Montana Cowboy Daddy (Big Sky Country #1)

by Linda Ford

  “I do.” Annie sat down. “Isabelle, join the fun.”

  Somehow the only empty chair was at Dawson’s side, so she sat there and began to read the pages she had.

  She gasped as she read the story before her. Too late she realized she should have hidden her surprise. Now she had Dawson’s attention.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  She couldn’t answer and knew it was too much to hope he wouldn’t see the story that caught her attention. She knew the moment he found the paragraphs.

  He read the story aloud. “‘Where is the Redfield heiress? She has not been seen in days.’”

  He glanced at the dateline. “This paper is ten days old.” He continued. “‘Queries to Miss Redfield’s lawyer have led to no information. He refuses to disclose her whereabouts. Her cousin, with whom she has lived since her parents’ untimely deaths, refuses to speak to this reporter. Speculation is rampant. Has something happened to Miss Redfield? If so, what will become of the Redfield–Castellano fortune?’”

  Isabelle stared at the page, not seeing anything.

  “Is that you?” Dawson asked.

  She nodded, feeling every pair of eyes on her.

  “What’s a hair-is?” Mattie demanded.

  Grandfather recovered enough to answer the child. “It means she has a lot of money.”

  Not until I marry or turn twenty-five, she silently protested. Though her allowance was more than generous. But she would not say that. It was like sending out an invitation for every eligible man in a hundred-mile radius to submit a marriage proposal.

  “Isn’t that good?” Mattie sounded confused.

  “It can be,” Grandfather added.

  “Not always.” Isabelle managed to squeeze the words from her constricting throat.

  “Why didn’t you say who you were?” Dawson made it sound like she’d tricked him.

  She lifted her head to face him. “Would it have made a difference?”

  Confusion and anger filled his eyes. “No.” He shook his head. “Yes. Yes, it would. Do you think I would have let you play nanny or nursemaid if I knew you were one of the richest women in America?” He banged the heel of his hand to his forehead. “I knew I’d heard that name somewhere. I’ve been such an idiot. Twice tricked by a city woman.” He banged his forehead again as if trying to drive the words into his brain.

  With every ounce of self-control she’d had drilled into her head during her many lessons on proper deportment, she rose to her feet. “I see we are right back where we started. I’m again a rich city woman with no practical skills. Totally unsuited for life in western Montana.” She had the guilty pleasure of seeing her accusations hit home, but then his expression again hardened and she understood he would not forgive her for not telling him the truth. Though, by his own mouth, he’d said he would never have allowed her to take care of Mattie if he’d known. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll pack my bag and return to town.” Ignoring Annie’s and Mattie’s protests, she swept up the stairs.

  Not until she reached the room where she had snatched bits of sleep the last two nights did she let her pain explode. She sank to the edge of the bed and leaned over her knees, waiting for the pain gripping her insides to abate. For a few days she’d been free to live the life she desired. How foolish of her to think it could last.

  Conversation rose and fell downstairs. She caught enough of it to know both Grandfather and Annie scolded Dawson for being so judgmental. She couldn’t make out his words but knew from the tone that he protested.

  Annie and Mattie rushed up the stairs and plopped down on either side of her.

  “You can’t go,” Mattie said.

  “Don’t let Dawson’s attitude affect you,” Annie said. “He doesn’t know what’s good for him.”

  She hugged Mattie. “I can’t stay.” She smiled at Annie. “Thank you for your loyalty and friendship.”

  “What are you going to do?” Annie asked.

  “Will I still be able to come to see you after school?” Mattie’s tears were very close.

  Isabelle would give anything not to hurt this dear child. “I can’t say. For either of your questions. Everything has changed now. I will never be treated the same.” She sighed, determined not to feel sorry for herself. Yes, she’d dreamed things could be different, but being an heiress had always been a burden to her.

  Tears were very close to the surface. Annie must have realized it, for she reached for Mattie’s hand. “We’ll leave you alone to consider your options.” She took Mattie’s hand and they returned downstairs.

