Montgomery

by Fisher-Davis, Susan

  “You’re talking about my best friend, Patsy Murphy. She’s the one Barkley threatened to kill if I didn’t call Daddy, but how…”

  Mont chuckled. “She made quite an impression on Micah,” he said with a wink of his eye. “He told me this little…pixie, as he’d called her, was like a Pit Bull around you.”

  Isabella laughed. “Patsy’s very protective of me.” She suddenly sobered. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without her with me.”

  “I know, princess, and I’m so sorry. How about your parents? I’ll bet they hate me?”

  “I doubt it. You gave them two beautiful grandchildren they’re already taking great pleasure in spoiling. We’ll just explain where you’ve been. They’ll be fine with you.”

  Isabella moved around the room, keeping busy with baby items but all the while chewing her lip. Mont never took his eyes off her. He was sure she had something on her mind but wasn’t sure how to address it.

  “You can ask me anything, Bella. I’ll never lie to you again.”

  Isabella turned and stared at him. He’d hit a nerve and wasn’t sure he could soothe it. She sighed loudly, and came to stand in front of him.

  “I still don’t understand, if you and Micah were FBI, why couldn’t you let me go when I escaped. I understand why you couldn’t help, but why didn’t you just let me go when I got free?”

  “We weren’t bringing you back to keep you for Barkley. We were bringing you back to protect you. If you’d made it back home, Barkley or one of his men would’ve made sure you were dead. Barkley’s plan all along was to kill all of you. He planned to kill your father first, then you, and then your mother. We kept you there to make sure it didn’t happen, to protect you. It had nothing to do with us obeying Barkley.” He glanced down at his sleeping children and thanked God it had all gone well for her.

  “We couldn’t take a chance in letting you go, in case Barkley did get to all of you. When we found out your father had gone to the cabin, we knew then it was safe to take you home. I wanted to be the one to do it, but Barkley insisted I go with him so when he ordered Micah to take care of you, meaning kill you, I knew you’d be safe. I knew Micah, being loyal FBI, would take you home. Micah had a rough time of it for a while. Guilt. He said I had a life ahead of me with you, and he should’ve been the one to take the bullet, not me. Of course, I told him that was bullshit. I think he’s finally getting past it now. I hope so anyway. I don’t want him blaming himself for any of that.”

  “I don’t either. Micah is a good guy. I like him very much.”

  “Good. I’m glad you approve of him because I’d love it if he were godfather to our babies. Unless you’ve got someone else in mind?”

  Isabella said she liked the idea and didn’t have anyone else in mind.

  “Actually, I’d like Patsy to be the godmother, only I’m not sure how to get her and Micah in the same room without fur flying.” Together, they laughed.

  The babies started to fuss. Mont looked up at her and suspected he wore a panicked expression on his face because Isabella laughed at him, and then took their daughter from his arm. After changing her, she handed the little girl back to him and repeated the chore with their son. While his son was with his mother, Mont enjoyed his little daughter. When Isabella was finished changing Colt, she handed him back and motioned for Mont to follow her downstairs.

  Upon entering the kitchen, Mont saw the baby seats and raised his eyebrows.

  “I swear I didn’t see these when I came in. My thoughts were on you and getting you to the couch. I guess I panicked when you passed out.”

  “It was a shock. I thought I was hallucinating. I’d dreamed of seeing you for so long.”

  “I’m here now, Bella, and I don’t plan on going anywhere. I’ll need to find a job, though. I quit the agency. I don’t want to do it anymore.”

  Isabella wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him, looking up at him. “I think we’re good for a while. I wrote a novel. It’s been published,” she said with shy pride.

  “Really? What kind of novel?”

  He saw the flush rise on her cheeks when she glanced away for a moment.

  “A romance novel,” Isabella said, looking at him with anxious eyes.

  Mont grinned. “Well, princess, you let me know if you need any help with the sex scenes.”

  Isabella laughed. “Actually, I used some of your, uh…moves, in the book.”

