A Bandit Creek Miracle

by Brenda Sinclair

  “Jeremy, introduce me to this lovely young lady.”

  Amanda swung around and came face-to-face with the family patriarch. Jeremy’s father stood at least six foot four, broad shoulders and slim build, craggy features, white hair, but still as handsome as his sons. He reminded her of a veteran western movie star, but his name escaped her at the moment.

  “Dad, I’d like you to meet Amanda Bailey. Amanda, this is my father, Arthur Branigan.” Jeremy dug a beer out of the commercial-sized refrigerator, popped the tab, and leaned against the kitchen island. He stole a pickle off a dish and took a bite.

  “I’m pleased to meet such a delightful young woman. Catherine’s told us a lot about you. I see you’re as beautiful as you are gifted in the field of banking.” Arthur smiled and extended a tanned, wrinkled hand.

  “Goodness, I see where Jeremy learned how to flatter women.” Amanda laughed and shook Arthur’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.”

  A petite brunette with unmistakable big brown Branigan eyes stepped forward. “Hi, Amanda. I’m Shannon, Jeremy’s sister. And this is my husband Mark Rogers. We operate the Lazy B Guest Ranch. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  “It’s nice meeting you, too, Shannon and Mark. We drove by the guest ranch main lodge during the tour. I bet it will keep you hopping in a few weeks from now.” Amanda sipped her orange juice. No one remarked that she wasn’t drinking alcohol. Did the entire family know she was pregnant? Shannon was drinking beer, so no babies on the way there.

  “Oh boy, that’s the truth! But we absolutely love it.” Shannon finished her beer and set the empty on the island counter. Jeremy reached for another pickle and she slapped his hand.

  “Shannon and Mark reserve one week every year for families with disabled children.” Catherine smiled at her sister-in-law. “They open up the ranch facilities for free and provide those children with memories they’ll cherish forever.”

  “What a wonderful idea! And how generous!” Amanda smiled. “Do you finance the week with corporate sponsorships? My brother’s insurance company might donate to something like that. A couple of his employees have children with physical disabilities.”

  Rosalie rushed around the island. “Dinner is ready. Everybody scoot so I can start serving before the food gets cold.” She made a shooing motion with her hands, and the entire family headed into the dining room like children obeying without complaint.

  “Since my wife died, that old hen rules the roost.” Arthur winked at Amanda. “But she’s the best cook within a hundred miles, and she’s worked here for thirty years. She refuses to retire, and I’d be crazy to hire anyone else. So when she yells scoot, we skedaddle.”

  Amanda chuckled and followed the family into the dining room. Arthur arranged everyone around the table to his liking, seating her beside Jeremy. Big surprise. She suspected Arthur intended to keep an eye on her and judge how she interacted with his son. Did he know about her pregnancy? Regardless, she felt quite welcome in the Branigan home, and she planned to enjoy her first home-cooked meal in ages.

  The prime rib dinner with all the trimmings tasted wonderful, and the time sped by with pleasant conversation and frequent bouts of teasing among the three siblings. David, Jeremy and Shannon’s love for each other and their spouses shone through the playful banter. One big happy family, thought Amanda. Country living seemed too foreign compared to her life in the city, and she couldn’t imagine three generations and housekeeping staff co-existing under one roof. She just couldn’t visualize herself and her baby in this rural lifestyle.

  When the twins woke up and howled in unison, summoning their mother from the dining room, the family broke off into groups for drinks or coffee. Arthur touched Amanda’s arm and guided her into the hallway. “Come with me into my study. I’d like a private word for a minute.”

  “Sure, Mr. Branigan.” Amanda followed obediently, but her knees shook slightly. Why did this dinner together feel like meeting the in-laws for the first time? Impossible, she thought. Big city life and the promotion to manager of her own branch meant everything to her.

  Arthur stood beside his massive mahogany desk, hands on hips. “Jeremy informs me that you’re carrying my grandchild. That child is a Branigan and should be raised as a Branigan. But if you intend to abort that baby or give it up for adoption, we’re going to butt heads, young lady.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  “I would never abort this baby! Didn’t Jeremy tell you about the cancer? I’m not adopting this child out to strangers either, and that includes you. I’ll raise the baby myself, and I resent your browbeating me.” Amanda stood, hands fisted at her sides. “And you can forget visitation rights or shared custody.”

