Under the Open Sky (Montana Heritage Series)

by Michelle Maness

  “Did the whole town know you were looking for me?” Cade asked Amanda as they put the boxes in his truck.

  Amanda grinned. “Pretty much.”

  “Wow, I feel a bit like the prodigal son,” he quipped.

  “Now, if my dad would share that sentiment it would be great,” Amanda mused. Another twenty minutes and they were turning into the ranch drive.

  “Nervous?” Cade asked her when she blew out a sigh.

  “A little,” she admitted.

  Cade pulled the truck to a stop in front of the house and hopped down to help Amanda with Cadey-Lynn.

  “Grandpa!” Cadey-Lynn leapt from the truck and raced toward him where he stood on the porch. “We found my Daddy!”

  “Hello, Little Lady, why don’t you go tell your Aunt Naomi,” Sterling ruffled his granddaughter’s hair. Cadey-Lynn slipped around him and inside the house.

  Amanda watched her father’s gaze land on them and took a steadying breath.

  “Well, Amanda, I see you found him,” Sterling, his expression drawn, spoke.

  “Yes. We’ve come to tell you that we’re getting married. We aren’t asking for your permission but we would like your blessing and I want you to give me away,” Amanda informed him.

  “So am I supposed to dance a jig now and be happy?” Sterling demanded.

  “You could try being happy for me and Cadey-Lynn; we’re both very happy, Daddy.”

  “Are you, Mandy Lynn?”

  “Yes, Daddy I loved him then and I love him now.”

  “So I am supposed to change my mind about this just like that?” Sterling demanded of her.

  “Sir,” Cade stepped forward.

  “Let her answer; I’ll talk to you in a moment.”

  “You could try admitting that he has done everything you’ve asked since then to prove himself and that you are simply being a stubborn ass!” Amanda accused.

  “You watch your language young lady!”

  “Like you and Trent do?”

  Her father’s gaze narrowed.

  “When and where is this wedding?”

  “Next Saturday; I guess at the church if it’s available, we want to keep it simple.”

  “I suppose you could have it here,” her father growled, his brows still drawn.

  “Not if you’re going to be a grouch about it!”

  Sterling turned to Cade, his expression still dark. “Are you sure you want this sassy thing?”

  Cade chuckled. “Yes, sir, she can sass me every day for the rest of our lives,” Cade responded.

  “I guess you can have her then; I’m not sure anyone else would put up with it,” Sterling told him. “And you’ll have it at the ranch and I will give you away. And seeing as how you don’t need or want my permission I suppose you can have my blessing.”

  “Thank you, Daddy,” Amanda said around tears.

  “What for? You’re marrying a rancher to suffer through feast and famine and to work sun up to sun down; I don’t see why you are so happy.”

  “I am marrying a good man and I am going to stand by him through the good and the bad just like Mama stood by you,” Amanda countered.

  “Your mama was a good woman, you remind me of her a whole lot, Mandy-Lynn; a whole lot,” Sterling’s voice was tight.

  “Thank you, Daddy. I wish I could have known her.”

  “I guess I should apologize to you two. I was angry, very angry the night I sent you away. I always knew someone would come along one day and steal my daughter away. I just wasn’t ready for it or for the way I found the two of you. I lose sight sometimes of the fact that she’s not ten anymore.”

  “I owe you an apology as well, Mr. Jennings. I know Mandy was nineteen but she was still your daughter and you were still my employer,” Cade admitted.

  “Right,” Sterling nodded. “Apology accepted.” Sterling looked between them a moment.

  “So I guess my little girl and my grandbaby are moving off nearly five hours away, huh?” her father addressed her. Amanda nodded. “Well, I guess it was bound to happen sooner or later. Come on in, tell me what we need to do for this here wedding,” Sterling jerked his head toward the house. Amanda climbed the steps first and kissed her father’s cheek.

  “Thanks, Daddy,” she whispered.

  “Sir,” Cade offered his hand.

  “Cade,” her father accepted his hand and nodded.

  Amanda smiled at the two of them before continuing inside.

  “Mandy,” Naomi moved to hug her.

