Big Sky Daddy (Montana Marriages #2)

by Linda Ford

  “You know what Mr. Frank said?” Teddy sat beside the dog, rubbing a spot behind the animal’s ear.

  “He said a lot of things.” The man had seemed bent on informing Caleb about the “beautiful Bell girls.” He’d overlooked one tiny detail—the Bells and the Caldwells didn’t get along.

  “He said that pretty lady you helped knew how to fix things.”

  “Things?” Was she a blacksmith? He couldn’t imagine it, but he’d encountered stranger things in the West.

  “Hurt things.” Teddy must have thought he needed to explain her abilities more. “Mr. Frank said she helps people, too, and all kinds of animals.”

  Caleb smiled at his son’s enthusiasm. “Hurt people, too, huh?” He wondered if she could help him. He silently laughed in derision. It was those around him who would need her help. People who got close to him tended to get hurt.

  “But especially hurt dogs.” Teddy gave Caleb a wide-eyed, pleading look that brought a smile to Caleb’s lips. How long had it been since Teddy had cared enough about something to use that special look of his?

  “What are you saying, son?” As if he didn’t know. But he dared not give the boy any encouragement. The dog looked beyond saving.

  “We could ask her to help my dog.”

  “It might not do any good.” But what harm would it do? Perhaps Lilly could help. Perhaps Caleb could protect his son from more pain.

  “Couldn’t we try, please?”

  * * *

  Lilly put the last of the packages into the wagon and then stared after Caleb and his son. Poor little fellow was limited by having to use crutches. Had he broken his leg? Perhaps he had a severe cut. She hoped, whatever the cause, the injury was temporary. God, please help the little fellow get better.

  Caleb was so tender with the lad. He had lifted him to the wagon seat and laughed at him, and then had taken him on his lap as they drove away, little Teddy almost bursting with pride as he gripped the reins.

  There was a time she’d hoped she’d have a little boy or girl of her own. But thanks to one Karl Mueller, she’d given up such dreams.

  Tightness weaved around her spine. How could she have let herself care so deeply? And in hindsight, so foolishly? She could put it down to age. She had been a mere sixteen years old when she’d been thrilled and somewhat surprised at the attention he’d paid her. After all, he had been handsome and so grown-up at eighteen. So attentive. He’d made her feel important when he tipped his head to listen to her talk. She’d told him her dreams and her fears. He’d assured her he understood. They’d agreed that when Lilly turned eighteen they would marry. And she’d trusted him. Sometimes she wondered if Karl really believed the things he’d promised, or if they’d fallen off his tongue simply because he thought they would please her. One thing Karl liked was to know people were happy with him.

  Karl had saved his announcement for her eighteenth birthday, as if it might have been a reason for celebration. He’d revealed he had other plans. He’d been employed by Mr. Fry at the hardware store for a year. Mr. Fry said how much he appreciated Karl’s work and asked him to go to Oregon to take over the operation of another Fry store. Karl’s chest had expanded three sizes as he told Lilly this.

  Karl had never once suggested she accompany him. His words made it very clear that it wasn’t part of his plan. “My time and attention must be on this business. I intend to make this the most successful store Mr. Fry has. He’ll be so pleased he’ll make me a partner.” Karl fairly glowed with self-satisfaction. He’d never expressed a word of sorrow over ending their plans so abruptly. Never suggested they keep in contact. Never even—she sucked in air heated by her anger—asked if she’d like to join him once he’d settled into his new job.

  She’d finally learned her lesson, one she should have learned at a very young age. She and her sisters had been abandoned by their birth father after their mother’s death, and had been left alone on the prairie to find their own way in life when the twins were three and Cora was five. It had set the tone for Lilly’s relationships. Easy come, easier go.

  Ever since Karl had left her, she had guarded her heart. That meant no man of her own. No child of her own. But never mind. She had Ma and Pa and her sisters and the many animals she took care of. That was enough for any woman.

  Rose nudged her. “Stop staring at him. Have you forgotten he’s a Caldwell cowboy?”

