The Man from Montana

by Julianna Morris

  “If you’re sure?”

  “I’m positive.”

  Clay’s concern was charming, if misplaced. And it just made her feel guiltier. He’d taken a risk by hiring her in the first place, and now she was a trainee, which meant she wouldn’t be productive for a while. Not only that, she hadn’t planned to spend the entire summer in Montana. Through June, perhaps, but not July and August or later. Now she felt she should stay.

  Anyhow, remaining in Montana was the only way she’d be able to go on a whitewater-rafting trip and observe Clay as the guide, and she’d discovered that all of the Carson Outdoor Adventures rafting trips were booked through June.

  “By the way,” she said, trying to sound casual, “I don’t think I mentioned that I’m an experienced rafter and kayaker. I also have lifeguard certification.”

  “The guide you’ve replaced doesn’t do rafting trips since it requires specialized training, but if there’s an extra slot at some point, I’ll consider bringing you along as an observer,” Clay said.

  She nodded and stepped away, not wanting it to look as if she was monopolizing his time...or to reveal how much she wanted to go on one of those rafting trips. When working in the office, she had planned to watch the upcoming whitewater excursions and book one that Clay was leading. It wouldn’t be possible now.

  “Are you enjoying yourself?” she asked Patrick’s mother.

  “We’re having a great time. We’re proud of what our son wants to do, but it’ll be hard not to have him with us for the next couple of years. That’s why we planned this weekend. Camping and hiking is a Frazier family tradition and a couple of days are all we could manage between everyone’s schedules.”

  They talked until Clay reminded the group they still had a ways to go before stopping that night. When the hike resumed, he subtly maneuvered things so she found herself hiking with Patrick’s sister, Brianna. The high school junior chattered away, requiring only an occasional nod of agreement or brief comment, which gave Tessa time to muse about why Clay had reacted how he had about Patrick Frazier. With someone else, she might have wondered if a hint of jealousy was involved, but Clay hardly seemed the type.

  The question that did nag her was whether he was concerned about guide-and-client romances because something had gone terribly wrong with Renee.

  * * *

  THAT NIGHT TESSA watched Clay prepare the meal—largely a case of putting prepared ingredients together—and then offered to handle the cleanup after everyone had finished eating.

  “No, because you aren’t working,” he said.

  “I’m getting a free guided trip. I should contribute.”

  “I’d love to help,” Brianna volunteered.

  Clay gave her a friendly smile, though he also appeared uncomfortable. “That’s nice of you, Brianna, but at Carson Outdoor Adventures we pride ourselves on letting guests enjoy their time without having the housekeeping chores around meals. Go visit with your brother, I’m sure he’d appreciate it.”

  “Oh, right.”

  “Better let me take care of the dishes,” Tessa told him softly. “You already told them I was a trainee guide. How will it look if I don’t do anything?”

  Clay regarded her for a long second. “Fine, you can help.”

  Helping wasn’t what she’d intended, but she couldn’t object too strenuously without it sounding strange. He probably wanted to ensure she knew the proper procedures to keep bears and other animals from getting used to the presence of people. Being cautious wasn’t just for the safety of the current group, it helped protect future campers and hikers.

  “You didn’t have to maneuver Patrick Frazier away from me earlier,” she said as they waited for the rinse water to heat.

  “Is that what I did?”

  “Yes, as you well know.” Tessa yawned and stretched. Her restless night was catching up with her physically, in addition to mentally. “Will anyone else be living in the women’s bunkhouse this summer?”

  “A couple of postgrad students, Grace and Nadia. They have family locally, but wanted to be freer to come and go this year. The bunkhouses have been convenient in getting and keeping employees. Rentals can be in low supply in Elk Point during the summer, so being able to offer lodging works out to everyone’s benefit.”

  “You seem to employ a good number of people.”

  His face tightened. “Unfortunately, I don’t have work for all of them year-round. Mostly I keep staff to take care of the horses during the off-season.”

