Glorious Montana Sky (The Montana Sky Series)

by Debra Holland

  As the threesome strolled toward the lights of the schoolhouse, Edith pulled her cashmere-lined velvet shawl closer around her. She was dressed in rose velvet that set off her dark upswept hair, the material edged with lace dyed the same shade. Pearls circled her neck and dangled from her earlobes. “I’m sorry, my dear friend,” she said, taking Delia’s arm, “that you won’t have the type of company tonight with whom you are accustomed to associating. The whole community is invited to events like this, and you’ll meet everyone from wealthy ranchers to the most uncouth cowhands who work for them. I believe even the poorer families have walked into town for the evening. Mack Taylor, the livery stable owner, allows them to sleep overnight in the hayloft.”

  Delia hid a smile of irony. If Edith only knew. “I’m looking forward to Western entertainments. Everyone here has been quite kind.” When it comes down to it, that’s more important than their social status. Not that most people in Papa’s circle in New Orleans would agree with me. But she didn’t dare voice her thoughts to her hostess.

  The schoolhouse came in sight, every window glowing with light. The ones nearest the front were open, and the noise of conversation spilled over to them. Some people walked or rode from opposite directions, obviously headed to the same place.

  Her stomach jumping with nerves, Delia followed Edith up the steps and into the schoolhouse. The one-room building was filled with people. Happy chatter buzzed through the space. She smelled sugar and vanilla and couldn’t help searching the crowd for a certain tall minister and feeling a pang of disappointment when she didn’t see him. She unclasped her cloak and hung it over several coats already taking up all the available pegs.

  Ben drifted over to some boys his age.

  The people nearby glanced their way. Their gazes seemed to focus in on her, and the hum of conversation dipped.

  Her jumpy stomach somersaulted. She felt pinned by everyone’s stares, a butterfly to a display board. Delia was certain people could tell who she really was—that at any minute there would be an outcry deriding her presence in the room. She almost turned to flee, but her legs had frozen.

  Edith grasped her elbow. “Let’s move to the other side.”

  Delia shook her head. “I don’t think this is a good idea, Edith. I should go back to your house and be with my father.”

  “Nonsense, my dear Delia. You know very well Andre insisted you attend this gathering. He will be quite perturbed if you return home without enjoying yourself.” She gave Delia’s elbow a tug. “Now, let’s go talk to Pamela Carter.” She lifted her chin to indicate the direction and began to cross the room.

  People made way for Edith, some smiling or nodding politely. But no one stopped to talk, which seemed strange, given the number of people in conversations, the shouts and waves of greeting others received when they entered.

  As Delia followed her hostess, she knew people stared at her. She caught the glint of interest in several men’s eyes and deliberately turned away her face , not wanting to give any sign of encouragement.

  Finally, when Edith reached the other side of the room, she stopped in front of a plain brown-haired woman with plump cheeks who wore a silk gown the same color as her garnet necklace and earrings. She looked familiar. Ah, she lent us her carriage.

  A little girl about four or five clung to her mother’s skirt. The child had delicate features, blue eyes, and long brown hair in ringlets. Her pink dress was edged with lace.

  The woman gave Edith a polite smile, and the two touched fingers in a genteel greeting, murmuring hellos.

  Mrs. Carter’s smile widened. “Miss Bellaire.” She clasped Delia’s hand with both of hers. “Tell me how your father fares. He’s been in our thoughts and prayers.”

  Delia’s throat tightened at the genuine concern in the woman’s eyes. “Thank you, ma’am. He’s much better, else I wouldn’t be here. But my father insisted. He wants to hear all about the social later.”

  Mrs. Carter patted Delia’s hand before releasing her. “Then you must have yourself a lovely time, so you have plenty to tell him. Staying bedridden is so dreary. After my confinement with my youngest daughter. . .” She smoothed her hand over the little girl’s head. “I had to stay in bed for several weeks. There were times I thought I’d go insane with boredom. Luckily, Lizzy was content to lie in my arms for hours, and I could gaze at her to my heart’s delight.”

