by Joanna Sims
“Except I’ve just tried on this one dress.” Skyler looked down at the gauzy lavender dress with spaghetti straps and a thin belt to highlight her small waist.
“I was with you when you bought that,” Molly said.
“I remember.” She spun around, letting the skirt twirl around her legs. “What’s the verdict?”
“I say yes,” Molly responded. Her friend seemed distracted for a moment. Then she said, “You aren’t going to believe this.”
“What?”
Seemingly amazed, Molly looked up and said, “Chase just sent me a text.”
“You said I could give him your number.”
“I know, but...” Molly tucked some wayward curls behind her ear. “I guess I didn’t really expect him to use it.”
“I did. Hunter told me that Chase was really smitten with you.”
“Did Chase actually use the word smitten or is that your word?”
“My word, I think.” Skyler looked at her very short hair in the camera shot. “I wonder if I should wear my hat.”
“He wants to know if he can call me later.”
Skyler sat down on the bed and pulled on her socks. She had decided to wear her hat and her cowboy boots with the dress. It was a ranch cookout, after all.
“Say yes,” she told Molly.
“I don’t know.” Her friend looked like she was frozen, but it wasn’t a bad connection; she hadn’t moved from her spot, seeming to be a bit stunned.
“You don’t know?” Skyler frowned. “Why wouldn’t you want to talk to him?”
“What if I don’t like him? It will ruin countless hours of daydreaming from my youth. Those were wonderful daydreams. Do I really want the real him to ruin my fantasy of him?”
“Hunter says he’s a real nice guy. Hardworking. Loyal. A great friend.”
Molly fell backward on her bed and said dreamily, “Chase Rockwell.”
Then her friend popped upright, a thoughtful expression on her pretty face. “It could be a double wedding, just like we always planned.”
Skyler laughed at the thought. Hunter hadn’t so much as looked at her with interest since she arrived. If anything, he treated her like an adored little sister. Much of her teenage fantasy of Hunter Brand of Cowboy Up! falling madly in love with her had given way to the reality of her relationship with him. Theirs was a budding friendship and she was happy with that. Would it have been nice to come to Montana and find a true romance with a cowboy? Of course. She was a true romance junkie—always had been, always would be. But her illness had taught her how to live in the moment, live for the day and live in reality.
“Cowboy Up! cowboys find love in the Big Apple?” Skyler teased her friend. “A sequel to the original series?”
“You never know.” Molly refused to let her rain on her parade. “Stranger things have happened. I mean, seriously. A stranger thing just did happen!”
“Well, I think you should at least talk to him. It never hurts to have another friend in the world. Let me know what you decide. I love you,” Skyler said and then waved goodbye. She went the extra mile and put on some mascara, a light dusting of blush and a clear gloss on her lips. She took some leather cleaner that Hunter had let her borrow and wiped down her boots before pulling them on. The multiple Band-Aids on her feet had made the boots more comfortable and allowed her to walk almost normally. Now if only the rash would go away and the soreness in her thighs and backside would subside.
She shut the front door behind her, still not used to the idea of leaving the door unlocked, and sat down. While she waited for Hunter, she checked her social media, thrilled to see how positive the responses were to all of her Montana posts. Hunter had been a reluctant photographer, but he had managed to capture great pictures of her working on the ranch. The latest picture of her driving the skid steer was her favorite to date. She looked strong. Happy. Capable.
Had she ever really looked that happy before in her life? The end of the summer was far off in the distance, but Skyler was already dreading the day that she had to leave Sugar Creek. How would she be able to go back to her small cubicle at the insurance company, sitting for hours day after day, answering complaints, when she knew that this life existed? How could she, really?
She heard the crunching of the tires of Hunter’s truck as it approached. Skyler put away her phone and looked expectantly up the drive, awaiting the first glimpse of handsome Hunter behind the wheel of his truck. Every time she saw Hunter was like the first time—he still gave her the most wonderful butterflies in her stomach.
This wasn’t a date. Of course it wasn’t. But Skyler hoped that Hunter would like her in her dress. She stood up, put her hands on the porch rail and smiled in anticipation of seeing Hunter appear from beneath the canopy.
Hunter had taken particular care with his appearance for the cookout. He’d shaved his face, put on a clean button-down shirt and belt that displayed one of his most important trophies from his rodeo days—a large, intricately carved belt buckle. He donned a hat that wasn’t covered in dirt and stains, and had almost put on cologne but decided against it.
“You look nice,” Hunter said, enjoying the pretty sight of Skyler in her sundress as he approached her.
“Thank you.” She gave him a twirl when she reached the bottom of the steps. “I didn’t know if this was the right thing to wear.”
“I think you did just fine,” he said as he held out his arm for her. “May I escort you to the truck?”
She didn’t hesitate to link her arm with his. “Why thank you, sir. So formal.”
“That’s how we do it in Montana.” Hunter walked her to the passenger side of the truck. “A cookout is a big deal in these parts. I hope you’re hungry,” he added as he opened the truck door for her.
“Lately, all I can think about is eating.”
“Then you’re in luck. Because Mom and Aunt Lindsey have been cooking like they’re feeding the entire town of Bozeman.”
