Tracie Peterson - [Heirs of Montana 04]

by The Hope Within

His expression dropped. “Is that how you truly saw it?”

  A warm breeze fluttered the ties of Dianne’s bonnet. She hated having hurt him with her confession, but she hated having lies between them even more. “I’ve tried to see it your way. I’ve tried to be patient about the delays, but every time I saw you freight another load of lumber for someone else’s house or bring in an order of windows, or talk about how the valley was returning to its old state of glory, I held you a deeper grudge.” She looked away shaking her head. “I never meant to—it was just my defense against the pain.”

  “I never wanted to cause you pain,” he said. “I only wanted to be realistic about our return. After all, there were the children to think about.”

  “That’s part of the reason I’m so grieved. The boys hate it here. They are constantly picked on at school, and they miss their ponies and the days we spent out of doors. Lia hears their tales and asks me why she can’t have a horse or learn to fish.”

  “And I suppose you tell them I’m to blame.”

  Dianne’s head snapped up and she narrowed her eyes. All of her good intentions to let go of her anger faded in that single statement. “I’m not that cruel. I’ve never spoken against you to the children. I will confess that I spoke to George and Koko the day before they left. I told them how I felt—how hard it was to watch them go home while we have to remain behind. George promised me that he and Jamie would work to put our house in order so that you would feel comfortable moving us there this fall, but I told him I saw no sign of your being willing to do that.”

  It was Cole’s turn to be angry. “I told you when the time was right, we’d return. It would be foolish to rush back. Do you want the children living exposed to the elements—to wild animals? We have a good life here. Our friends are here.”

  “Well, my heart is there!” Dianne declared and began to walk away.

  “I thought I was your heart,” he called after her softly.

  Dianne stopped in midstep. Her confession had not gone well. She was angry again. Angry and hurt. She turned and looked at her husband. “And I thought I was your heart.”

  He sighed and came to where she stood. “You are my heart—my life. But I don’t want to argue this out in the middle of the street.”

  “I didn’t ask you to argue with me, Cole. I merely wanted to confess my wrongdoing and receive your forgiveness.” Her tone was clipped, edging on sarcastic. “I suppose you won’t give it now—now that you know how I felt.”

  “Feel.”

  Dianne looked at him for a moment, unsure what he meant. “What are you saying?”

  “You still feel this way. It isn’t in the past at all. This isn’t a matter of how you felt—it’s a matter of how you still feel.”

  Dianne started to deny it, then nodded and began walking toward the house on the hill. Why can’t I let this anger go? Why can’t I forgive him and forget it—just release it here and now?

  “‘But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”’ She heard Ben’s words ringing clear in her heart. It was all just too much to deal with.

  The last thing Dianne wanted to confront was a houseful of people upon her return from church. But that was exactly what she got. Morgan, one of her older brothers, had come with a group of several people he’d taken on tour through the Yellowstone National Park wilderness.

  “Hello, sis,” he said as Dianne came into the house. “I have some people here I think you’ll enjoy meeting. I thought you might be willing to put us up for the night as well.”

  Dianne looked at the group of four men. Clearly they were city dudes out to take in the country air. It was a scene she’d seen several times with Morgan. He seemed to enjoy acting as tour and hunting guide these days.

  “The two rooms at the far end of the upstairs hall are free. You’re welcome to them. There’s also a room just off the kitchen.”

  “I can take that one,” Morgan said, giving Dianne’s shoulders a squeeze. “I’ll get our guests settled upstairs. Can you feed us as well?”

  “We’ll manage,” she said as she removed her bonnet.

  “Wonderful. Here, let me introduce you.” Morgan took Dianne by the hand and pulled her over to meet her guests. “This is Mr. Stromgren. He’s from New York City, as are his companions, Mr. Wayne, Mr. Winters, and Mr. Mullins. Gentlemen, this is my sister Mrs. Dianne Selby.”

  Cole came into the room and Morgan included him in the introduction. “And my brother-in-law, Cole Selby.”