  Her options? She had none. Already Dawson looked at her differently, judged her as useless. Useless and rich. What a combination. Was there no place she’d be accepted as more than an heiress, no one who would see her as more than that?

  The last few days, when she’d felt as if Dawson saw her as more, had only been pretend. Wishful thinking. She pushed her few belongings into the valise Kate had sent. She held her book in her hands. A Guide to Practical Housewifery. A mocking title. Signifying everything she wanted and was doomed never to enjoy.

  She jammed the book on top of her other things, closed the valise and headed for the stairs. She paused as regrets and wishes washed through her. Leaving her valise at the top of the stairs, she went to Mattie’s room and stood in the doorway. Two chairs still sat by the bed. For a little while she had been what she wanted to be…valued for herself, dreaming of belonging in a family.

  It was not to be.

  She returned to where she’d left her valise and took a moment to gather together her courage.

  Downstairs she heard Grandfather’s canes as he hobbled into the sitting room, announcing, “I’ll have none of this speculation.”

  She made out Dawson’s father’s voice. “I’ve had enough, too. I’ll go get the wagon in case Miss Isabelle is set on going to town.” The outer door opened and closed.

  One of the brothers spoke. She didn’t know them well enough to recognize their voices. “Dawson, she’s practically made of money. Why not ask her for a loan to buy some more cows? From what I’ve read of her, she can well spare the money.”

  The other brother added his opinion. “Seems like it was meant to be. You and her all friendly already. From the way she was looking at you when we first came in, I’d say she was ready to do most anything for you.”

  Anything but be seen in his eyes as a source of money.

  “Guess there might be some truth in that.”

  Dawson’s words scalded clear through her, leaving a trail of pain. How easily he began to regard her as a rich opportunity. Not waiting to hear more of what he would say, knowing she couldn’t take much more of this kind of talk before she broke down, she hurried down the stairs and into the kitchen.

  The three of them had the good grace to look embarrassed at her entrance.

  “I’m ready to go.” She crossed to the floor and put on her coat, then stood at the door.

  Dawson sprang to his feet. “I’ll take you.”

  Thankfully, his father came through the door at the same time. “The wagon is outside. I can take you.”

  “Thank you very much.”

  Mattie and Annie hovered nearby. She hugged them both. “This has nothing to do with either of you. Remember that.”

  Both girls turned accusing looks at Dawson.

  He stood at his chair, rubbing his chin, looking as hurt and confused as she.

  She slid her gaze past him. This was not a time to show weakness simply because of all she had thought possible in this home. “Goodbye. Nice to have met you all.” She nodded toward the brothers.

  Grandfather returned from the other room, his face drawn as if in pain. Likely because he had crossed the two rooms at twice his usual pace. “Anyone who would let you go,” he said, “is about as smart as an old fence post.” He glowered at Dawson.

  His words amused her but she was so close to crying she didn’t dare laugh, knowing tears would follow all too quickly. “You’re
a good man, Grandfather. It’s been a pleasure.”

  Grandfather’s eyes grew teary.

  She must leave before she broke down in front of everyone and she reached for her valise but Mr. Marshall took it. She followed him to the wagon and let him help her up. A cold wind blew from the north and she huddled into the protection of her coat for the ride to town.

  She would have been content to utter not a word nor hear one on the trip to town but Mr. Marshall had other ideas.

  “I think I can safely say that you have grown fond of Dawson and he of you.”

  She made a sound he could take as agreement or disagreement.

  “Dawson was somewhat surprised to learn who you are.”

  That stung. “Am I not the same person now I was before he knew of my inheritance?”

  “Of course. I didn’t mean otherwise. Maybe what I meant is that his wife taught him to be cautious about taking a woman at face value, so to discover you have such a big secret has thrown him for a loop.”

  “You might say that to realize that it matters so much to him has thrown me for a loop.” She vowed she would say no more on the subject, and it appeared he was of like mind, for they made the rest of the journey in silence.

