Forever Dreams (Montana Brides) (28 page)

“It’s your mother, Trent. What’s going on between you and Gracie?”

He knew that tone. He frowned, trying to figure out how she’d found out that Gracie had left. There was only one person that knew what had happened. His brother’s big mouth must have been working overtime the minute he’d left the ranch. “It’s not as bad as Jordan made out, mom.”

“Don’t you Jordan me, Trent McKenzie. He had nothing to do with it. Gracie turned up here two hours ago with her suitcases and your Nissan, wanting to leave the truck here for someone to collect. She looked about as miserable as a cat caught in a snowstorm, so I convinced her to stay with me. I’ve sent her off to get some groceries while I talk to you. Now what’s going on?”

Trent kept walking toward the house. At least Gracie hadn’t broken her neck between the ranch and Bozeman. “We had a falling out.”

“No kidding. It doesn’t take nearly forty years of mothering two boys to know when someone’s upset. She’s your wife. Gracie’s thousands of miles from home. You’re the person she loves, so sort out whatever’s causing the problem and take her home with you before she’s gone for good.”
 

He took a deep breath, dreading what he had to say. It was all well and good knowing your wife didn’t love you and your fake marriage was falling apart. It was another thing telling your mom. “Gracie and I are getting a divorce.”

Silence hissed down the phone.

“What do you mean, you’re getting a divorce? You’ve only been married two weeks. No one gets a divorce after two weeks.”

“We shouldn’t have gotten married in the first place.” Trent felt sick. His stomach clenched in tight knots remembering Elvis and the shuttle full of excited witnesses.

“Nonsense. A blind man could see that the two of you are meant for each other. Sit down with Gracie and talk about what’d going on.”
 

His mom sounded like she was trying to explain something to a five-year-old. There were lots of problems she didn’t know about and he’d make sure it stayed that way.

“It’s not as easy as that. Gracie and I have some…issues that we can’t sort out.”

“Issues my petunia. Get that head screwed on straight, Trent McKenzie, or this little lady will be heading back home to New Zealand.”

“Gracie’s not coming back, mom. Tell her she can keep the Nissan for as long as she needs it. Let me know when her flight leaves and I’ll have one of the boys pick the truck up from the airport. Bye.”

He ended the call. His mom would be furious, Gracie hated him and Jordan was in for a grilling. Man, his life had taken a serious nosedive.

Gracie emptied the last of her suitcases into the bedroom closet and gazed out the window. Two children zoomed past Karen’s house on their bikes, a streak of color filling the quiet suburban street. She hadn’t intended staying here. In fact she nearly hadn’t stopped to drop Trent’s vehicle off at his mom’s, but she didn’t know where else to leave it.

When Karen suggested she stay with her until she left for New Zealand, she wasn’t sure it was a good idea. Lying to Trent’s family and friends about their relationship had been bad enough. Living with his mother after she’d walked out on their phony marriage wasn’t going to help anyone. Karen didn’t agree, but then she didn’t know the reason why Gracie had left her son. After a bit of not-so-subtle arm twisting, Gracie agreed to stay.
 

“How’s it going? Did you manage to squeeze all those lovely clothes into the closet?” Karen stood in the doorway with a smile on her face and a hot coffee steaming in her hands.
 

“Mostly. I’ve left the cowgirl outfit and a few other bits and pieces in my bag.”
 

“Come and have a hot drink. I thought we’d head into town for a picnic. There’s a great line-up of musicians playing in the park tonight and it’s guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.”

The only thing Gracie felt like doing was shutting the bedroom door and letting the world pass her by. But that wouldn’t solve anything. She gazed at Karen. The worried look in her grey eyes reminded her so much of Trent that she nearly cried on the spot. “That sounds like a good idea.”

She pulled a clean pair of sneakers from the closet and walked out the door with a heavy heart. Falling in love with a headstrong cowboy who refused to believe in love had never been part of her plan. Falling in love with
anyone
had never been part of her plan. She’d come to Montana looking for her father and to enjoy the company of the students she’d met through cyberspace.
 

She’d found her father. In a couple of days she’d meet Gerald’s students and settle into her two-week teaching role. Mission accomplished, goals achieved.
 

Apart from a broken heart and two marriages left in shreds, she should have been the happiest person alive.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Gracie rolled onto her back, pulling the duvet up around her chin.

There it went again.
 

Opening one eye, she frowned at the window opposite her bed. Something or someone tapped lightly on the glass. She held her watch up to her nose. Quarter to seven. Who on earth knocked on a window this early in the morning? And why were they using the window? There was a perfectly good front door about ten steps to their right. Swallowing a yawn, she sat up and grabbed her sweatshirt off the end of the bed.
 

She hesitated before pulling back the curtain. Surely it wouldn’t be Trent? It couldn’t be. He didn’t have any reason to be at his mom’s house this early.
 

The pulse at the base of her neck beat furiously. Catching the edge of the curtain in her hand, she slowly pulled it back. “
Jordan
? What are you doing here?”

“I had to pick up some supplies in town.” He gave her a cheeky grin. “Where’s my cowgirl gone? You’re usually in the barn with Daisy by now.”

“I’m on town time now.” Gracie looked down at the garden under his boots. “Come around to the front door before you trample your mom’s plants to death. I’ll let you in like a civilized person.”

Jordan tipped the brim of his hat with his fingers. “Appreciate that, ma’am.”

As soon as his feet passed through the door, he headed over to the kitchen, hunting for leftovers. Gracie smiled, listening to him mumble something into the fridge. “We had dinner in Bozeman last night.”

Jordan gave a satisfied grunt. Lifting his head out of the fridge, he waved two chicken drumsticks triumphantly in the air. “I knew mom wouldn’t let me down.”

