Montana Dreams

by Anna J. Stewart

  “You all staying for the Halloween bash up at the Blackwell Ranch?” Frank asked as his wife began sorting through Peyton’s purchases.

  “Hope so,” Peyton called as she grabbed another few packages of candy. She was looking forward to the party, where she’d no doubt meet the rest of the Blackwell family, including the Gardners’ daughter Grace, who was married to Ethan Blackwell.

  She felt something prickle the back of her neck, something that made her jump. She spun around, looking behind her, but there was no one there. But there had been. She could have sworn...

  “You’re just being paranoid,” she muttered to herself and shook off the unease, tried to refocus. “Let’s get this list finished.”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  “NOW, IF YOUR boy doesn’t like those boots, you bring him in and we’ll find something that works,” Alice assured Matteo as he paid for not only the boots he found for Gino but also for a pair he bought himself. He hadn’t planned to get them—however, seeing as there would be more activities where boots would be far more practical to wear, he surrendered.

  He’d found a pair of boots almost identical to ones he remembered seeing when he was a kid. A pair he’d longed to be able to afford in the little town near where he’d been raised. A pair that, at the time, had cost an unimaginable amount of money. They were tan with intricate stitching that reminded him of lines on a map or compass, all leading somewhere and nowhere at the same time.

  It was funny, he thought, as he stuffed his sneakers into the bag Alice provided, how he’d assumed being back on a ranch would break him. Instead, he’d found a new strength he hadn’t known he possessed. A strength he felt fairly certain came from two sources: his son and Peyton.

  Peyton. He blew out a breath. What was he going to do about Peyton? He knew what was behind that kiss. Gratitude, pent-up frustration and...affection...attraction. This was so bad, he thought. Did a woman who outsourced her marital possibilities even believe in love? It didn’t matter, couldn’t matter, how he felt about her. They were from two vastly different worlds, both in their upbringing and their lifestyles.

  Not that he knew what the future held, but if he landed that promotion at work, he could find himself at one of the home offices either in New York or Los Angeles. He’d go wherever the top work would take him; he’d have to, in order to give Gino the best chance he could. Wherever he could put down some roots for him and his son and make a life for both of them. But a life that could include Peyton...

  “Afternoon.” Frank greeted the man behind Matteo.

  “Sorry.” Matteo shifted to put his credit card away. “I’m causing a traffic jam.”

  “No problem. Just these, please.” The man placed a backpack, a few bottles of water, a pair of trail boots and a map of the area onto the counter.

  “Nice time of year for hiking,” Matteo said, admiring the man’s watch. He liked antiques, especially ones that looked as if they might have been passed down from family members. Probably because he’d never had anything like that. What would he hand down to Gino? he wondered.

  “Should be,” the man agreed. His hair was long, unkempt, almost overgrown to the point of obscuring his features, which were hidden behind a dark beard. His clothes were clean but wrinkled, and he looked as if he’d been traveling a lot of miles. He kept his head low as he paid for his purchase and turned away from Matteo without waiting for a bag. Matteo frowned. Something about the guy seemed familiar.

  “Have a good day,” Alice called after him.

  “Seen him in here before?” Matteo asked.

  “First time,” Frank replied. “Little jittery if you ask me, you know?”

  Matteo agreed. He knew. Peyton headed toward him carrying another armload of candy. There was enough to open her own sweetshop. But it was the look on her face that had him moving forward to help. “You all right?”

  “Yeah.” She shrugged. “Just felt something weird. Like I was being watched. Probably just my mind playing tricks on me.”

  Matteo wasn’t so sure. “I’ll be right back.” He left his things with Peyton and headed outside just as the man pulled away in a small red pickup. Matteo yanked out his phone and snapped a picture of the model and license plate, but he didn’t hold out much hope when he noticed most of the plate was covered—perhaps purposely—in a thick layer of mud. The exhaust spewing from the tailpipes was a shocking contrast to the fresh air he’d been inhaling in recent days.

