Singing Montana Sky (The Montana Sky Series Book 7)

by Debra Holland

  Laughing, Sophia pirouetted to face Kael’s front. “You acted so quickly, I didn’t even have time to be afraid.” She touched his sword. “My brave warrior. My lord protector.”

  Kael gave the branch another swish. “That I am, my lady fair.” He dropped the branch, fisted a hand against his shoulder, and bowed. He straightened and tapped her nose. “And don’t you forget it.”

  Sophia went on tiptoe to kiss him. “I won’t.” She danced out of the way before he could reach for her.

  With a laugh, he lunged to embrace her.

  She squealed and barely evaded him, grateful for the freedom of movement her navy-blue bloomers afforded. Gleefully, she dashed between two pines standing sentinel before the game trail. Out of breath from running, she emerged into the tiny clearing and stopped in amazement to view the vivid fall colors displayed by the trees surrounding the grotto. She stared up at a maple growing close to several poplars. Branches with burgundy leaves intertwined with those of gold. I can’t believe how much nature has changed in only a week!

  She heard Kael’s footsteps but didn’t turn.

  He came behind her and put his arms around her shoulders, so close she could feel the rise and fall of his chest against her back. “Got you.”

  With a sigh of pleasure, Sophia leaned against him. “What took you so long, slowpoke? I’ve been here forever.”

  “Sorry to make you wait.” He bent and kissed her neck.

  She shivered in delight. Kael’s definitely worth waiting for.

  Waiting. The realization struck her. Underneath the adulation, the rehearsals, the performances, suppers out, male admirers, the gifts, and more—she’d been waiting. No matter the deep breaths Sophia took each time she sang, she’d been holding her breath and hadn’t known.

  How could I? she thought with irony. In my most fantastical dreams, I could never have imagined falling for a lumberjack. A rush of breath into her lungs made her light-headed. Dizzy, she swayed.

  “Whoa, there.” His arms tightened. “You all right?”

  Sophia couldn’t share her realization. The discovery felt too new, too raw. How can I be in love with him? She twisted to look up into the handsome face that had become so dear and saw the concern in his dark eyes. How can I not?

  Is a relationship between us even possible? Fear fluttered in her stomach. Sophia refused to give in. No, she told herself. I have time to explore where this relationship leads.

  Perhaps to a dead end. My heart will break.

  Then, in my future performances, I can realistically play the role of a tragic lover.

  Sophia resolved to just enjoy the last of their time together and not worry about the future.

  “Early autumn is my favorite season,” Kael murmured. “Especially if we have Indian summer. The weather’s still warm, but the fruitful land bursts forth with the bounty of the harvest, and the leaves turn glorious colors.”

  She twisted her head to glance up at his face and showed her agreement with a wide smile. “As if nature has saved up all year for the grand finale.”

  “Exactly.”

  “I should bring Lily here to paint this scene. But then we’d have to reveal our special location, and I want to keep this a secret.”

  “Good decision.”

  Sophia sighed. “I wish I was an artist to capture this scene.”

  “Make a picture in your mind to always remember.”

  “I’ve been doing that all summer.”

  “So have I.”

  His tone sounded resigned, and a corresponding sadness arose in her. When I’m gone will you come here and think of me?

  Her throat tightened. Not now! We still have time. Sadness is for later.

  “Look at the top of the cave,” Kael murmured in her ear and pointed.

  Chiseled into the rock over the entrance and blackened with paint were the words,

  Songbird’s Spring.

  “Oh, Kael,” Sophia breathed his name, deeply touched. “That’s why we haven’t come here for the last few days! And, here you told me you wanted to explore different areas.”

  “Sneaky me.”

  She whirled to face him. “A wonderful gift and a lovely memory. Thank you!”

  His devilish grin made energy swirl through her. “I feel so….” Sophia paused, searching for the word. “Invigorated. Before my collapse, I hadn’t even realized how poorly I’d been feeling. Well, I did know I was tired, and my nerves were frazzled. But I was so completely focused, so nervous about playing Brünnhilde that I didn’t realize the physical toll the situation was taking on me.” She made a face.