  Mont burst out laughing and lifted her against him. “Well, darlin’, just let me know how I can help and I’ll be more than willing to come up with some new ones. I’m not sure what I want to do, but I have my pension so I can look around. I promise you, Bella, I will never leave you again. Not for at least fifty years or more.”

  Isabella smiled. “Sounds good to me, but only fifty years? Well, just be here for the rest of my life, and I’ll be very happy.”

  He pressed his lips to hers to seal the promise, and then set her down. She moved to prepare the babies food.

  “I want to tell you about my life,” he told her, taking a seat at the table near his children. She set the babies dishes down and took a seat. He knew she was waiting and listening even as she began feeding the babies.

  “My dad died when I was five. I really don’t remember him, but my mom raised me and I was a hellion. At one point, she was thinking of moving back to the reservation just to keep me away from the other boys. I was defiant and talked back to her often. When I think back on it, I am ashamed of the way I treated her but she loves me, and I make sure she knows I love her every time I talk with her.

  “I ran with five other boys, Lucas Taggart, Cooper Lang, Lincoln Cole, Storm Bateman, and Dakota Walker. We were inseparable and we’re still close as adults, although I don’t see them as much as I’d like to. We were always in trouble and it wasn’t long before the town labeled us the bad boys of Dry River. It’s a small town, as you know, but I love it here. It’s quiet and everyone knows everyone but it’s a great place to live, and for kids to grow up in.”

  Mont took a deep breath and smiled at his beautiful children.

  “I was arrested when I was fifteen for breaking and entering. They threatened me with jail time, and it scared the shit out of me. They gave me probation instead, which instead of teaching me a lesson about avoiding crime, instead led me to think I could pretty much do what I wanted and only get a slap on the wrist. My friends didn’t get off as easy. Coop was arrested for vandalism, Linc for theft, Storm and Dakota for breaking and entering. Then one night, Lucas was trying to steal a car, which turned out to belong to a cop.”

  Isabella snorted and laughed. “Uh oh.”

  Mont laughed too because it was quite ironic. “Well, Bill caught him in the act and told him if he did better in school, he wouldn’t press charges. Lucas wasn’t happy about it, but he agreed to it and once he started doing better, we all did. Bill saved all of us, and now he’s married to Lucas’s mom. We all came from broken homes and thought no one cared about us, so we became family to each other. Coop’s mom used to belittle him all the time. She constantly called him stupid.” Mont paused, frowning as he remembered his friend’s pain at the words.

  “The man is far from stupid. His father told her to leave and never come back, and so she did. To this day, Coop has no idea where she is, nor do I think he wants to know. Linc’s dad raised him alone, and thought the sun rose and set on him, but Linc didn’t see it until he was in his twenties. Storm and I met on the reservation when we were seven. We raised hell together there too. His mother moved here after my mom did, since our mothers are friends. Dakota’s brother, Nathan, raised him when their parents died in a plane crash. Nathan is the Sheriff of Dry River, and Lucas’s dad took off before he was even born.”

  He grinned thinking of his friends—his brothers.

  “Also, no one but my mom ever calls me Montgomery. I go by Mont,” he told her, watching her wipe their babies’ messy faces and hands. “So knowing all this, do you still want to ma
rry me?”

  Isabella stopped what she was doing, came out of her seat, and moved to his side. “Of course I do and I happen to like Montgomery, so that’s what I’m calling you.”

  At his groan, she laughed. “I love you so much, Montgomery Bradford.”

  Mont pulled her into his arms and pressed his lips to hers. When she sighed against his lips, he deepened the kiss. “I love you, Isabella Lofton, soon to be Bradford. I’d like to ask your parents for permission to marry you.”

  Isabella smiled at him. “I’m marrying you no matter what, but they’d think very highly of you if you did.”

  “Can we go see them?”

  “Just let me finish feeding our babies and I’ll arrange for Daddy to send the jet for us.”

  Mont happily watched her feed their children. He was in awe of the little ones. They’d grin up at their mama and his heart would hit his stomach. He wanted them to smile at him like that. He quickly blinked back tears and lifted his eyes to discover Isabella smiling at him.

  “They’re so beautiful,” he whispered.

