RILEY Men of Clifton Montana by Susan Fisher-Davis FINAL (1)

by Susan Fisher-Davis

  Riley gazed down at them. There were at least fifty of them in the pile. A blue ribbon encircled them. He flipped through them looking at the dates. The oldest postmark was from twenty-seven years ago. His hands shook. The most recent one was last year. He was suddenly having trouble breathing. His chest had tightened, feeling as if a hand was squeezing his heart. Feeling overwhelmed, he had to get out of here.

  Leaving the letters where they lay, he strode from the room, down the stairs and outside. Taking in huge gulps of air into his lungs as he leaned his hands on the porch rail, he hung his head. Jesus! Why had the old man kept those letters? And had tied them up neatly with a blue ribbon like some kind of keepsake, when Roscoe hadn’t even read them. Riley couldn’t help but wonder if there were any letters Roscoe had read. He raised his head when he heard a vehicle coming up the road. Kaitlyn.

  Standing at the top of the steps, he waited for her to pull up alongside his truck, and climbed out. She smiled at him when she met his gaze, but then frowned. Riley imagined he looked as if he’d just seen a ghost. Not knowing what to say as he watched her move toward him, she watched him with concern stopping at the bottom of the steps to stare up at him.

  “Riley? Are you all right?”

  Nodding, he tried to speak but no words came out so he cleared his throat. “Yeah. I’m all right.”

  “Really?” Kaitlyn’s voice dripped with sarcasm.

  Riley glared at her. “Yes. Really.”

  She snorted. “If you say so—”

  “I do say so.” Riley snapped at her then huffed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you.”

  Kaitlyn moved closer to him and placed her hand over his. “It’s okay. I’m sure going through the house hasn’t been easy for you.”

  “Come with me.” Reaching out, he took her hand in his then hesitated, and glanced to her vehicle. “Where’s Sadie?”

  “With Madilyn. Sadie loves Madilyn and her little boy, Cade.” Riley nodded.

  Pulling her through the house and leading her up the stairs, Riley led her to the bedroom and to the bed. He pointed to the letters. When she didn’t say anything, he turned to face her. Her eyes were glancing around the room.

  “Kaitlyn.” When she turned to look at him, he jerked his chin toward the bed. She let out a breath.

  “What are those?”

  “Letters.”

  “I know that. What I mean is who sent them? Where did you get them?”

  Riley sighed. “They fell out of one of the drawers when I emptied it. They’ve never been opened.”

  Kaitlyn reached for the pile of letters and thumbed through them. “This one is from last year.”

  “I know. They’re from as far back as twenty-seven years. A lifetime of letters unread and I have no idea why he’d keep them if he wasn’t going to read them.”

  “I wonder if there were any others he did read.” She handed the letters back to him.

  Riley nodded. “I thought about that too.” He glanced around the room. “I’m not sure if there are any more. I found these and had to…”

  “I understand. I can’t get over how this room looks.”

  Riley grunted. “It’s obvious he didn’t spend much time in here, except to put the letters in here.”

  “Are you going to read them?” Kaitlyn asked softly.

  “I don’t…” He exhaled. “I don’t know if I can.” Kaitlyn wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek against his chest. Riley hugged her to him. “I want you to read them,” he whispered.

  Kaitlyn gazed up at him. “Are you sure?”

  Nodding, he picked up the cluster of letters. “Yes, and if it’s something you think I should know, you can tell me. If it’s not, then keep it to yourself. I’ll never ask.” Riley placed the stack tied with a blue ribbon into her hands.

  Chapter Seven

  With Sadie sitting in her car seat babbling away, Kaitlyn drove home from work later that afternoon. In her purse on the passenger seat were the letters Riley had given her. She’d been tempted to open them the minute she got back to her shop but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Now, she wasn’t so sure about reading them. How could she read them and not want to tell Riley what was in them? Whether it was good or bad, how could she keep it from him? He trusted her to read them and know what might be important.

  Kaitlyn huffed, and then laughed when Sadie imitated her. Pulling up to her apartment complex, she parked. After getting Sadie out, the two of them went inside. Setting her purse on the hall table, she dropped her keys into the ceramic bowl. The letters could wait.

