben. I really appreciate it.”

  “No problem. I’ll be there in ten.”

  He was true to his word, and after reminding her daughters to be good for him, Morgan got in her truck and headed for the Connors home. Like everyone else in town, she’d heard that they’d had an offer from Cartwright Energy, and she’d assumed they’d completed the sale to the developer. Finding out differently was an enormous surprise to her, and she wanted to thank them in person for helping to protect the unspoiled beauty of Mustang Ridge.

  When she arrived, the two were in the middle of eating an early dinner. They graciously interrupted their meal and welcomed her inside.

  “I’m sorry to disturb you,” she said, “but I just got a very special delivery and wanted to thank you in person.”

  “For what, dear?” Sally asked, frowning in confusion.

  When Morgan explained, Frank shook his head. “We sold the land to a private buyer, but we didn’t deed it to you. That was his doing.”

  “Frank,” his wife scolded in a whisper, slapping his arm with an oven mitt. “We were supposed to keep the details to ourselves. Remember?”

  Looking chagrined, he clamped his mouth shut as if that would help the situation.

  More confused than she’d been in a long time, Morgan glanced from one to the other, but neither of them said anything more. And then, in a flash of inspiration, it hit her.

  Ty.

  She didn’t want to put the sweet couple in the position of confirming her suspicions, so she opted to drop the subject. “Well, however it happened, on behalf of the conservancy, I still want to thank you for deciding to keep the land in private hands. I promise you we’ll use it for the benefit of everyone who lives here, whether they walk on two legs or four.”

  “Don’t forget the snakes and the fish,” Frank teased, obviously relieved to be let off the hook for blabbing.

  “We won’t,” she promised, giving them each a grateful hug. “Once word of this gets around, I’m sure we’ll be having a party to celebrate. If you don’t mind, I’d like to include you on the guest list.”

  They agreed, and she bid them goodbye before heading back to her truck. While she drove away, her eyes went across the swale that separated the Connors’ side yard from Ty’s. She still didn’t understand what was going on, and there was really only one way to find out. At the very least, she should call and thank him. He, more than anyone, knew that this piece of land was the buffer zone between possible development and the mustang herd she’d fought so hard to relocate. It didn’t take a genius to understand that he’d executed this clever end run around Cartwright Energy and their fancy lawyers for her.

  The big question was how?

  She knew the value of the Connors’ former parcel, and to her knowledge, he didn’t have anywhere near that kind of money. At the last minute, she yanked the steering wheel to the right and skidded into the gravel drive that led to his house. She wasn’t exactly anxious to see him again, but her father had taught her that some things were just better done in person.

  Stepping out of her 4x4, she heard the whine of a circular saw coming from his living room. She went up on the porch and waited for a break in the noise before knocking. When he saw her, he looked almost as shocked to see her as she was to be there. But she’d made her choice, and now there was nothing to be done except see it through.

  “Hey there, cowgirl.” His nonchalant greeting sounded a bit strained, but he strolled over to look at her through the screen. “What brings you onto this side o’ the fence?”

  He looked tired, and there was a wariness in those hazel eyes that made her feel sorry for him. He was expecting a dressing down, she realized, and in all honesty she couldn’t blame him. Their last conversation hadn’t ended well, and he had no reason to think this one would go any better.
“I wanted to talk to you, if you have time.”

  His eyes narrowed suspiciously. “What’d I do now?”

  “Something really sweet that I want to thank you for.”

  Understanding dawned, and he chuckled as he swung the door open. “Frank and Sally weren’t supposed to tell you about all that.”

  “Why not? It was a wonderful thing to do. I don’t know why you’d want to keep it a secret.”

  “Because it’s me,” he explained in a hesitant tone very unlike him, “and it’s you.”

  “And that makes it complicated?” He nodded, and she sighed. “Yeah, I get that. We never seem to do anything the easy way, do we?”

  That got her a look filled with a remorse so deep that she could almost feel it. “We used to. Then we grew up, and everything got tougher.”

