by Sherry Lewis
He led her to the edge of the porch, then stepped out into the snow and offered a hand to steady her as she joined him. Thrown off by his uncharacteristic behavior, Siddah followed his lead.
They walked for several minutes in silence, surrounded by the hush of nature, the only sounds the swish of their boots as they blazed a trail. Siddah didn’t know what to make of Monty. She liked him this way. There was no question about that. But what had brought about this change in him, and would it last?
He led her to his truck, pulled open the door and spoke for the first time. “Take a ride with me?”
Siddah glanced behind her at the house, then nodded. “Okay. Where are we going?”
“Not far.”
Once he was settled behind the wheel, he cranked the engine and set off carefully. “Feeling better?”
Siddah watched him adjusting the defroster and prayed he wouldn’t turn the heat up too high. “Yes, thanks. I don’t know what came over me.”
“As I recall,” Monty said, without taking his eyes from the road, “that’s not uncommon when there’s a baby on the way.”
Stunned, Siddah tried to see if he was guessing or if he knew the truth. But he hadn’t changed that much. His face was still an unreadable mask.
He took his attention from the road just long enough to make eye contact, and the truth hit her like a load of bricks. “How long have you suspected?”
He shook his head and turned off the lane onto a trail she’d never noticed before. “I don’t know if ‘suspected’ is the right word to use. Gabe told me.”
“Gabe?” That surprised her almost as much as the fact that Monty knew in the first place.
“When?”
“The night he left.”
She sank back in her seat and stared out at the falling snow through the windshield. “Why didn’t you say something?”
“We wanted to wait until you were ready. Thought it might be better that way.”
“Then Helene knows?”
“Yep.”
She felt small and foolish and embarrassed. “I don’t even know what to say, Monty. Gabe and I were just together one time. It was a fluke. It should never have happened, but it did.”
“You saying you don’t love him?”
It would be so much easier to say yes. To leave Monty and Helene believing that she’d been loyal to Peter’s memory. But she couldn’t lie to him. Her stomach gave a weak protest, but she forced herself to tell the truth. “No. That’s not what I’m saying.”
“You do love him?”
“Yes. I know it’s wrong. You probably think I’m the most horrible person in the world, and I’m truly sorry, but yes, I do.”
“Why would we think you’re horrible?”
“Because I was married to Peter. Because Gabe is his brother. Because—”
Monty chuckled softly and put a hand on her arm. “Helene and I love you, Siddah. Have done since the minute you joined our family. Why would either of us be upset to find out that both of our sons had good taste and common sense?”
He couldn’t have surprised her more if he’d burst into song. She laughed uncertainly and felt the queasiness lessen a little. “Are you serious?”
“I’m not in the habit of lying.”
She let out a breath heavy with relief and leaned her head back on the seat. It was one problem out of the way, but the road wasn’t clear yet. “I suppose while I’m being honest, I should tell you the rest. I think I’m going to lose the house.”
“Those loans of Peter’s?”
She sat up sharply. “You know about those?”
“Didn’t for a long time, but Gabe told me about them, too.”
“I told him not to.”
“Gabe’s not famous for doing what folks tell him to. He thought I should know. He was right.” Monty patted her arm and drew his hand away. “I’ve talked to the banks, and the mill will assume responsibility for all of them except the house.”
“I can’t let you do that.”
“You can’t stop me. Peter took out those loans to help the mill. That’s where the money should come from to pay them back.”
“But—”
“It’s a done deal, Siddah, so save your breath.”
“I don’t know what to say except thank you.” She couldn’t even afford her pride anymore. “With the other loans out of the way, maybe I can save the house.”
“Well, that’s something to think about, I guess. That little house isn’t good for much, though.” He downshifted and began a steep climb up the mountainside. “Maybe you should sell it. Get yourself something better.”
“Maybe I’ll be able to afford that somewhere down the road,” she said. “Right now, I’ll be thankful just to keep it.”
The truck rounded another curve, and Siddah caught a glimpse of something red through the trees up ahead. Below them, the river wound along the valley floor, and she caught a peek of the town in the distance. “It’s a beautiful view from up here, but why—”
Her voice froze in her throat as they rounded another curve and a familiar red Jeep came into view. Beyond that, piles of lumber lay covered with tarp and her heart began to thump wildly.
Monty pulled to a stop and shifted in his seat to look at her. “Sometimes admitting you’re wrong is less painful than living with the mistake,” he said. “I learned my lesson the hard way. I also learned that life doesn’t always give us second chances.” He leaned across the cab and opened her door. “If you’re lucky enough to get one, be smart enough to take it.”
Her eyes blurred and she couldn’t have gotten words out past the burning lump in her throat if her life had depended on it. Nodding mutely, she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly before she climbed out into the snow.
She saw Gabe standing beside a pile of lumber in the next instant, his dark hair flaked with snow. Only the possibility of falling kept her from flying into his arms. She took a couple of steps toward him, but he was across the clearing and at her side before she could get far.
Wordlessly, he gathered her into his arms. She caught back a sob and wrapped her arms around him, hanging on for dear life. She lifted her head so she could look at him, but she could hardly see his face for the tears. “Oh Gabe, I’m so sorry. I—”
He touched her lips gently. “Don’t,” he said. She could hear the catch in his voice and she knew he was fighting tears of his own. “I don’t want to waste time with the past. I want to start building our future—if you’ll have me.” Releasing all but one hand, he dropped to one knee. “I love you, Siddah. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Marry me. Please.”
Joy filled her and it was all she could do to speak. “Yes,” she whispered. “Oh, yes.”
EPILOGUE
Three Years Later
LOVE AND LAUGHTER FILLED the air as the family gathered for a Father’s Day celebration at Gabe and Siddah’s house in the mountains. Children chased one another around the yard, and Bobby, bent nearly double, followed little Peter around as he maneuvered his new plastic pedal car along the walkway.
Siddah lay curled at Gabe’s side on the porch swing, her belly heavy with their second child. His father’s truck rattled to a stop near the garage, and her eyelids fluttered open. But when she tried to rise, Gabe wrapped an arm around her and pulled her back onto his lap. She hadn’t been as sick with this pregnancy, but she’d been more tired than usual. They were both hoping for a girl.
“Your parents are here,” she protested.
“Teresa and Jodie have things under control in the kitchen,” he said. “They’ll skin me alive if I let you get up before they’ve given the word.”
She laughed softly and snuggled against him. “Bobby was asking this morning how soon he can take Peter fishing.”
Gabe shot a look of mock annoyance at the son he’d adopted just the year before. “That kid’s a King through and through. Once he gets an idea in his head, he won’t let it go.”
“He’s
focused.”
“He’s stubborn.”
And he was theirs. Gabe bent to kiss her and waved at his cousin Jarrod, who pulled into the yard on his motorcycle. Lessons learned, he thought with a contented smile. Their way of life here on the mountain was every bit as worthy of protection as cultures around the globe. There would always be someone else who could travel the world to make it a better place. For now, Gabe was content taking care of his wife and raising his children. Making the world a better place from right here at home.
ISBN: 978-1-4592-2443-8
HIGH MOUNTAIN HOME
Copyright © 2005 by Sherry Lewis.
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