Up the Creek Without a Saddle (Bandit Creek Book 31)

by Sandy Kelly

  “I hope you don’t have any big plans for the morning, because they want us back at the store at 10:00. The media will be there,” he continued, laughter sounding in his words.

  “Media? You’ve got to be kidding,” she laughed. “You are kidding, right?”

  “Well, actually, no I’m not. Not much happens around here, so something like this will probably make the front page!”

  “Oh great, just what I need,” Lily said.

  “So, do you want to go with me to pick up your new toaster?” Jayce asked. When she remained silent, he continued quickly, “Unless you don’t want to, or you have other plans. We could put them off until it’s convenient for you. Nothing is really news here until it’s printed in the Bandit Creek Gazette, anyway, so we’ve got all the time in the world.”

  Lily laughed easily. It was so good to hear his voice, to hear the playfulness in his words.

  “I can meet you there at 10:00,” she replied happily. “But you’ve got to know something first. I really don’t want the toaster!”

  Both laughed and said their goodbyes. Lily glanced at the clock to discover she only had 45 minutes to get ready. She showered quickly and paused in front of the hotel closet where she had deposited her clothes. What on earth does one wear to a toaster presentation before the media? More to the point, what did she want to wear when she sees Jayce again.

  “That’s easy,” she decided, moving to the bureau instead. She opened one of the drawers to pull out a pair of shorts and a simple button-down cotton golf shirt. Casual was definitely the way with this man, she thought.

  Lily never took long to apply make-up, since she wore so little. She even had time for a quick cup of coffee from the machine in her room before driving to the Helping Hands store. Once there she was nervous, and embarrassed that their second visit should take place in this strange little store again. And likely under the scrutiny of the same saleswoman. And with media present, no less.

  “Oh well, here goes,” she thought, walking bravely through the door.

  Jayce was already there, making easy small talk with the local reporter who had arrived early to cover the event. Lily stopped in her tracks, captivated by his looks and his easy manner.

  “Well, good morning,” Jayce said, looking up to find her studying him.

  “Good morning,” Lily replied, conscious that her eyes must surely be twinkling.

  Once introductions were conducted with the reporter and everyone else around, it was time for the photograph. Lily and Jayce were posed together in the center, while the reporter fussed with lining up various store staff on either side of them. Finally it was time for the presentation of the toaster, which both accepted with as much politeness as they could muster through mouths clutched tight against laughter.

  “This is very nice. Thank you very much,” Jayce said formally. The reporter flashed several shots of the assembled group and then made his exit to meet his deadline.

  “Well, I guess we’re done,” Jayce said, glancing downward to where Lily was still suppressing a smile.

  “Yes, I think we are,” she agreed.

  “I’m really glad it was you two,” the saleswoman from yesterday confided. “You make such a cute couple.”

  Lily and Jayce both looked down in embarrassment and left as soon as the little crowd had dispersed. Both burst out laughing once outside, in the same way they had departed the store the last time.

  “Now what?” Lily asked, through her giggles.

  “I don’t know,” Jayce replied. “How about some toast?” Their stifled laughter broke free again.

  “Really, how about a cup of coffee?” Jayce ventured, a large smile still playing on his lips.

  “I would like that,” Lily replied honestly.

  They strolled the distance to Ma’s Kitchen comfortably together and took the same table they had shared before.

  “So you managed to find me,” Lily said shyly to him once they were both comfortably seated.

  “Well…the toaster and everything,” Jayce sounded bashful, avoiding looking into her eyes. “Actually, I really wanted to see you again,” he admitted.

  “I’m not sure why, after my shenanigans yesterday,” Lily ventured.

  “Not at all,” Jayce replied softly. “I’m really very glad to be with you.”

  ***

  He was, in fact, thrilled to see her, even more thrilled than he’d expected to be. Lily positively sparkled in the small café. Her light hair was freshly-washed and seemed to shine like strands of silk. The natural ivory color of her smooth skin provided an alluring path to the dazzling blue trap of her eyes. Lily seemed unable to contain her vibrant, youthful enthusiasm as she greeted the new day. His hope was, of course, that her enthusiasm was partly to do with seeing him again.