  “What’s going on in here?” Jeremy stood in the doorway to the study listening to the heated exchange. He glanced at Amanda, and then met his father’s eyes.

  “He’s concerned I’ll get an abortion, and he’s insisting my child be raised as a Branigan. Well, that’s never going to happen. I’m perfectly capable of raising this baby alone.” Amanda stomped out of the room.

  Jeremy headed toward the door she’d just slammed on her way out.

  “Son, step up the courting. Get that woman to the altar, and get her there fast!” Arthur slumped into his chair.

  “Dammit, Dad! You had to interfere in this? Why couldn’t you just let me handle it?” Jeremy strode out of the room and slammed the door again.

  By the time he reached the veranda, he could only watch as Amanda’s car screeched around the curved driveway and then headed toward town. How do you court a woman, he thought, who probably hates the sight of you, and your family?

  ****

  For the past week, Amanda had read every word on every loan document that crossed her desk before signing it. She double checked phone numbers, addresses, and references. Nothing suspicious turned up.

  She considered discussing her findings with Catherine, but she held off, not wanting to bother her while she was so preoccupied with the twins. After a quick call to Susan Sanders, she decided to keep the matter just between them. Susan promised she would be arriving on the 9th. But failing to divulge her suspicions to Catherine bordered on disloyalty in Amanda’s mind. She couldn’t dwell on that now, however.

  She had a date.

  Jeremy called her at the bank this morning and invited her to a nice dinner out. She hesitated in accepting but awarded him points for extending the invitation. After all, she’d locked horns with his father, not him. The second she voiced her acceptance, Jeremy informed her he’d pick her up at the hotel at seven, and promptly hung up before she could change her mind.

  She hadn’t a clue what ‘a nice dinner’ meant. Were they taking the ranch helicopter to Missoula with David and Catherine? Or driving there? Was a special offered at Ma’s Kitchen tonight? To be on the safe side, she wore a black cocktail dress, black pumps, diamond studs and a gold bracelet. She grabbed her beaded black evening bag and wool coat and headed down to the main floor to meet Jeremy.

  They dined at the Grey Rose Restaurant. Amanda had walked by the eatery a dozen times and never really noticed it. Who knew such a lovely restaurant sat kitty corner to the Powder Horn Saloon? After a delicious dinner and pleasant conversation, Amanda suggested they return to the hotel for a nightcap. She’d meant in the hotel lounge, but Jeremy interpreted the suggestion as an invitation up to her room. She’d fought to keep her eyes open for an hour, pregnancy fatigue really played havoc with her system.

  “Okay, I’d like to put my feet up anyway.”

  As soon as they entered Room 303, Jeremy slipped out of his coat, his Stetson, and suit jacket. He loosened his tie and opened the top two buttons on his white shirt. Amanda slipped out of her coat, hung it and Jeremy’s coat in the closet. She kicked off her pumps beside the desk as she rolled her shoulders and strolled across the room.

  “I enjoyed dinner and the drive around town. That beautifully lit evergreen in the park takes my breath away every time I see i
t.” Amanda settled herself on the loveseat. She sighed, content, and thankful she’d accepted his invitation. Conversation flowed easily with him, and she loved spending time with the charismatic cowboy.

  Jeremy popped the tabs on the sodas he bought in the hallway vending machine and poured the contents into two glasses. “Do you want ice in your drink?” He glanced toward her. “God, you look cute, sitting there with your legs drawn up beside you. You look tired though. Is makeup hiding dark circles under those beautiful eyes?”

  “Yes to the ice, please. And I’m not discussing makeup secrets with you.” Amanda attempted to stifle a yawn but failed miserably. Had she just proven his point? Lately, she often fell into bed by nine o’clock and drifted off to sleep in a few seconds. The bedside alarm clock indicated it was ten minutes past ten.

  “If you’re tired, I can leave.” Jeremy handed her a glass.

