Big Sky Cowboy (Montana Marriages #1)

by Linda Ford

  “Why don’t you—” He meant to ask why they didn’t go to the sheriff or approach the boss at the Caldwell ranch, but his question was cut off by a howl from Lilly.

  “Lambie Four is missing.”

  “Lambie Four?” Wyatt turned to Cora for an explanation.

  “She numbers them when they’re born. Doesn’t give them real names until they’re weaned.” She shrugged. “Don’t know why.”

  Wyatt didn’t miss the way her shoulders slumped forward. Or how her arms hung at her sides.

  “Poor Lilly.” Her voice dripped with sympathy. “The animals are so precious to her.”

  He touched Cora’s hand. “Maybe the lamb is still out there. Come on. Let’s look.” He returned to the bushes. But no little white lamb was caught in the branches.

  He pressed his lips tight. The Caldwells were cruel people. He turned and came face-to-face with Cora.

  “Don’t you think we would have seen a lamb if it was there?” she asked him.

  “Of course you would have. I didn’t mean otherwise. But I’m not about to give up and provide those two more reason to cry.” He tipped his head toward the twins. Rose held Lilly in her arms, her sister’s head pressed to her neck. Their muffled sobs hit him harder than an iron fist. Women shouldn’t be made to cry. They should be protected, though—he darted his gaze to Cora—if she heard him say so she would likely inform him she didn’t need protection.

  Cora stared at the river. “It might have drowned.”

  Remembering how the sheep caught in the current had passed him, he grabbed Cora’s hand. “Or it might have been carried downstream. Let’s see.”

  Her fingers, warm and strong, gripped his. “Oh, please, God. Let it be alive.”

  His muscles tightened as he silently echoed the prayer. He could understand why Cora felt so strongly about protecting her sisters. He wanted to do the same for her. Strange thought from a man who’d known little but darkness and violence in his life.

  They trotted along the bank of the river. Bushes reached the water’s edge in places and Wyatt clambered down to examine them, both relieved that he didn’t find a dead animal and disappointed he hadn’t found Lambie Four alive and well.

  Half a mile later, Cora caught his arm. “We might as well go back.” She rocked her head back and forth. “I don’t know how I’m going to deal with Lilly.” She plunked down on a nearby rock. “I try to protect the girls, but how am I to shield them from the Caldwells? From the hurtful teasing like Duke hands out?” Her hands hung between her knees and she stared at the gurgling water.

  Wyatt sat at her side. “You live on a farm. Isn’t birth and death part of the experience?”

  Cora spared him a pained look. “But not senseless like this.”

  He nodded, understanding the difference, and sat as dejected as she. He looked past her, avoiding the anger in her face. He knew the look wasn’t directed at him, but the set of her mouth made him nervous. In his experience, anger led to uncontrolled actions.

  She sucked in air. “I’m going back to console Lilly and fix the fence.” Her expression softened and he relaxed. Her anger seemed short-lived and controlled.

  The breeze snorted down the river. Despite the heat of the sun, he shivered in his damp clothes.

  The breeze bent the willows growing along the water. Something flashed. He squinted. Was it his imagination or had he seen a bit of white? “There’s something in those bushes.” He hurried toward them.

  “What is it?” Cora kept pace at his side. She watched the bushes, trying to catch a glimpse of whatever he’d seen.

  “I don’t know, but I thought I saw a bit of white.”

  She sucked in air as if he’d promised her a sure thing.

  “I can’t be certain.” He no longer saw it.

  They reached the willows. “You wait here.” He slid into the water.

  “I’m coming, too.”

  “I’m already wet.” He waved her back, hoping she would heed his suggestion. The last thing he needed now was to worry about her. He already felt as if his heart was near to shattering with all the emotional upheaval of the afternoon.

  She clung to a tree, almost falling into the water, but remained on shore while he pushed into the bushes.

  That was when he saw it. A little lamb caught in the branches, bobbing in the flow of the water. Wyatt drew his mouth back and hid his reaction when he could detect no movement from the animal.