  “I’m glad to be here. And it’s such a nice day,” Lily volunteered.

  “It’s a great day,” answered Jayce. “In fact, it’s starting to look like seeding weather.”

  Jayce was surprised at how happy he felt to be with her again. As Lily sipped her strong coffee, he chatted comfortably about the work he was involved with on the ranch, the simple grains he would soon be planting to keep the large herd of cows fed over the long prairie winter. It sounded obvious, even to himself, that he loved his ranch, tending the cows and working the land. But Lily seemed to be interested and nothing else mattered to him right now than to get to know her better. Moment by moment he was adding the small details of his life and he hoped that she would soon become comfortable opening up to him, as well.

  “It must be beautiful, your ranch.” Lily said gently.

  “I don’t think there’s a nicer spot anywhere on the face of the earth,” Jayce stated emphatically.

  “I think you’d like to buy it back,” Lily ventured.

  Jayce looked up from his cup, meeting her eyes intently.

  “It must seem selfish to you,” he began, thinking of how little she had and here he was wanting more. “I’m so lucky to have such a nice place to live. Lots of families had to move on when their land was bought out from underneath them. My folks were able to stay in the very house they raised all us kids in. It’s the only place I’ve ever lived. Do you think that’s weird? That I’ve never ventured any further than the land I grew up on?”

  ***

  Of course he’d wonder how she was reacting to the details of his personal life, she thought. He knew absolutely nothing about her. Nothing. Not that she wanted to continue to be deceitful to him, but if Jayce knew her background and the reason she was in Bandit Creek he would hate her. She’s the enemy. She simply couldn’t risk losing the opportunity to pursue their budding friendship.

  “It’s not weird at all. I’ve actually just left the only house I’ve ever lived in, too,” Lily said, volunteering the first tidbit of personal detail.

  “You did?” Jayce seemed shocked. “Where is your house?”

  “Way out east,” was all Lily said, feeling skittish about revealing too much.

  “You drove all that way by yourself?” Jayce seemed impressed. But, of course he’d be surprised by her independence, since this information was coming from a woman who just yesterday couldn’t seem to even dress herself properly.

  “I did, yes.” Lily said cautiously. “I’ve been very sheltered from the world. I felt it was time I ventured out and discovered some things about myself.”

  “And you came HERE?” Jayce sounded confused.

  “Actually, I was heading for Missoula,” Lily explained, adding further to Jayce’s bewilderment. “I…I just felt like I wanted to see Missoula.” Lily stammered, becoming increasingly uncomfortable under his intent gaze.

  “You drove all this way to see Missoula, Montana?” He sounded astounded, but also concerned. “There’s really not much to do there, did you know that?” he asked gently. “I just mean that I hope you’re not disappointed,” he added, seeming to notice her discomfort.

  “You must wonder what kind of wacky woman you�
�ve got on your hands,” Lily said feebly. She decided to gather her strength and tell him the truth, or at least some of the truth, anyway. She took a deep breath and began by telling him about her mom, about the void in her life since losing her and about what she referred to as the pilgrimage she had embarked on. She was very careful not to disclose that she was here on business.

  “Your mom sounded like a very dear person. I’m sorry,” Jayce said quietly, placing his hand gently over hers as it rested on the wooden table. “I can’t imagine that kind of loss. I wish there was something I could do.”

  “There is,” Lily said emphatically, a smile lighting her face. “You can take me to Missoula. The sudden idea instantly brightened up their visit once again.

  “Take you to Missoula…” Jayce said reflectively. “It would be my pleasure,” he added quickly. “I just hope you’re not disappointed.”

  “Not at all. I’ll be happy to finally see the place, no matter what is actually there,” she assured him.

  “It’s just a bunch of buildings in a small city,” Jayce insisted, sounding worried.

  “That’s fine. Fine,” Lily commented, distracting him by pretending a sudden interest in the menu that had been left on the table. “Should we grab some breakfast first?”