  “Don’t be silly. Finish your soda. I’m fine.” Amanda took a sip and then wiggled her toes and rubbed the ball of one foot.

  Jeremy sat down beside her and then set his drink on the side table. “I’ve been told I give wonderful foot massages.”

  “Really?” Amanda raised one eyebrow.

  “Whenever David worked out of town, Catherine volunteered me for foot massage duty during her pregnancy.” Jeremy grinned. “Catherine admitted I’m better, but she has me sworn to secrecy, by the way. Will you give me your foot?”

  Amanda didn’t have to be asked twice. One foot massage led to another. She had two feet after all. But the foot massage led to snuggling, which led to kissing, which led to touching. Before Amanda knew it, they were both naked and making love in her bed. Again!

  He stole her breath. She’d never experienced such a precious connection with another human being. Their bodies melded perfectly. Had God custom-made him just for her? She’d never believed in what she’d considered a nonsensical notion before. But she’d never known Jeremy Branigan before either.

  Jeremy kissed her goodbye, slipped out of bed, quickly dressed, and left shortly after midnight. He’d touched her and made love to her so tenderly, their time together tonight had been even better than the first.

  Her growing feelings for Jeremy scared her most of all. Could she be falling in love with him? Thoroughly sated, totally exhausted, Amanda couldn’t comprehend how she felt, and she fell into a deep restful sleep.

  ****

  Jeremy snuck into the Branigan mansion just shy of one o’clock in the morning, and his heart almost stopped when Arthur Branigan strode into the hallway. “Jesus, you scared the crap out of me! You’re still up, Dad?”

  “How did your date go? Are you having any success at convincing this woman to marry you? To give my grandchild a name?” Arthur glared at his son. “I hope you’re taking the whole matter seriously.”

  “I’m working on it, okay?” Jeremy headed toward the staircase.

  “Work faster.” Arthur followed his son up the stairs.

  Jeremy closed his bedroom door and stood in the dark for a moment. He flipped the switch and blinked in the bright light before crossing the room and flopping onto the bed. And then he smiled as he recalled lying beside Amanda in her bed a few minutes ago. He’d hated having to leave her and drive home.

  While he peeled off his suit, shirt and tie for the second time tonight, he played Amanda’s words over again in his mind when she’d verbally stood up to his father the other night. She’s a spunky gal, he thought, defending herself and laying down the law to his old man. He couldn’t be more proud of her. Jeremy scratched his head. His father had pushed for a relationship, but Jeremy had pursued Amanda for his own reasons, not to follow orders. The woman fascinated him, kind-hearted and affectionate, serious business by day and fun-loving by night.

  It might not be that difficult to fall in love with her, he thought, but what was Amanda thinking? Would she turn down any suggestion of a relationship? Did she intend to raise the baby alone, period? Would her small town aversion prevent anything permanent developing between them? He’d never move to the city, and he doubted she’d ever consent to life on a ranch. The situation seemed doomed from the get go.

  But Jeremy smiled as he crawled between the sheets. “Nothing I love more than a challenge.”

  ****

  Ten days later, Amanda received a printed invitation, signed ‘The Branigans’, inviting her to the Lazy B Ranch on Saturday. Recalling her last visit there, she tossed the note in the garbage. But she hadn’t seen Catherine and the babies since she stormed out of the house following her argument with Arthur. All week long, she wavered between accepting and leaving the note in the garbage.

  On Friday evening, her cell phone rang while she was painting her toenails in her hotel room and she absently picked it up. “Amanda Bailey, how may I help you?” she asked, remembering too late that she wasn’t at work.

  “Amanda, it’s me.”

  She recognized the voice and smiled. “Catherine, how are you?”

  “I’m fine. I’m calling to see if you’re coming to the party tomorrow.”

  “I’m sorry, Catherine, but I don’t think I’ll attend.”

  “Arthur feels terrible about what happened after dinner last time you were here. Jeremy really laid into him for poking his nose in where it wasn’t appreciated.” Catherine sighed. “Just think about it okay? I’d love to see you, and the babies miss you.”