  Sadie let out a scream as she ran around the living room. Kaitlyn watched with amusement as her daughter ran around the back of the sofa, and then around the two overstuffed chairs. When she ran straight toward Kaitlyn with her arms outstretched, Kaitlyn reached down, and picked her up giving her a hug.

  “Riley, Mama?” Sadie asked.

  “Riley is busy, baby,” Kaitlyn told her.

  Sadie laid her head on Kaitlyn’s shoulder, and Kaitlyn felt a tremendous wave of emotion descend on her. How could a woman leave her child? She knew she never could. The thought of never seeing her daughter again made her heart break. Why had Riley’s mother left him behind? What possible reason could she have had to leave her little boy? Glancing over to her purse, she shook her head—dinner first. Carrying Sadie to the kitchen, she set her at the table while Kaitlyn fixed dinner. In all the time since her husband’s death, she hadn’t felt lonely but she missed Riley. She found herself wanting to call him and request he come over to spend the night with her. Hold her all night. He’d been so emotional after finding the letters that she wished he needed her—as much as she was beginning to need him.

  Three hours later, Kaitlyn sat on her bed staring at the pile of letters. Dinner was over and Sadie was asleep. The stack of envelopes lay on the bed staring back at her. Taking a deep breath, she reached for them and untied the ribbon. Where to start? Kaitlyn picked the oldest one from the pile and slowly opened it. She wasn’t sure what she thought was going to happen when she did, but she tensed up as she pulled the letter out, unfolded it, and began reading.

  Roscoe,

  It is well past time that you let me see Riley. I miss my baby. I want him to know me. You’re not being fair about this. I know you hate me but keeping my child from me is beyond that. You’re going to rot in hell one day, Roscoe and I look forward to that. Let me see my son! You know where I am.

  Barbara

  Kaitlyn sucked in a deep breath then blew it out. What had his mother done? Putting the letter back in its envelope, she picked up another one. This one had a date from ten years ago.

  Roscoe,

  I can’t believe you didn’t tell me Riley left! How could you do this to me? Where did he go? Where is my son? I had to find out from a friend that he left. I need to see him and explain why I haven’t been around. That’s your fault and not mine. Where did he go? I can’t afford to hire a private detective. Tell me where he is, Roscoe. Let this die between us. Tell me!

  Barbara

  Kaitlyn felt a tear roll down her face. As a mother, she couldn’t imagine the torment Barbara Madison went through separated from her son. How painful it must be for her never to see him. A son, she obviously loved. Kaitlyn couldn’t imagine never seeing Sadie again. The thought made her heart ache.

  Moving the letters aside, Kaitlyn strolled to the kitchen to get a drink. It was late but she wasn’t tired and the thought, of not reading more letters, never entered her mind. Going back to the bedroom, she sat in the center of the bed and picked up another one. Two hours later, Kaitlyn sat staring at the pile of letters. Tears were rolling down her cheeks. Barbara Madison had wanted her son. Kaitlyn knew she had to tell Riley.

  Glancing at the clock, she saw it was well past midnight but this couldn’t wait. Picking up her cell phone, she swallowed a sob of sadness and called him.

  “Hello?” His sexy vo
ice sounded raspy, making her wish he were here instead of on the other end of the phone.

  “It’s Kaitlyn. Did I wake you?”

  Riley grunted. “No. I can’t sleep. What are you still doing up?”

  “I-I…read them all.” Her voice choked as another sob threatened to bubble up from her chest.

  “All of them?” Riley sounded astonished.

  “I couldn’t put them down. There were fifty-five of them. I just couldn’t stop once I started,” Kaitlyn said in a quiet voice. “She loved you, Riley.”

  “I find that hard to believe, Katie.”

  falling asleep amidst the letters. Taking a deep breath, she wiped away more tears. “Come over tomorrow and we’ll go through them. You told me to let you know if there was anything you should know, and I think you should read these, Riley. It’s there…in her words.”