  He pulled up to the doctor’s house, helped her down and carried her valise to the doorway.

  “Thank you for the ride,” she said, wanting nothing more than to rush into the house and have a good cry in the privacy of her room.

  “Thank you for taking care of my girls and befriending Dawson. I refuse to think it’s over.”

  “Goodbye.” She stepped inside and closed the door. She had no wish to be rude but neither could she stand on the step and discuss the possibility of a continuing friendship with Dawson. His father had not heard the plan Dawson and his brothers were cooking up to turn their friendship into monetary gain.

  She didn’t wait to hear him drive away before she fled toward the sanctuary of her room, but she came face-to-face with Kate, who took one look at her and gasped.

  “What’s wrong? Mattie? No—”

  Isabelle calmed her turmoil to deal with Kate, who had taken her upset for something to do with the measles. “Mattie and Annie are both on the mend.”

  “Annie, too? Tell me all about it.” She led Isabelle to a chair, and too wobbly inside to protest, Isabelle sat. She looked around the room.

  “Where’s your father?”

  “He was up all night with two men injured by a raging bull. He’s sleeping now. I hope he gets an undisturbed night. But what about you? Was it awful looking after two patients?” Kate knew of Isabelle’s fear of sickrooms and apparently assumed it to be the reason for the way she clenched her hands together so tightly the fingertips were white.

  “It wasn’t bad.” Isabelle marshaled her thoughts and began at the beginning. “Dawson helped me tend the girls. I got to know him better and understand him more.” Or so she’d thought. Maybe that was what hurt the most…that he seemed to care for her when she was only a city woman. But as soon as he discovered she was rich, his opinion had changed from friendship into something more mercenary.

  “And grew to admire him more?”

  “I believed so. He talked about his dreams and plans. He’s always wanted his own ranch. His own cows.” A bitter note crept into her voice. “Turns out that’s all that matters to him.”

  “Surely you mean apart from Mattie.”

  “Yes, of course.” She’d give him that. “He bought a herd of cows last fall and was concerned they might not have made it through the winter. He had reason to worry.” She repeated the news his pa and brothers had brought. “Even before he learned who I was he must have realized I came from a well-to-do family. Like you pointed out, my wardrobe gave it away.” No doubt he’d seen the possibilities of her family’s bank account from the beginning. It hurt to know his interest had all been self-serving. Her heart twisted so hard she felt faint.

  “Wait a minute. Did you say he knew your secret? How?”

  “Would you believe from reading an old newspaper his father got in the mail?” She filled in the details for Kate. “He accused me of deceit. But that’s not the worst. Before I left the house he and his brothers were already scheming how to get money from me.” Her voice crackled. “Why can’t anyone accept me for myself?”

  “I do.” Kate’s voice was reassuring. She alone knew how Isabelle struggled to find acceptance.

  “I know you do and I truly appreciate it.” She unlocked her fingers and reached over to squeeze Kate’s hand.

  “You want more though, don’t you?”

  “Don’t think me ungrateful but—” She choked on her tears. She wanted home, family—love. “I thought Dawson—” Why had she let herself begin to hope and dream? She couldn’t go on and Kate pulled Isabelle to her side as she wept.

  A little later, her tears spent, Isabelle sat up. “I let myself believe I had found what I wanted here in Bella Creek.”

  “What is it you want?” Kate asked, gently.

  Isabelle smiled, though it was more a gesture of regret. “To be simply Isabelle Redfield, an ordinary woman with an ordinary life.”

  “Is that possible, given your inheritance?”

  At Kate’s question, Isabelle sat up straighter. “Perhaps it is, but maybe I need to make it happen.” She wondered if she could. “I have an idea but I need to think on it a bit.”

  Kate studied her. “I’m not sure what you’re planning but I hope whatever it is, you’ll stay here.”

  “I like Bella Creek just fine.” She could say nothing more until she had worked out a few details. “I’ll keep you informed of my plans.” With a murmured apology she hurried to her room, pulled out a piece of paper and began to work out how she could achieve her goals.