  “And your brother.”

  “Of course. Andrew is an expert cross-country skier, so we both lead trips in the winter. Snowshoe trips are also popular.”

  Tessa shivered. She’d heard stories about northern Montana winters. The Going-to-the-Sun Road that crossed Glacier National Park wouldn’t even open until after the middle of June, or possibly later.

  Carson Outdoor Adventures only offered trips outside the national park, but the snow situation probably wasn’t that different in the surrounding wilderness areas, at least in the upper elevations. Only the lower trails were being used for backpacking at present, and even so, she’d seen a few patches of white in deep shade.

  “I’ll be able to hire more guides if Gunther Computer Systems decides to use my company for their executive retreats. Those trips would be outside of the regular posted schedule,” Clay added.

  “Have you heard from them?”

  “Nope. They may have gone elsewhere. Though not locally, or I would have heard about it.”

  His expression was so stern and forbidding that Tessa didn’t want to ask anything else. She could see why a contract for corporate retreats would be profitable, and also that it would help the local economy. Perhaps he had mixed feelings because it would require a change in how he did business.

  She gazed at the pine trees on the edge of the cleanup area Clay had chosen. It was a natural clearing due to the rock outcroppings.

  “What are those?” she asked, pointing to a bush she’d seen quite often. Small, pink lantern-shaped blossoms grew along stems with glossy serrated leaves.

  “It’s a huckleberry bush, one of my favorite August treats,” Clay said. “The berries are delicious in pancakes.”

  “When I was driving through Montana I saw all sorts of signs for huckleberry ice cream and other products. I don’t think we have them in Arizona. What do the berries look like when they’re mature?”

  “Similar to small blueberries when ripe, though huckleberry enthusiasts will tell you they have much more flavor. Just a few handfuls are needed for a batch of pancakes. My aunt is partial to putting them in muffins.”

  “The aunt who looks after your brother’s son?”

  “That’s right.”

  Tessa waited for him to say more, but she’d already discovered that he could be tight-lipped about anything personal, and this appeared to be one of those times.

  Curious, Tessa crossed the clearing to examine one of the bushes. She could see that many of the blossoms were drying and berries were forming. When she returned, the pot on the camp stove had begun steaming.

  After they’d dealt with the dishes, Clay scattered the rinse water over a broad area; he was meticulous about the leave-no-trace travel guidelines in the backcountry.

  When the Frazier family had finally retired to their tents, Tessa crawled into her own and took off her boots and shorts. She scooted inside her sleeping bag and drew it close around her neck. The temperature had dropped and was expected to get down into the thirties. It might even frost. Quite different from Tucson, where they’d already had a number of days well into the nineties.

  She lay awake for a while, exhausted more from stress than lack of sleep and the hike.

  Snippets of conversation mixed with laughter came from the other tents, but she didn’t mind. The Fraziers were nice people, enjoying their last get-together a
s a group for the next two years. Anyway, how could she begrudge a family their time together? She knew all too well how that time could be cut short with no warning.

  As they gradually settled down, small noises from the woods around the tent became audible. The rustle of the breeze through spruce branches. An owl hooting. And there was the whisper of small feet padding nearby, perhaps a raccoon or other nocturnal creature.

  Tessa yawned. Now that she’d made her decision to stay in Montana for a longer period, it should be easier to sleep.

  But just before she drifted off, she thought about Clay, lying in his own tent on the opposite side of the campsite. She doubted he was cold—he seemed as strong and self-sufficient as anyone she’d ever met.

  While hiking together, Brianna Frazier had sighed over Clay for at least an hour, her eyes wide with appreciation as she watched him from a distance. If they’d been on a longer hike, she’d probably come down with a first-class crush. It was amusing that Clay almost seemed embarrassed by the girl’s starry-eyed admiration, even though he was an experienced guide who must encounter this sort of thing on a regular basis.

