His Montana Homecoming

by Jenna Mindel

  “Thank you.” Faith grinned. She’d talk to the merchants next and find out if they’d be willing to put up Christmas decorations a couple of days early. Just this once.

  Pastor Ethan nodded toward the podium where her father stood.

  “If everyone would have a seat, we’ll get started.” Her father waited while the various dignitaries took seats in chairs provided on the stage. The Jasper Gulch high school cafeteria doubled as an auditorium.

  Faith pulled back her chair, and half a sheet of paper fluttered to the floor. She picked it up and rolled her eyes, ready to crumple it into a ball.

  “What’s it say?” Dale sat down next to her.

  “I thought you were supposed to be onstage.”

  He winked. “I’d rather sit with you.”

  Her heart skipped a few beats and then she shook her head. “You, sir, are a flirt.”

  “You’re fun to flirt with.” His voice had lowered to a purr.

  She tipped her head and tested the waters of Dale’s feelings. “Because I’m safe?”

  “Because you’re not.” He gave her a wicked grin, setting her heart to beat even faster with hope. “Now, what’s that paper say?”

  Faith handed the paper to Dale. She looked around. Folks were passing the paper back and forth, murmuring. Her father was going to have a fit.

  “‘Everything is NOT okay in Jasper Gulch. Where is the treasure? Who doesn’t want the truth to come out?’” Dale looked at her. “It’s signed LS4EVER. What’s that mean?”

  Faith thought about Lilibeth Shoemaker and the small stack of papers in her purse. Faith had seen those papers and they truly were a college application kit, so nothing there. It wasn’t Lilibeth circulating the puzzling notes. Faith had worked with the girl setting up the tables and would have noticed had she been the one.

  No. Someone else was stirring up trouble. Someone who blended in and must have passed out the notes after everyone had already arrived. But who?

  She shrugged.

  “And what’s with the treasure?” Dale looked at her when she didn’t answer.

  Faith shook her head. “I really don’t know. I’ve never heard of any lost treasure before.”

  She peeked at her father as he grabbed one of the papers and his face paled as he read it. Then he slowly bobbed his arms and gestured for quiet, but the crowd buzzed like a hive of busy bees.

  “Okay, folks, let’s simmer down. This is obviously someone’s idea of a sick joke and not even worth the cheap paper it’s printed on.” Her father’s face had reddened.

  Faith read the note again. Treasure? Since when did Jasper Gulch have any treasure? Back in the day maybe…

  Her stomach plummeted.

  Could the note be referring to gold?

  *

  Dale took in the gamut of reactions to the cryptic message. From indifference to outrage, the audience refused to settle.

  “It’s about that Beaver Creek Bridge. Maybe Lucy was murdered there,” someone shouted from the crowd.

  “Folks, now, come on. We all know that was a long time ago.” The mayor gestured for the crowd to calm down.

  “What truth?” another yelled.

  “What treasure?”

  The townspeople were losing control fast.

  Dale leaned toward Cord on his other side. As a member of the Jasper Gulch Town Council, Faith’s brother had insight into all this that wasn’t colored by the mayor. While meeting earlier, Cord had made no secret that he disagreed with Jackson on the bridge and other matters pertaining to the town’s attempts to grow. “So what’s the deal with the note?”

  Cord looked frustrated and tired. “I really don’t know. Ever since we started this centennial celebration back in July, there have been spurts of trouble. First, the time capsule was stolen, then some sports equipment, and then arson at the fairgrounds.”

  “Are they related?”

  Cord shrugged and tucked one of the flyers in the pocket of his suit jacket. “Probably. But who knows? I’ll make sure Deputy Calloway gets a copy of this for his file. We still don’t know who caused any of it. But since that time capsule was found by the bridge, we haven’t had another incident—until tonight’s note.”

  “It sounds like you have your work cut out for you.” Dale didn’t envy Cord the duty of sifting through the details. Not that a poorly created note was anything illegal, but it sure stirred the pot. Did this town want that bridge opened or not?

  “Welcome to small-town living.” Faith gave him a sarcastic grin.

