Moon Over Montana (McCutcheon Family Series Book 5)

by Caroline Fyffe

  “You’re not being fair,” Luke shot back.

  Luke needed to remember his friend was hurting, but damn, this made him angry. He could see why it would throw Charity into a panic. He believed she loved Brandon with her whole heart, but she also loved her family, and the ranch. Never in a million years had she expected that marrying Brandon would mean moving away.

  “You’re the first to know what this ranch and the family mean to her. When did you drop this on her? Today?”

  They stood angry face to angry face. He couldn’t push Brandon much more or they would end up in a fistfight. “Well? When did you tell her, Brandon? I can guarantee it wasn’t at Cattlemen’s. I would have been able to tell if she were struggling with something. She was happier that night than I’ve ever seen her.”

  “Saturday night after the party.”

  Luke shook his head. This was big. He didn’t know how the two would work their way out of this one.

  “I didn’t know until the day we returned to Y Knot,” Brandon said a little more calmly. “When I went to the office, Jack gave me the letter. Just because I have an interview, doesn’t mean I’ll get the job.”

  Luke gripped the back of his neck, working his tight muscles. Brandon just stood there watching him, and he didn’t know how to respond. When a few seconds passed, Brandon started for his horse. “I need to get back to Y Knot. I have some prisoners that need tending.”

  “When are you leaving for Kansas City?” Luke asked, watching him retreat.

  “Tomorrow morning.”

  “How long will you be gone?”

  Brandon unwrapped his reins and turned his horse around to face him. “I don’t know.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Twenty-four hours later, Charity, mounted on her palomino, trotted down Main Street with Luke riding by her side. Few people were out at the early hour. The clapboard buildings running down both sides of the street appeared shabbier since her return from Texas. She didn’t like to think it.

  When they passed the saloon, an upstairs window opened and Fancy Aubrey leaned out. “Morning, Luke.” She smiled and waved, unmindful that she was only in her dressing gown and was putting on a show for the whole world to see. “Charity.”

  Luke waved back, and Charity nodded.

  “That Fancy sure seems to get around,” she couldn’t stop herself from saying. The image Francis had planted in her mind of her and Brandon in close conversation now troubled her all the more.

  “You sure you’re up to this?” Luke asked. “He may already be gone. He didn’t give me a time when he was pulling out.”

  “I’m sure. I won’t be able to do a thing if Brandon and I don’t finish what we started yesterday.”

  And it was true. She’d done a lot of soul searching last night. As much as it hurt, she only wanted what was best for Brandon. Her desire was for him to be happy. If Kansas City would do that, then so be it. They reined up in front of the sheriff’s office.

  Jack Jones walked out to greet them. “Morning, you two. You looking for Brandon?”

  She nodded.

  “If you hurry, you might still catch him. He left for his house just a few minutes ago and plans to leave straight from there. He’s riding to Waterloo, where he’ll catch the train.”

  “Thanks, Jack,” Luke said.

  Jack turned and went back inside.

  Luke reached out before she turned her horse. He laid his hand on her forearm. “Stay calm. Don’t let your temper get the best of you. I’ll be waiting at the saloon and will go over to Lichtenstein’s when the place opens up. Take as long as you need.”

  She nodded. Gathering her courage, she rode down the alley between the sheriff’s office and Cattlemen’s Hotel, frightened she hadn’t made it in time. What if he’d already gone? Hadn’t she learned anything in that death cell with the rattlesnake? Didn’t she love Brandon above everything else?

  “Charity!” Brandon said, surprised. His face lit with pleasure. She’d caught him just stepping through his front door, bulging saddlebags in his hands.

  The happiness on his face brought a new burst of butterflies in her stomach. Maybe he hurt inside as much as she did. He rushed over and helped her dismount. When his hand grasped her arm, a flurry of tingles ignited in her belly. For a moment, they stood in silence, looking into each other’s eyes.

  “I wanted to see you before you left.” That was all she could think of. Really, I want to kiss you and feel your lips on mine.