  “In a way, my collapse, my illness, everything that came from my foolish decision to play that role, was my own fault. I didn’t listen to my own instincts. I’ve learned a very painful lesson about trusting myself that will hopefully stand me in good stead in the future.”

  “I’m sorry you had to suffer so, although I’m grateful that what happened led you here.” Kael drew her close. “Right into my arms.” He tilted her chin and lowered his face to hers, stopping with his mouth inches away. “What do your instincts say about this?”

  Although he drawled the question, Sophia sensed her answer was important. “My instincts say….” With a flirtatious smile, she went on tiptoe to press her lips to his.

  * * *

  Kael’s blood thrummed through him in low, rhythmic notes. This day could not be more perfect. He tightened his arms, careful to not bruise her with his cast.

  “Kael!” In the distance, his mother yelled, her voice shrill.

  Something’s wrong. He broke off their kiss and straightened, listening with his whole body.

  “Kael!” Ma called again.

  His stomach clenched into a knot of fear. Kael released Sophia but kept hold of her hand, propelling them up the game trail toward the sound of his mother’s voice.

  As they reached the main path to his house, his mother came into sight, one hand lifting her skirts above her ankles in order to run freely. Her hair was falling from its pins. Her other hand clutched a shawl crookedly around her shoulders. “Thank goodness, I found you.” She gasped for air.

  Kael hurried to her and grabbed her shoulders. “What?”

  “It’s your father!” Ma cried, her voice harsh with grief. “I think his time has come.”

  How can that be? “Pa seemed fine this morning.” Although, now that Kael thought about it, his father had been uncharistically quiet.

  Ma shook her head. “Leith went rapidly down hill but didn’t want me to fetch you. Bother you.” Her eyes wide and tragic, she raised the back of her hand to cover her mouth, before lowering her arm. “I doubt he’ll last the night.” Her voice shook.

  Kael restrained himself from uttering a curse, frustrated because of his father’s stubborn refusal to see the doctor. Maybe Dr. Cameron could have helped. Now it’s too late.

  His chest heavy, Kael held his mother in a tight embrace, bowing to touch his brow to the top of her head.

  Sophia placed a gentle hand on his back. The warm, light weight of her palm resting on him brought comfort.

  Kael didn’t want to let go of his mother, as if as long as he held her, their family would remain intact.

  Ma was the first to pull away. She looked up at him and placed a hand to his cheek. “I must go back. I just wanted you to know.”

  “I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Torn between hurrying to his father’s bedside and seeing his beloved safely out of the forest, Kael turned to Sophia. “I’ll take you back to the ranch.”

  “Wait.” She grabbed his arm, her expression sympathetic. “I’ll come with you. But only if you want me to.” Her eyes implored. “I don’t want to burden you at such a time. I just want to lend my support to you both.” With a loving expression, she glanced from him to his mother.

  Kael’s throat tightened, and he couldn’t speak, so moved was he by her caring offer. I love you. He clasped her hand and brought her fingers to his lips.

  Ma
nodded and reached to take Sophia’s free hand. “Leith adores you, my dear Sophia. I know he’d be honored for you to attend his passing, as would I.”

  “I love him, too.” Her voice trembled.

  Ma pulled on their arms. “Hurry.”

  Kael jerked his chin in a signal for Sophia to go with his mother. In most places, the path was too narrow for all three of them together.

  Hand-in-hand, his mother and Sophia ran down the path.

  He trotted behind them, praying his father wouldn’t die before they got there. Kael could have outrun the ladies, but he didn’t want to leave them. Nor, he figured, would his father want him to.

  It seemed to take forever before they reached home and rushed through the doorway to Leith’s bedside. He was still alive, although his skin looked waxen, his lips parched.

  Kael’s knees almost buckled with relief. “Pa.” He leaned over and kissed his father’s forehead. “We’re all here now.”

  “Outside.” Pa panted out each word. “See…sky.”

  “That won’t be comfortable,” Ma objected. “And later the air will get cold.”

  Leith inched his hand to point to the door.