  She couldn’t have debated that if she wanted to, and she hunted for something to fill the silence stretching out between them. Glancing around the dusty room, her eyes landed on something in the middle of it all. Or rather, something that was no longer in the middle of it all.

  Striding toward the fireplace, she stopped in front of it and picked up the only thing that was still displayed there: the framed print of Ty and her after competing at Cheyenne Frontier Days for the first time.

  Photo in hand, she slowly turned to face him. “Tyler, where are your trophies?”

  “Helena.”

  His jaw had tightened up the way it always did when he was hiding something, but this time she couldn’t bring herself to get angry at him for keeping the truth from her. Walking toward him, she stopped when they were almost toe-to-toe. “What are they doing there?”

  After a few moments, he rubbed his neck and gave her a sheepish look. “I sold them to a dealer so I could make the Connors a decent offer on that vacant land.”

  “Those were the last things you had from your rodeo career. Why on earth would you sell them?”

  “I’ve still got Clyde,” he corrected her, then tapped the frame with his finger. “And this. Besides, now there’s a lot less to dust.”

  She laughed, and after a moment, he joined her. “You’re not mad?”

  “Mad?” she echoed in disbelief. “I’m grateful, and touched that you’d do something this generous for me. What I don’t understand is that after the way we left things, why did you do it?”

  “Isn’t it obvious?” When she shook her head, he leaned in and kissed her cheek. Nosing along her jaw to her ear, he whispered, “I love you.”

  As he pulled back to give her one of those warm, lazy grins, she blinked up at him in astonishment. “You do?”

  “For most of my life.” Reeling her into his arms, he brushed a kiss over her lips that melted her heart on the spot. Resting his forehead against hers, he sighed. “Guess I just don’t know how to stop.”

  And in that moment, she knew why she’d been so out of sorts lately. Why every time she thought of him, it took everything in her not to break down and cry. Reaching up, she bracketed his tanned face in her hands and gave him her very best smile. “Then I guess we’re stuck with each other, because I don’t know how to stop loving you, either.”

  Drawing him in for another kiss, she reveled in the feeling of being in his arms again, safe and protected by a man who’d given up his most valued possessions to secure the future of her mustangs. Not for his own gain, but because he knew how much that motley crew of ponies meant to her.

  “Good to know,” he said, a mischievous grin working its way across his features. “Y’know, I just had a thought.”

  “Will I like it?”

  “Maybe. You know how you hate it when I call you MJ?”

  She had no idea where this was going, but she laughed and played along. “Yes.”

  “How ’bout if I come up with something else?”

  “That depends,” she teased. “What did you have in mind?”

  “Mrs. Tyler Wilkins.” Lifting an eyebrow in a questioning look, he grinned. “Whattya think?”

  Standing on tiptoe, she kissed him. “I think it’s perfect.”

  Epilogue

  Ties were really not his thing.

  But you wore one to a wedding, Ty reminded himself as he pulled the twisted knot loose and began again. Especially when you were the groom.

  A peek through the partially open door showed him that the small chapel was quickly filling with guests. He’d guess that more than a few were here to witness for themselves the minor miracle that was about to take place.

  Him married to Morgan Whittaker. He still couldn’t quite believe it himself. Recognizing that he hadn’t gotten here on his own, he glanced up and murmured, “Thanks for the help.”

  His parents had flown in for the occasion, and each had come separately to see him to offer their congratulations and an envelope with a nice-sized check inside. It wasn’t exactly warm and fuzzy family time, but he appreciated them making the effort all the same. Not to mention, the money would come in handy outfitting the room that Allie and Hannah had chosen to share when they moved into his bachelor pad. He was really glad he’d listened to Morgan’s ideas for rehabbing the place. At least he didn’t have to worry about her liking the decor in the home they’d all be living in.

  Somehow, he and Morgan had gotten past their troubles and made their own family, he mused. A few months ago, he never could have pictured that, and now his long-held wish had become reality. Sometimes it was so unbelievable, he had to convince himself he wasn’t dreaming.