  Dale smiled back.

  He’d experienced some heated municipal meetings in his day and this was nothing compared to those. The people of Jasper Gulch, even when agitated, still treated each other with respect. No one hurled insults.

  This place had something special, and Dale hated to see that lost with growth that wasn’t managed well. He rubbed his chin. Management would be the key to the town’s success.

  But who’d see to that proper management?

  *

  “Morning, Mom.” Faith refilled her travel mug with coffee.

  “Where are you headed so early?” Her mother and father lingered at the table reading different sections of the newspaper. Ranger lay in his bed with his chin resting on a toy stuffed sheep.

  Her father looked worn.

  “You guys okay?”

  Her mother smiled too brightly. “Fine. Why wouldn’t we be?”

  After last night’s debacle with the note in front of a state senator from Bozeman and other county dignitaries, Faith thought her question pretty obvious.

  She grabbed a muffin and wrapped it in a napkin. If her parents didn’t want to talk about it, then neither would she. “No reason, I guess.”

  “No breakfast?” Her mom sounded disappointed, as if she wanted the added company. No doubt her mom had hoped for a buffer against the surliness of her father.

  “I need to talk to a couple of store owners who didn’t go last night. The Middletons, for one. I’ll be back later to cut some greens.”

  “First Dale, now you.” Her mom tried to pout. Nadine Shaw wasn’t used to pouting; she usually got her way.

  Faith stopped in her tracks, and her heart froze. “What about Dale? Did he leave?”

  “First thing this morning. He didn’t want anything to eat, either. Is something going on between you two?”

  He’d said he would stay for Thanksgiving, with his brothers, too, maybe even his father. All this trouble to get the town at least halfway decorated for Christmas was for him. Had something changed his plans?

  Faith raced out of the dining room, back upstairs. She didn’t bother to knock on his door, and opened it wide. She spotted his opened suitcase on the bed and nearly collapsed against the door. He hadn’t left for good.

  Not yet.

  “Faith!”

  She peeked over the railing.

  Her mother stood in the living room with hands on hips. “What has gotten into you? Dale went into town. He also asked if we’d mind having his two brothers and father for Thanksgiving night. He plans to leave with them first thing Friday morning. Surely he told you.”

  “Oh, yeah.” He had told her, but she thought…

  Faith didn’t know what she thought. She’d panicked, thinking that Dale had left before she could show him how she felt. Actions spoke louder than words, and she had some plans yet to pull off.

  Faith climbed back down the stairs. Feeling silly for her reaction, she didn’t meet her mom’s eyes. What was he up to with another trip into town?

  “Faith? Honey, are you okay?” Her mother touched her shoulder.

  “Fine. Yes, couldn’t be better.” She gave her mother a hug. “I’ll see you later.”

  “See if Marie has any more of that plaid ribbon. I bought every roll that the Middleton’s grocery store had.”

  “Will do.”

  Faith smiled at the dusting of newly fallen snow. She couldn’t remember when they’d had this much snow at the end of Nov
ember. It was as if God had blessed this gift of an early Christmas before she’d even hatched the plan. What a perfect idea, too. If she could somehow give Dale a good memory of Christmas, something his money couldn’t buy, maybe it would make a difference in his life. Maybe it could change the way he viewed relationships. And her.

  That’s what she hoped for. Once in town, Faith turned down River Road toward Marie’s house. Passing the library, she spotted a small yellow car parked there. Dale’s rental.

  Of course!

  Dale must have come to town for better cell-phone reception and faster internet. No mystery in that. The guy had been out of commission during the power outage, so working at the quiet library to catch up made perfect sense.

  Faith parked in front of Marie Middleton’s tiny house a couple of homes over. Marie’s pickup truck blocked the short driveway. Faith read the new logo painted on the sides of the truck—Marie’s Flowers. Her friend had hopes of one day becoming a florist. For now, she worked at her parents’ grocery store and kept the cooler well stocked with floral bouquets and roses. Jasper Gulch was not without some of the finer things.