  Delia’s heart crimped. She’d always thought she’d have babies. But now. . . . She shoved the painful thought away. I have my father. That is enough.

  But for how long? Another thought to set aside. “I want to thank you, ma’am, for your kindness in lending your carriage to my father and myself after his attack.”

  “Call me Pamela, my dear.” The woman patted Delia’s shoulder. “We aren’t so formal in this town. And you’ll find that we help each other a great deal. Life in Montana can be harsh, but the spirit of community we have here makes up for all the big-city amenities we lack.”

  Her kindness made sudden tears burn in the back of Delia’s eyes. She couldn’t help wondering if Pamela would have accepted Delia, the illegitimate octoroon, as readily as she did the woman she was pretending to be. But perhaps she would have. I’ll never know, Delia thought with sudden sadness, realizing that there were more complications to the deception than she’d anticipated.

  Edith evidently didn’t notice Delia’s moment of emotion. “Mrs. Carter comes from Boston, as does my family,” she said in a self-important tone.

  Pamela flicked a glance at Edith. “I don’t see Mr. Livingston with you.”

  “My brother had an appointment at the bank. He should be here soon.”

  Delia felt Reverend Norton before she saw him. An energy swirled within her and drew her attention toward the middle of the room. She shifted and saw him making his way over to her, and her heart did a happy dip.

  He stopped in front of them and gave a little bow. “Ladies, I’ve come to you for safety, for you three are people I can surely identify. After so many years away, I don’t recognize several in the gathering, and I’ve narrowly avoided giving offense. Then there are the callers who’ve flooded the parsonage, and I dread forgetting the name of someone I’ve just met.” He made a comical expression.

  Delia giggled.

  Reverend Norton’s eyes twinkled at her. “I have to catch my breath and brace myself before once again entering into the fray.”

  Edith didn’t look amused, but Pamela laughed with Delia. “I can understand your dilemma, Reverend Norton.” She shook her head. “Would you be comfortable with us addressing you as Reverend Joshua? It’s not that I don’t want to give you the respect due you. I just think two Reverend Nortons are confusing.”

  His smile dimmed and, for a moment, his eyes looked sad. “Reverend Joshua was the very name my native parishioners called me. So, I’m quite familiar with being addressed that way.”

  Mrs. Carter gave him an understanding smile. “Then we will spread the word about how to address you.”

  “Thank you.” His gaze fell on their empty hands. “But where is your ice cream?” he asked, clearly changing the subject. “Allow me to procure some for you.” He leaned down to Lizzy. “Do you want ice cream, little one?”

  She ducked behind her mother.

  Pamela looked down at her daughter with a fond smile. “Lizzy’s shy, Reverend Joshua. She’ll be better when she’s familiar with you.” She paused before adding, “But not much.”

  Everyone laughed except Edith.

  Reverend Joshua straightened. “So I see. But I must try.” He peeked around Pamela. “Miss Lizzy. Will you come with me to obtain bowls of ice cream? I don’t have enough hands to carry them all.” He spread out his fingers.

  Delia stepped back so she could see the little girl’s reaction.

  Lizzy shook her head and buried her face against her mother’s hip.

 
; “Rejected.” Reverend Joshua shook his head in mock dismay. “Perhaps, Miss Bellaire, I can call upon you to assist me in bringing ice cream for Miss Lizzy and her mother, as well as Mrs. Grayson.”

  “Certainly, Reverend Joshua.”

  Before they could embark on their mission, he spotted his son wiggling through the crowd. “Here comes my son.”

  Micah stopped in front of him and held up a big bowl of ice cream topped with berry sauce. “Father.” He raised his voice for attention. “This syrup is good.” He pointed with his spoon at the berry sauce. “The lady said it was saskatoon and that it’s also a jam. Can we get some to have at home?”

  Reverend Joshua grinned at his son.

  For a moment, the careworn look he’d sometimes worn vanished, and Delia could see the young lad he must have been.

  “My son has discovered his sweet tooth,” he said to Delia. “In Uganda, we didn’t have much chance to indulge.”