  “I haven’t forgotten. At least he had the decency to help us.” She and Rose climbed to the seat of the wagon and Pa got wearily into the back. He had mentioned several times how the cold hurt his bones and it was only October. When they got home, she’d ask Ma to give him a tonic.

  She guided the wagon out of town. “I wonder what’s wrong with his boy.”

  Rose turned to face her squarely. “Don’t you go getting all interested in them.”

  Lilly snorted. “I don’t intend to.” She glanced back. Pa had stretched out, his head resting on one of the sacks, and fallen asleep. “I haven’t forgotten Karl, you know.”

  “He wasn’t the right man for you. He only cared about himself.”

  Lilly tried to remember what it was that had attracted her, but after a moment’s thought she realized a couple of things. Although Karl had let her talk about her dreams, he had done far more talking than listening, and more importantly, her insides no longer wrenched at the sound of his name. She’d finally been able to push the sharp pain of his leaving from her mind.

  She didn’t intend to ever again give someone the right to hurt her like Karl had. “He certainly didn’t think I was right for him. Good thing I found it out when I did.”

  “Karl is completely forgettable.”

  “Guess it goes both ways.” Lilly’s thoughts turned back to the events in front of the store. “I don’t think he knew Ebner threw the firecrackers.” Caleb had seemed somewhat surprised.

  Rose chuckled. “I don’t think we’re talking about Karl anymore.”

  Lilly laughed. “He’s forgettable, remember?” Though she wouldn’t so readily forget how it had felt to watch him walk away with barely a wave.

  Rose giggled. “He certainly jumped to obey when Ebner ordered him to stop helping you.”

  Lilly knew Rose was back to talking about Caleb.

  “I almost expected him to pull his hat off and bow a little,” Rose added.

  Lilly chuckled, though she didn’t find it all that amusing. She’d been surprised and not a little disappointed to realize he worked for the Caldwells and was eager to obey Ebner, the man who had been responsible for so much of the damage inflicted on the Bell farm. Though he was smart enough and cautious enough to always make it look like an accident.

  “How can a man with any integrity work for that crew?” Lilly asked. “Wouldn’t he have to take part in some of their activities?” Her voice hardened. “Like driving the sheep into the river. I’m not apt to quickly forget that one of the lambs died as a result of it.” Not once but twice, the Caldwell cowboys had shepherded the sheep into the river while the Bells were away.

  Rose squeezed her hand. “We both know the Caldwells are a bad bunch.”

  There was no need for Lilly to reply. They all knew the truth about the Caldwells. They insisted it was a mistake made by some inexperienced clerk that a quarter section of land right next to the river had been left off the Caldwells’ land title. The Bells should have realized that was the case, Mr. Caldwell insisted, and not taken advantage of the mistake. The Caldwell cowboys had done their best to drive them off before Pa could prove up on the homestead. They’d failed. Even then they hadn’t given up.

  She realized she was clenching her teeth—something she did every time the Caldwell name came up. Why couldn’t they leave the Bells alone? They had thousands of acres. The quarter section Pa owned shouldn’t matter.

  Over the years, she’d
decided the Caldwell quest had nothing to do with reason. Some people weren’t happy unless they had everything.

  They approached the farm and Lilly allowed herself to study the place with pride. She and her sisters had a hand in developing the few acres into a Garden of Eden along the river despite the Caldwells’ objections to their presence. She studied the place hard. The sheep were grazing placidly in their pasture. The milk cows looked up at their approach but didn’t move, contentedly chewing their cuds. The hay was safely in the barn, and the oats were harvested and the grain stored for winter use. The garden was almost done as well—only the root vegetables were left to be brought in.

  She let out a sigh of relief. “Everything looks the way it should.”

  “For now.” Rose sounded dubious. But then they all knew it was only a matter of time before the Caldwells struck again.

  “I hope Ma’s all right.” Lilly passed the new barn. “It’s not like her not to go to town with us.”

  “She said she was tired.”

  Lilly glanced back at Pa, who was still asleep. “So is he.”