  “Hi,” Amanda grinned.

  “So the prodigal returns; how are you, Cade?” Naomi shocked everyone by hugging him.

  “I’m doing very well these past few days. How are you, Naomi?”

  “I’m good.”

  “Thank you, by the way,” Cade told her.

  “You’re welcome.”

  “Hey, Cade,” Trent entered the kitchen and hugged his friend. Amanda seated herself at the table and they were soon planning a small intimate wedding under the large spreading oak tree between the main house and the cabin. After they had finished, Amanda and Cade pulled down to the cabin to start packing; Cadey-Lynn asked to stay and play at Aunt Jenny’s.

  “Who knew I had so much stuff?” Amanda stared at it in disgust.

  “A lot of it’s Cadey-Lynn’s,” Cade noted as he packed more movies.

  “I know. She’s maybe a little petted,” Amanda admitted.

  “So she should be,” he grinned at her. Amanda resumed working and paused a few minutes later to glance out the window.

  “Wow, except for college I’ve lived on this land my whole life,” Amanda mused aloud.

  “You’ll miss it,” Cade acknowledged as he slid his arms around her.

  “I will, but I missed you more; I know that first hand,” she reminded him.

  “Let’s go for a walk, Manny. We’ve been working for hours now; we could use the break.”

  “Okay,” she agreed. The two of them walked hand and hand and ended up in the barn by default. Amanda greeted the horses and looked around.

  “I have a lot of memories in here,” she mused.

  “Me too. You seemed to find your way out here a lot.”

  “I always enjoyed coming out here but after you arrived I had a whole new reason to come out here. You were in here working so often,” Amanda shrugged.

  “I enjoyed you coming to visit me,” Cade assured her.

  “Even if I did throw myself at you and almost get you in trouble?”

  “Even if,” he chuckled. “I’m just glad I could help you solve your dilemma about being kissed,” he teased.

  “Oh, yeah, about that,” Amanda gave a mock grimace. “I wasn’t wondering what it was like to be kissed by a guy so much as I was curious as to what it would be like to be kissed by you.”

  “The truth comes out,” Cade slid his arms around her and pulled her closer. He kissed her and pulled back a few moments later with his eyes twinkling. “So how was it?”

  “Wonderful,” she sighed and settled against his chest.

  “Oh, I thought I would let you know that I will be staying at the house tonight. Tomorrow I’ll run home, take a load and bring my things back for Saturday.”

  “Why are you staying at the main house?” Amanda pouted.

  “Out of respect for your family and you. Won’t hurt the honeymoon any either,” he teased.

  “Better make sure we have plenty of supplies laid up in our room at the resort.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “I’m not going to want to leave,” she teased.

  “Manny,” Cade was laughing and shaking his head at her.

  “I can’t help it if I like it,” she defended herself.

  “Amanda Lynn Jennings, I love you,” Cade told her, his forehead against hers.

  “I love you too,” she returned. “I guess we should get back to packing.”

  “Guess so,” Cade claimed her hand. They turned just as a man entered.

  “Ama
nda, hi,” Reece greeted.

  “Hi,” Amanda returned as he approached; his gaze settled on Cade.

  “You have to be Cade, the resemblance to Cadey-Lynn is unmistakable,” Reece commented.

  “Guilty as charged and you are?” Cade extended his hand.

  “Reece Foster,” the man took his hand.

  Cade glanced between Amanda and the man before them. “Oh.”

  “I see you found him,” Reece offered a smile.

  “Yes, long story short is I wasn’t abandoned as I believed but trust me it is a long story. We’re getting married this Saturday,” Amanda supplied.

  “I’m glad for you, Amanda; real glad. Congratulations and the best of luck.”

  “Thanks, Reece, and the same to you,” Amanda offered before she and Cade left the barn together.

  “That’s the man you dated?” Cade glanced over his shoulder.

  “Yes; you jealous?” she teased.

  “Hell yeah,” he responded; Amanda laughed.

  Forty-Two

  Amanda sat on her couch, Cade’s arms wrapped around her and smiled in contentment. He was headed up to the main house in a little while but for now they were cuddling and making plans.