  His sigh came through the phone. “All right…I’ll be over after you get off work. Say, around six.”

  “Sounds good. Goodnight, Riley.” Hanging up, she lay back on the bed,

  ****

  Riley lay on the bed staring at the ceiling. The thoughts going through his head wouldn’t let him sleep. His brain had whirled with everything happening in his life right now. He’d thought about meeting up with Sam for dinner as they’d planned, but he wasn’t in the mood for a lecture from his friend about Kaitlyn. Wanting more than anything to talk to his old friend about the letters, he knew that wouldn’t happen because Sam would only have one thing on his mind so he’d called, and cancelled. Promising Sam that he wasn’t seeing his sister tonight, but that clearing out the house was taking a toll. Now Kaitlyn thought he should read the letters. As if his life wasn’t getting complicated enough but really, did he want to, what good could possibly come from it? Mentally, he shook his head feeling exhausted from it all.

  Rolling to his side, he stared at the digital clock, watching as the numbers changed. His eyes felt as if someone had filled them with sand. Riley rubbed his eyes then closed them. Morning would be here soon enough, he thought as he drifted off.

  The next morning, Riley continued cleaning out the house. However, he didn’t come across any more letters. Reaching for his phone, he called the thrift store to find out about donating the clothing and furniture, as he wanted none of it. His gaze fell on the rocking chair in the corner of the master bedroom. Should he keep it? Riley shook his head. No. He’d donate it too, unless Kaitlyn might want it. Since the thrift store was sending a truck soon, he called Kaitlyn to make sure, before it was loaded up with the rest of the furniture.

  “Katie’s Florist and Greenhouse,” a feminine voice answered.

  “Is Kaitlyn in?” Riley asked.

  “May I ask whose calling?”

  “Riley Madison.”

  “Oh hi Riley, it’s Madilyn. I’ll get her for you.”

  “Thanks, Madilyn.” Riley liked Madilyn, another beautiful woman that one of his old friends was lucky enough to win as a wife.

  A few minutes later, Kaitlyn came on the line. “Hi Riley, what’s up?”

  His heart slammed against his ribcage just hearing her voice. “Hey. I called the thrift shop about the furniture but I wanted to ask you first, if you wanted any of it—maybe the rocking chair in the bedroom?”

  “I would love it. Are you sure?”

  Riley cleared his throat. God! He loved listening to her voice, and thinking of her whispering in his ear was making his cock take notice. “Yes. I’ll bring it tonight when I come over. Anything else you’d like?”

  “Just you,” Kaitlyn whispered in his ear.

  Shit! Oh yeah, it was hard as a rock now. “I’ll be there at six, sweetheart.”

  “I’ll make dinner so don’t eat.” Kaitlyn paused but only for a heartbeat. “Breakfast too.”

  A groan escaped his throat. “How am I supposed to work the rest of the day thinking about that?”

  Her soft laughter came over the line. “Same here…if I have to suffer, so do you.”

  Riley chuckled. “Payback’s a bitch, darlin’.” Hanging up, he wondered about what he was getting himself into with her.

  The truck from the thrift store had arrived. Two men climbed down from the cab, and shook Riley’s hand when he greeted them then he showed them where the furniture was with instructions to leave the rocking chair. Riley watched as they carried the furniture out and loaded it on the truck then they brought out boxes of clothing and other items. Everything was going but he wanted to make sure they left the rocking chair. Riley had already taken the jewelry box to the cabin for safekeeping. When he was ready, he’d go through it but he wasn’t looking forward to doing so.

  Once the truck pulled away, Riley walked through the house. It now sat empty. Any too old to recycle, broken, and decrepit pieces of furniture sat stacked in a pile in a nearby open area just needing a match set to it. Anything that could be recycled sat in bins waiting for pick up. Riley strode outside, lighter in hand, struck a flame, and set the furniture ablaze. Standing back, he watched as it burned. A tremendous weight seemed to lift from his shoulders as the flames reached high into the sky.