  The men had already gotten to their feet for Dianne, but they extended their hands in welcome to Cole. After he’d shaken each man’s hand, he turned to Morgan. “Are you needing rooms?”

  “Yes, and we’ve already spoken with Dianne about the matter. I hope that was all right,” Morgan said, looking rather sheepish.

  “You know it is. You’re always welcome.”

  From the next room, Ardith began playing the piano. It was a beautiful Chopin piece, one Dianne had come to recognize and love.

  “Where is that glorious music coming from?” Mr. Stromgren asked.

  “That would be my sister. She’s playing in the parlor next door.” Dianne went to the paneled sliding doors and pushed them back. “Ardith, we have guests, and they are very much enjoying your music. I hope you don’t mind.”

  Ardith looked up as she continued to play. “I don’t mind.”

  “You are truly skilled, my dear,” Mr. Stromgren said as he came to stand beside Dianne. The other gentlemen joined him. “This is the kind of talent I’ve been looking for. Why, people would pay a fortune to hear her in New York.” He looked to his companions, and they all nodded in agreement.

  “It isn’t all that often,” he continued, “that you find a beautiful woman with such talent. The audiences are all about appearance. The visual is very important.”

  “I don’t suppose I would know anything about that,” Dianne said.

  “Well, I do. It’s my business to provide audiences with talented artists. Your sister must have played since she was very young.”

  “Actually, no. She has only played for about the last five years.”

  “A truly amazing feat. Why, she masters Chopin as if she were part of the music.”

  Ardith completed the piece and rose. “Thank you for your compliments, sir.”

  “Christopher Stromgren,” he said, stepping forward boldly. “I know we’ve not yet been properly introduced, but we must speak. I have a proposition for you. I would like to take you to New York and present you to the awaiting audiences there and in other cities around the country.”

  “You’ve only heard her play one Chopin serenade,” Dianne protested. “How do you know that she can play anything else?”

  Stromgren’s gaze never left Ardith. The man, with his curly red hair and thick, bristly mustache, seemed enthralled. “I just know these things.”

  Ardith smiled—a rarity to be sure. “I need to help with dinner, but perhaps we could speak afterward.”

  Her attitude completely took Dianne by surprise. Her sister was generally very reserved and had nothing to do with strangers.

  “I will count the minutes,” he replied. “May I at least have your name?”

  “Ardith. Ardith Sperry.”

  Dianne excused herself and made her way to the kitchen. Pulling on her apron, she couldn’t help but address the matter the moment Ardith stepped into the room.

  “What are you thinking? You don’t know that man. Why, he could be nothing more than … than … well, you know. A man who entices innocent young women for ill purposes.”

  “I think he seems rather charming,” Ardith said as she took up her own apron.

  “Who is charming?” Mara Lawrence asked. The young lady had stayed with them since the time of the fire.

  “Mr. Stromgren,” Ardith replied before Dianne could say a word. “He wants to take me to New York City to play piano for audiences there.”

  “How interesting.”


  “What about Winona?” Dianne questioned, hoping the mention of the child’s name would bring her mother back to her senses.

  “I suppose we’d simply have to discuss that at the appropriate time.”

  Dianne shook her head. “You can hardly drag the child all over the country. Winona needs you here. Not in New York.”

  Ardith turned a cold expression on her sister. “Mind your own business. I’ll live my life as I see fit. And I’ll care for Winona in whatever manner I believe best.”

  CHAPTER 2

  CHESTER LAWRENCE WAS A HARD MAN. A MAN OF DETERMINATION and purpose, he was ruthless and unforgiving. He was also the richest man in all of the Madison Valley. By his standards the world was in good order. He no longer had to compete with the Selbys and the Diamond V for beef contracts, and he had a healthy, growing herd to see him through hard times. Of course the summer drought had made cattle ranching more interesting, to say the least, but with the help of his hired hands and his sons Jerrod and Roy, Chester felt that the world and all its treasures belonged to him.

