His Montana Bride

by Brenda Minton

  “I can’t think of anyone.” Cord pushed the door closed. “This is not great. Maybe I should have tried to talk him into staying.”

  “You would do that to him?”

  “No, I couldn’t. Not in good conscience.”

  Katie cast another cautious look at the door. “I should go in.”

  “I don’t envy you.”

  She shuddered a little. “I really don’t want to.”

  He gave her another easy kiss on the cheek. “I have to get back to the men, who are far less emotional. But while I’m here, I’m going to impose again.”

  “I’m not marrying you.”

  He flinched. “Ouch. At least you’re not waiting until we’re about to get married to tell me. I wasn’t asking you to marry me. I was going to ask if you would go with me this week. I’m taking Lulu to a facility between here and Ennis. I want her to see it, to feel good about it. And I want Marci to know what we’re planning. I’ll take her out of school to go.”

  “Of course I’ll go.”

  Because she never left a friend stranded. That’s who she was. He’d known she would say yes. And now that she had, it felt wrong.

  He reached for her arm as she started to walk away. “I shouldn’t do this to you.”

  She faced him again, her green eyes asking questions, her cheeks pink from the cool October air. “What?”

  “I’m taking advantage. You always do what people need you to do. It’s who you are. You’re the go-to girl for all your friends. You’re here for your sister because she asked. Now you’re there for me, for Marci, for Lulu, because I asked.”

  “I want to do this for you.” She caught her lip between her teeth. “Cord, I’m not a victim being used by everyone. I’m going with you because I genuinely like Lulu and Marci. I want to be there for them.”

  “Thank you, that does mean a lot.” His attention drifted from her to the car leaving the parking area, the ex-groom’s, from the way the car spun out and gravel flew.

  “You’ll find a fiftieth couple.”

  “I hope you’re right. I never thought this would be easy to pull off. I definitely didn’t count on the headaches it would cause.”

  “Two more weeks.”

  Yes, two more weeks. He wondered if she would really move to Jasper Gulch. How would it be if she stayed and they saw each other on Sundays at church or at the café during lunch hour?

  “Yes,” he agreed. “Two more weeks. We can do this. I’ll call and let you know when I’m taking Lulu.”

  “Won’t you be at church tomorrow?”

  He hadn’t thought about it, but, “Yes, I’ll be there.”

  It had been a long time since church had been a given in his life. He thought maybe he’d taken faith for granted. It was what the Shaw family did, they went to church. They prayed. They trusted God and they gave their tithes. He’d avoided church for several years, but he felt as if he was going back knowing more about himself, more about his own faith.

  He watched as Katie hurried back inside the festival hall. He could hear the women inside, talking and laughing as they tried on dresses. He thought about Katie in the dress her sister would be wearing down the aisle and how she wanted to be the one who wore that dress someday.

  It was the wedding. It was getting under his skin, making him think about things he’d been determined not to think about again. A woman in a white dress, a wedding ring, lifting a veil to see a bride’s face and a kiss that meant forever.

  All the things he’d almost had. Twice.

  The wedding would be over in two weeks and he’d go back to his old life. The life before this centennial celebration started taking over their town, their lives. But he wouldn’t really go back to who he was before.

  Chapter Ten

  The Shaw ranch was huge. Thousands of acres of Montana grassland and mountains. Katie stood next to the barn and watched as Adam and Austin Shaw moved cattle to acreage closer to the main house. They’d been branding and tagging calves, giving shots. She’d gone out with them yesterday, just to watch the process. Cord had been there, the older brother, the brother who gave too many orders and got under the skin of his younger siblings. She’d enjoyed watching and then enjoyed the hot lunch Nadine drove out in her truck.

  She walked Nadine’s poodle, Ranger, and the dog pulled on the leash. He wanted to keep moving, keep sniffing and investigating. The morning walks had become Katie’s way of helping out. She enjoyed the walks with Ranger, keeping the little dog out of trouble, and Nadine enjoyed the extra time it gave her to take care of book work, which was her duty on the Shaw ranch.