  *

  Dawson couldn’t think over the racket of his family.

  Grandfather scowled. “Boy, you’ve made the worst mistake of your life.”

  He didn’t think that possible. Violet had the dubious honor of being his worst mistake.

  Logan and Conner spoke at the same time. “You should have asked her for money to buy more cows. How often does such an opportunity come your way?”

  Annie sputtered. Fire flashed in her eyes as she confronted her brothers. “Is all you see about her is her money? Shame on you.” She turned to Dawson. “Shame on you, too. She cared about you. I wasn’t too sick to overhear much of what you said.”

  “Well, shame on you for eavesdropping.” It sounded defensive, even to his own ears.

  “I saw the way she looked at you. And how you smiled at her.”

  Mattie crossed her arms and stood resolutely by Annie. No mistaking what side she placed herself on, and the knowledge that she didn’t choose him added to the burning in his heart.

  “I heard, too,” she said. “You were real nice to each other until you read that paper about her. I don’t understand why you’re angry at her just because she has lots of money. Grandfather is always telling us that what’s important is how a person acts. Isn’t that right, Grandfather?”

  Grandfather smiled adoringly at Mattie. “I’m pleased at least one of my offspring listened to me.”

  “I always listen to you.”

  The noise of all the comments and judgments filled Dawson’s head. He couldn’t think. He had to get away from all this. “Annie, I know you’re sick but could I leave Mattie here a few days? I need to get away.” Taking her consent for granted, he stepped into the cloakroom and pulled on his coat, boots and hat.

  Annie, his brothers and Mattie crowded into the cloakroom after him, all talking at once. Only a few words could be understood and they were the very ones he didn’t want to hear.

  “You can’t run away from this.”

  What did he want? He couldn’t decide at the moment. Or maybe he couldn’t face the idea that he couldn’t have what he wanted.

  Grandfather called from the kitchen. “She isn’t Violet, you know.”

  But who was she?
>
  Only one of the many questions mattered and that was Mattie’s. “Pa, are you going to let her go?”

  He lifted Mattie and pressed his face to hers. “I want to check on what remains of my herd. I’ll be back in a few days. You be good for Aunt Annie.” Mattie’s rash had faded but she still had the measles. Was he being foolish to leave her before she was fully recovered? He had to believe she was well on her way to recovery or he couldn’t go, and right now he felt a burning need to leave all this behind and figure out what to do next.

  He gathered up supplies for a few days and a tent. If he’d hoped to be able to prepare in peace he was sadly disappointed. Logan and Conner dogged his every step, blasting him with questions.

  “What about the work in town?” Logan asked.

  “The schoolhouse is about three-quarters finished.” He threw the saddle blanket on Jumper. “I saw to the completion of the doctor’s residence and welcomed the newcomers. The school was your responsibility, Logan. Take care of it.”

  “Yes, sir.” Logan saluted.

  Conner cleared his throat.

  Dawson bent over to catch the cinch, knowing it was too much to hope his brothers would leave him alone. He straightened. Yup, Conner was waiting to say his piece.

  “Were you and this Miss Isabelle interested in each other?” His low voice hid a lot of meaning but Dawson wasn’t interested in pursuing any of it right now.

  He faced his brother. “You stay away from her, hear?”

  Conner smirked. “Guess that answers my question.”

  Dawson fitted the saddlebags, bedroll and tent to the saddle and swung to Jumper’s back. “I’m on my way.”

  Logan caught the bridle and stopped the horse. “Care to tell us where you’re going?”

  “I’m going to check on my cows.” He jerked the horse away and galloped from the yard.

  He let the pounding of Jumper’s hooves fill his brain, mile after mile until flecks of sweat peppered his face and he realized how hard he worked his horse. He slowed the pace and patted Jumper’s neck. “Sorry, old fella. I wasn’t thinking.” Or, perhaps more accurately, he was trying not to think.