  “Did you find anything?” Cora called.

  “I think so. Just a minute.” He wanted to pretend he hadn’t, but he couldn’t lie to her. Besides, she’d demand to see for herself. He parted the bushes and untangled the limp creature. His insides boiled that someone had deliberately caused this needless death, not to mention the pain and sorrow for Lilly and the frustration for Cora that she couldn’t protect her sisters from such agony.

  He edged back toward Cora.

  She saw the lamb and her face lit up. “You found it. How wonderful.”

  Unable to tell her the truth, he cradled the creature close as he made his way to the bank. Cora held out a hand to help him from the river.

  He turned so she couldn’t see the lamb and knelt. But he couldn’t release it, couldn’t let her see the truth.

  She pulled at his arms. “Let me see.”

  He shook his head.

  Sitting back on her heels, she stared at him. “You mean...?”

  He nodded and slowly, reluctantly lifted his head to see her reaction. If only he could spare her this. Spare all of them. He sat back, staring at Cora. Instead of sadness, her eyes flashed hardness, punching a hole in his sympathy. She bolted to her feet and stalked toward the river. He half rose, but she spun around, her fists bunched at her sides, and he settled back, withdrawing at the fierceness of her look.

  “I would like to march over to the Caldwells and toss this poor dead lamb on their table. I wonder how they’d like that.”

  “I can’t think they would.” He watched her carefully, not sure how she’d handle her anger.

  Cora dropped her gaze to the lamb in Wyatt’s arms. “Poor little thing.” She sucked in air as if preparing for battle. “Poor Lilly. Well, there’s nothing for it but to go home and tell her the news.”

  He shifted his weight back on his heels to push himself up. The lamb shifted as he moved. And then it shifted again. He sank back to the ground and stared. “Cora!”

  “Come on. Let’s get this done with.”

  “Cora, come here.”

  “What’s wrong with you? You object to carrying a dead lamb? Maybe you don’t like sheep.”

  He ignored her accusing tone. “I like sheep just fine. But I don’t think I’ll be carrying a dead lamb.”

  She pushed him aside. “For goodness’ sake. Give it to me. I’ll carry it.”

  The lamb bleated weakly.

  Cora fell back, landing on her rump, her eyes so round that Wyatt nearly laughed.

  “It’s alive?”

  “That’s what I was trying to tell you.” He grinned at her.

  “God be praised.” She sprang to her feet and threw her arms about him. “God be praised.” Her words were muffled against the hollow of his shoulder.

  He didn’t move. Didn’t raise his arms to hold her. Couldn’t. She only hugged him because of her joy over one live lamb. She didn’t realize what she did. Any more than she knew how warm and inviting her arms were. Or how her hair tickled his nose and made him want to bury his face in it.

  His heart beat at an alarming rate. As if he’d swum a mile in the cold river. Or climbed the tallest mountain. Or run all the way to town carrying a heavy pack.

  He blinked hard. He was an ex-con. He ought to remember that.

  She stepped back and tipped her head to consider him. “
You’re ice-cold.”

  A weak grin touched his mouth without reaching his eyes or coming anywhere near his heart. “I’ve been in the river twice now.”

  The lamb bleated again and tried to stand up.

  “Maybe he was only cold.” She patted Wyatt’s check, sending tension to his eyes and hope to his heart. “You are a hero, Wyatt. Wait until the girls learn what you’ve done.”

  He shook his head. “I didn’t do anything.” He didn’t expect Rose and Lilly would throw themselves into his arms, but if Cora did it again...

  He swallowed hard. He couldn’t let himself get too drawn to this family. His past could hurt them. Especially if Jimmy Stone showed up. Wyatt knew the man wouldn’t hesitate to hurt the Bells if he thought it would hurt Wyatt. He needed to remember that.

  Needing to escape Cora’s gratitude, he turned to the lamb. “Lambie Four, I presume.”

  Cora chuckled. “I’m sure he’s pleased to meet you.”