  While the fire burned down, Riley relaxed nearby watching things as old and broken as his father, turn to ash. When he was sure the fire was out, he loaded the rocking chair into the bed of the truck then headed for the cabin. In need of a shower since he now reeked of smoke as well as sweat and dirt, he stripped out of his dirty clothes and let the hot water rush over him. It had been a long day. After showering, he sat down on the couch to relax a while before he went to see Kaitlyn.

  Thinking about the night ahead made him smile. Being with Kaitlyn and Sadie seemed to brighten his mood even when he thought it couldn’t be. Sitting in the living room mindlessly watching whatever inane show was on the television, he felt more relaxed than he had since getting to Clifton. All of a sudden someone pounded on his door. Getting up, he walked to the window and gazed out, then swore when he saw Sam’s SUV cruiser parked out front. Taking a deep breath, he knew he might have escaped this inevitable conversation the night before but he was about to experience it now. He opened the door and Sam strode in past him.

  “Well, come on in, Sam,” Riley said sarcastically even as an obviously angry Sam spun around to face him.

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing, Riley?” Sam growled.

  “I was watching television.” He stood stock still when Sam moved to stand nearly toe to toe with him.

  “Don’t be a smartass. You know damn good and well what I mean. Katie.”

  Riley blew out a breath. “We’re seeing each other.”

  “Why?” Sam demanded.

  Shoving the door closed, Riley moved toward the sofa. He ran his hand through his hair. “Hell, Sam. She’s a beautiful woman.”

  “She’s my sister,” Sam said through clenched teeth.

  “Yes, she is but she’s also a grown woman, and old enough to make her own decisions.”

  “You’re going to hurt her.”

  Riley shook his head. “No—”

  “The hell you won’t,” Sam roared. “You have no plans of staying here in Clifton and when the day comes that you leave, you’ll hurt her, and it’s not just her. Sadie will be hurt too. You don’t do relationships…remember?”

  “I don’t know what I’m going to do yet,” Riley yelled back.

  “That’s supposed to make me feel better?” Sam glared at him. “If I see one tear in her eyes because of you, I will kick your ass. I’ve always been able to and nothing’s changed.” Moving past Riley toward the door, he didn’t try to avoid hitting shoulders with him and Riley knew he’d done it on purpose, but let it go. Opening the door, Sam glanced over his shoulder at him. “We’re friends, but you’ll have me to deal with if you hurt her.” He slammed the door behind him as he left.

  Riley muttered under his breath. Shit! He’d known from the start it was a bad idea getting involved with Kaitlyn, but he couldn’t
help himself. Besides being gorgeous, he couldn’t help wanting her, like no other woman he’d ever met. Running his fingers through his still damp hair, he fell back on the sofa and thought about what Sam had said, and he was right. Riley knew he was going to hurt Kaitlyn, and Sadie. The day would come soon enough when he would leave since he’d never intended on staying, and there was nothing to keep him here—except Kaitlyn and Sadie. Their beautiful faces filled his mind’s eye and he smiled thinking of the little girl who liked to squeeze his nose. Riley ran his hand down his face wishing things could be different, but there was just no way he could stay here with the bad memories that continued to haunt him. Would Kaitlyn be willing to leave with him?

  Whoa! Where in the hell had that idea come from? That was crazy. Her life was here. Her family and her business were here in Clifton. What could he promise her anyway? Riley knew without a doubt Sam could kick his ass and he didn’t want that. They may be close to the same height and build but Sam had more muscle mass. Riley stayed in shape but Sam was one big man. But more importantly, he didn’t want to hurt Kaitlyn.

  “Shit,” he yelled.

  What was he supposed to do? The thought of never seeing Kaitlyn and Sadie again had his gut aching. Riley swore as he paced around the cabin. Strolling out the patio doors, he gazed at the woods behind the cabin. The house that he planned on building on the old man’s ranch would have a view like this from the master bedroom, but it would also have a beautiful view of the Glaciers. Riley remembered sitting in the barn staring at those gorgeous mountains. They’d given him peace, until the old man caught him sitting there staring at them and he’d raised holy hell with him for not doing any chores. The memory spoiled the beauty.