  Marie’s favorite saying in high school had been “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

  Could Dale be God’s will for Faith’s life? Would Dale, in turn, open his heart to God? She hoped so. There she went, hoping again. But this was different than chasing butterflies. This felt a whole lot like going after what she wanted. Knocking on the garage door, she peeked inside.

  “Morning, Faith.” Marie Middleton looked up from the table where she worked on small floral arrangements of red carnations and rust mums with sprigs of cedar stuck in for good holiday measure.

  “That’s, ah…nice.” Faith didn’t have the heart to say otherwise. She’d never purposely put those two colors, or even flowers, together, but then, that was Marie. Her friend had an odd sense of combinations.

  “Your mom already called about the ribbon. I have tons you can take.”

  Faith forced a smile. She wouldn’t have forgotten. “Don’t you need it?”

  “Nah.” Marie shook her head. “I can order more if I do.”

  Friends since high school, they’d gone their own ways to college and after, but both had returned home to Jasper Gulch after failed attempts to make it in the big city.

  “Thanks.”

  “Your mom also said you’re trying to get the merchants to decorate early for Christmas for that Massey guy.” Marie gave her a wounded look. “I didn’t know you liked him.”

  “It happened so fast, and it’s not like I had the chance. The power’s been out.” She would have told Marie about Dale eventually. After he’d left and Faith haunted the ice-cream aisle for solace at Middleton’s grocery.

  Unless she convinced Dale to stay.

  Marie pinned her with a hard look. “Are you falling for this guy?”

  Faith shrugged. What sense was there in admitting her feelings to anyone before telling Dale? She didn’t need her friend’s sympathy or advice. Not yet, anyway. “He’s leaving, Marie. I wanted to give Dale a taste of a Jasper Gulch Christmas before he returned to New York.”

  Marie shook her head as if Faith was a lost cause. “My mom says you’re wasting your time on him and you’d be better off with our pastor.”

  Faith rolled her eyes. Rosemary Middleton kept a finger on the gossip pulse of Jasper Gulch. Winning Pastor Ethan’s picnic basket had thrown gas on that fire, but they’d never even gone out! At least being seen with Dale had extinguished those rumors. “Hey, how’s your dad?”

  “Good. He’s on an exercise plan now. Did you know they get a person right up after a triple bypass? No slacking allowed. I’ve been working more at the store until he can come back.”

  Faith nodded as Marie handed her a cute bag with the ribbon tucked inside. “You got a bill in there?”

  “Yup. At cost, too.”

  “Marie…”

  She waved Faith’s protest away with stained figures from the flower stems. “Don’t worry about it. I mean, it’s for your mom.”

  Faith smiled. They used to cashier at the Middleton’s grocery store together when they were in high school. She had envied her friend’s tall, dark looks. But eventually, Faith had accepted her freckles and reddish hair. Tonight at church, she might even use them to her advantage by wearing that black velvet dress from the picture Dale seemed to like.

  All she had to do was get him to go to church with her.

  *

  Dale stepped into the Great Gulch Grub café. An unpleasant mouthful to say; he hoped the food would prove otherwise. He smiled when he spotted one of the waitresses hanging Christmas lights in the window. He couldn’t look at a string of lights without thinking of Faith.

  The young minister came in right behind him. “Morning, Dale.”

  Dale nodded and extended his hand. “Pastor, ah…”

  The guy smiled and didn’t look the least bit offended that Dale hadn’t remembered his name. “Ethan Johnson. Call me Ethan. Are you alone?”

  “I am. Care to join me, Ethan?” Dale wouldn’t mind getting the minister’s perspective on opening the bridge.

  Dale had reviewed Cord’s information and it didn’t make any logical sense to leave the Beaver Creek Bridge useless and in disrepair.

  “That’d be fine.” Ethan gestured for Dale to lead.

  As they made their way to a booth, several people said hello, calling them both by name. Dale recognized Mike, the hardware store owner, and then a couple of others he’d met briefly at last night’s homecoming. A little late in the morning for strictly breakfast, but a little early for lunch, Dale was surprised by the small crowd.