  Tessa had known a few guys who saw themselves as a real prize and it was nice that Clay didn’t seem to be one of them. And in his case, he actually was a walking, talking example of a sexy, experienced outdoorsman.

  Sexy?

  Drat.

  Now she was wide awake.

  Tessa shivered as she unzipped her sleeping bag and sat up. She was just starting to learn yoga and meditation, so she decided to give it a try. Head space was limited in the small tent, but she tucked her legs into the proper position and began concentrating on her breathing.

  In. Out. In. Out.

  Meditation wasn’t supposed to be a cure-all for life’s problems—her instructor was very clear about the goals—but it couldn’t hurt.

  * * *

  THE NEXT DAY Clay invited the Fraziers to join the ranch barbecue at the end of the trip as his guests. It was a small gesture considering one of their sons would be spending the next two years of his life helping others.

  He’d phoned Uncle Lee ahead of time to advise him that there would be extra unplanned people for the meal. Lee had just laughed and said the kitchen was always prepared for last-minute additions. They were, too. He was an efficient manager after all those years in the navy.

  “Come eat with us,” Lee urged Tessa when they arrived back at the ranch.

  “Oh, I don’t—”

  “Please, Tessa,” Brianna said and the rest of the family chimed in with their agreement. It wasn’t unexpected. Groups enjoyed having their guides join them. Even a trainee guide who hadn’t been officially working.

  “All right, but I need to put my backpack away first.” Tessa smiled and walked toward the bunkhouse.

  She’d demonstrated impressive people skills with the Fraziers. Though it had been a short trip, she had interacted with each of them in a low-key manner that hadn’t intruded on their family time. They’d clearly enjoyed her company and she didn’t seem guarded with them, the way she was with him.

  The contrast was annoying, and he was annoyed with himself for being annoyed. It wasn’t as if he was particularly open himself. Sometimes his family teased him, claiming that they could stand a stuffed bear in the corner and it would be as much company.

  In a short period of time, Tessa had gotten under his skin. At the moment, he wasn’t even certain why he’d hired her, or kept her employed after she’d proved less than satisfactory in the office. Unsatisfactory in the short term, at least. He was certain she would have figured things out if he had been able to wait long enough.

  It would be nice to believe he wasn’t susceptible to an attractive pair of blue eyes and a mass of sun-kissed hair, but there were no guarantees.

  As for how he’d felt when Patrick Frazier was flirting with her? Clay wouldn’t mind developing a case of amnesia over that part of the trip. Jealousy was too strong a word to describe his reaction, but he hadn’t enjoyed seeing it.

  Tessa returned and joined the group of guests beneath the covered picnic area. Come June, the number served would double, with even more on weekends. It was almost like having a block party every night on the property.

  While it was called a ranch barbecue, Uncle Lee had added dishes that weren’t necessarily associated with traditional ranch life. Hamburgers were always on the menu, but some dishes, such as beef and chicken shish kebabs—which included mushrooms, onions, cherry tomatoes and peppers—had been a huge hit, along with his teriyaki chicken and grilled pineapple.

  “Over here, Clay,” called Brianna Frazier after he’d filled a plate. He looked and saw that the only vacant seat at the table was next to the teenager.

  “Why don’t you take my place instead?” Tessa suggested, standing up as he approached. “I’m left-handed and I keep joggling elbows with Patrick because he’s right-handed. Is it okay if I move over by you, Brianna?”

  “Uh, sure.”

  Clay appreciated Tessa giving him her seat. While Brianna was a nice kid, she’d asked if he was married and whether she could “friend” him online. He’d gently discouraged her—she just hadn’t gotten the message. But soon she and her family would head for their hotel and he wouldn’t have to keep avoiding her innocent attempts at flirtation with a man twice her age.

  He was just starting to enjoy his dinner when a flash of red caught his attention.

