Montana Welcome

by Melinda Curtis

  “How so?”

  Too late, he realized he’d been sharing tidbits. “Cutting horses I’ve trained. Mustangs, mostly.” Misfits like himself, if truth be told.

  I won’t be telling her that.

  Lily angled toward him in her seat, hugging her knees. “You train horses and work full-time for Big E?”

  “Not anymore.” The recollection of a rattling metal paddock rail against his back and sweaty horseflesh crushing his chest had him fighting off a cringe, the memory of pain and a real stab of fear. He thought he’d beaten that fear a long time ago. He thought he’d chalked it up to an amateur horse trainer’s mistake.

  She waited to hear more. He left her waiting.

  “I should go to bed,” she said finally, returning to that flat, small voice. “And tomorrow—”

  “We could look up some of your family’s phone numbers when we get to Vegas.” Pepper was bound to have skills in that department. She’d just graduated college and, being young, likely had a fancy phone. Those things came in handy sometimes, like when it came to saving bonuses. “You might feel better if you touch base with someone, like a sympathetic sister.”

  Even if one of her siblings was sympathetic, there’d most likely be an argument, one which hopefully strengthened Lily’s resolve to continue to Montana.

  Lily unfurled those long legs. “Face-to-face. Phone. Email.” She shook her head. “No matter the method, I know whoever I get in touch with, I’m not going to get a word in edgewise.”

  And they’d want her back in the safety of the family fold. There had to be some way to reach out without letting them influence her. This was bad. Conner could feel the bonus money slipping through his fingers.

  And then inspiration struck. “What about the good old US mail?”

  She stared at him blankly.

  “We could pick up a postcard. You remember your home address, don’t you?”

  “Yes, but...”

  Help me out here. “Instead of changing directions every few minutes, why don’t you stick to the road ahead?”

  “It’s tempting, but if I stay with you, I’ll only cause trouble.” She held her head high, but that didn’t mean she did so with confidence. “I’m good at causing trouble.”

  “I can take a little trouble.” Conner hoped that was true.

  * * *

  THE DAY AFTER she was supposed to be married, Lily sneaked a peek at Conner from behind her new pair of sunglasses, trying to figure out why he struck her as attractive.

  It’s the hat.

  Or that straight posture.

  Or the way his smiles are slow to build.

  Lily had spent the morning trying to figure it out. It was coming up on noon and the August sun was already heating Vegas to the extreme.

  She’d showered in the motor home at first light and they’d driven the rest of the way to Las Vegas, arriving just past 9:00 a.m. They’d ordered breakfast sandwiches and black coffee from a fast-food place. And then Conner had taken her shopping at an outlet mall. She’d filled a small suitcase with clothing, items without buttons or zippers. They’d found a postcard during their shopping trip—a picture of the Welcome to Las Vegas sign. She’d scribbled a brief note: Tell Danny he doesn’t have to watch out for me anymore. And Conner had stamped it and dropped it in a mailbox.

  When they’d left the mall, the back of her T-shirt had been damp before they’d reached the motor home. Now she had two vents blowing on her and it was barely enough to keep her cool. It didn’t help that Commando Cowboy was her driver.

  Maybe I’m attracted to the way he blushes—when I joked about his drawers, when I asked him to undress me, when I went into the underwear section of that store this morning.

  The enigma of Conner kept her mind off the sting of being a runaway bride. Mostly...

  She imagined Conner and her former fiancé standing together. Danny was handsome in that Southern California, military way. Great posture, tons of confidence, thick black hair. But he’d never made Lily’s heart stutter.

  Conner did that with one long, slow look. He wasn’t conventionally handsome. Some might have considered him too lean. Others might have said his face was too long. But when she looked at him, something fluttered in her chest. When she talked to him, something sparked in her veins. When he spoke, his deep voice soothed something within. And when he got angry on her behalf, as he’d done last night when she’d implied her fingers were an accepted liability by Rudy and Danny, that intensity took her breath.