  Amanda laughed. “The twins told you they missed me, did they? I’ll consider the invitation, but I can’t make any promises.”

  Amanda spent the remainder of the night watching TV and reading a romance novel. She wasn’t into astrology, but all the planets must be perfectly aligned or something. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so relaxed and at peace.

  Just as she was climbing into bed at ten o’clock, her cell rang. It was Jeremy. “How about coming to the party? I’ll even pick you up around two o’clock. I can assure you there won’t be a repeat performance by my dad. Please come or Catherine will banish me to the bunkhouse if you don’t spend the day with her and the twins.”

  Amanda visualized Jeremy dragging himself out to the bunkhouse with a bedroll and a duffle bag thrown over his shoulder. She’d laughed aloud at the picture he’d make. “Okay, I’ll come. See you tomorrow at two.”

  “Great.” Jeremy cut the connection, probably fearful she’d change her mind.

  She’d never enjoyed a Saturday so much in ages. Her sides hurt from laughing. The big, bustling Branigan clan certainly had perfected the art of entertaining. Several of their neighbors attended, and Amanda recognized many of the almost thirty guests as customers from the bank.

  While the children skated on the outdoor rink flooded beside the guest lodge, the older crowd sipped warm cider and watched their antics from inside through the row of windows facing the rink. The twenty- and thirty-something crowd climbed into several sleighs and covered a significant portion of the present day Lazy B Ranch, including the land still referred to as the Old Dredger Spread by some folks. The crisp air reddened everyone’s noses, but the riders stayed warm covered up to their necks, snuggled under a heap of blankets. Everyone joined in the singsong led by Jeremy’s sister, Shannon, and the chorus of harmonizing voices echoed throughout the valley.

  Jeremy drove one of the teams, and Amanda sat bundled up in a blanket on the seat beside him. She secretly wished she’d met Jeremy under different circumstances. If they’d met and dated for awhile, fallen in love, become engaged, married and then conceived a child, their relationship would have stood a chance of succeeding. And she would love nothing better than to become a member of his boisterous, loving family.

  But raising her child alone in Helena was her destiny. She’d worked too hard to toss away her career, especially with her promotion to bank manager so close. She’d never deny Jeremy access to his child, and the distance between Helena and Bandit Creek wasn’t that far. He could have someone fly him to the city in the helicopter every weekend or bring her and th
e child back to the ranch. Surely, they could arrange something that suited both their purposes, for the child’s sake.

  The Branigans’ housekeeper and her hired staff outdid themselves with the scrumptious ham and turkey dinner with all the trimmings. The adults enjoyed pie and coffee around the double-sided fireplace afterward, and with Easter still two weeks away, the children enjoyed an early Easter egg hunt, searching the entire main floor for hidden chocolate eggs. Amanda enjoyed holding the babies and later helping Catherine bathe and dress them in matching sleepers with bunny ears.

  Jeremy drove her home at ten o’clock when he’d caught her yawning. She could barely keep her eyes open on the drive back to town. Jeremy walked her into the hotel, carried her up the long staircase to her room, and then set her down on the bed. When he started undressing her, thoughts of a good night’s sleep evaporated from her mind.

  Early Sunday morning, Amanda peeked over at the handsome cowboy sleeping on the other side of the bed. Why couldn’t the two of them keep their hands off each other? He never revealed his true feelings for her in words. Not even in a moment of passion. But no man could touch a woman so tenderly without having some feelings for her. Should she dare hope he was falling in love with her? She realized last night that she couldn’t love him more if she’d known him for years. But although she’d considered the possibility, she could never marry a man who didn’t love her, even for her baby’s sake.

  Amanda poked Jeremy in the side. “Rise and shine, cowboy. It’s almost seven o’clock.”

  Jeremy opened his eyes, smiled mischievously, and reached for her. “I’ve got the rise part handled. Come on over here and help me shine, darlin’.”

  ****

  The Monday morning after the holiday Easter weekend, Amanda leaned back in her office chair, gazing out the window and sipping her morning decaf coffee. Spending her weekends at the Lazy B had become a habit, and she smiled remembering the past weekend spent with Jeremy at the ranch and in her bed.