  “I’m glad you came. I wanted to come back out to the ranch, but the men we had locked up were a handful. I couldn’t leave Jack alone. They’ve all sobered up and have been released.” His eyes dropped to her lips, but quickly returned to her eyes. Shame for pulling away from his kiss yesterday filled her. The memory had kept her awake long into the early morning. What she wouldn’t give for that kiss right now.

  She glanced over her shoulder. “Is there somewhere we can talk? I feel conspicuous standing out here.”

  “Sure, sure. Just let me get rid of this.” He went to his horse and hefted the saddlebags over the back of the saddle and buckled them on.

  He disappeared inside, then brought out two chairs and set them on the porch. They’d be out of view if someone looked down the alley from Main Street.

  “Come sit down.” He gestured with his hand.

  For one instant, she let her thoughts run wild. He was so earnest. His strong, handsome profile did silly things to her heart. His hatless hair glistened in the sun. But it was his eyes that made her insides feel like melted butter. Here they were again, tiptoeing around each other. She wanted the intimacy back. The easiness, when she knew where she stood and so did he.

  He smiled when she lowered herself into the plain, straight-back chair. “There. You good? Is that comfortable?”

  He’s trying so hard. When she nodded, he sat opposite her and waited for her to say something.

  “I’m sorry about yesterday, Brandon.” She didn’t need a script. She’d say whatever came out of her heart. “The argument, not kissing you—and for running up to my room when I should have stayed and heard you out. You came all the way to the ranch. That was the least I could have done. Please forgive me.”

  He nodded as she spoke, as if he felt the same. “I’m sorry too, Charity. Yesterday didn’t go at all like I planned. Not even close.”

  They stared at each other. Her mouth went dry. The depth of his sorrow was easy to see. “I don’t really know what else to say, Brandon, except that I love you.” And want you to be happy. “No matter what, that will always be true.”

  She dropped her gaze for a moment. Maybe he wasn’t planning on coming back if he got the job, just staying on there and starting up. He probably didn’t know what the marshal would want from him.

  He leaned forward and tentatively took both her hands. His calloused palms had never felt so good. His thumbs rubbed back and forth across her skin, and she had to swallow back her grief. “I know,” he replied. “And I love you. I’ve been doing some hard thinking about what Luke had to say. How I wasn’t being fair to you by dropping this in your lap after you had said yes to becoming my wife. I didn’t want to believe it then because I was mad, but he was right. I don’t know what I expected. I still don’t.”

  Unable to stop herself, Charity slipped onto his lap. His arms immediately closed around her and he held her tight to his chest. She burrowed in closer, her face against his good-smelling, warm neck, and all their problems faded to the back of her mind. This was Brandon. Her protector. It was so good, so uplifting to be here in his arms, somewhere she thought she’d never be again. He was everything in the world to her.

  “I’m sorry I hurt you, Charity,” he said, running his hand down the back of her hair. “You deserve more than that. You deserve more than I can ever dream of giving you. Maybe this is for the best. Maybe—”

  She pulled back to look into his face. “Don’t you dare say another word. Have I ever said I want more than you can give
me? No. Never. So don’t say that now. That has nothing to do with where we are today.”

  “You’re right, sweetheart,” he replied. He gently took her chin and found her mouth with his own. The kiss was sweet, and apologetic. He cupped her face between his hands, taking his time moving his lips over hers, and she thought she’d die from the goodness of it.

  “Do you want me to stay, Charity? I will if you say so.”

  She shook her head. This would be the hardest thing she’d ever done, but he had to be able to follow his dreams.

  “No, if being a deputy marshal means that much to you, I’d never want to hold you back from your dreams. Later, you’d resent me for it and always wonder what would have happened if you’d tried. I insist that you go. I won’t have it any other way.”

  “What about the wedding? Are you saying you’ll wait?”

  She shrugged. “We’ll cross that bridge when you return.” If you return.