  “I think they’re missing Cora.” Their older sister had married a few weeks ago and moved with her husband, Wyatt, to a nearby ranch.

  “Pa thinks he has to take over Cora’s chores.” Lilly tried to persuade him that she and Rose could manage without his help, but he still offered it constantly. “The cold bothers him. I’m going to ask Ma to give him a tonic. Maybe I’ll suggest she take it, too.” They drew up before the house. Ma watched from the window.

  Pa woke and eased from the wagon. Rose and Lilly hopped down and scurried around to get the packages before Pa could do it.

  “Did you sell all the produce?” Ma asked as they entered the kitchen. They took garden produce and medicinals to town each Saturday.

  “Every bit of it,” Rose assured her.

  “Did you see Mrs. Andrews? How is she feeling?”

  Lilly answered Ma’s question. “She’s much improved. I gave her some more cough syrup and I looked at little Andy. He’s got a bad case of thrush.”

  Pa sat at the end of the table and sorted through the mail—mostly newspapers and a farm magazine.

  Ma scurried about to make tea and they all sat down to enjoy it. “What’s new in town? Did you see Mrs. Rawley?” Ma was speaking about her dear friend the pastor’s wife.

  “She asked after you,” Lilly said.

  Rose plunked her teacup on the table. “Ebner threw firecrackers under the horse.”

  “Goodness.” Ma glanced around the table. “Is everyone okay?”

  Rose chuckled. “A very handsome cowboy came and helped us.”

  Lilly squinted at her sister, knowing Rose meant to tease her. “I could have managed on my own.”

  Rose gave a dismissive shrug. “I didn’t see you telling him to leave you alone.” She turned to Ma. “Lilly could hardly tear her eyes off the man.”

  Ma studied each of the girls. “Is this a nice man? Should we invite him to join us for Sunday dinner?”

  The skin on Lilly’s face grew tight. “Ma, no.”

  Between them, the two sisters related the events. “The boy doesn’t use his right leg,” Lilly told her. “He walks with crutches. But Caleb—Mr. Craig—is very patient and tender with him.”

  “He’s a Caldwell cowboy.” For Rose that was all that mattered. She, of all the Bells, bore the most resentment toward their neighbors. Probably because Duke Caldwell, the son and heir, had teased Rose throughout school.

  Ma held up her hand. “You can’t judge a man solely because he works for the Caldwells. A man should be judged by his actions and his choices.”

  Rose grunted. “He chooses to work for the Caldwells. Guess that says a lot about him.”

  “Nevertheless,” Pa said, with final authority. “We will be fair and give the man the benefit of the doubt until we have reason to think otherwise.”

  Rose pursed her lips.

  Lilly knew her twin didn’t think anything good could come from the Caldwell ranch. But finally Rose lowered her challenging gaze from Pa’s patient one. “Yes, Pa.”

  Pa turned to Lilly. “We’ll give him the benefit of the doubt, won’t we?”

  Lilly nodded. “Yes, Pa.” She agreed readily enough. For one thing, she’d like to know why Teddy didn’t walk. Maybe she or Ma could help. She’d also like to know how a man who obviously had tender feelings could work for the Caldwells. Or perhaps his feelings were for Teddy and no one and nothing else.

  There was one thing she would be clear about. She would not let her interest in the pair go beyond surface curiosity and concern.

  Not that she expected she’d see them again unless they happened to bump into each other in town. So guarding her feelings shouldn’t be a problem.

  A few minutes later she went to the barn to start feeding the animals. She smiled as she stepped into the interior. The barn was cozy and warm and solid. The animals were safe in there.

  If she could turn her heart into a solid barn she could keep her feelings safe and warm, too. She chuckled at the silly thought.

  When she was done with the feeding, she stepped back outside and blinked as a wagon approached with Caleb in the seat. Teddy peered out from behind his father.

  She stared. “What are you doing here?” Her words sounded rude, though she didn’t mean them to.

  But what was a Caldwell cowboy doing on Bell land?

  Chapter Two

  Teddy nudged Caleb. “Papa, tell her about my dog.”