  That was a lot of somethings. And added together they made her wonder: How would I feel if I kissed him?

  Which was completely inappropriate for a woman who’d been planning to get married to someone else twenty-four hours ago.

  “You’re awfully quiet this morning,” Conner noted. “Regrets?”

  “Of course.” Although each mile away from San Diego allowed her to breathe easier.

  He gave her a quick once-over. “Those regrets aren’t as bad as they were yesterday.”

  “Remind me not to play poker with you.”

  Conner chuckled. He turned into the parking lot of an apartment complex. A trio of those beige stucco places that blended into the landscape, be it desert or the suburbs.

  “I’ve forgotten. Which Blackwell are we picking up?” Had he told her? If he had, she’d been too distraught to remember.

  Conner brought the motor home to a halt in front of the last building and tooted the horn. “We’re taking Dorothy’s stepgranddaughter and her best friend to the Blackwell Ranch.”

  Lily unbuckled her seat belt. “Who’s Dorothy?”

  “Big E’s wife. His first wife. They were divorced for a long time before they remarried and there were a couple of marriages in between.” Conner put the motor home in Park, leaving the air conditioner on, and got out.

  Immediately, a gust of warm air embraced Lily as she followed him down the steps. Truth be told, her questions about her Blackwell family had been cast aside, given the fallout from her canceled wedding. “The reason for me being incognito becomes clear.” Dorothy might be sensitive about Big E’s sowing of wild oats. Gone was the relief that time and distance from her wedding had given her. “It’ll be awkward when Big E’s family finds out who I am.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” That was Conner, man of few words. He took a slip of paper from his pocket, checked the address and then stared at the apartment complex.

  “I should go back to California.” Her life was complicated enough without tap-dancing around Blackwell territory. Let Peyton unravel the secret of Thomas Blackwell. She enjoyed mysteries.

  “What happened to getting on with it?” Conner challenged her without even turning to look at her. “Don’t lose your nerve. I have a plan for you once we get to Montana.”

  Be still, my heart.

  If only I was in a space to be looking for a relationship.

  Duly chastised, she said, “Well, don’t keep it to yourself, cowboy. But please, don’t tell me your plan is to keep me far away from the family.”

  “Why, yes, ma’am. You’re a good guesser.”

  “That’s a totally sucky plan.” And it annoyed her that he called her ma’am. “Why did I agree to come?”

  “To give you time to reevaluate marriage without the pressure to get hitched?” He continued to study the apartment building. “To save you the embarrassment of facing all your wedding guests?”

  “I thought I was getting in touch with my roots.” Lily twisted her long hair over one shoulder. “Blackwells, buckboards and branding irons.”

  Conner rocked on his heels, causing his boots to creak. “That’s my ranch. Minus the Blackwells.”

  “Right.” It was upsetting to realize she was more interested in seeing the Rocking H than the Blackwell Ranch. Conner’s property seemed to have more cowboy street cred, while the Blac
kwell Ranch and its dude ranchiness sounded like an amusement park experience. She’d never take her clients there.

  A blonde and a brunette in dresses and sandals appeared on a high outdoor stairwell, giggling and wheeling large suitcases. Even three floors up, the amount of hair product and makeup was noticeable. Their poshness was intimidating to a woman like Lily, who didn’t normally wear makeup and had forgotten to purchase hair product at the truck stop. Her hair was as limp as a spent tulip.

  “Hello, Conner.” The brunette waved at them before heading down, luggage clattering. “Where’s Big E?”

  “He sends his regrets.” Conner walked over to meet them at the landing. “Never fear. We’re sticking to your itinerary. I have my orders.”

  The two women arrived and turned their luggage over to Conner, strolling toward the RV with the confident sway of the high-heel initiated. The brunette was compact. Her hair was long and thick, and fell to her shoulder blades with a soft wave. The blonde’s hair was thinner and curlier, which added dimension to her slight frame. Despite their heels, Lily towered over them both.