  A knock on the door brought him back to the present, and he opened it to find his younger brother on the other side. Ty pulled him into a hug and then set him away with a playful shove. “Robby! Man, am I glad to see you. Last time I looked out front, you weren’t there. I was starting to think you got stuck in London on that business trip.”

  “I did, but I off-loaded some boring corporate junk and bolted. Sorry I’m late, but I had a stop to make on the way.”

  Without offering an explanation, he strolled back down the short hallway and disappeared around the corner. When he reappeared, he was pushing a wheelchair with their smiling grandfather as his passenger. Dressed in a crisp new suit, he waved at Ty. “There’s my rodeo champ. Robby tells me there’s a wedding today.”

  Of all the days for his grandfather to recognize him, none could have been more perfect. Ty swallowed around the lump that had formed in his throat and flashed his brother a grateful look. Kneeling beside the chair, he gave the frail man a gentle hug. “There is, and I’m so glad you could be here.”

  “I wouldn’t miss your wedding. Are you marrying Morgan Whittaker?”

  “Yes, sir, I am.”

  “Full of spit and vinegar, that one,” Grandpa announced. “I always did like her.”

  “Yeah, me, too. Mom and Dad are here, if you wanna say hello to them.”

  The lined face wrinkled in distaste. “I think I’ll sit with Robby. He doesn’t give me a headache.”

  “I hear you.” Standing, he gave his brother a grim look and murmured, “Dad wouldn’t bring him. Said he didn’t have time to drive over from the airport on his way here. I think it’s interesting that you came across the Atlantic and managed to make it work.”

  “That’s just him being lazy. Grandpa should be here, so I went to get him.” Robby grimaced, disapproval plain in his eyes.

  “It’s a good thing we’ve got each other.”

  “Don’t flatter yourself. When I get married, you’ll owe me one.”

  Ty hadn’t heard anything about a girlfriend being in the picture, so the offhand comment sparked his curiosity. “Should I be worried? Is another wedding coming up anytime soon?”

  “Not if I have anything to say about it, so you’re off the hook for a while.”

  Robby added a mischievous wink, which didn’t do anything to settle the matter one way or the other. Fortu
nately, Grandpa’s hearing was as sharp as it ever was.

  “Her name is Gretchen,” he said, clearly pleased to be included in Robby’s romantic secret. “She’s from Switzerland, and she’s very pretty.”

  “That’s the last time I tell you anything,” Robby grumbled, softening the threat with a good-natured look. “You liked her, didn’t you?”

  “You met her?” Ty asked.

  “On Robby’s fancy phone,” he replied proudly. “We videoed her this morning.”

  “Video chatted,” Romeo corrected him, chuckling at the misunderstanding. “She liked you, too.”

  “I don’t doubt that for a second,” Ty put in, shaking his head at their impromptu comedy routine. “You’re the one in the family with all the charm.”

  “Guess we got it from you,” Robby told him, patting his shoulder in a fond gesture that Ty completely understood.

  Their strained relationship with their parents had left them with a special bond to each other and their easygoing grandfather. It had always seemed easier to talk to him, because he accepted what they did or said at face value, rather than scolding them simply for being boys.

  All this reminiscing was tough on the nerves, Ty realized. It was a good thing he was only getting married once, because more than that would be more than he could take.

  “So, we’ll see you out there,” Robby said, tipping the chair back in a wheelie to do a neat spin in the middle of the hallway.

  “Don’t drop the ring,” Grandpa called over his shoulder.

  “I won’t,” Ty assured him, laughing as he watched them go.

  Once they were out of sight, he closed the door and got back to what he’d been doing when they showed up. He’d restarted the tie for the fourth time when Perry came through the door holding a thin wrapped box in his hand. He took one look at Ty and laughed before handing it over. “Morgan sent you this.”

  Grateful for the distraction, he tore away the paper and opened the box. Inside the neatly folded tissue was a classy burgundy tie that would look great with the navy suit he’d worn during their trip to Washington. It was still the only one he had, so coordinating with it had been easy for her to do. As he lifted out her gift, he realized it was only half a tie. Laughing, he held up the clip-on accessory for Perry to see. “She knows me pretty well, doesn’t she?”