Hunter made sure she was safely in the truck, then shut the door, jogged to the other side and got behind the steering wheel.
“Do you want to take the trail to the main house or our new road?”
“The road that Hunter and Skyler built, of course,” Skyler said and then she added seriously, “I really need to figure out how to get my hands on one of those skid steers.”
Chapter Six
“I know why you were so insistent about opening the ranch to Skyler,” Hunter said to his father.
Jock wasn’t a tall man, but he was broad-shouldered and barrel-chested, and held himself with the presence of a man who had scraped and clawed his way to the top of the heap. He had a bright, thick head of white hair brushed straight back from his weathered, deeply lined face. His hawkish nose was a prominent feature of his face, as were his snapping, keenly intelligent ocean-blue eyes.
Hunter hadn’t said Sarah’s name out loud, but he saw Jock turn his head away and swallow several times, hard, before he said anything else.
“Well, she seems to be a nice young lady,” Jock said of Skyler, who was down by the pond with Bruce, Savannah, Amanda and their pack of rescue dogs. Jock completely avoided the subject of Sarah and Hunter decided it was best to move on.
“Yes, she is,” Hunter agreed.
Skyler had managed to endear herself to the family without much effort at all. Perhaps it was her pixie-like appearance, or her bright, easy laugh. Perhaps it was how kind and thoughtful she was to everyone around, including, or perhaps especially, the children in the bunch.
“Anything else to report?”
“No.” Hunter crossed his arms casually in front of his body. “We’ve been taking it real slow.”
“Good to hear.”
“She’s a hard worker. A real hard worker.”
Jock looked at him sideways with his keen, appraising eyes. “So you’ve
said.”
“But she just doesn’t have the stamina for this life.”
“It takes time,” his father noted. “Especially after what she’s been through.”
“Maybe.” Hunter wasn’t convinced. Skyler always gave her best effort and never gave up, but he didn’t think she was built for Montana life. Not long-term, anyway.
There was a short silence between them before his father asked, “Have you spoken to Brandy McGregor lately?”
“Today,” he said, not wanting to go down that road with his father. After speaking with Brandy, Hunter couldn’t stop thinking about the fact that he had everything in common with Brandy and very little to say to her. In sharp contrast, at least in his mind, was the fact that he always had something he wanted to share with Skyler. Even after he had spent the day with her, he would go home and think of something he should share with Skyler the next day.
“Your mother and I both hope things are still heading in the right direction in that regard. I know Brandy’s father is of a like mind.”
“I’m well aware of everyone’s feelings.”
Hunter could see Jock getting all revved up to harp some more on the subject when his mother, Lilly, thankfully interrupted him.
“Do you think that Skyler would enjoy a pair of moccasins?” His mother held a pair of moccasins in her hands.
His mother was a proud member of the Chippewa Cree tribe and she had learned how to make authentic native clothing when she was a young girl growing up on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation.
“I think she would be really honored to receive those, Momo.”
A beautiful woman with long, straight silver-laced raven hair, his mother was a gentle spirit who always managed to temper Jock’s gruff, demanding ways. Lilly smiled and tucked the moccasins under her arm. “I will wrap them up for later.”
Lilly called the family together to take a seat at the picnic tables set away from each other so each family group could safely join the event. Each picnic table had bowls and platters with the evening’s fare. It was odd to eat separately from his family; everyone usually sat together in their family group. They were used to gathering every Sunday morning in the dining room in the main house.
“Look at all of this food!” Skyler slipped off her mask and sat down next to him at the table. “This is a feast!”
Hunter enjoyed watching his dinner companion load her plate like she hadn’t eaten for months. She piled up mashed potatoes, corn on the cob with a pat of butter, green beans and ribs on her plate, then topped it off with a dinner roll.
“You can have seconds, you know,” he said before he took a big bite out of one of his mother’s famous homemade butter rolls.
Skyler nodded her response, too busy digging in to the mashed potatoes and gravy. “Mmm. Homemade mashed potatoes.”
“Homemade everything,” Hunter corrected.
“Lucky.” Skyler loaded her fork with green beans. “I was raised almost exclusively on Chinese takeout. My mom, God love her, couldn’t boil water.”
Hunter noted that Skyler spoke of her mother in the past tense, but didn’t want to broach a subject that could ruin the fun she was having devouring his mom’s home-cooked food.
“Your family is really great,” she said, in between large gulps of Savannah’s fresh-squeezed lemonade. “I think I met almost all of your brothers. And their wives. And their kids. And their dogs.”
Skyler did have seconds; he didn’t know where she managed to put all of that food away.
“I’m stuffed,” she said a while later, and put her hands on her belly, which was slightly rounded now from all the food she had eaten. “I can’t remember ever eating so much. But everything was just so good.”
“It’s the ranch work. You’re burning calories,” Hunter told her. “Mom will pack up some doggy bags for you, if you want.”
She wiped her mouth with a napkin. “I absolutely want. That will be my midnight snack, breakfast, lunch and dinner tomorrow.”
“Mom is going to be very pleased that you enjoyed her cooking.”