  “As I’ve already said, I haven’t done much with the house so if you would like to make any changes we could do so a little at a time,” Cade offered.

  “The first improvement that should be made is me and Cadey-Lynn as permanent installments; then we’ll fix up Cadey-Lynn’s room. The rest can wait and we’ll do it a little at a time as you suggested,” Amanda smiled up at him.

  “I want you and Cadey-Lynn with me, every day and every night,” Cade pushed her hair behind her ear.

  “Me too. Of course several years from now you will have to let your daughter go. Are you going to handle that better than my father?” Amanda teased.

  Cade smiled. “I’ll try,” he promised. “I guess, looking at my own daughter, that I understand a little better now.”

  “She’s easy to love isn’t she?”

  “She’s amazing, Amanda; I’m in awe every time I look at her,” Cade admitted.

  “Me too. She is amazing and the thing that amazes me most is she’s a part of both us.”

  “I know; blessed aren’t we?”

  “We are,” Amanda snuggled closer and laid her head on his shoulder.

  “Maybe we should go ahead and decorate a nursery; I want more children, Mandy.”

  “Me too,” Amanda grinned up at him. “And considering that we did nothing to prevent another baby the past couple of nights we may need a nursery,” she teased him.

  Cade grinned at her. “I could have made you wait. I’ve had no reason to keep anything at hand.”

  “I’m glad to hear that,” she informed him.

  “Figured you would be.”

  “But I’m not so sure I would have been very happy if you made me wait.”

  “I’m not so sure you would have let me,” he teased.

  “Probably not,” she acknowledged. “I waited four years for you the first time and five years this last time; I’m tired of waiting.”

  “Me too; just tomorrow and then we’ll be married Saturday,” he reminded her. “You’re sure we aren’t moving too fast for you, Manny?”

  “Positive,” Amanda climbed into his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. She kissed him; his arms came around her.

  “I can’t stay, Manny,” Cade seemed amused.

  “I’m not trying to convince you to.”

  “Could’ve fooled me,” he teased.

  “I seem to recall that you once wrote something about each time we were together the anticipation built and you liked that feeling,” she teased.

  “I did, didn’t I?” he smiled.

  “Yes, you did,” she returned and kissed him again.

  “I’ve gotta go,” Cade told her a moment later. Amanda stood and walked him to the door.

  “Be careful tomorrow. Are you sure you don’t want me to help?”

  “Positive. The next time I make love to you I want you to be my wife and I don’t trust myself to be alone with you at my house.”

  “Okay,” she agreed and rose on her toes to kiss him again.

  “Good night, Manny.”

  “Good night, Cade,” Amanda sighed and closed the door behind him. She did not want to go climb in bed alone tonight but she couldn’t really fault his reasoning either.

  Amanda poured herself a glass of juice and seated herself on the couch. A moment later a knock on the door had her standing.

  “Hey, Mandy,” Jenny grinned as she entered. “I figured you could use a distraction.”

  “Thanks, Jenny,” Amanda laughed.

  “I know that if you had your way Cade would have stayed with you tonight and honestly I don’t think your dad or brother would have freaked out too badly considering all. It’s sweet that he’s trying to be so respectful though.”

  “Sweet? That’s one word for it,” Amanda smiled as she seated herself.

  “Well, I put him in your old room so I doubt either of you will get much sleep tonight,” Jenny was grinning as she shared this. Technically Amanda’s old room was the only room upstairs that hadn’t been renovated for Trent and Jenny and now the children.

  “Probably not,” Amanda agreed.

  “Your Dad and Naomi are talking about moving out here since it will be empty. They seem to think Trent and I need the space. I keep telling them that with us off upstairs it’s no issue.”

  “Maybe not, but your family is growing and with the little ones, it is getting noisier, I’m sure,” Amanda joked.

  “I hadn’t thought of that,” Jenny admitted with a smile as her hand rubbed her belly. “Have you two discussed more children yet or is it a little soon for that?”