  Kael rested a hand on his mother’s shoulder to stop her from arguing. His father would be cold soon enough. “Then you shall go on the porch. I’ll dismantle the bed and set it up outside.”

  Pa rolled his head on the pillow. “Rock-er.”

  “You always were a stubborn old coot,” his wife said with a catch in her voice, her expression fond.

  The stark sadness in her eyes made Kael want to weep. He dug deep inside himself for strength.

  Pa’s mouth moved in a glimmer of his old smile. “Love…you.”

  “You’ve been the best father,” Kael said, his voice froggy. In spite of his best efforts, tears flooded his eyes.

  Sophia reached for his hand and held on.

  He gathered strength from her touch, even though a glance at her face showed tears tracking down her cheeks.

  Ma, alone, remained dry-eyed. “Kael, get out your pallet and drape it over the chair so your father will be well cushioned,” she commanded. “We’ll drape a quilt and a blanket over him and use the other ones for ourselves.”

  Kael released Sophia’s hand to do his mother’s biding, stooping under the bed to pull out the box containing his pallet. Then he carried the bedding out to the porch and draped it over his father’s rocking chair, positioning the seat so his father could look over his favorite view—the garden and the forest beyond.

  He returned and leaned over to scoop up Leith, bending his knees and taking the most of his weight on his good arm. His pa’s once big body, although still heavy, felt almost slight in contrast to his former bulk.

  Sophia rushed over to lift Leith’s legs and help carry him outside.

  Kael settled his father in the chair.

  His mother drew the quilt over him, tucking in the edges.

  Pa laid his head back against the chair, his eyes half open. In the faintest whisper, he said, “Sing.”

  His throat tight, Kael glanced at his mother, not sure he could even force out the words.

  Ma nodded and took a breath. “Oh, Shenando—” Her voice broke.

  Sophia stepped into the breach. “Oh, Shenandoah, I long to hear you.” Her glorious soprano soared on the lonesome lyrics.

  Gratitude for her presence made Kael’s throat loosen. He took a breath and sang, “Look away, you rollin’ river.”

  Ma swallowed audibly, leaned to kiss Pa’s forehead, and straightened. “Oh, Shenandoah,” she added her voice to theirs. “I long to hear you. Look away, we’re bound to go ’cross the wide Missouri.”

  When they finished “Oh, Shenandoah,” they went on to the next song, and then the next, moving through their familiar repertoire, sometimes singing with power, other times crooning. When Sophia didn’t know the lyrics, she dropped out, rejoining them with the next familiar piece.

  Sometimes, one or two of them, usually Sophia, would stop to rest their voices and drink, while the others kept on. Thank goodness we did vocal exercises earlier, and Sophia warmed up her voice. He dreaded to think she might injure her vocal cords again.

  Once, Sophia motioned for them to stop while she performed a song in Italian, the notes so high and pure, Kael suspected it was from an opera.

  They sang with love to his father, although he could no longer respond. They sang on as time grew longer between each of his faint inhalations.

  Purple dusk settled, turning to sapphire dark.

  The harvest moon rose to hang in the corner of the midnight sky, casting orange rays into the darkness. Diamond stars wheeled overhead. The air chilled, and they huddled close under blankets, forming a half-circle of love.

  They sang to his father as he crossed that last dark river, heading to the distant land of light where the Creator of all waited in welcome.

  As the pink rays of dawn brightened the night, Pa gave his last quiet breath.

  Their voices heavy with sorrow, they released Leith Kelley’s soul to heaven and sang him home.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Nina bent over her husband’s body, closed his eyes, and kissed his brow. With her back to them, she kept her head bowed as if praying, showing hunched shoulders and the vulnerable curve of her spine.

  Sophia bit her lip. Under the blanket, her body felt heavy in the chair. How can she bear this?

  Kael leaned to put his arms around his mother, his movements tender.

  Sophia’s throat closed, and her eyes burned with unshed tears. As much as she wanted to cry, she held back the tears. If she cried, Kael would try to comfort her, when she should be the one consoling him, and he needed to give all his attention to his mother.

  Nina straightened and stepped back from her son, her expression pale and drawn, the lines around her mouth and eyes deep. As she reached to touch her husband’s shoulder, her hand trembled.

