by Claire Angel
Mountain Man’s Little Sister
A Mountain Man Romance
BY
CLAIRE ANGEL
Copyright © 2018 by Claire Angel
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.
This is a work of fiction. While, as in all fiction, the literary perceptions and insights are based on life experiences and conclusions drawn from research, all names, characters, places and specific instances are products of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously. No actual reference to any real person, living or dead, is intended or inferred.
MOUNTAIN MAN’S LITTLE SISTER: A MOUNTAIN MAN ROMANCE
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Table of Contents
MOUNTAIN MAN’S LITTLE SISTER : A MOUNTAIN MAN ROMANCE
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Epilogue
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
MOUNTAIN MAN’S LITTLE SISTER : A MOUNTAIN MAN ROMANCE
Blurb:
I felt like a coward running home to Mama when she needed me when she got sick. I had nothing in New York and my marriage was all but dead and Mama needed me.
I figured that I’d make a final decision when I was in Montana but feeling the way about him was no part of the plan.
I’d known him for years as my brother’s best friend, but it was nothing more than that.
Now he was big and warm…sexy as hell.
He exuded what I wanted from my husband even as I tried to fight it.
Slowly, we grew closer.
He accepted everything that I threw his way and more.
Would everything in New York end so I could move on?
Would my husband want his claim in what was his?
Would Walden see me as a burden?
Was I willing to risk my heart for a chance at real love?
***
Chapter 1
Penny
“Mama, I’m here.” I walked into Mom’s house and called out her name. I was spending some time with her since she’d come down with pneumonia while taking turns with my brother Mark.
“I’m in the living room, Penny.” I smiled at her weak voice as concern flooded me.
I hated that Mom was sick like this, taking endless meds to get her through the day. The doctor hoped that she would get better at home and I wanted to be with her as much as I could.
I closed the door and walked inside the room, dropping my bag on the floor. I smiled at her as she looked me over with worry in her eyes.
“Hi, Mama. How are you feeling?”
“I’m so glad you’re home, Penny,” She gushed as I walked over to hug her.
“New York is so far away.”
I smiled weakly as I dropped to the couch. It was far away and a whole different life for me. I went there over three years ago to be with my new husband Penn after a whirlwind wedding. He was the typical bad boy that every woman but me wanted until I was on the beach on vacation and came across him. He was handsome, confident to the point that I now knew was arrogant and I thought he had it all together.
“I’m glad to be home, Mama,” I assured her as I pushed the image of Penn’s cold blue eyes out of my mind.
I didn’t trouble my family too much about my issues with him, mostly due to Mama having her own struggles with being ill. She didn’t need more to worry about and my brother would kill Penn if he knew what an asshole he was. I just played it off that I was going to come home and take care of Mama for a while.
I’d packed enough to consider it a move since everything in our brownstone belonged to Penn. It’ll be nice to catch up.
I glanced around and smiled at the thought of my niece Lindsay running around this room. She’d lived with Mama for a while when my brother was getting situated after splitting with his wife. He had a cabin in the middle of nowhere a couple hours away and would visit as often as his job at the tour company would allow him.
“It’s quiet here without Lin running in and out of the room. I’ll bet you miss her,” I said.
“Oh, I do but she couldn’t get the proper care here. She loves being with her daddy and his new wife Bri so much now. He can work and she takes care of Lindsay since she works for her boss remotely. They’re talking about getting a home here to be closer to me. He doesn’t want this dumped on you.” Mama smiled as she squeezed my hand and I shook my head.
“How is he going to work? That’s a long drive,” I fretted as she shrugged.
“They’ll figure it out. Mark has always wanted to be back, I think. He went to that cabin after the breakup to…hide out. I don’t know. She left the two of them high and dry and I’m so glad I was here to help out.” She shook her head with disgust at the memory of Nina.
I scowled at the very thought of them together.
I never liked her. They didn’t fit together. I knew that he was better off. His new wife Brianne was sweet and funny. Mama and I welcomed her immediately when we met her. My niece looked at her new mom with stars in her eyes and I’d seen a lot of growth in her over the last several years.
“He sounds so happy. I hate that I missed out on so much,” I spoke softly, not wanting to let on to everything that was going on back east with Penn.
Mark didn’t like him and Mama had her doubts, but they supported my whirlwind wedding to him six months after we met. We had a gorgeous intimate wedding and hopped the plane to start our new life. It was filled with excitement and the hope of having a family down the line.