  With Gwen gone again, Katie needed to keep busy, to feel as if she wasn’t just wasting time here. There were moments when she thought she should go home. There were more moments when she wondered if she would ever want to leave Jasper Gulch.

  “Come on, Ranger, time to go inside.” She didn’t have to force the issue. The sound of a truck had Ranger’s attention and the dog turned and started back to the house, pulling on the leash to go home. It was Cord’s truck.

  “Are you really that excited to see him?” Katie asked. In response, Ranger yapped a few times. “Fine, he is nice and I’m usually glad to see him, too. At least you can’t tell.”

  The dog led her down the driveway, back to the house that looked stark in the middle of this valley with few trees and the blowing grass turning brown. The mountains in the distance looked gray this morning, gray but capped with white snow. Winter would be here soon.

  Cord had stepped out of his truck. Lulu and Marci were still inside. Marci waved and Katie waved back. She headed in Cord’s direction, but not because she had a choice. Ranger tugged on the leash, pulling with all of his eight-pound might. It turned out eight pounds of determined was actually very strong.

  “Ready to go?”

  She nodded and held tight to the leash. “Let me put him in the house and grab my purse.”

  “We’ll wait in the truck. If I go inside, I might never get away. I think Mom is doing some end-of-year stuff and she always has questions.”

  Katie headed for the house, pulling the reluctant poodle. She finally picked the dog up because it was easier than fighting him on the leash.

  She’d learned a lot about ranching in her short stay at the Shaw ranch. She knew that the business side of taking care of cattle was huge. It was a family corporation with taxes, investments, expenses and salaries. There were also big losses, Nadine explained. An early snowstorm could do them in; so could drought, if they had to haul hay from other states.

  She released Ranger, hung his leash on the door and called out to Nadine that she was leaving. A moment later, Nadine appeared in the living room, looking a little frazzled.

  “You’re going with Cord to take Lulu to Mountain Acres?”

  “Yes.”

  Nadine gave her a steady look and then nodded. “It won’t be an easy day.”

  “No, it won’t.”

  “I’m glad you’re going.” Nadine walked with her to the door. “Cord has a habit of not relying on people. Katie...”

  “Yes?” They stood in the doorway and Katie wanted to escape whatever Nadine Shaw might say. In the end, the older woman shook her head and told her thank you, as if that made sense.

  Katie hurried out to the truck, running against the brisk wind that blew at her. Marci had the door open to the back and Katie climbed in next to her, behind Cord in the driver’s seat. Lulu stared straight ahead, not responding when Katie spoke.

  Marci reached for Katie’s hand and held tight. She held tight on the drive to the facility, Mountain Acres. She held tight as they toured the home. They walked through the dining area, the sitting rooms and the activity room. They visited a room with two beds, two recliners, two televisions. Lulu walked to the window and looked out at the brown
grass of the garden area. The sky beyond was laced with gray clouds, the blue just barely peeking through.

  Lulu turned and smiled at them. “Why did you say I’m here?”

  Cord stepped next to her at the window. “Lulu, do you remember what we talked about? That you need more care?”

  Lulu nodded and her hand rested on his arm. “Is this the home you told me about?”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “And you’re leaving me here? Where will Marci sleep?”

  He sighed and his shoulders stooped and Katie wanted to make it all go away for him, for Marci and for Lulu. Marci held tight to her hand, and Katie watched as she flicked away tears.

  “Marci will sleep at my house. You gave me custody.”

  “Oh, yes, that’s right.” Lulu turned to face them, smiling at her granddaughter. “You know this is a very nice place.”

  Marci nodded.

  “You’ll come and visit me and we’ll sing.”

  Marci ran to her grandmother, wrapping thin arms around the only parent she remembered. “‘In the Sweet By and By,’” the child mumbled against her grandmother’s waist.

