His Montana Homecoming

by Jenna Mindel

  Eric rolled his eyes. “Problems with the jet. We had to wait it out. I tried to text you, but my battery died. Jordan wanted to call, but I thought we’d make you sweat it out.” His brother looked around. “This looks like a riot. Small-town Thanksgiving and all that. Maybe we’ll get real mashed potatoes instead of those whipped twice-baked things served at Dad’s.”

  Dale nodded. Thanksgivings had always been catered evening affairs worth forgetting. This one might be worth remembering with real mashed potatoes and maybe even more.

  Jordan, his younger and more serious half brother, nodded, grinning like Dale had never seen him do before. “Beats going to Dad’s black-tie.”

  Dale laughed again. “You got that right.”

  Julian Massey typically hosted a party at his penthouse for a few close associates on Thanksgiving evening. A boring event Dale had never had success in skipping out on. Until this year. And this year he had brothers in Jasper Gulch to share the history of their ancestry. Brothers to share that hokey Massey float!

  Eric and Jordan looked at Faith and then back at Dale.

  “Well, well, who have we here?” Eric grinned at her.

  Faith held out her hand. “Faith Shaw. You must be…?”

  Eric swept the back of Faith’s hand with a kiss. “Eric Massey, at your service.”

  Dale draped his arm around Faith, staking his claim even though he didn’t have the courage to make her his own. “All right, all right. Enough of that. This tall skinny kid is Jordan.”

  “Watch it.” Jordan elbowed him in the ribs and nodded toward Faith. “Watch out for this guy or he’ll break your heart.”

  Faith smiled, but her eyes glimmered with unshed tears. “I’ve got to go.”

  Dale could have clocked his brother. “Faith—”

  She had pulled away, looking everywhere but at him as she gestured for them to follow her. “Come on, guys, the parade’s going to start and you’ve got to climb up on your float.”

  “We’re really going to ride that?” Eric pointed and laughed.

  “A lot of work went into that. You can throw your stuff in my car and then we’ll climb aboard.” Dale unlocked his rental with a click of his key.

  What did his brothers know about anything? Maybe it was up to him to show them that he could love. That love was real. Even if it came along much too fast to make any kind of logical sense.

  Some things you just know.

  “Nice-looking girl, but not your usual.” Jordan watched Faith walk toward the large Shaw float. Then he wiggled his eyebrows. “I guess it’s no surprise you stayed.”

  “It’s not like that.” Dale didn’t want Faith lumped in with other women. She was different.

  Jordan laughed. “Then how is it?”

  “I’m working that out.” Dale didn’t have a definitive answer. Maybe all he needed was a little distance back in New York to be sure. If he’d learned anything in business, it was that caution typically worked in his favor. Would it work here?

  The band started playing the “Stars and Stripes Forever” and the procession of floats inched forward.

  “We’ve got to go.” He clicked the lock button on his rental keys and stuffed them in the pocket of his jeans. Then he climbed onto the float with his brothers.

  It was a slow crawl toward town with the small high school band in front playing their hearts out.

  “Wow, this is really cheesy.” Eric gave him the once-over. “Look at you, though. You’ve loosened up and even ditched the tie.”

  Dale wore jeans and the barn jacket and boots he’d purchased from the hardware store with Faith. Against his wishes, she’d dropped off his cashmere coat to the cleaners. After ruining his suit coat and two pairs of trousers, there wasn’t much left to wear. “So?”

  Jordan nodded. “So I think that little redhead is turning you into a Montana man.”

  Dale laughed along with his brothers, marveling at their perception. Was it that obvious? Dale wasn’t the same man as when he’d first arrived. He couldn’t be. Not after God had showed up.

  Not after Faith…

  Sometimes all it takes is a little faith…

  The processional turned onto the same road he’d walked with her last night gawking at the Christmas decorations she’d had a hand in getting put up early. It was so easy to be with her. Kiss her.

  Dale spotted the Shaw float behind them. Faith was seated between her brothers and sister, laughing at something one of them said, but her eyes still looked glassy, as if she teetered on the edge of tears. His doing.