  “Truck like that is on its last legs,” an old man sitting on the porch observed. “I’m Pop. You see a sketchy-looking feline around here, that’ll be Whiskers.” He held out his hand, motioned for Matteo to join him for a game of chess.

  “Nice to meet you, Pop.” Recognizing a valuable asset when he saw one, he joined him, made an instinctive move with a pawn to queen’s knight four. “Have you seen that truck around before?”

  “Couple of times over the last day or so. First was early yesterday morning. I remember because I’d just finished my first cup of coffee.” He examined the board, looked up at Matteo, made a move. “You staying at the Blackwell Ranch?”

  “Yes, sir.” Matteo sat forward, countered on the board and earned a look of approval. “Thought we’d come in and pick up some books and stuff for my son. He stayed back to hang out with a friend he’s made.”

  “Let me guess. That’d be little Miss Rosie Blackwell. Girl is full of charm.” Pop cackled as Whiskers wandered over and examined Matteo’s boots before rubbing its head against his leg. Matteo gave the cat a scratch behind the ears, earning a healthy, grateful purr. “They must be gearing up for that Halloween bash they’ve got planned.”

  “I believe so,” Matteo confirmed. “We’ve got pumpkin carving tomorrow.” Along with a string of other activities designed to get the ranch in festive shape. “You plan on attending?”

  “Son, the entire town will be there, you can count on it. That Hadley, now she can put on a party like no one’s business. And hey, you’re distracted now. Got ya.” He made another move, shaking his head.

  Peyton arrived.

  “Shoulda known you’d be one of Big E’s new granddaughters. Peyton, is it?”

  Matteo smiled as Peyton’s cheeks flushed. “My reputation precedes me, it seems. Yes. Hi, Pop.” She grinned. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Lily warned me about you. You’re a chess shark.”

  “Shark? Nah,” Pop said. He seemed entertained by the notion. “Just something to keep the time passin’. Speaking of passin’, nice of you to come out to Falcon Creek and get to know your family. Strong roots here in Montana. You Blackwells, you’ve made a good place for yourselves in the world.”

  “So have the Harrisons,” Peyton corrected, not willing to abandon the name of the man who had raised her. “No disrespect intended.”

  “None taken,” Pop assured her. “You play better than your man here?”

  Matteo sat back in his chair, beamed up at her and reveled in her confusion. “Yeah, honey, do you play better than me?”

  “I play well enough to know you left your bishop vulnerable.” She made one move that had Pop falling silent. She bent over and whispered in the older man’s ear. “Check.”

  “Well, I’ll be,” Pop muttered, scrubbing a hand across his chin. “Did not see that coming.”

  “We’ll be seeing you at the bash, Pop.” Matteo patted the man’s shoulder as he passed, taking both their bags from Peyton to stash in the SUV. “Next stop, library.”

  “Did you talk to the young guy who just left?” she asked.

  “No.” He didn’t bother pretending he didn’t know who she was talking about. Whatever she’d felt back in that store was still written all over her face. “He drove off pretty quick.” Matteo didn’t believe in coincidences, and he’d talked enough with Hadley to know they weren’t expecting a flood of guests until Halloween. Still...it couldn’t hurt to check thin
gs out.

  * * *

  “I WAS NOT cut out for this.” Peyton stood at the end of the hay-filled, restored historic wagon and gnawed on her lower lip. As expected, her boots had been the best purchase she’d made in she couldn’t remember how long—her brand-new footwear making the activities she, Gino and Matteo had participated in on the ranch more enjoyable, at least.

  But the idea of spending the next few hours being jostled about in a wagon filled with hay...

  “You got back on a horse,” Lily said from behind her. “You can do this.” She planted her hands on Peyton’s back and gave her a none-too-gentle sisterly shove. “It’s hay, Peyton. Not toxic waste.”

  “Hay itches.” Peyton tugged the sleeves of her yellow sweater down over her hands and climbed up. “When I researched hayrides online, I saw wagons with benches back here.” She shuffled through the ankle-deep hay, making her way toward the front—or was it the back?—of the wagon.