  “‘We shall rest on the beautiful shore.’ I won’t forget, Marci.”

  “I know.”

  “We’ll sing it together every time you visit.”

  Marci nodded, but she didn’t release her grandmother.

  Cord walked away, leaving the two alone to come to terms with their near future. Katie followed him out of the room and the administrator walked with them.

  “We’ll help her get on a schedule and keep her routine. That’s important for Alzheimer’s patients,” she explained. “When they know their surroundings and things are kept the same, they seem to do better. We’ll do our best to make her happy and of course you can visit at any time.”

  Cord brushed a hand through his hair; his face was etched with the pain of making this decision. Katie placed a hand on his shoulder, wishing she could do more. He covered that hand with his and then he raised it to his mouth and kissed her palm. His eyes were closed and he slowly shook his head.

  “I wish I didn’t have to be the one doing this to them.”

  “I know.” She leaned in close, holding his hands. “But you’re the one who cares the most, which means you’ll make the best decision.”

  “I keep thinking that if she stays at home, we can help her. We can look after her. We could hire someone to live in full-time.”

  “Cord, you know...”

  “I know.”

  Behind them were footsteps. Katie glanced toward the room and saw Lulu with Marci. They were holding hands and the nurse was walking with them. Marci burst into tears and ran at Cord, wrapping her arms around his waist and not letting go.

  Lulu touched her granddaughter’s head, stroking the blond hair. “I’m not going home, Cord. I’m staying.”

  “Lulu, we’re just here to look at this place.”

  “No, we’re here for me to stay. I planned it this way. I could go home and in a week or two you would need to bring me back. But I can’t keep doing this, worrying that I’ve forgotten to turn off the stove, worrying that I haven’t fed Marci. Sometimes I worry that I don’t know her. That isn’t good for either of us.”

  “Lulu, we can work this out.” Cord held on to Marci and with his eyes implored the older woman, who seemed to have already made a decision.

  Katie reached for his arm as he stepped forward, taking Marci with him.

  “Cord, I’m staying. I have my purse and it has what I need for a day or two. Someone can bring the rest. But Marci needs a home that is safe and someone looking out for her. For the past few weeks she’s been taking care of me. That isn’t fair for a little girl. So I want you all to give me a hug and promise you’ll visit.”

  “We’ll visit, Lulu,” Cord said.

  Lulu reached for her granddaughter. “Marci, honey. Please sing with me one more time before you go.”

  Marci flew to her grandmother’s arms and sobbed as they sang together, “‘There’s a land that is fairer than day and by faith we can see it afar...’”

  Lulu stroked Marci’s hair and as they sang she pulled away.

  Marci fell into Katie’s arms and Katie held her close for a minute before leading her out of the nursing home while Cord waited with Lulu. If she’d known when she came to Jasper Gulch that this would be her journey, she thought. And then she took it back. She would still have come. She would still want to hold this child and be a friend to that man.

  * * *

  It was late afternoon when Cord pulled his truck into the driveway of Lulu’s little house on the edge of Jasper Gulch. He sat there for a minute, the truck running, Katie in the passenger-side seat with Marci leaning against her. He had to turn off the engine and go inside that house with no Lulu to greet them. He had to pack a bag of her belongings and he had to pack what Marci would need for a few days. Until they could move, well, whatever they would be moving. He had the power of attorney to dispose of the house and property. He guessed he’d keep it for Marci. For someday.

  “We should go in,” Katie finally said.

  He nodded and turned the key in the ignition. “Man, this stinks.”

  “Yes, it does. But you’ll get through it.”

  He agreed, he would. He glanced at the sleeping form of the girl he’d promised to always watch out for. Now he would be raising her. He didn’t know if either of them was ready for what was ahead of them. But he knew they’d give it their best.