  Sophia expected the woman to show emotion, to break into tears.

  But instead Nina’s expression remained stoic, although her eyes held the depths of sorrow. “Are either of you hungry?”

  Sophia shook her head. The knot in her stomach left no room for food.

  “I’m fine,” Kael said, his expression weary. “But what about you?”

  “I couldn’t possibly eat.” Mrs. Kelley looked from Sophia to Kael. “You must escort Sophia home.”

  Kael shook his head. “I can’t leave you alone, Ma.”

  “No, Kael. Everyone will be frantic about Sophia being gone all night. We cannot let them continue to worry.”

  Sophia stood and moved closer. “I’m sure they’ll understand.”

  Nina crossed her arms in front of her chest, as if cold. “I want to be alone. This will be my last time with my husband. I will wash his body and dress him in his Sunday best.”

  “As you wish.” Kael ran a hand over his head and let out a tired sigh. “When we get to the Dunn ranch, Tyler will send someone to notify the minister to come here tomorrow.”

  Nina waved a negation. “I’ve known this day was coming all summer, and I’ve done a lot of thinking. And, also, your father and I have discussed his death and burial.”

  Kael’s jaw dropped. “Why didn’t you say anything to me?”

  “You’ve been so happy.” She glanced at Sophia. “We could see you both healing with every day that passed. Leith didn’t want to bring up any dark topics, and I respected his wishes.” Shaking her head, she shrugged. “He knew the time would come soon enough.”

  Sophia touched Kael’s arm. “Your father wouldn’t want you to feel guilty.”

  After giving Sophia an approving nod, Nina turned to her son. “Leith wanted to have a funeral in the church and be buried at the cemetery in town.”

  Kael frowned. “That’s unexpected.” He gestured toward the forest. “I’d have thought here. But…we must respect his wishes.”

  Nina looked over at Sophia “If you would be so kind…. Leith al
so wanted you to sing. For both of you to sing.”

  Deeply touched, her chest tight, Sophia leaned forward to kiss Nina’s cheek. “I’d be honored.”

  “Leith liked the idea of his funeral bringing pleasure to all who attend and making the occasion memorable.” Nina took Sophia’s hand. “You brought such joy to my husband’s final days. He so enjoyed your visits.”

  Sophia glanced at the body in the rocking chair, lying so peacefully, as if asleep. “I was blessed to have known him, even for so short a time. He was a wonderful man, a loving husband—” she glanced at Kael “—and father.”

  “Thank you for tonight.” Nina squeezed Sophia’s hand. “I know we were selfish, making you sing for so long. I can tell it took a toll on your voice.”

  “Nothing some rest won’t fix,” Sophia said in a light tone, not wanting either of them to feel guilty. They hadn’t forced her to do anything.

  Sophia had known she was paying a price to hold vigil with singing. But Leith’s time of dying felt too important, too sacred, to stop, and she’d made the choice to continue, regardless of the consequences. Now, her throat felt tight and froggy. Was that vocal strain or was it from grief?

  Probably both. But even if she could go back and change her decision, she wouldn’t.

  Nina reached up and cupped Kael’s cheek with her hand. “Now, go with Sophia, my son. Leave me with my beloved husband.”

  * * *

  On the way back to the ranch, Kael held hands with Sophia. The light flitering through the branches grew lighter as they walked in silence through the forest.

  Kael grappled with his father’s sudden death, unable to take his usual enjoyment of the sights and sounds of nature. His chest hurt, his head ached, and his muscles felt stiff and sore.

  His restless mind couldn’t settle. His thoughts flittered from memories of his father dying, to seeing the big, laughing Pa of his childhood, to his fears of the future. What will I do?

  His love and duty to his mother weighed on him. She was now alone, where for a majority of her life, she’d been part of a couple—the two having fallen in love as school children. He couldn’t possibly allow his grieving mother to live by herself. Aside from the loneliness, what if something happened? He imagined Ma tripping and falling, breaking a bone, lying on the ground unable to get help. Then, dying of pain and cold and hunger. No, I can’t leave her.