  It was Mallory, walking toward the picnic area from the parking lot. He got up and muttered an excuse, hurrying over to prevent his former sister-in-law from disrupting everyone’s evening. He didn’t know if that was her intention, but when she’d been married to Andrew, making a scene had been one of her favorite activities.

  “What are you doing here, Mallory?”

  “I want to see my little boy.”

  “We haven’t heard a word since you signed the divorce and custody papers, now all of a sudden you’re concerned about Derry? You were very clear you didn’t want visitation rights and that we weren’t to ‘bother’ you with news about him or even any pictures.”

  She shrugged, a hard expression on her face.

  For what must have been the hundredth time, Clay wondered what his brother had seen in Mallory. Beauty didn’t count for much when someone had a cash register instead of a heart. He’d always suspected her pregnancy had been deliberate because she’d believed Andrew owned part of Carson Outdoor Adventures. If so, she hadn’t done her homework. Clay had offered his brother a partnership in the business several years ago, but Andrew had declined, saying he’d rather stay a guide without having the hassles of management. Clay hadn’t pushed, too aware of how hard their father had pressed them both to go into banking.

  “I repeat, what are you doing here, Mallory?”

  “That’s what I want to know,” affirmed a voice from behind him. It was Andrew, with Uncle Lee bringing up the rear.

  “My, my, aren’t you the family that sticks together,” she said snidely. “Fine. I have to wonder if my son is being properly cared for by his father. You go out for days at a time while guiding trips, Andrew. What kind of father can you be?”

  Andrew stepped forward angrily and Clay put a restraining hand on his arm.

  “Derry has excellent care. Far better than a woman who would abandon him the way you did,” Clay said sharply.

  Mallory put a dramatic hand to her throat. “I was overcome with the stress of being a new mother. Only the most hard-hearted person wouldn’t understand and sympathize with my situation.”

  * * *

  “AND YET FOUR months after you abandoned him you asked for fifty thousand dollars in exchange for a divorce and uncontested custody. Four months,” Andrew said harshly, disgusted by the single crocodile tear rolling down her cheek. “Surely that was long enough to get yourself sorted out.”

  She’d once told
him she had cried her way out of a dozen traffic citations and two jury summonses. Her pride at being able to manipulate people with false tears had bothered him at the time, but they had just gotten married and he hadn’t wanted to think badly of his pregnant bride.

  Mallory dashed away the tear, probably recognizing it wasn’t having the intended effect. “So what? I needed cash to get started again. By the way, where is my car?”

  Disgust filled him. “Your car? You mean the one I bought for you to use after you totaled your own? The car was in my name, so I sold it to help pay off the credit card you used for your plane ticket out of here. Along with everything else you charged in the week before you left.”

  “Selling the car wasn’t very nice,” Mallory said, ignoring the rest of his comments. “And you canceled the credit card. I was counting on that.”

  He stared. “You emptied the bank accounts before you left, took over twenty thousand dollars and you still expected to keep using my credit card? One you’d maxed out, by the way.”

  Mallory shrugged again.

  It boggled Andrew’s mind that she could be the mother of his sweet, loving child. How could he have failed to see her utter self-absorption from the very beginning?

  “Well, Derry is fine,” he said. “My aunt and uncle are here, helping take care of him while I’m working. He couldn’t be in better hands.”

  “An aunt and uncle aren’t the same as a mother.”

  “Don’t worry about that. Derry is going to have a mother.” It was Jillian, and Andrew had trouble hiding his surprise as she slid her arm around his waist. He hadn’t realized she’d followed him. They’d been in the barn talking when Tessa Alderman came in to say that Mallory was there.

  “Who are you?” Mallory demanded.

  Jillian lifted an eyebrow. “Jillian Mahoney, soon to be Carson. Andy’s fiancée. You must have a short memory—we met a number of times before you abandoned your husband and child. Of course, I should thank you for leaving, because I’m getting a terrific guy. And I absolutely adore Derry.”