  “I can imagine.”

  He turned to his son. “Micah, one of the many blessings of being part of a minister’s family is that the good ladies of Sweetwater Springs make sure we are well provided with jams of all sorts. I remember we had to build a special cupboard in the kitchen.” He glanced at the women and made a boxlike motion with his hands. “The parsonage is so tiny that at one point, we cut out a section of the wall and built a pantry on the outside of the house.”

  Pamela clapped her hands together. “Reverend Joshua, you bring back memories.” She beamed at the others. “When John and I were newly married, he helped build that pantry. It was my second introduction to how people here help each other by way of being neighborly.”

  Reverend Joshua pulled a face of mock relief. “Thank goodness for that. My father, good man that he is, is not skilled with his hands. If the task were left to him, we’d probably have the wind whistling through the cracks. That is if the cupboard still stood after a few months.”

  Everyone laughed.

  Pamela looked at Micah. “I’m Mrs. Carter, Micah, and I have three children.” She tilted her head to study him. “My daughter Sarah is probably closest in age to you. She’s ten.”

  Micah puffed out his chest. “I’m nine.”

  “I’ll introduce you to her and my twelve-year-old son, Mark. And this one is almost six.” She dropped a hand on the head of her youngest daughter, who’d inched out from behind her mother. “Lizzy’s shy and won’t talk to you for a while.”

  Micah surprised them all by sweeping Lizzy a bow. “Miss Lizzy, I’m glad to meet you. Would you like me to fetch you some ice cream?”

  Reverend Joshua shook his head as if disbelieving what he’d just seen.

  Instead of ducking behind her mother again, Lizzy stayed where she was, staring at Micah with a solemn expression. Then her pink lips turned up, and she gave the boy a slight nod.

  “Well!” Pamela’s eyes were wide with amazement. “I see your son possesses the Norton charm, Reverend Joshua.”

  He choked, but couldn’t completely hide an incredulous expression. “I didn’t realize there was such a thing as ‘Norton charm.’ ”

  Oh, there definitely is, and I’ve fallen victim to it. Delia had never met a minister like Reverend Joshua. Never even heard of one like him. Not that she’d met many, only priests. Weren’t ministers supposed to be stern and humorless? But charm perhaps was the wrong word to describe the man. Kind, definitely. Intelligent. Educated. All good ministerial qualities. But there was more to him. Something special that she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Maybe because he made her feel special, in a way that had nothing to do with her sensual appeal. With a little stab of pain, she wondered if Reverend Joshua was as friendly with all the ladies of the parish as he was with her.

  Not that it matters, Delia scolded herself. Even if there is an attraction between us, I’m living a lie. I couldn’t possibly expect a minister, of all men, to excuse such a sin. I must put my attraction to him out of my mind.

  Reverend Joshua shot his son a look that Delia couldn’t identify.

  He waved at hand toward his son. “I will hopefully see many more instances of Micah displaying this hitherto unknown Norton quality.”

  Micah shrugged, seemingly unconcerned by their teasing, and took a bite of his ice cream. “It’s melting.” He tipped his head back and forth several times as if trying to decide something. “Don’t know which is better. The melty part or the frozen lump in the middle or the syrup.” He continued eating, his expression showing he was trying to decide.

  “Maybe it’s a combination,” Delia suggested, knowing exactly what the boy meant. Ice cream had been a rare and expensive treat in New Orleans. “But I’ll have to try the saskatoon sauce, too, so I can give you an informed decision.”

  He flashed her an impudent grin. “I can get you a bowl just like mine, Miss Delia.”

  “Why, Master Micah Norton,” Delia teased in her sweetest Southern drawl. “I’d like that just fine. But you don’t have enough hands to carry yours and Lizzy’s. I’ll get one later.”

  The boy turned and headed back through the crowd, stopping every few feet to take another spoonful from his bowl.

  Reverend Joshua stared after his son. “I think that offer was so Micah can go fill up his own bowl again, as well. I hope he doesn’t make himself sick.”