  “I’m Pepper.” The brunette practically wiggled with happiness as she approached Lily. “The bride.”

  Lily’s mouth went dry. Conner hadn’t warned her about this.

  Here was her deal breaker. A reason to return home.

  “And this is Natalie, my maid of honor.” Pepper eyed Lily and then squealed, throwing her arms around her. “Oh, my gosh! You must be Ken’s cousin.” She drew back to get a good look at Lily. “Ken said you might cancel and Big E promised he’d be at the airport when your plane landed today just in case. But...” She curled her shoulders inward and gave Lily the sweetest of smiles. “I’m blanking on your name. This is horrible. You’re my fiancé’s cousin and I... Can you forgive me?”

  “Yes,” Lily murmured, not daring to look at Conner. “I’m Lily.”

  “This is going to be so much fun.” Pepper hugged Lily a second time as if she was her long-lost cousin.

  Which in a way, I am.

  “A week with my bestie and my new cousin,” Pepper gushed. “I’m so glad we’ll get a chance to get to know each other before the rest of the wedding party shows up at the ranch on Thursday.”

  “Woop-woop,” Natalie chimed in, snapping her gum.

  Here was Lily’s chance to correct Pepper’s assumption. Conner knew it, as well. He stared at Lily, arching a brow.

  “You’re going to love my grandma Dot,” Pepper went on, climbing into the motor home. “She’s the best.”

  Grandma Dot. Dorothy. Big E’s wife.

  This was Lily’s ticket into the Blackwell inner circle. “I can’t wait to meet her. And, gosh, wouldn’t it be cool to surprise Ken in Montana?” As in, don’t tell Ken his nonexistent cousin Lily was along for the ride.

  Pepper clapped her hands. “Ken loves surprises!”

  “Gosh, Lily.” Conner went big on the sarcasm as he took Lily’s arm and drew her away from the motor home, boots creaking. “This is one of those leap-before-you-look moments. Best come up with a different cover story before any damage is done.”

  “You could have told me there’d be another bride on this trip.” Lily tugged her arm free. “Or what the itinerary was. I’ll make you a deal. If you come clean about whatever else you’re keeping from me, I’ll come clean with Pepper. Or at least tell her whatever lie you’d like me to use.”

  Conner scowled. Oh, he had secrets, all right. Juicy secrets, by the look of him.

  When he didn’t tell her what they were, Lily hurried up the motor-home steps, evading the Vegas heat and Conner.

  Pepper and Natalie sat at the dining room table, cell phones out. True best friends, their phone cases matched—rose gold with big chunks of glitter.

  “Did Ken fill you in on the details of our girls’ trip and the wedding?” Pepper wriggled like a puppy awaiting a treat. “We’re going full-on Western. Today we’re going to get outfitted like cowgirls and then we’re going to a shooting range that rents guns of the Old West. On the way to Montana, we’re stopping at an outdoor concert, a spa and a honky-tonk.” Pepper high-fived her maid of honor.

  “Woop-woop.” Natalie made duck lips and took a selfie.

  “It sounds like tons of fun.” Lily took her place in the passenger seat, turning sideways to face them. “What made you choose the Blackwell Ranch for your wedding? Does it have special significance for you?”

  Conner swooped past her to take the driver’s seat, whispering darkly, “Why don’t you just read Pepper her rights and shine a light in her face during your interrogation?”

  Lily shushed him, pressing her hand over his mouth and drawing it back just as quickly. Her fingers tingled from the touch.

  Conner faced the windshield, cheeks turning red.

  “Oh, my goodness.” Pepper flung herself into the conversation the way she seemed to fling herself at everything. “The Blackwell Ranch? It’s the wedding destination in the upper western states. I’m lucky Grandma Dot lives there because it has a two-year waiting list, even though it’s out in the sticks of Montana. I’ve dreamed of a Western-themed ceremony since I was eleven. And guess what? My bridesmaids and I are going to ride down the aisle! Isn’t that fabulous?”