  “Yeah, we’ll get through it.” He opened the door. Marci woke up, groggy and brushing hair back from her face. “We’re home.”

  She nodded, grabbed her jacket and slid to the door. Katie climbed out on her side and followed them up the sidewalk to the front door. They entered the quiet house with furniture from a few decades earlier. Worn but comfortable, Lulu always said. She loved this house with the big windows, the outdated colors and the kitchen with new appliances he’d bought her the previous Christmas. She’d always wanted one of those stoves without burners, she’d said. He’d bought her one. And the stainless-steel fridge that matched.

  Marci stepped into the house, looking around as if she expected Lulu to greet them, wiping her hands on her apron and telling some story about Joe down the street or that ornery Rusty Zidek. Rusty had been a friend of Lulu’s dad. History. This town had it.

  “You need to pack some clothes, Marci.”

  He wished he’d framed the request in a different way. The second the words left his mouth he knew he should have given her more time. Katie shot him a lethal look and he shrugged.

  “Why don’t you show me your room?” Katie requested and Marci took her up on it. The two of them headed down the hall to Marci’s bedroom.

  Cord stood at the window wishing he had another choice for this day, another way it could end. Katie returned to the living room a few minutes later. He saw her reflection next to him in the window.

  “Cord, she’s pretty wiped out from the emotion. Why don’t we let her stay here tonight. I know you have a lot going on, but I don’t. I’m the person who was dumped here by my sister, left for your family to feed and shelter. I could stay with her. It will give us time to go through her stuff and time for her to adjust.”

  Cord brushed a hand over his face and wished he could think like a woman. It wasn’t happening, though. He could, however, admit when a woman had a good idea. “That sounds like a good plan. I can run over to the café and get dinner.”

  “I think that will work.”

  He glanced at the clock on the wall. “I’ll head that way now. I know what Marci wants, what about you?”

  “I’ll have the taco salad.”

  He nodded and hit the door before he could do what he really wanted to do, take Katie in his arms and
thank her for being there for them. For him.

  When Cord pulled up to the café it wasn’t crowded. Of course, it wasn’t quite dinnertime. He walked in, removing his hat as he did. The waitress, Mert, stood behind the counter. She raised her head and gave him a serious look.

  “I heard about Lulu.”

  “How in the world do you people find out this stuff before I can even make it back to town?”

  “Well, Beulah, my neighbor, has a granddaughter who has a friend who works at Mountain Acres.”

  He groaned.

  “And that’s how it works,” Mert said with a light tone but no smile. “You know, Cord, I didn’t see this coming for Lulu. I guess I’ve seen her slipping a little. For the past year or so she’d forget things. But we’re all getting older and we’re all forgetful from time to time.”

  “I know, Mert. I was the same. I think the only ones who really saw were Lulu and Marci.”

  “How’s the little munchkin?”

  “Not good.”

  “No, I don’t reckon she is. Let me fix you up her favorite and I’ll throw in the chocolate pie. On me.”

  “You don’t have to do that, Mert.”

  “Well, of course I do. Cord, this town really cares about that kid. She’s kind of belonged to all of us and we’re all still here for her. And for you.”

  “Thanks, I’m going to need all the help I can get.”

  She patted his arm as she headed for the kitchen. “No, you’ll do okay with her. Besides that, you’ve got that pretty Katie Archer to help you out.”

  When he got back to Lulu’s, that pretty Katie Archer was sitting on the couch. Marci was sprawled out sound asleep on the other end with her kitten curled up next to her. Katie looked up as he walked through the door. He held up the bags of food and carried them to the kitchen. Katie joined him.

  “How is she?” He asked the question that he already knew the answer to.

  “She’s exhausted, and sleep will probably do her a lot of good. We went through her room and packed a suitcase of clothes. We also packed some pictures from her walls, her stuffed animals and a few games. Cord, this has been a long year for her. I think as sad as she is, there is also a little part of her that is relieved.”