  “We’ve discussed it and we’re both in agreement that we want more,” Amanda shared.

  “So when will you two start trying or did the conversation make it that far?” Jenny teased.

  “Um,” Amanda looked thoughtful a moment, her lip between her teeth and then grimaced. “Two nights ago?” she nodded.

  “Mandy!” Jenny’s eyes widened.

  “What?” Amanda laughed.

  “And you gave me a hard time about being in a rush?”

  “We didn’t exactly discuss it before hand,” Amanda shrugged. “I mean it crossed my mind but I was not about to put the brakes on after looking for him for so long. Would you have?”

  “Probably not,” Jenny admitted. “So you two are going to start trying immediately?”

  “I think we’re just going to enjoy each other and when it happens, it happens and we’ll both be excited,” Amanda answered.

  “Good luck,” Jenny grinned.

  “Thank you. I have to admit that the idea of another little one, maybe a little boy that looks just like his daddy is awfully appealing.”

  “I know it is, Mandy; you’re a very natural mother.”

  _____________________________________

  Amanda stood before the mirror in her bed room in the main house and smoothed the skirt of her dress. She had chosen spaghetti strapped, short, plain under dress of soft cream with a filmy lace over lay that was shorter in the front than the back. To her aunt’s dismay, she had paired it with her boots. She straightened her hair, clipped the sides back and applied light make up.

  “Leave it to you, Mandy, to wear a short dress and boots. Actually, in an odd way it wouldn’t be right for you to marry in anything else,” Jenny decided.

  “My thoughts exactly,” Amanda nodded.

  “I did as you asked; I made sure Cade is not in a penguin suit as you called it. He’d look sexy in one, you know?”

  “I know, but he doesn’t need one to look, sexy; he does that without trying.”

  “Guess you’re nicer than me,” Jenny smiled. Trent had worn a tuxedo and he had tugged at his collar all day. Amanda had actually been feeling bad for him by the end of the day.

  “You read
y, Mandy-Lynn?” her father knocked on the door.

  “I’m ready,” she opened the door with a smile.

  “You look amazing, Mandy-Lynn. I hope you two are real happy.”

  “Thank you, Daddy,” she rose on her toes to kiss his cheek.

  “Well, let’s go,” her dad offered his arm. Amanda grabbed the bouquet of wild flowers she’d chosen and let her daddy escort her across the yard. Cade was waiting and wearing a pair of dark jeans, a black on black striped shirt, and cowboy boots. He looked so sexy standing there that Amanda had to sigh. He was smiling as she approached and she smiled back.

  They stood under the spreading branches of the tree, a light breeze stirring the leaves above as the preacher had them repeat their vows. It was perfect, her father, Naomi, Jenny, and Trent standing around them; Angie in her daddy’s arms. Cadey-Lynn stood directly beside her mother wearing a sun dress and her pink boots impatiently waiting for them to officially become a family. When the preacher declared Cade could kiss the bride, he wasn’t shy about doing so; his hand cupped her chin as he kissed her deeply.

  “Congratulation and welcome to the family,” Trent stepped forward to hug Cade after he had finally released Amanda.

  “Thank you,” Cade hugged him back.

  Amanda accepted Jenny’s hug and then her aunt before her father pulled her close and held her for a moment.

  “I love you, Mandy-Lynn.”

  “I love you too, Daddy,” Amanda returned. Her father released her and extended a hand to Cade who walked up and slipped an arm around Amanda.

  “You take good care of my daughter.”

  “Yes sir; I will,” Cade nodded.

  “I don’t think I ever told you how proud I am of you, Cade. I know I was angry about how things went down with Amanda but you should know how proud I am and how much I respect the hard work you put into getting your degree and then your own spread. When you showed up here you were a kid with a chip on his shoulder. I’m proud to say I’m standing toe to toe with a good man today,” Sterling extended his hand again.

  Amanda stepped back and watched Cade swallow hard. He extended his hand and Sterling pulled him into a hug.

  “Thank you, sir,” Cade finally found his voice. Amanda turned to thank Jenny for her help as she approached, one ear still following her father’s conversation with Cade.