  Isabella laughed. “Tell me that again when you’re changing a dirty diaper.”

  Mont chuckled. “I can’t wait.”

  Chapter Ten

  Three hours later, Isabella and her happy family drove to the governor’s mansion from the airport. The big iron gates swung open and the car stopped in front of the steps. The front door opened and Maria Lofton stepped outside, smiling at them. She walked down the steps toward them and grinned at Montgomery. Maria took Colt from Isabella’s arms and motioned them to follow as she led the way up the steps. Isabella and Montgomery, carrying Randi, followed her into the mansion.

  They followed Maria into the living room. Isabella took a seat on the sofa and patted the spot next to her for Montgomery and he sat down beside her.

  “Where’s daddy?” she asked her mother, who was cuddling her grandson.

  “He’s on the phone, but he’ll be here in a few minutes,” Maria answered then shifted her gaze to Montgomery. “You’re the father, aren’t you?”

  Montgomery nodded. “Yes, ma’am, I am.”

  “Please call me Maria,” she said with a friendly smile.

  “Yes, ma’am…uh…Maria.”

  Isabella leaned close to him, tickling her daughter’s belly. “Relax, don’t be so nervous. After what you’ve been through, this should be easy,” she whispered to him and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

  Montgomery grinned at her, and then handed Randi to her, and stood when Barton Lofton strode into the room. He came to a halt when he saw Isabella and Montgomery. He slowly walked toward Montgomery stopping in front of him. He stared him in the eye.

  “You’re the father,” Barton stated without hesitation.

  “Yes sir, I am,” Montgomery replied with pride.

  “Daddy, we’d like to talk with you and mom. This is Montgomery Bradford,” Isabella interjected drawing her father’s attention. “Could you please sit down, Daddy?”

  Barton stared at his daughter, glanced at Montgomery again, and then took a seat in a wingback chair.

  Isabella nodded to Montgomery. “Go ahead, hon.”

  She knew he was nervous when she heard Montgomery clear his throat.

  “Mister Lofton, sir, I’d like to ask your permission to marry your daughter.”

  “You want to marry my daughter when you haven’t been around for almost a year?” Her father’s voice carried an underlying anger as he sat forward in his chair.

  “Yes sir, there are…were extenuating circumstances as to why I wasn’t with Bella—”

  “They’d better be damn good extenuating circumstances, son,” Barton growled.

  “Daddy—”

  “Isabella, let the man speak for himself,” her father scolded, his tone making Randi fuss so Isabella cooed at her.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Lofton, I love Isabella—” Montgomery began.

  “If you love her, then where the hell have you been?”

  “Sir, as you said, let me speak for myself…please.”

  Isabella dipped her head so her parents wouldn’t see her grin. She reached out, taking Montgomery’s hand in hers, and gave it a squeeze. He squeezed back.

  “All right, go on,” Barton said leaning back in his chair.

  “I was in a coma for eight months after taking a bullet meant for you, sir,” Montgomery told her father.

  Barton came to his feet, his eyes wide. “I knew you looked familiar. You were at the cabin and jumped in front of me when Barkley tried to shoot me.”

  Montgomery gave a single nod. “Yes, sir.”

  Isabella watched her mother stand, walk toward Montgomery, hand her Colton before turning to him and hugging him. Montgomery wrapped his arms around her. “You’re Colt,” she heard her mother say against his shoulder.

  Montgomery grinned down at her mother. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “I thought you introduced him as Montgomery, Isabella?” Her father was clearly confused.

  “Daddy, Montgomery was working undercover as Colt Raines. His job was to get close to Barkley, and he kept me safe. He and agent Micah Turner were both undercover for the FBI.”

  “But why didn’t you tell us he was in a coma?”

  “She thought he was dead, Barton,” Maria told her husband.

  “Everyone believed he was going to die so Micah and Montgomery’s mother made the decision not to tell me of his condition. I don’t agree with what they did but it’s over now, and Montgomery is in perfect health,” Isabella said, smiling up at the man she loved.

  “I want to marry Isabella and be a father to our babies. I’d like your permission, sir.”