“You were living your life, Penny. You’re allowed to do that.” Mama gave me a soft smile and I returned it, not wanting to burden her with my problems.
“I know. I’m just glad to be here.”
We chatted for a while before I went to the kitchen to figure out supper. She had a lot of supplies thanks to neighbors and friends.
“How does chicken and rice sound?” I called out to her as I surveyed the fridge.
“Wonderful,” Mama told me.
I got to cleaning off the chicken before seasoning it with her favorite spices. I preheated the oven and answered the phone when it rang on the counter, pleased to hear my sister-in-law’s voice.
“Penny! You’re back!” Brianne greeted me. I could see her sunny smile in my head. “How was your trip?”
“Good. I’m looking forward to going to bed later but it’s so nice being with Mama. When will you guys be here?” I asked her, missing them more
than ever.
“Mark gets off tomorrow afternoon and I’ll have us packed and ready for the week. Did she tell you that he’s considering looking for a house there?” She asked before she giggled.
“Yes. I’m so excited!” I replied as I grabbed the box of rice from the pantry.
“I wish you lived here. It would be perfect,” Brianne groaned as I nibbled on my lip.
I loved her like she was my own sister, but I’d held back on telling her about the downfall of my marriage. She was married to my caveman brother and he’d come to New York himself to kick Penn’s ass. My husband had been quite intimidated by my brother though he spoke out when we weren’t around my family.
They were two different men.
“Well, I’m here for a while. I don’t want to leave her. How’s my baby girl?” I asked as Brianne laughed.
“She’s excited to see you.”
Brianne had been taking her to school a few miles away from the creepy cabin, as I liked to call it. It was beautiful there, but she needed to live somewhere with more options.
The school here was perfect. We’d kept in touch through Skype and phone calls and I visited on the holidays. I always made an excuse as to why I came alone but Penn insisted on visiting his family in upstate New York for every holiday. It felt like he was distancing me from my family.
We chatted as I made dinner and made some plans for their visit. It was all about Mama, but we liked to do Lindsay’s favorite things with her as well. She was an energetic little thing and needed to get that out somehow. I didn’t know how Bri did it up in the woods like that.
I finished dinner and brought the dinner trays to the living room so Mama could watch her news while she ate. I plated some food for both of us and curled my feet under me on the couch as I smiled. “Has everyone been by to visit?” I asked her as she sipped her coffee.
“Oh, yes. In fact, Walden was here just two days ago,” She said as my heart rate spiked, making me breathless for a moment. “He looks so much like your brother. He bought that old diner on the corner and turned it into a cute little cafe. There are books all over the place and they have a great little menu.”
Mama had always wanted me to end up with Walden when I still lived with her. Even Mark suggested it a few times, but I would do the opposite of what he wanted just to get under his skin.
I knew where this was going.
“That sounds nice,” I agreed as a story came over the TV that caught her attention.
I took this chance to eat and obsess about where I was at with Penn. I wasn’t sure what that would mean here.
Chapter 2
Penny
I went to bed once the kitchen was clean and Mama’s eyes were beginning to look heavy.
I walked into my old room and smiled around at the remnants of my life in high school. There were pictures with various friends and family. I unpacked my bag quietly in the room.
It was peaceful here.
I washed my face and showered away the travel grime before dressing in sleep pants and a long t-shirt. I settled in bed with my laptop, warming it up with the touch of a finger. I knew that Penn was living his life miles away from me and my finger hovered over the social media page to check in on him.
We’d left things falling apart when I decided to come here. I told him that I needed to be with Mom and knew that he wouldn’t come. He had his job as a social media advisor for several companies that kept him busy every moment that he was awake. He had his friends and his family. I realized that I was at the very bottom of his list of priorities. It had been like that from the start, but I had high hopes in the beginning.
I shut the computer down and set it aside, curling up under my blankets with the warmth of the sheets cradling me. I needed to sleep for several hours somewhere where I felt safe and loved.
I drifted off to the sound of the wind outside, dreaming of my life back in New York versus how I felt here.
I woke up in the morning with a start, glancing at the alarm clock as I blinked it into focus.
It was nine and I breathed in deeply, closing my eyes for a moment. I knew that Mama was an early riser by nature and probably wanted her coffee.
I got out of bed and brushed my teeth before pulling my hair up in a messy bun. I walked into the living room to see her napping in the recliner and I paused with my hand over my heart. She looked so peaceful and I padded into the kitchen to brew some coffee trying to decide what to make for breakfast.