  She caught him staring and smiled.

  She was beautiful, his little Christmas elf.

  “Whoa. You’re falling for her!” Eric sounded amazed. “How’s that even possible for Dale the Coldheart?”

  Dale shrugged. Anything seemed possible here.

  Eric slapped him on the back. “I think I like you now.”

  “You didn’t before?” Dale chuckled.

  “Not much.” His brother looked serious for a moment and then grinned. “But that’s changed. You’ve changed.”

  “Thanks, I’m feeling a whole lot of love for you, too.”

  He and Eric had never seen eye to eye, but then maybe his younger brother had run away from Julian’s approval as much as Dale had toed the line seeking it. Both approaches had been futile as their father failed to see what was right before his own nose. Sons seeking a father’s love. Plain and simple.

  The parade route ran the length of Main Street to River Road and they were halfway finished.

  “What’s after this?” Eric asked.

  “Back to the high school for the centennial Thanksgiving dinner.”

  “Seriously? How are they going to feed a whole town?” Jordan looked skeptical.

  “They’ll do it.” Dale had no doubts.

  Kids ran alongside their float, waving and laughing. The sun warmed Dale’s shoulders. Jasper Gulch had warmed him, too, but Faith had gone even deeper. She warmed his heart. Could God help him be the kind of man she deserved?

  Only time would tell.

  How much time did Dale need to figure out if hometown apple pie might be his favorite for a lifetime?

  *

  Faith watched Dale with his brothers. She had a good view of them on their float. They looked like brothers, they even acted like brothers. Sort of. They didn’t seem to have the same ease with each other that her brothers had. But she was glad Dale wasn’t all alone on that float. He would never feel alone again now that he’d asked God to be part of his life.

  She couldn’t be happier, and yet she’d overheard Dale confirm his presence at his office tomorrow. Dale Massey still planned to walk out of her life.

  “You okay?” Julie patted her knee.

  Faith nodded, but she wanted to cry. “He’s leaving.”

  “Have you told him how you feel?” her little sister asked.

  Faith shook her head. Not with words.

  “Oh, Faith, don’t you think he should know?”

  Faith wiped her nose with a tissue. “He knows. But it doesn’t matter.”

  Her sister gave her an understanding smile that commiserated. Julie had been there, done that. “He doesn’t deserve you.”

  Faith laughed even though a tear slipped down her cheek. “He’s a good man, little sister. Really, he is.”

  Julie wrinkled her nose. “He’s an idiot if he doesn’t love you. Besides, he’s stuffy.”

  She glanced at Dale waving and throwing candy to the little kids on Main Street. He didn’t look stuffy today. Dale Massey was a different man than the one who’d arrived a week ago. Faith couldn’t even picture him in that ugly olive suit, all businesslike and, yeah, stuffy.

  “Do you need me to set him straight?” Adam leaned forward.

  Now she’d done it. Faith shouldn’t have said a word. “Stay out of it, please.”

  “If he so much as—”

  “Leave her alone.” Cord cut him off. “I already gave Dale a good talki
ng-to.”

  Faith’s stomach turned over and boiled. “I didn’t need any help from you to scare him. Dad probably took care of that with his bogus electronics ban when the power was out.”

  Cord winked. “Dad tried too hard to throw you two together.”

  “Exactly.” Faith found it hard to believe that Cord had warned Dale away, considering the twinkle in her brother’s eyes. What wasn’t he telling her?

  “Will you kids stop arguing and throw some candy?” Nadine gave her best queen-of-the-parade wave.

  Julie gave her a quick squeeze. “It’ll be okay.”

  “Yeah, sure.” Faith knew this in her head, but her heart was another matter. It ached.

  She’d only known Dale a short time. It wasn’t as though he’d made any empty promises. He hadn’t said anything about his feelings, and that was the trouble. Dale Massey was too afraid to feel. He’d never been afraid to kiss her, though. He’d made her feel cherished and special and even…loved.

  Why wouldn’t Dale let go and love her?