  “He’s awfully weak.” He scooped the lamb into his arms. “We’d better get him back to his mama.”

  “Which one?” The words gurgled from her throat. “The ewe or Lilly?”

  Wyatt laughed as every remnant of tension slipped from him. “I expect they will both fuss over him.”

  Cora patted his shoulder. “I expect they will. Best you be prepared for gratitude and joy.”

  He gave an exaggerated shudder. “Please tell me they don’t cry when they’re happy.” He tried to concentrate on the unfamiliar smell of wet sheep, paid attention to the ground before him so he wouldn’t trip and drop the lamb. He thought of how waterlogged his feet were. He would have to hang his boots by the fire tonight to dry them out.

  “Wyatt, what’s wrong?”

  He shook his head. “Nothing.” Except all this crying and hugging was so unfamiliar he wasn’t sure how to react. Should he enjoy it as much as he did? At least the hugging part? “Did you know wet sheep smell like damp clothes?”

  She laughed. “’Cause it’s the same thing. Wool on the critter becomes wool in a garment.”

  He knew that, of course. He released the air in his lungs quietly, lest it draw attention to the fact he’d acted so strangely.

  Cora patted his cheek. “Wyatt, you’re a hero.”

  “So you said, but don’t believe it. I’m just an ordinary man.”

  She snorted. “No man thinks he’s ordinary.”

  Her statement made him plumb forget his past and his need for caution. “Really? How do you know this?”

  She quirked an eyebrow at him. “From my vast experience with men, of course.” She held his gaze, her eyes wide.

  Except he didn’t believe her. She was far too innocent and fresh to have had a lot of experience with men. On top of that, he knew firsthand how carefully Mr. Bell watched his daughters. Wyatt tipped his head back and roared with laughter. “Your vast experience! Now I’ve heard it all.” He hooted again.

  She shrugged and grinned as if pleased with herself. “You sound as though you doubt me.”

  He shook his head while his chuckles continued to erupt. “Oh, not at all,” he choked out.

  They drew close to the farm. Mr. Bell and the twins were repairing the fence. Rose glanced up and saw them. She called to Lilly, who stared at the white bundle in Wyatt’s arms, her eyes wide.

  “He’s okay,” Cora called, and Lilly raced toward them.

  Wyatt couldn’t miss the joy in her face. He shifted his attention to Cora, who beamed at her approaching sister, then flicked him a smile that touched him like a gentle caress and turned his heart to a quivering mass that longed for such approval every day of his life.

  Lilly reached them with Rose at her heels.

  He realized that laughing with Cora, receiving her hugs and approval, had soothed some part of him inside that had hurt all his life. Something he’d not been aware of until he felt the lightness when it was gone.

  For a heartbeat he wondered if she had the ability to heal other wounds. Wounds left by his angry father, by a year of sharing his life with criminals who cared nothing for his feelings other than to mock if they thought they’d found a tender spot, and by the hurt heaped on him by cruel comments and rejection from people he had considered friends and neighbors.

  He’d gladly let Cora be the one to heal him. Only he didn’t want to bring disgrace or danger into her life.

  Chapter Ten

  Cora wondered if she’d ever felt so alive. Knowing the lamb was safe and then hugging Wyatt in her excitement... Something had shifted between them at that moment. The joy of making him laugh, seeing the tension in his eyes disappear, was rivaled only by that of returning Lambie Four safely to Lilly.

  Wyatt released the lamb to Lilly, who took it to the ewe. She dried the little one with her skirts and no one protested. Together she and the ewe hovered over the lamb, petting and comforting it.

  Rose stayed close as well, reassuring herself that Lilly was going to be okay now.

  Cora stole a glance at Wyatt. He stood with his hands on his hips, his stance wide, grinning at Lilly. He whispered to Cora, “Two mamas, just like you said. That little one is getting his fair share of care, I’d say.”

  She laughed. “I expect it will last for days, weeks.” She tossed her hands in the air as if exasperated. “Months more than likely.”