  He shifted in the saddle and looked out across the river valley. He’d never seen a more beautiful piece of country. The rich ground was perfect for grazing, and despite the drought, the Madison River ran free and clear. There were really only two thorns in his side that continued to haunt him. One, that the Selbys still owned the land adjoining his, and two, that his daughter Mara had betrayed him to take up a life with the Selbys.

  “Traitor. She always was different. Just like her brother.” He tried not to think of Joshua or Mara, but at times like this they had a way of creeping into his thoughts. Mara was a grown woman now; almost twenty-two years of age, if he remembered right.

  She was nothing like her mother or father. In fact, Chester couldn’t think of anyone in the family that she took after. He had raised his children to be strong, hard, and determined to succeed. But with Mara and Joshua, the lessons refused to take. He couldn’t figure out what had gone wrong.

  Chester didn’t like to admit that their desertion bothered him. He still had Jerrod and Roy, and they were mean enough to get anything accomplished that needed doing. Then there was Elsa. She’d just turned twenty in the spring, and Chester had plans for her. Plans for himself, really. He would marry Elsa to the old rancher who lived to the north of their property line. Herbert Denig was older than Chester, but he fancied Elsa and had agreed to sign over control of his property upon his death to Chester. The price: Elsa.

  Chester thought it a reasonable deal. The only problem would be convincing his daughter. And now Mara was interfering with all of his plans. She’d invited her sister to come live with the Selbys in Virginia City.

  “Those cursed Selbys. Stealing my children.”

  He turned his gelding toward home and rode for nearly an hour thinking only of how to convince Elsa to stay and marry Denig. He certainly couldn’t appeal to her loyalty, for the girl had been unnaturally distant when he took a second wife after her mother had passed away.

  He sometimes worried that she’d known her mother’s death had come at the hands of his new bride, Portia Langford. But since nothing was ever said about such matters—and because he knew that if his children had any real proof of the murder, they would have been happy to mention it—he couldn’t figure out Elsa’s hostility.

  Now Portia was gone as well, having been found burned to death on Selby land. He couldn’t figure out why she’d been there that day, unless she wanted to gloat over the destruction. He missed Portia but was also relieved by the loss. He’d always known that had she not died first, she would have eventually tried to kill him off. Just as she had her other husbands.

  He almost laughed out loud remembering how she’d given him an account of her deeds—proudly, almost as if she were near to bursting for the desire to tell someone her accomplishments. She told him she was confessing so he would know he had nothing to fear from her. After all, she certainly wouldn’t have come clean with him had she ill plans for his future.

  Chester didn’t believe her. He thought her more in need of proving to him that she was dangerous—that he needed to watch his step. After all, he knew his demeanor was intimidating to most folks, Portia included. He could easily see at times that he frightened her. It kind of excited him to know that. So her little confession didn’t have the effect she had hoped for. He merely regarded her as a dangerous animal—a she-bear living within his home. He was always on his guard. Always cautious of her actions. But still, he liked the woman. She’d been his equal in many ways, and for that reason, he was sorry she was gone.

  The sound of a rider approaching from behind caused Chester to rein back his horse and turn. He felt the dust dry his throat to an intolerable tightness as his youngest son rounded the bend and came into view.

  “Joshua.” He muttered the name almost as a curse. Joshua approached on the back of a large black gelding. The horse had clear indications of Arabian blood and carried himself well. Pity he’d been cut. The animal would have made a beautiful sire. The beast whinnied as if agreeing with Chester’s thoughts.

  “What are you doing here?” Chester growled out.

  “That’s not a very kind greeting for someone who hasn’t seen his son in nearly five years.”

  “That’s because you aren’t welcome here.”

  Joshua appeared unfazed. He was taller and more filled out than Chester remembered. He wasn’t as big as his brothers, but still there was nothing shameful about his appearance. No doubt the women found him handsome, but Chester wondered if the boy was capable of a hard day’s work.