  “Woop-woop,” Natalie said, but with less enthusiasm than before. She was preoccupied editing her selfie.

  “You’re going to ride in your wedding dress?” Now, that would be something to see.

  Pepper assured her that riding sidesaddle was as easy as pie. She’d apparently hired a riding coach for herself and her bridesmaids.

  “Our first stop is the Painted Pony Western Warehouse,” Conner announced with what sounded like false cheer. “Cowgirl duds for everyone, compliments of Big E, including you, Ken’s cousin.”

  Lily refused to be baited.

  “Can’t wait.” Pepper’s attention was caught by her phone. “You totally rock that blouse, Nat. Which filter is that? It makes your skin glow.”

  “Wow, Conner.” Lily couldn’t resist a poke at her escort now that the wedding party was distracted. “This is the second time you’ll have taken a woman clothes shopping in one day. What a hardship this job must be for you.”

  “Cowboys are trained to withstand the most trying conditions.” Still speaking in a testy tone of voice, Conner settled his cowboy hat more firmly on his head before putting the motor home into gear.

  “I think you meant the hot weather is trying,” Lily teased. “Women are never trying.”

  Pepper and Natalie’s high-pitched laughter filled the motor home.

  He came to a stop at the exit and gave Lily one of those deliberate looks that made her blood race. “Trying is being a chauffeur for the next three days, a tour guide for brides and—”

  “Point taken,” Lily said before he could reference runaway brides, raising a hand as if to cover his mouth once more.

  His eyes widened but he didn’t move an inch.

  What am I doing?

  Her hand fell to her side, but she couldn’t let go of the impression of his warm lips or endearing blush.

  Nearly two hours later, when Pepper and Natalie had finally found matching boots, jeans and Western tops, and Lily had given in to peer pressure and selected a pair of plain brown boots, Conner turned the motor home north, while Pepper and Natalie napped on Big E’s bed, worn out by shopping.

  “They’re just babies.” Lily shifted sideways in her seat, which allowed her a better view of Conner. “Pepper is younger than my sister Fiona. And she’s only been engaged since May, pursuant to her carefully constructed life plan.” Which involved being married to a mature man before she started dental school.

  “You’re going to fault her for being in love?” Oh, there was sarcasm in Conner’s voice, all right.

  “With the right guy? No.” But Pepper’s life plan felt more metho
dical than passion-driven. “You mentioned you were married?”

  “Guilty.”

  “And divorced?”

  “Also guilty.” His jaw set.

  “And that you took over the Rocking H when you were eighteen.” Holy smokes, that was young. “You married your high school sweetheart.”

  He flashed her a grimace that confirmed her theory.

  On a roll, Lily grinned. She did enjoy pushing his buttons. “You married your high school sweetie. That’s almost as cheesy as me marrying my childhood BFF.”

  “No, ma’am.” He waggled a finger her way. “I wasn’t coerced to the altar.”

  They’d had enough conversations about her situation. She wanted to know more about Conner. “You used to train horses on your ranch and now you work for the Blackwells.” Curiosity had her leaning forward, ready to hang on every word. “What happened?”

  “Nothing happened.” Conner’s lips pursed.

  “I don’t believe that. Did your ex leave and take your prize horse with her?”

  “No, ma’am.”

  Ma’am. The term was beginning to rankle. “Come on. You know practically everything about me.”

  He scoffed. “No, ma’am.”

  She drew herself up regally. “My name is Lily.”

  “Yes, ma—”

  “Lily,” she reiterated. “Now, back to you—Conner Hannah, horse trainer and ranch owner. You can’t just be Big E’s motor-home driver, ranch hand and... I’ve forgotten what else it is you do there.” It had been a long list.