  “Well, I ate breakfast about four hours ago, but I could be talked into an early lunch,” Jayce said good-naturedly.

  “Right, I read that you hearty farmers are up at the crack of dawn,” Lily joked, feeling a bit lazy for sleeping so late.

  “Morning is the best time of the whole day and the earlier in the morning the better,” Jayce proclaimed. “You really miss all the beauty of the day if you miss the early morning.”

  “Hmm. It’s 10:30 now – is that still early enough?”

  “Well, I guess it’s still before the crack of noon,” Jayce laughed.

  “Then let’s just grab something and be on our way,” Lily said.

  ***

  Lucy packed a light brunch of home-made sandwiches, strawberries and two bottles of fruit-juice. She was extremely curious again, of course, after witnessing Jayce’s happy visit with the beautiful stranger. Jayce was well-known in the area, both for his sought-after company and for his quiet leadership among local farm families. For years he had combined his honorable love for the rural way of life with his enterprising concepts of which innovations were required to retain the land he loved so much. He had studied and shared the skills and information he was continually gathering, and had motivated the many people in the surrounding farming community to strive for higher and higher goals. Saving the ‘family farm’ had become Jayce’s passion, and it seemed his every spare moment was committed to research and town meetings. Until now.

  Now, it seemed, Jayce was taking the day off. Lucy noticed he was visibly relaxed from his usual reserve and shyness, as he entertained this young woman. He was downright animated, Lucy figured, feeling somewhat guilty by the jealousy she suddenly felt for the beautiful woman who was at the receiving end of this wonderful man’s attention. What a foolish emotion for an old married gal like me, Lucy thought as she bundled the couple’s small luncheon in a cotton tote bag.

  “It’s high time he left a bit of time for himself,” she thought. “He’s always organizing meetings for groups of people, it’s good to organize a special private one. He’s easily in his late 20s, after all, time to think about settling down.”

  “I hope you both have a great day,” she said out loud, keeping all other thoughts to herself.

  “And you, as well, Lucy,” Jayce replied politely, placing his hand lightly on the young woman’s arm and subtly guiding her out of the café. It seemed to Lucy that his gesture was somewhat protective, as if he was assisting the woman somehow. She would have interpreted this to mean it was a business encounter between the two, if it weren’t for the obvious attraction between them. It was as if Jayce’s touch had sent a shock through both of them, so immediate was the flush that welled up between them.

  “Looks like young love,” Lucy said to herself as she cleared their mugs away. “Or that spring is in the air, at the very least.”

  “ ‘s not love, ‘s greed,” a voice declared from the next table.

  “Jack! Lord you scared the bejeebers out of me!” Lucy said, her hand clutching at her blouse over her heart. “I didn’t even hear you come in!”

  “She shouldn’t be here,” the strange old man said, his voice sending its usual chill through Lucy. Jack Daniels, on the rare occasions he presented himself, was either drunk or insane and the townsfolk had learned long ago to steer clear of him.

  “Listen, Jack, just let them be. They seem happy – is that some sort of sin?”

  “Don’t trust her. She doesn’t belong here.”

  The tremor in his deep voice alarmed Lucy and she turned her attention back to the window, as if seeing the couple again would confirm that everything was okay. But they were gone by then and when she turned back, Jack had also disappeared. Lucy glanced toward the back of the café, but he wasn’t there, either. She even ducked to look under the table and then straightened up, wondering where he went. What he meant. If he had even really been there.

  Chapter 5

  “Here we are,” Jayce said, leading Lily to a clean, but well-used truck. It was obviously a working truck that played a big role in the chores of the farm. It was strong and capable, much like the man who drove it, she thought.

  He helped her into the cab and then made his way to the driver’s side. Once inside, both seemed conscious of the close quarters once again and they sat quietly for a time. Lily was staring blankly out the front window, noticing nothing.

  “I see you’re wearing your new shoes,” Jayce said gently, sneaking a quick glimpse at Lily, who returned his smile.