  Setting him free was like a broken bottle raking over her heart, but she had to do it. He’d not go if he thought she was going to be pining over his every move. “I think it’s best if we don’t upset everyone now. We’ll tell them the wedding is still on for when you come home. That way, if it happens, no one will have worried unduly, and if it doesn’t, at least their vexation will have been for a shorter amount of time.”

  “I never told you why this means so much to me, but I want to now, before I leave, so you can understand.” He looked away, gathering his thoughts. “I’m sorry about not being truthful with you about my parents. I just couldn’t tell anyone because of the guilt I felt—still do—about how they were killed. I was only a kid, but somehow I thought I should have been able to protect them from the outlaw who robbed and then killed them.”

  Unable to stop her reaction, she gasped. What a burden he’d held to himself. Charity could understand why, now that she knew. “Brandon, I’m not mad, just sorry for you. What you went through.”

  He nodded. A shadow in his eyes, one she’d never before seen, twisted her insides.

  “My pa tossed me out of the moving wagon and into some bushes when he feared the worst was about to happen. But I was still close enough to see. After my mother gave the robber the little money they had, he shot them both. A moment later, a lawman came down the road. He quickly assessed the situation and took the outlaw down. His name was Timberlake. I never forgot the name. The memory and emotions, even the guilt, have bound me to him over the years. Now there may be a chance I could actually work with him and—”

  She put her finger on his lips. “You don’t have to say another thing. I totally understand why you’d be drawn there—and to the marshal. I do. And I wouldn’t want anything else for you. You have to go and see how it feels.” She meant every word, even if they were breaking her heart.

  He kissed her again, and she could tell he was relieved. It wasn’t the sad good-bye it had been before, but filled with a hope that he could sway her to move away with him when he took the marshal’s job. Her heart thumped painfully in her breast. What would become of them? He wanted that job, there was no denying it.

  Brandon ran his hand down the side of her face. “Thank you for coming, Charity. You’ll never know what it means to me that we had a chance to talk this out. I feel a lot better.”

  “I think I do, Brandon,” she said against his lips, one last time.

  “I need to go, sweetheart, or I’ll miss the train in Waterloo. As it is, I don’t know if I’ll make it.”

  Fear skittered around inside, threatening to bring tears to her eyes. She willed them away. She stood and pulled him to his feet. “You get going, then,” she said, swallowing down a lump of sadness. “Don’t worry about anything here. I’ll make sure Jack Jones is doing his job.”

  “You just stay out at the ranch, so I won’t worry over you. Hayden will be sure Jack toes the line until I get back.”

  If you get back.

  He went over and retrieved Charity’s horse and slung the reins over its neck. He helped her mount. “Is Luke in town with you?”

  She nodded, almost too overcome with regret to pull this off. Somewhere she found the fortitude to say, “Yes. I’m meeting him over at Lichtenstein’s.”

  “Good.” He gazed up at her with so much love, she thought she might faint. “You give everyone out at the ranch my regards.” He had his hand on her knee and she had the urge to pick it up and kiss it, but she knew he’d think she’d lost the last of her sanity.

  He disappeared into his house and reappeared wearing his black Stetson. Locking the door, he strode over to his horse and mounted, spinning him around. He trotted back to Charity to kiss her again. “I just needed one more to get me through.”

  Choked up, she forced a little smile. “Get going. They won’t hold that train for you forever, you know.”

  He laughed, then shook his head. She was sure he thought everything had worked out just fine.

  “All right, I’m going, I’m going. You take good care of yourself. I’ll miss you more than you’ll ever know. Still wish you were coming along.”

  “I’ll see ya when I see ya, Sheriff.” Her throat burned so tight, she could hardly get the words out.

  He nodded and loped off around behind his house to the path that would take him to the road that led to Waterloo—taking Charity’s heart with him.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  The early morning clamor of Kansas City made Brandon’s head swim. After debarking at the train depot, he ambled down the street, reins in hand, taking in the bigness of the town while he looked for a modest hotel in which to register.