  Caleb’s heart swelled as he took in the pretty little farm—the decent-sized, new-looking barn, the outbuildings, the house surrounded by yellow flowers, the garden with pale cornstalks and orange pumpkins still on the vine. Once, he’d had a little ranch similar to this with a herd of cows that had increased in number each year. It was all he’d ever wanted.

  His dream of settling down and raising cows and children had vanished the day Amanda had died and Teddy had gotten injured. After that, he couldn’t abide the place. He’d taken care of Teddy as his leg healed, and then he’d begun looking for a doctor who could fix his son so he could walk.

  “Papa.” Teddy’s voice brought him back to his task.

  He wondered if she would welcome him or ask him to get off their property simply because he worked for the Caldwells. But surely she’d be moved by the needs of an animal and a small boy. He didn’t expect or welcome any sympathy regarding his own losses.

  He cleared his thoughts and spoke to the woman who was waiting patiently in front of him, her expression rife with caution. “We got us an injured dog. Mr. Frank told us you help injured animals.”

  Lilly nodded. “I do my best. Where’s the dog?”

  He jumped down and went to the back of the wagon to gingerly lift the limp dog out of it. The poor animal whimpered. “Hang on, buddy. We’ll help you.”

  Lilly hovered by his side, her attention on the pup in his arms.

  “What happened to it?” Her nearness rattled his insides. He’d vowed to never again think of sharing his life with a woman, but sometimes it was hard to remember that. Like now, as she tenderly ran her fingers over the furry dog. When her arm brushed his, his mouth went dry. He drew in a strengthening breath and righted his thoughts.

  “This animal has been neglected.” She fired a hot look at him, as if to silently accuse him.

  “We found her by the road.” He wanted to make it clear he wasn’t responsible for the condition of the animal.

  “Can you make her better?” Teddy asked.

  Thankfully she shifted her powerful gaze to Teddy, and Caleb pulled his thoughts back to where they belonged—finding help for the dog, finding help for his son and preventing any woman from entering his life.

  She smiled at Teddy. “I’ll certainly do my b
est.”

  Her gaze returned to Caleb, warm with a compassion that slowly cooled as she looked at him. He understood her kindness was aimed at Teddy and likely this unfortunate pup. Toward him, she seemed accusatory.

  Well, it wasn’t like he wasn’t used to accusations, mostly from his own thoughts. At twenty-five years of age, he had a number of failures to his name. Likely more than a man twice his age ought to have. He’d failed to protect his wife. He’d failed to help his son with his problems. Letting this dog die in his arms was not another failure he meant to endure. “Can you help?” His question rang with more harshness than he felt. She had no way of knowing he only wanted to make this turn out right.

  “Follow me.” She hurried toward the barn, seeming to expect him to follow.

  He didn’t move. He couldn’t carry the dog and help Teddy down, too.

  “I’ll wait,” Teddy said.

  “See that you do.” Caleb gave him a look that ought to have pinned him to the wagon box, but Teddy’s eyes lingered on the dog.

  Caleb hustled after Lilly. The woman moved like a whirlwind. By the time he caught up she was already inside the barn, a scrap of old blanket on the floor in front of her.

  “Put her here. Gently,” she urged as if she thought he’d drop the dog.

  It was on the tip of his tongue to point out he’d rescued the dog and brought her here for the animal’s good and he wasn’t about to do anything to make things worse. Instead he knelt and eased the dog to the mat.

  She examined the poor critter with gentle fingers. The dog moaned and opened her eyes briefly.

  “What do you think?” Sure looked to him like the pup was about to draw her last breath.

  “She’s very weak. There are a number of cuts on her. She’s got some nasty bruises. And she’s been badly neglected.” Her voice grew harder with each word. “Who would do this to a dog?”

  “Same sort who would hurt a woman or child.” He heard the strangled sound of his voice but hoped it wasn’t noticeable to Lilly. He kept his attention on the suffering animal as a thousand pictures flashed through his mind. Amanda’s blood pooling on the floor. Teddy’s pale face as Caleb cradled Amanda and tended to his son’s wounds.