  Pa joined them. “The fence is repaired.” He looked Wyatt up and down. “Looks as if you should find some dry clothes.”

  Wyatt glanced down. “Guess I should, at that.”

  But before he could make one step toward his camp, Lilly and Rose spoke to each other, nodded and trotted to him.

  Rose hesitated, but Lilly didn’t lose a moment. She hugged him hard. “I’m so grateful to you for finding him. I can’t believe the rest of us were ready to give up so easily. It shames me.”

  Rose patted Wyatt’s arm. “We are so grateful. If there’s anything we can do for you, name it.”

  Cora smiled gently. Her sisters’ joy had been restored and that was all that mattered. Then she noticed how easily Wyatt patted Lilly on the back and grinned at Rose. Why had he stood stiff and awkward when she’d hugged him? It had only been a gesture of joy and gratitude, but still. Would it have hurt him to respond just a little? She turned away from the trio and stared at the repaired fence.

  Her anger and confusion focused on the damage the Caldwells had done. Perhaps they’d intended for the whole flock to drown. She kicked at a clump of sod and sent it sailing over the fence.

  Wyatt touched her shoulder. “Don’t let them get to you. Everything is back to normal. Now I’m going to get out of these wet things.” He patted her shoulder in a fatherly way and trotted toward the barn.

  Cora’s insides boiled. She’d had a father who left her. She had Pa, who took real good care of her. She didn’t need a fatherly pat from Wyatt. And he was wrong. Things weren’t back to normal. Thanks to his presence on the farm, things might never be normal for her again. He made her long for things she couldn’t allow herself. Her place was here on the farm, watching over her sisters. Besides, hadn’t she learned her lesson about trusting any man but Pa? Twice she’d been hurt by men with no regard for her feelings. First her papa and then Evan. There would not be a third time.

  Not that Wyatt had in any way suggested he might have feelings for her. It was only her own silly reaction to an emotionally fraught moment that had even made her think such things.

  She was far too practical to let her thoughts get out of control.

  Between them, Cora and Rose persuaded Lilly to leave the lamb long enough to change into dry clothes.

  Lonnie wandered over. “Where did everyone go?”

  Cora explained about finding the lost lamb. “Wyatt has gone to change.”

  Lonnie’s face wrinkled in worry. “Is he okay?
”

  “He just got wet. He’s fine.” She didn’t add that he had been rather cold, and she chafed her arms where his skin had chilled hers. Her heart longed to take care of Wyatt—wrap him in a cozy woolen blanket, rub his hands and arms until they glowed with warmth, give him hot, sweet tea.

  She closed her eyes, sucked in air and forced a reminder into her brain. She had no right to be imagining such intimacies.

  Wyatt returned a few minutes later in dry clothes, though she knew his boots would still be wet inside.

  She half expected Lonnie to rush to his side, but the boy hung back. He’d picked up one of the kittens and held it close. His eyes went to Wyatt, then darted away.

  How strange. It was one of the many unanswered questions about the pair that warned her she must be cautious.

  Yet despite what her brain said, she struggled to keep from watching Wyatt’s every move. In helping rescue the sheep, he’d revealed so many different facets of his character—tenderness, caring and determination. Combined with all she’d already observed and the way she’d seen him with fresh eyes at the store, it created a very appealing package. He was a man of honor and character.

  A man with a past he refused to talk about.

  She’d hugged him. Out of gratitude for the rescued lamb. But she’d felt much more than gratitude. There was a fluttering in her heart as she tried to identify her emotions. Admiration and concern. When she’d realized how cold he was, her nerves had tensed. What if he got sick?

  Looking back, she realized how foolish it was to be so concerned. He was a tough cowboy, used to riding long hours in any weather. A little soaking wouldn’t hurt him.

  Please, God, keep him safe.

  It was a prayer that she might have said for anyone. Except she’d never before prayed it for anyone outside her family.

  Ma called them to come to the house.

  Cora gladly turned away from the pair and pulled determination into her thoughts. She had her head on straight and meant for her heart to follow.