Skyler leaned her elbows on the table now that they were done eating. Her eyes took in the expansive landscape before them. Beyond the pond were cows grazing in the long grass, and beyond that view was the mountain range off in the distance. Skyler sighed beside him.
“What’s on your mind?”
“Nothing, really,” she said quietly. “Everything.”
She breathed in deeply and then let out the breath with another sigh. “I’m here. With you and your family. At Sugar Creek Ranch. It’s an incredible privilege. This same time last year, I didn’t think I would be alive, much less sitting here in Montana with you and your family. I’ll never understand why Jock agreed to this, but I will be forever grateful.”
Hunter had thought about telling Skyler about Sarah...and maybe one day he would. But for now, he just couldn’t bring himself to talk about his loss with someone who hadn’t known her. It was painful enough broaching the subject with Chase.
“I’m sure he had his reasons.” That was all Hunter could think to say in response.
As the sun set, the family began to clean up the cookout and return to their homes. Skyler insisted on helping Lilly take all of the bowls and dishes into the kitchen, which was just off the back patio. It was the smaller of two kitchens in the main house and the one that Lilly often used to cook for outdoor family events.
“Thank you so much for inviting me,” Skyler said to Jock and Lilly. “Thank you for everything, really.”
“We are so happy to have you here with us,” Lilly said sincerely. “I think it will be a healing summer for my son and for you.”
Skyler glanced over at him curiously. Wanting to move past the moment and not have Skyler ask his mother questions about her statement, Hunter asked, “Don’t you have something you wanted to give Skyler, Mom?”
Lilly’s eyes lit up. “Oh, yes! Wait right here.”
Lilly walked quickly back to the kitchen.
“You’ve been enjoying yourself?” Jock asked Skyler in his gruff, scratchy voice.
“I have.”
“Good. Good.” His father nodded.
That was followed by an awkward silence between the three of them until Lilly reappeared with a small box that she had managed to find time to wrap with tissue paper.
“A welcome gift.” Lilly held out the box.
“Thank you so much, Mrs. Brand.” Skyler accepted the box. “Should I open it now?”
“If you’d like.” His mother nodded.
Skyler took the box to a nearby table, and carefully, slowly, unwrapped the paper from the box. It occurred to Hunter that Skyler must take hours to unwrap her presents at Christmastime. After the wrapping paper was carefully removed, and Skyler had folded it neatly next to the box, she lifted the lid and peeked inside.
Joy. That was the expression on Skyler’s face when she saw the moccasins. “Oh, Mrs. Brand. They are beautiful.”
“She made those,” Hunter told Skyler, sure that she didn’t realize that they had been designed, constructed and decorated with intricate beadwork by his mother’s hands.
Skyler lifted one moccasin out of the box and examined the flower pattern embellishment on the toe.
“You made these?”
“It’s a hobby.” Lilly had always been humble about her talent, which Hunter always appreciated about her.
“Well... I hate to break up the party, but I’m going to bed,” Jock said abruptly. “Young lady—you let me know if Hunter gives you any trouble.”
“He’s been great to me,” Skyler said quickly, and if Hunter was detecting it correctly, a little defensively.
“Good night.” His father waved his hand like he was swatting at a fly before he headed back to the house.
“Thank you, again, Mrs. Brand.”
“Please, call me Lilly.”
Hunter saw how his mother and Skyler were looking at each other—there was a genuine connection there. A mutual affection had grown quickly.
Skyler folded the moccasin carefully into the box and the put the lid back on. She seemed emotional when she said to his mom, “Lilly, I will cherish these for the rest of my life.”
* * *
A week after the cookout, some of Skyler’s aches and pains had subsided and she was regularly getting up in the morning before daybreak without any help from Hunter. In fact, she was usually just finishing up with the barn chores when he pulled in to pick her up for whatever list of jobs he had it in mind to complete that day. There was plenty to love about ranch life and some of it had actually lived up to her teenage fantasies. But the reality of the life was difficult for Skyler to imagine day in, day out for the rest of her life. She missed takeout and Starbucks and Bloomingdale’s. She missed her friends and hanging at her father’s garage.
Skyler let Zodiac and Dream Catcher out in the paddock after their morning grain and then she quickly mucked the stalls. In the beginning, she couldn’t do the barn by herself, and now she could. This was a source of pride for her; she was getting stronger every day. Of course, her dad was right—she could have done the same thing in a gym. She wouldn’t have done it, though—that’s the truth. She hated lifting weights and riding on a stationary bike. No thank you! But lifting a fifty-pound bale of hay was doing the same thing for her as lifting weights, maybe even more.
Skyler was filling the freshly scrubbed water buckets with water to get ahead of the evening barn chores when she heard the tiniest of meows. She turned off the water and looked around.
“Hey, there.” She saw a dainty gray tabby with four white sock feet and a perky, long tail sitting just outside of the barn.
The tabby had pretty green eyes and it made eye contact with her, then meowed again as if to say “hi.” Skyler put down the water hose and squatted in the center aisle.
“Come here, sweet thing.” She tried to coax the kitty into the barn.