  Faith sighed and looked around. Main Street was lined with what was left of the town not already involved in the parade. She loved it here. Where else on earth would store owners decorate early for the sake of a lonely man with bad memories of Christmas?

  She thought about her corner of Shaw Ranch where she wanted to build a house and raise a family. Would she give all that up and leave to marry Dale? She glanced at him knowing she’d follow him anywhere if he truly loved her. Her answer to his New York invitation might have been different had he said that he loved her. All he had to do was commit to forever. Something Dale had said he’d never do.

  Faith bowed her head and prayed for them both. She prayed for direction, she prayed for clarity, and above all else, she prayed Dale loved her enough to do just that.

  *

  After the parade, Dale marveled at the dozens of people who poured into the high school cafeteria amid lively chatter and laughter. Unlike the homecoming event, long tables had been set up in rows with white plastic tablecloths. Small vases of flowers graced each table along with large place cards announcing the families expected to sit together. The senator had remained, joined by his family, and they’d ridden one of the floats. They were placed with the Shaw family.

  Family…

  Dale spotted the Massey name alongside the Shaws.

  “Now what?” Eric asked.

  “Sit down.” Dale looked around for the posters.

  “Whatcha looking for?” Rusty Zidek made his way straight for him.

  “The photos of the town’s history. I’d like my brothers to see them. See for themselves where we came from.”

  “Packed up for the museum for whenever it opens.”

  Dale introduced his brothers.

  Rusty shook Eric’s hand, then Jordan’s, and then he looked the three of them over pretty good. “Well, I’ll be. Mighty good to have Masseys in Jasper Gulch again. Feels right and that’s a fact.”

  “Thanks, Rusty.” Dale couldn’t quite shake that right feeling, either.

  “You might want to get yourselves some punch while the getting’s good.”

  Dale glanced at the tables set up in each corner with cups stacked beside huge punch bowls. A crowd had gathered at each, but the far-corner table wasn’t too bad. He glanced at his brothers, who looked amused as people poured over each other to meet more Masseys. Lilibeth Shoemaker was one of the ladies in line. He hoped Eric behaved.

  He chuckled at the thought, realizing he cared. He’d always cared. “You guys stay here, and I’ll get the punch.”

  “Yeah, sure. No problem.” Jordan nodded as he bent his ear to an old lady shaking his hand and thanking him for coming.

  It took some time for Dale to make it through the crowd, between slaps on the back and handshakes. He glanced back at his table and spotted Faith and her family slipping into their seats. He’d grab a cup of punch for her, too.

  Moving forward, he bumped into the blonde woman who’d been studying the town’s history. “Hi, Robin, is it?” He tapped his chest. “Dale Massey.”

  She smiled. “Yes, I remember.”

  “Do you know where the posters from the homecoming event are stored?”

  “They’re boxed and sitting at city hall until the museum opens.”

  Dale nodded. “It’ll open soon though, right?”

  “It’s supposed to.”

  “It will.”

  Robin smiled. “You sound pretty certain of that.”

  “I am.” Dale puffed up his chest. “I’m your first museum patron. Haven’t you been offered a job there?”

  A shadow crossed the young woman’s face. “Yes, but…”

  Dale tipped his head. “Isn’t that good news?”

  “Oh, yes, of course it is. I wish the very best for the museum and Jasper Gulch.” The young woman looked sad.

  “But you can’t stay?” Dale felt for her. He also understood. He had responsibilities in New York. But maybe he could come back….

  “I—well, I was only here to complete my thesis.”

  Dale made it to the punch table. He ladled up five cups and offered one to Robin.

  “Thank you.” Her attention was caught by the pastor walking onto the stage.

  Dale thought the young woman looked even more forlorn. “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah, sure. Excuse me.”

  Dale watched the troubled young woman walk away. She’d even left her punch behind. Something was definitely not right in Robin Frazier’s world. Maybe he’d tell Faith so she could reach out to her. Women were better at that kind of thing.

  The mayor called the room to order. “Before I hand over the mic to Pastor Ethan for a prayer of thanksgiving, I’d like to say a few words about the blessings this centennial celebration has brought Jasper Gulch.” The mayor paused for dramatic effect. A true politician.