  “This one’s more fun,” Lily said. “And more authentic. Besides, the benches hurt your backside after a few bumps.”

  Deciding to make the best of it, Peyton nestled herself into the corner, reluctantly admitting the hay did provide a nice cushion. She could feel the temperature dropping even now as the sun finished its dip in the sky, casting the ranch in an amazing haze of autumn red, orange and yellow. It was like living in a painted picture that shifted from day to day.

  “Is Conner coming?” she asked her sister.

  “No.” Lily hoisted herself up and plopped down into the hay next to Peyton. “His mom’s had a bad day, so he’s sticking close to home, hoping to keep her off her feet. Where are your two tagalongs?”

  “Helping Hadley with the snacks.” Although personally, Peyton didn’t think she could eat another bite. One thing was for sure: no one starved on a guest ranch. Sure enough, as she stretched her neck and looked over the edge of the wagon, she saw Matteo and Gino joint-carrying a picnic basket, Ty right behind them. “Are we it for the ride?” she asked Ty as he pulled himself up onto the bench behind the horses and braced one foot on the buckboard.

  “We’re it,” Ty announced.

  “Up you go.” Matteo hefted Gino into the wagon before jumping up himself. He pulled the gate closed behind him. “Gino...”

  Gino had already deposited himself onto Peyton’s lap.

  “Gino, give Peyton some space. We’ve got the entire wagon—”

  “He’s fine.” Peyton wrapped her arms around the little boy and drew him closer.

  Lily aimed a sly look in her direction, but Peyton purposely ignored her.

  “Hadley made caramel corn and apple slices,” Gino announced. “And we have root beer and—”

  “And enough sugar to keep him awake for a month,” Matteo finished as he took a seat near Peyton with enough room between them for Gino should he change his mind.

  “All set?” Ty called over his shoulder. “Here we go.”

  “Tell me again what the purpose of this is?” Peyton asked her sister, who had shifted into the other corner of the wagon and was already looking up at the still-darkening sky.

  Lily shook her head, closed her eyes for a moment. “To enjoy yourself, Pey. When was the last time you paused to look up at the stars?”

  Peyton grabbed hold of the edge of the wagon as it moved forward and answered without thinking. “With Dad. When I was Gino’s age.”

  “You were seven when Dad...” Lily drew her head up. “You don’t mean Rudy, do you?”

  Peyton glanced to Matteo for support, but found him staring up at the sky, seemingly uninterested in the sisters’ conversation.

  “No,” Peyton said quietly. “I mean Thomas. He used to point out the constellations and planets to me. He was partial to Orion and Gemini.”

  “The hunter and the twins.” Matteo’s observation told her he was paying attention after all.

  “Constellations are stars, right, Dad?” Gino leaned forward and out of Peyton’s grasp, scooting closer to his father. “Can we see them now?”

  “Soon,” Matteo said. “It needs to be a bit darker.”

  “You’ve never seen stars like you do out here,” Ty said over his shoulder. “People who live in the city are always amazed at how dark it can get and how bright the stars are.”

  Peyton pressed a hand against her chest, trying to touch her suddenly heavy heart. “He was a good man, Lily,” she whispered to her sister. “I don’t remember a lot about him, but I do remember he loved us. I can still feel that, when I let myself.”

  Lily leaned her head on Peyton’s shoulder, wrapped her arms around her and squeezed. “Tell me what else you remember about him.”

  Peyton’s eyes filled, at both the memories and the sound of Matteo pointing out different aspects of the sky to his son. And the look of complete wonder and trust on Gino’s face.

  “Tell me, Peyton,” Lily said.

  “What do you want to know?”

  “Everything,” Lily answered without a hint of anger or resentment in her voice. “I want to know everything.”

  * * *

  IT WAS TOO QUIET. Yep. That’s what her problem was.

  It was too darned quiet.

  Peyton flopped over in bed and stared at the bedside clock. Two in the morning. She and Matteo and Gino had said good-night soon after getting back from the hayride, and yet here she still lay, hours later, waiting for her mind to stop circling so she could get to sleep.