  “Two bowls shouldn’t be too bad,” said Pamela, a voice of maternal authority. “But if he goes for three, then definitely, you’ll have trouble on your hands.”

  As Reverend Joshua and Pamela discussed children and eating habits and sickness, Delia glanced around the room. In the few minutes they’d been in conversation, the space had filled further.

  Caleb Livingston stepped through the door and looked around, obviously searching for them.

  She was just about to nudge Edith to let her know her brother had arrived when she saw the banker stop and stare at a slender, brown-haired woman in a grape-colored gown, standing in the midst of a circle of men.

  He watched the woman for a moment, then moved to join her admirers, engaging in the discussion.

  Delia couldn’t see the woman’s face.

  A question from a man who was dressed like a clerk made the woman turn to answer him. She had a delicate beauty, with lovely lavender eyes made even more vivid by the purple of her dress. The men kept her so busy talking that she didn’t have time to eat the bowl of ice cream she held.

  Delia leaned close to Edith. “Who is that lovely lady surrounded by swains? The one in the purple gown whom one your brother is talking with?”

  Edith frowned. She searched the crowd to find her brother, then watched with her brows pinched together. “I have no idea. I’ve never seen the woman before.” Her voice dripped with disapproval.

  Easing away, she couldn’t imagine why Edith was reacting in such a manner. From the glimpse she’d had of the lady in purple, Delia noticed a pleasing softness about her expression, very unlike many women who were celebrated for their beauty and had the haughty personalities to show for it.

  Mrs. Carter leaned closer. “I believe that must be Miss Lily Maxwell. She’s a botanical illustrator staying at the Dunn’s ranch.”

  Caleb plucked the bowl from Miss Maxwell’s hands and handed it to one of the cowboys. Then he took the woman’s elbow and firmly guided her out of the schoolhouse.

  Miss Maxwell glanced back, her gaze scanning the crowd, obviously searching for someone, before Caleb whisked her out of sight.

  Surprised, Delia glanced at the banker’s sister.

  Pale with apparent shock, Edith quickly shifted her expression into a polite mask, but an angry flush crept into her cheeks.

  Micah’s reappearance with a bowl of ice cream for Lizzy and another full one for himself gave Edith an obvious excuse to draw Delia’s attention away from Caleb’s disappearance with the unknown woman. “Delia, would you like to take
Reverend Joshua up on his invitation to fetch us some ice cream now?” Edith’s voice sounded pleasant, but the stiffness of her body betrayed her displeasure with her brother.

  Micah handed Lizzy the bowl of ice cream.

  The little girl rewarded him with what Delia suspected was a rare smile.

  “Thank you,” she whispered.

  Pamela’s eyebrows rose. “Norton charm, indeed. Perhaps, we should say Norton magic.”

  Reverend Joshua rolled his eyes.

  Delia laughed. “Reverend Joshua, I’m shocked that a minister would make such an expression.” She pulled a frown and, looking down her nose, mimicked the displeasure he should be displaying. “I believe this is a more appropriate expression of a minister’s disapproval.”

  “I’m caught out, Miss Delia. I can only plead my long familiarity with my son. Believe me, charm is not the word usually used to describe him. The African equivalent to rascal is more common.”

  Pamela laughed. “Micah, Lizzy has a birthday coming up and I’d like to invite you to attend her party. I’ll send you an invitation.” She placed one hand on Lizzy’s shoulder and one on Micah’s. “Come along, Micah. You must meet Mark and Sarah and some of the other children, as well.”

  Edith gave a little wave to a woman entering the room. “If you’ll excuse me for a few minutes, Delia? I know I can leave you in Reverend Joshua’s capable hands.”

  Reverend Joshua started to extend his arm to Delia but dropped it back to his side. “There’s no way to escort you through this mob. I suggest I march through the herd of elephants and you follow close behind me. With luck, we’ll arrive safely at the ice cream encampment.”

  Delia was sure her answering smile must have betrayed her pleasure in his company for his gaze lingered on her mouth, making her heart flutter.

  Then he waved toward the tables. “Shall we?”