  Dale braced for what was coming. He’d asked Cord to keep it quiet. At least for a little while.

  “As you know, our centennial celebrations are not only about acknowledging our past but also preparing for our future. Jasper Gulch has received an anonymous but generous donation to the bridge fund that will enable us to reopen that thoroughfare and put Jasper Gulch on the map, so to speak.” The mayor paused again as a cheer went up, and gave a nod toward the senator.

  Eric and Jordan looked around, as did several people. Maybe looking for him. They didn’t know anything about it, and neither did Julian. They would soon enough. Dale remained by the punch table and watched Jackson Shaw. Faith’s father had accepted the fate of the bridge rather well. Grudgingly, maybe, but like a true man of public office, he’d spun it to his advantage.

  “Today, as we count our blessings, remember that God brings folks into our lives for reasons we don’t always understand. But we’re made better for it. And now Pastor Ethan will bless the food.”

  Dale bowed his head as Ethan prayed. Dale didn’t fully understand the depth of this new kinship with God, but he had a glimpse of something better. A hope he hadn’t had before. And then there was Faith. Even her name reminded Dale of the God he now knew and believed in.

  Could he believe for more? With God, could he be more?

  After the prayer, Dale scooped up the four cups of punch and headed for his seat while Pastor Ethan gave directions to remain seated until tables were dismissed to the food line. Amazing town. Everyone chipped in.

  “For you.” Dale handed Faith the plastic tumbler of citrusy punch.

  She leaned close. “It was you, wasn’t it?”

  He knew she meant the bridge donation and nodded.

  She searched his eyes. “Why?”

  There were too many reasons to tell them all here. “Good business decision.”

  “Oh.” Faith looked disappointed as she leaned back in her seat and sipped her punch.

  He could see the wheels in her head turning, questioning. “Faith—”

  A volunteer dismissed their table. Now wasn’t the ti
me to explain his actions.

  In line, Eric pointed. “Will you look at that pile of mashed potatoes? Are they real?”

  The elderly lady serving behind the glass gave his brother a wide grin. “Of course they are. Everything’s real in Jasper Gulch.”

  Dale needed to remember that when he returned to New York.

  Chapter Fifteen Later that evening at Shaw Ranch, Faith worked with Dale on the nearly finished puzzle. A fire crackled with warmth in the hearth. Her parents and Austin lounged on the sofa watching football on TV. Dale’s brothers had made plans to stay another day or two and ski at Lone Peak with Adam.

  Dale’s plans hadn’t changed. He was leaving in the morning. Taking the corporate jet back to Massey International.

  Faith glanced at the animated three and shook her head. “That’s trouble brewing there.”

  Dale took a puzzle piece from her hand. “I need that.”

  And I need you. She’d almost said it aloud. Almost. Faith closed her eyes against the sting of tears. She would not cry!

  “Tired?” Dale rubbed the back of her hand.

  She nodded, pulling her hand away. If she pretended exhaustion, she’d get away with it. Then he wouldn’t know what this was doing to her. Trying to act normal when her heart was breaking. “It’s been a long day.”

  Dale watched her closely.

  Faith looked at their Christmas tree. Maybe she’d email a picture of it to him so he’d have it as a memory. A reminder to come back to Jasper Gulch.

  And her.

  “I’m going to make some tea. Does anyone want anything from the kitchen?” Faith needed distance from the infuriating man next to her. Didn’t he realize how hard this was on her?

  “Why don’t you bring back a plate of cookies for the boys?” her mom said.

  “Sure.” Faith made her escape.

  “I’ll help you.” Dale followed.

  Faith walked in front of Dale into the foyer. If she didn’t get a handle on her feelings soon, she’d shatter into pieces and that would only make matters worse.

  “Hey, wait up.” Dale touched her arm. “What, are you headed to a fire?”

  She pulled her arm away. “Please, don’t.”

  “Don’t what?” He stood close and yet he might as well be light-years away. Cold and distant.