  Barton walked toward Montgomery, and stuck his hand out. “Of course, son, I’d be more than happy to have you marry our daughter. Now I understand why she was so upset when she first came home after Barkley had taken her. She thought you were dead, and then to find out she was pregnant…” He glanced at Isabella, and she saw a tear shimmer in her father’s eye.

  “I would change it all if I could,” Montgomery said looking down at her.

  Isabella stood, handing him one of the babies and hugged him.

  “We’re going to be fine.” She gazed up at him. “I love you,” she whispered to him. He kissed the top of her head.

  “I can promise you one thing, Governor, she’ll never be hurt by me again,” Montgomery told him.

  “That’s good enough for us, Montgomery,” Barton said, squeezing his future son-in-law’s shoulder.

  “I go by Mont, although your daughter seems to have a mind of her own and insists on calling me by my full name,” Montgomery explained, and shrugged when she laughed.

  “I think I like Montgomery too,” Maria told him then laughed when he groaned.

  They stayed for dinner, spent the night, and then headed back to the home they were going to share as a family. Once they settled the babies, she and Montgomery relaxed in the living room.

  “Do you mind if I invite my friends over? I haven’t seen them in over a year and I’d love for you to meet them.”

  Isabella smiled. “Of course, I’d love to meet them.”

  Fifteen minutes later, Montgomery entered the living room and smiled at her. “They’ll all be here tomorrow around one. I can’t wait for you to meet them.”

  “I can’t wait either. Are any of them married?”

  “Lucas is the only one right now. Storm has a little girl though. His wife ran off with another man right after their daughter was born. And it’s just luck that Dakota is here right now. He lives in Colorado. He’s a big time lawyer.”

  Isabella smiled and hugged him. “I’ll make lunch for everyone.”

  “You don’t need to do that…”

  “I know but I want to. So, they’ll all be here?”

  “Yes, all six together, just like old times,” Montgomery said with a big grin. “It will get rowdy, I’m sure.”

  Isabella didn’t care. As long as he was happy having his f
riends come by to see him, she was happy too.

  * * * *

  Lunch with his friends was more than rowdy. Teasing and ribbing went on the entire time. Dakota’s brother, Nathan and his wife, Shelly came too. Mont had a feeling Isabella would make instant friends with her and with Lucas’s wife, Emily, who was now very pregnant.

  “When are you due, Emily?” Isabella asked her with an excited smile.

  “Anytime now,” Emily smiled running her hand over her huge belly. “This is our second one. Logan isn’t feeling well so we left him with Lucas’s mom. He’ll be a year old in July.”

  “I’m sorry he’s not feeling well, but I’m happy for you being pregnant again. It’s great.” Isabella smiled at Emily.

  “The hell it is. I’m on pins and needles twenty-four seven,” Lucas grumbled.

  Montgomery laughed. “Big tough Lucas Taggart scared.”

  Lucas’s middle finger shot up, making everyone laugh. Emily stood and waddled toward him. She wrapped her arms around his waist. “I still think you’re big and tough.”

  “Well, you definitely know I’m big, darlin’.” Lucas laughed when Emily blushed and the other men groaned. He raised his eyebrows. “What? Jealous guys?”

  “I should arrest you for lying,” Nathan told him with a wink.

  Mont laughed along with everyone else. His eyes met Isabella’s across the room and it felt like his heart stopped beating. God, he loved her so much. She was the best thing ever to happen to him. She gave him a big smile.

  “How did you and Lucas meet, Emily?” Isabella asked, and then glanced around the room when everyone laughed. “What’d I say?”

  Emily chuckled. “Lucas and I knew each other when we were children but hadn’t seen each other in years. When I needed protection from my ex-husband, I asked Lucas to marry me.”

  “You asked him to marry you?” Isabella asked in surprise.

  Emily shrugged. “I had to. My ex was getting out of prison and he swore he’d never let me go. I was scared to death he’d come after me, which he did. Adam Walters was not a nice man.” She physically shivered as if something from another world reached out and touched her. Lucas put his arm around her and pulled her close.