  What was it about the late-night hours that reactivated her brain? All the worry, all the concerns, the responsibilities and regrets all seemed to wake up and tap an irritating dance inside her head.

  All these years she’d feared the distance the truth about their real father would create between her and her sisters, but tonight, for the first time, the subject of Thomas Blackwell had brought her and Lily together. Closer than they’d been in a while. She had the stars and the moon to thank for that. Along with a hayride and Matteo teaching his son the same lessons her own father had taught her.

  Matteo. Peyton sighed and squeezed her eyes shut. He was just...everywhere. And when he wasn’t, she missed him. Missed him! How was that even possible?

  At least at home she could have clicked on the television for background noise. But here? No TV in her room. She was banned from her phone and her laptop and...

  It was just too darned quiet.

  She grabbed a pillow and dropped it over her face, resisting the urge to scream. Matteo had been strangely quiet and reserved once they got back to the ranch. And why shouldn’t he be, considering she’d kissed him again. She’d managed to short circuit her own system doing so. Maybe she’d done the same to him. Still... She took a hot, stuffy breath in. It wasn’t exactly something she would regret. Not too much, anyway.

  She sat up, shoved her hair out of her face and sighed. She needed—wanted—to be doing something, and while she’d agreed to help Hadley with the bushel of pumpkins that had arrived today for the Halloween party next week, she couldn’t very well start hacking now.

  She could go next door to the cabin and wake Lily up. Her sister was more than used to Peyton’s midnight strolls and need for distraction, but they’d had enough family bonding for one night, and she didn’t want to interfere in anyone getting a good night’s sleep.

  She caught her lower lip in her teeth, glanced longingly at the door. It wouldn’t be difficult to creep out and sneak her laptop into her room, then put it back before Matteo got up. Okay, sure, she was reneging on their bet, but it was either that or go mad. Of course, she could have solved the problem today at the library and added books for herself when she’d been gathering up a bunch for Gino. But Gino had been her primary focus. She hadn’t even thought about herself.

  “A few hours won’t hurt,” she whispered to herself and slid out of bed. “He’ll never know.” Her door creaked as she pulled it o
pen. She froze, waiting for Matteo to respond. The man had ears like bat sonar. But when his door remained closed, she breathed easier. With the moonlight streaming in through the windows, she tiptoed around the sofa bed where Gino slept and approached the kitchenette table. She clicked on the small desk lamp she’d brought in from her bedroom.

  She’d just unplugged her computer when she heard what sounded like crying coming from behind her. Instinct had her abandoning her laptop. Gino’s breathing wasn’t quite so even now, and he was thrashing about as if he’d gotten caught up in a nightmare. “No. No, Mama. I don’t wanna go. Don’t make me go. I wanna stay with Daddy.”

  “Gino?” Peyton sat on the springy mattress and rested a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Gino, wake up, sweetheart. It’s just a dream.”

  “No, Mama, no.” His gut-wrenching sob struck Peyton right in her heart.

  “Gino, wake up. Come on.” She took hold of his hand, rested her other on his cheek as he blinked awake. “Hey. It’s all right, Gino. You’re fine. You’re safe here with your father.”

  “Peyton?” He didn’t sound convinced she was real. He scrubbed his hands into his eyes, down his damp cheeks. “It’s really you?”

  “It is, baby.” She tucked him onto her lap the way she used to with Fiona when she had bad dreams. She rocked him, smoothing his hair as he curled into her. Clung to her. “Bad dreams are the worst, aren’t they?” Especially when they feature people who are supposed to do what’s best for us. “Do you want to tell me about it?”

  “I don’t want to go to boarding school.”

  “All right.” She nodded.

  “Mama and Jiro argued about it. Really loud. Mama said that she made up her mind and that I’d be going. Because she doesn’t want me anymore. She’s having a new baby.”

  Peyton squeezed her eyes shut, clinging to Gino as much as he continued to hold on to her. “Just because she’s having a new baby doesn’t mean she doesn’t want you, Gino.” She pressed her lips against his temple. “It just means things are going to change.”