  These were not the polite, indifferent greetings he was used to at Massey International. The folks of Jasper Gulch didn’t seem to care or know who he was other than the great-great-grandson of Silas Massey. That alone seemed reason enough for the warm welcome.

  Dale had to own he liked the connection, despite what Silas had done. If everyone knew about his great-great-grandfather’s theft, would they treat him differently? Payback, the mayor had called it. Dale actually agreed with Faith’s father, but not by his terms.

  Something had to be done about that bridge and Dale looked forward to being part of the solution. He wanted to do it. “What’s good here?” Dale grabbed a menu that had been stashed between a sugar shaker and ketchup bottle.

  Ethan smiled. “Everything.”

  “You eat here often?”

  “Every chance I get.”

  Dale breathed in the aroma of fried potatoes and fresh coffee. “Mind if I ask you something?”

  Ethan focused right in. “Go ahead.”

  Dale shifted under that direct gaze that seemed to see through him. “Do you want the bridge restored and opened for traffic?”

  Ethan tipped his head. “I don’t believe an eighty-eight-year-old accident should dictate policy. Nor flyers distributed at a local event, but both sides have their reasons. I’ll go with whatever the majority decides once the funds are raised.”

  “What if those funds were raised? You think the mayor would reassign the resources?”

  “The town council wouldn’t allow that, not if the money is earmarked for the bridge, especially Jackson’s son Cord. Those two have disagreed over this project since long before I moved here.”

  “You didn’t grow up in Jasper Gulch?”

  A shadow passed over the guy’s eyes, but Dale could have been mistaken. “I’m relatively new and hired in as pastor to Mountainview Church of the Savior this past June. I’m from California.”

  Dale nodded. That would explain the pastor’s easygoing, if cleaner cut, surfer look.

  “You boys know what you want?” A woman well past sixty with dyed blond hair and a pencil stuck behind her ear waited for their orders.

  “Thanks, Mert, I’ll take my usual.” The minister tucked the menu away.

  Dale ordered an omelet.

  “Coffee?” Mert raised the ha
lf-empty pot in her hand.

  “Please.” Dale flipped over his mug. He could smell fresh coffee brewing. After the waitress had gone, he looked at Ethan. “Faith says everything here is homemade.”

  “Yes, I believe so.” Ethan looked thoughtful. “Are you planning to attend tonight’s midweek service?”

  “Midweek service?” Dale drew a blank.

  “An informal church service at Mountainview. It would mean a lot to Faith if you did.”

  How close was Faith to her minister? Remembering what Nadine had said the first day he’d arrived, Dale wondered if they’d ever gone out. “You know Faith pretty well.”

  Ethan stirred his coffee. “Her family attends church and she helps with the music. So, yeah, I guess I’ve gotten to know her well enough.”

  They hadn’t dated then. Why did that knowledge lift his spirits? “She hasn’t asked me to go.”

  “She will.” Ethan grinned. “In fact, she’s playing something special for you.”

  Dale chuckled. “I think she’s trying to make me like Christmas. I’m not much of a churchgoer, but if Faith wants me there, I’ll be there.”

  This time the minister pinned him with a hard stare, not nearly as protective as Cord’s, but serious all the same. “Faith’s a warmhearted young woman.”

  The food arrived, giving Dale time to think how to respond while he peppered his eggs. He knew what Ethan was trying to say without really saying it.

  Dale looked up to answer, but Ethan’s head was bowed. No doubt praying over his food.

  After that brief silence, Ethan bit into his toast. Something about the guy resonated with Dale. They came from opposite ends of the country and probably from vastly different backgrounds, but Ethan seemed as if he’d understand. Not as a man of the cloth per se, but as a man.

  Dale set down his fork. “I’m not sure I can be what Faith needs. And I know I’m not even close to what she deserves.”

  “And what’s that?”

  “A churchgoer for starters. Committed and faithful for finishers.” Dale watched the minister digest that statement.

  He didn’t look shocked. In fact, Ethan Johnson, though young, wasn’t wet behind the ears. His eyes had the look of a life lived hard.

  “What makes you think you’d be unfaithful?”