  He’d made the ride to Waterloo with no problems, but with only seven minutes to spare before the train was scheduled to pull out. Once he bought his ticket and loaded his horse into a stock car, he’d hurried to the passenger car and took a seat just as the train blew its whistle, then lurched forward.

  Crowds of cowboys, wagons, and stock all jockeyed for space on the road. Tall brick buildings, four and five stories high, lined the street for as far as he could see. Some looked as large as a whole city block. There were bookstores, general stores, fine-furniture establishments, and eateries galore. Some with white awnings, others red striped—some shading small tables and chairs. He stopped in front of a clothing store that would make Berta May green with envy, with hats, bolts of fabric, and knickknacks crammed in the window.

  A steer came out of nowhere from behind and jostled his shoulder, forcing him to step back.

  “Out of the way,” the drover called crankily, and spit a stream of tobacco juice into the dirt-packed street.

  Brandon smiled and looked around. That man wouldn’t dim his spirits in the least. Nothing could now since his talk with Charity and the chance to explain himself. Thank God she’d come around to his way of thinking. The sensation of her in his arms was just about the best feeling in the world. Life was too short to stay rooted in one place year after year. There were places to discover. Might as well start right here in Kansas City.

  MABLE BROWN’S INN AND ESTABLISHMENT. He read the sign positioned high on a blue-and-brown clapboard building.

  “Just the kind of place I’m looking for,” he said, knowing that the ratty-appearing hotel couldn’t charge more than a dollar or two a night. A sign shaped like an arrow was tacked on the side of the building and pointed down the alley. It read: MABLE BROWN’S STABLE.

  He nodded, pleased with himself on the good find. Right in the middle of everything. Couldn’t be more convenient if it tried. After hitching his horse to the rail, he brushed the cinder and ash from his shirtsleeves and pants, then kicked the dirt from his boots against the well-worn boardwalk. He pushed open the door at the same time as he removed his hat. A couple of men talking in the lobby paid him no mind. A girl behind the counter looked up.

  “May I help ya, sir?” She gazed at him expectantly. Her dress, ragged around the cuffs and collar, looked as if it could use a good scrub.

  “Yes, I’d like a room
for a couple of nights.” He’d start with that and see how it went.

  Her eyes brightened. A toothy smile broke out on her thin face, as if she’d expected him to turn on his heel after viewing the rundown interior of the lobby.

  “Then you’ve come t’the right place. I have several rooms left, which is unusual for a Saturday night.” She turned a large ledger around and handed him a pen. “Just sign here.” She pointed to the middle of the page. “Beneath th’last name entered.”

  Sure, sure, Brandon thought. He reached in his pocket to pay her.

  “That’ll be eight dollars.”

  His hand froze inside his pocket, the leather pouch where he kept his money in his palm.

  “Eight dollars for two nights? Isn’t that a mite steep?”

  She pulled back, as if surprised. “Why, no, sir. We’re the most reasonable place in Kansas City.” Her brow arched. “Well, one of ’em. There’s a washroom at the end of the hall, an outhouse around back, and a simple breakfast comes with the price of the room. Now, do you have a horse you want to stable?”

  The men standing in the lobby behind him stomped up the narrow staircase, glancing down at him for one brief second. They looked none too prosperous.

  “Yes.”

  She bobbed with excitement. “Fine! That’ll be a dollar more each day.”

  A bit grudgingly, Brandon fished out two five-dollar gold coins. Ten dollars for this place? Oh well, he’d make the best of it. Cattlemen’s popped into his mind, and the bridal suite he’d looked into reserving for the wedding night. The spacious room had a large four-poster bed made of bird’s-eye maple, and a nice view out back. It was expensive at three dollars and fifty cents a night, but that included a bottle of champagne, a soaking tub, breakfast in bed the next day—he hoped it wouldn’t be Lenore Saffelberg serving—and a handmade pillow keepsake.

  A smile teased his lips as he thought of Charity enjoying all those comforts…

  The clerk cleared her throat. She looked at his hand. “The money, sir?”