  “I thought perhaps we could talk.”

  “Talk has never done anything for me. Besides, I have a meeting with your brothers. I don’t have time for this.”

  “Could I just wait for you at the house?” Joshua asked. “I won’t take long, and I promise to leave before dark.”

  Chester was curious about what would bring the boy back to the ranch he had so hated. “All right. You can wait for me, but I want you gone before night.”

  “I promise you, Father, I will be long gone.”

  “So the prodigal returns?” Jerrod Lawrence said to his brother Roy. He nudged him and pointed to the house, where Joshua was dismounting.

  “Never thought we’d see him again,” Roy said, spitting to one side. “Think he’s come for money?”

  Jerrod laughed. “He’d know better’n that.”

  Their father rode up to the barn. “You finished with that shoeing yet?”

  “These premade shoes just ain’t as good. We oughta take the horses into town and have’em properly fitted. Better still, we oughta hire us a decent smithy,” Jerrod said, putting aside his tools.

  “I’ll be the one to decide what we need and what we don’t need. You two are no better than Joshua if you can’t follow my instructions and treat me with respect.”

  Jerrod straightened and looked his father in the eye. When Jerrod had been a boy, the man had absolutely terrified him.

  Now Jerrod simply saw the fading glory of a once strong and powerful man.

  “You get all the respect you deserve. Don’t try to bully me around.”

  Their father narrowed his eyes. “You two are always thinking yourselves too good to take orders. I don’t need the grief.”

  “We’ve taken your orders and taken care of your ranch, but we’ve just about reached our limit. That’s why we called this meeting. Me and Roy are leavin’.”

  Their father’s expression remained fixed—stoic—but Jerrod noticed him pale ever so slightly.

  “What in the world do you think you’re doing spouting such nonsense to me? You two have a past that you don’t need folks finding out about.”

  “A past that clearly implicates you, old man,” Jerrod said, pointing his finger at his father’s chest.

  “You can’t prove that.”

  “You’d like to believe that, but it ain’t true.” Jerrod pushed his hat back off his forehead. “There
isn’t a court in this land that would find you innocent when Roy and I start talking. So before you think to threaten us into staying on this ranch, think again. We know who set that fire five years ago.”

  “Set the fire? That fire came on the heels of a dry thunderstorm.”

  Jerrod laughed. “That fire came at the hand of your devious bride, Portia.”

  Chester shook his head. “She would have told me if she’d had such plans.”

  “Well, apparently she figured you didn’t need to know. Roy and I followed her out that day. We figured she needed a dressing down—she’d gotten us in too much hot water with you. You believed her story about us beating her when we hadn’t even laid a hand on her. So we figured we’d teach her a lesson—give her a scare.”

  “Like that woman could be scared of anything.”

  “Oh, she looked pretty frightened when that fire came over the mountain.”

  Chester’s expression changed. “You were there? When she died?”

  “Yep, we were there. Her horse fell and trapped her underneath. We figured it fittin’ and left her to burn. We also figured she was doin’ your bidding. That fire was set directly in line to burn the Selby ranch. She carefully calculated the wind and the location. That fire was deliberate, and we’d happily tell the court that you instigated it—even helped her accomplish it.”

  “You would turn traitor on your father?”

  Roy laughed. “Like you wouldn’t sell either one of us any day of the week and twice on Sunday if it meant makin’ you cattle king of Montana.”

  “You’re calloused and without loyalty,” their father accused.

  “And just where do you s’pose we might’ve learned that, old man?” Jerrod asked. “You’ve only lived it by example every day of our lives. You taught us that holding anyone or anything too dear was a weakness. You taught us to think of ourselves first—and others never.”

  “So go then. If it’s all that important to you. I can hire two more men to take your place. You mean nothing to me more than that.”

  Jerrod wouldn’t let the old man know that his words cut. He’d worked hard all his life to feel nothing—to care about no one. He refused to let himself desire his father’s approval. It didn’t matter now, because he wouldn’t let it matter.