I was finishing some eggs and toast when I heard her voice. “Want some coffee?” I called out as she said she’d love some.
I plated her food and poured her a cup, bringing both to her before getting my own.
“How did you sleep?” Mama asked as I smiled.
“Pretty good. I feel bad that I didn’t wake up earlier,” I replied while sipping my coffee.
She smiled and said, “It’s fine. You should get all the rest you can before everyone else is here. That little girl will be all over you.”
“True, she can be a handful,” I laughed at the mention of Lindsay and stabbed some egg with my fork.
We ate in peace as she watched her morning game shows and I read a bit on my reading device. It was amazing that I’d gone to school for business at one time in my life. I went into a freelance photography company with my friend Francesca after graduation which was how I met Penn.
After marrying him, I stopped working altogether since he assured me he’d make plenty of money. It seemed like such a waste now and I thought back to my trips with Francesca fondly. However, I was needed here and Mama was my focus.
It was so peaceful despite everything.
Mama relaxed in her chair and watched her shows when she wasn’t reading or napping. I had the windows open and heard the birds outside as I stole glances through the window every now and again. The endless green grass, trees, and mountains soothed my soul as my heart beat softly in my chest.
New York was incredible. I’d never regret living there.
Penn had a beautiful apartment at the top of a gorgeous brownstone but the only views it offered was of the city. That had been beautiful at night.
I’d just look out of the window all night as I sat in our living room looking at the city lights.
Whether or not Penn was home, he wasn’t there. He was always focused on his laptop or phone looking over his investments or social media since he was a big name in the city. He could get into any restaurant or event with the drop of his name and I loved that perk in the beginning. The culture in a big city was incredible. I soaked it in before he started working late and doing things with friends.
I sighed as I glanced down at my reading device, seeing the same page from thirty minutes before. I set it down and glanced at Mama sleeping in her chair with a soft smile. I rose and looked at the clock, determining that my brother and his family would arrive in about three hours. I knew I should be thinking about making dinner or maybe even ordering out.
We loved going out as a family, but Mama wasn’t up to that. I walked out to the back deck, leaving the screen open so I could hear inside. I slipped the phone from my pocket and looked down, wondering who I could even call.
I didn’t make any close friends in New York.
I had friends that still lived here but the ones that I had spent the most time with had moved away. I didn’t feel like talking about high school and I set the phone beside me. I sipped the coffee and stared out as I wondered what my life was going to look like in a few weeks or months.
My phone chimed. I saw that it was Bri.
She told me that they were on their way and offered to get dinner from the diner so I could take it easy. I told her that I was doing that anyway, but we all knew how Mama loved the burgers there.
Lindsay took the phone over and we chatted about school and the boys she had crushes on. That came with a firm warning not to tell her dad, making me giggle. Mark c
ould step on one of them and kill them. He was fiercely protective of those close to him and every woman felt safe in his presence. I knew that he was going to dote on Mama and Bri would be right beside him.
I told them I’d see them in a while and leaned back in the lounger, taking in the fresh air. I wasn’t sure how much I was going to tell them about Penn. I wanted to focus on Mama. I didn’t want Mark to hop on a plane and end up in prison for murder which is exactly what might happen if he found out how Penn treated me. He never liked him from the beginning, telling me that he was an uppity city boy that would never appreciate how we’d grown up. Still, he’d accepted my decision to marry him. I should have listened to him.
I heard my name from the living room and blinked, forcing a cheerful smile to my face as I stood up.
“I talked to them. They’ll be here soon.” I called out as I walked in, seeing her happy face as I paused in front of her. “Do you need anything?”
“Could you get me some water? I’m parched.” She brought her hand to her throat, coughing as I inwardly winced.
I knew it was time for her medicine and got that as well, sitting by her on the couch as I sipped my own water.
She looked at me with curiosity in her dull eyes as I shifted positions. “Are you okay, Penny?”
“I’m fine, Mama. Worried about you is all,” I replied as I looked at the clock.
I knew that she suspected something was up and wanted to find a distraction.
“You seem like you have something on your mind. Is everything okay with Penn?” Mama was under the impression that I was just staying with her for a while until she was better.
I hadn’t told her that I was not moving back until she was back on her feet. It was an excuse.
I was relieved to hear a horn honking and jumped up to look out of the window.