  They found enough small talk to occupy the two hour drive to Missoula, their unusual destination. Jayce thought, for the hundredth time, that Lily was a perfect name for this delicate woman, whose tender ivory skin shone like the pedals of the softest flower. Every fiber in his body wanted to touch that skin…that hair. At the heart of her enchanting beauty was the bold brilliance of her blue eyes. It seemed to Jayce that the blue was turning an even deeper hue, as Lily’s enthusiasm grew the closer they drove to a place he was certain was about to disappoint her.

  But she seemed to be enjoying the scene out the window and who wouldn’t? Signs of spring were everywhere, as young calves dotted the fields alongside their grazing mothers. Birds flew from dry thickets as the truck passed, taking to the sky in groups. From time to time, there was even a glimpse the peaceful dance of white butterflies as they rose and fell with the silent swells of heat from the warming earth. The new life of spring was taking flight all around them and he was so glad to see her enjoying the beauty. She was certainly witnessing many of the reasons he loved it here so much… the reasons he didn’t go searching for bigger pleasures in larger cities.

  “This is why I love it here,” he said, gesturing all around them. “It’s why I ride my bike so much, too, so I can really take it in. I was riding my bike when I first saw you yesterday – it probably seemed strange to you to find a man riding his bike in the middle of nowhere.”

  Lily laughed easily. “Not at all! Everything about you seems to just blend so easily into this countryside. Everything fits together so perfectly here and, I don’t know, you just seem like such a natural part of the whole thing.”

  He was happy to hear her say that, happy that she seemed to appreciate the land. But her voice sounded wistful again and he wished he knew what caused this beautiful woman to seem so distant. What he really wished more than anything, though, was that he could park the truck, lean over and swallow her up in his arms. If she hadn’t sounded so lost in her own thoughts just then, he may have done that very thing.

  ***

  But wistful she was. Lily looked at the Rockies all around her, preoccupied with guilt as she watched the magnificent beauty of the mountain range give way periodi
cally to lush fields of natural grasses where herds of cattle grazed. She was struck by the knowledge that people like her owned half of these lands and were busy trying to gobble up the other half. She felt sick and ashamed. She looked to the sky as it boasted a brilliant blue and back to the ripening grasses so green you had to blink. It’s the same distinct color, she realized, that she saw each time she looked into Jayce’s eyes. A beautiful, but slightly discomfiting brilliance that made her melt under their gaze.

  As they drove further south towards Missoula, Lily became increasingly uneasy. It was a stupid idea, she thought now, asking Jayce to accompany her to Missoula – the source of the pending strife between them. She had originally thought that inviting him along would serve to throw him off track, should he become suspicious of her motives later on. Lily had still been determined to accomplish the upcoming business transaction when she invited him, still thinking with the conniving corporate mind that made such ruthless takeovers possible.

  But now she was preoccupied with such doubt and so obviously ill-at-ease that she was surely blowing whatever cover she had originally sought to create. More than that, she yearned to be on his side of this battle. She wanted to be honest with him and she craved his touch. Her quest to maneuver the business transaction successfully was very quickly being trumped by simply wanting to be with Jayce. The very thing she was supposed to do and the very thing she wanted to do could not possibly be further apart than this, and her big bold-faced lie sat right in the middle.

  “So what do you want to see first?” Jayce asked, bringing her back to the moment. She could see they were nearing the outskirts of Missoula, the modest buildings of the city center were poking over the hillside a distance beyond.

  “Oh, I don’t know,” Lily said distractedly. “Why don’t we just drive around for a bit?”

  “Good idea,” he replied good-naturedly, although she thought she detected the unasked questions in his words. This small city of 50,000 people, after all, was supposedly what lured Lily on her journey west. What he didn’t know was that a team of accountants, lawyers and consultants was in one of those downtown offices, waiting for her to contact them and begin assembling this Montana branch of their enterprise. That reality, she reminded herself, was something the sweet and handsome man beside her could never, ever discover. Not if she wanted to have any chance to be with him.