Gracie poured herself a cup of tea and sat at the table. “So, what are you doing here?”

Jordan stopped chewing and looked across at her. “I thought I’d visit my runaway sister-in-law.”

Gracie groaned, sinking lower in her chair. “How did you find out?”

“It didn’t take much. You sent a mile high dust cloud into the sky on your way out. Trent must have annoyed you big time to send you rushing away like that.”

Gracie stuck her elbows on the table, resting her head between her hands. “We’re getting a divorce.” She waited for Jordan to at least look surprised, but he kept chomping on the drumsticks. He paid more attention to what was going in his belly than the runaway bride sitting in his mom’s kitchen.

“Fast work. Almost puts my love life to shame.” He threw his chicken bones in the rubbish and grabbed a cup of coffee.

“You’ve been talking to Trent.”

“Hard not to when he’s stomping around the ranch like a wounded bear.” Jordan stared at her for a long time.
 

Gracie’s gaze drifted around the room. Those blue eyes of his had a way of eating into her heart and she wasn’t ready to let anyone see what was crashing around in there.
 

“Seen as you’re not enjoying the delights of the Triple L tonight,” Jordan wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, “how about you come out with me to Charlie’s Bar and Grill for a night on the town, Bozeman style?”

“Thanks, but no thanks. I don’t think I’m up to going anywhere.”

“Come on. It’ll do you good. Besides, if you’re worried about meeting up with Trent, it’s not going to happen. I can’t remember the last time he came into town on a Saturday night.”
 

Swallowing a mouthful of tea, Gracie stared at Jordan. “Between you and your mom I’ve got a busier social life than the day I arrived in Bozeman.”

“We’ve got to keep you out of mischief somehow. At least if you’re with me I can keep you on the straight and narrow.”
 

Gracie laughed at the smile on Jordan’s face. The man didn’t have a straight bone in his body and he knew it.

He grabbed his hat off the table. “I’ll pick you up at seven thirty tonight. And wear something casual but sexy. I don’t want my image tarnished by a lovesick ex-sister-in-law mooching in the corner.”

Gracie threw a dish towel at his laughing back as he headed out the door.
 

“Was that Jordan?” Karen walked into the kitchen, covered from chin to foot in a purple chenille robe. She yawned, heading toward the kettle.

Gracie nodded. “He had some supplies to pick up in town. He’s invited me out tonight.”

Karen leaned her hip against the kitchen cupboards. “That’s Jordan for you. He’ll have you dancing your troubles away faster than a speeding train.” The kettle boiled and she turned to pour water into her mug. “There was a message on the answer-phone when we got back last night. Kristina called.”

Gracie froze. “What did she say?”

“She wants to come over this morning.” Karen pulled a chair out and sat down. “I rang her straight back. She told me about Jim and about the letter.”

Gracie’s head dropped forward. Tears gathered in her eyes. “I think I’ve done more harm than good coming here.”

 
“It needed to come out into the open.” Karen patted her hand. “Secrets and lies can fester under your skin until they poison your whole body. I imagine there’s been a whole lot of talk going on in the Green household since yesterday, so don’t sell them short. We’re a tough old community. Family is family and we don’t forget that in a hurry.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was looking for my father. I didn’t even know if I’d find him here.”

“You’ve found him and that’s all that matters. Now go and wipe those tears off your face and I’ll get us some breakfast. Kristina’s going to be here around nine o’clock. If you don’t want to see her then you’d best call now. Her cell phone number is in the notebook on top of the fridge.”

 
Gracie stared across the room. Butterflies dipped and swirled in her stomach. She didn’t know what she’d say to Kristina. Didn’t know what Kristina would say to her. But she had to meet her. After dropping a bomb on Kristina and Jim’s life yesterday, it was the least she could do. “I’ll go and get changed.”

When Gracie opened the front door it wasn’t only Kristina waiting for her on the verandah. Jim stood behind his wife, holding a battered cowboy hat in his hands.

“I’ve been acting like one of the prize winning steers we raise on the ranch,” Karen said. “I thought if I kept my distance you might give up and stop looking for your father. I should have known you’d have the Green stubborn streak buried deep in you. I’m sorry.”

A rush of tears filled Gracie’s eyes. She hugged Kristina tight.
 

Kristina rubbed Gracie’s back. “I always wanted a daughter, but the good Lord only saw fit to bless me with big strapping sons. I guess he’s the one having a laugh now. Are you okay with Jim and I coming to see you?”

 
“I’m pleased you’ve come.” Gracie wiped her eyes. “Karen’s gone for a walk to give us time to talk. We made a batch of muffins if you’d like to have some?”

“If those muffins come with a strong cup of coffee then you can count me in,” Jim said.
 

Gracie smiled at her father. “The strongest you like. Trent…umm, Trent likes his coffee as thick as tar, so I’ve had plenty of practice at getting it right.”

Gracie walked into the kitchen, hoping Kristina and Jim didn’t see the heat washing up her face.
 

“Where is Trent?” Kristina asked. “I rang the ranch last night and Adele said you’d come to stay with Karen.”

“He…well, we had a disagreement about something and I’m staying with Karen until I can think things through.” Gracie caught the look that passed between Kristina and Jim.
 

“Gracie,” Jim said. “Take some advice from someone who’s done more damage to a marriage than most people do in a lifetime. You can’t work anything out alone. It takes two people to make a marriage work and two people to sort out any problems.”

Kristina gazed at her husband. “Even good men can be idiots. Follow your heart, you’ll work it out.”

Following her heart wouldn’t get Gracie out of the mess she’d created. It would just dig her twenty-feet deeper. She looked down at the muffins cooling on the counter. “I didn’t know if you’d be talking to each other.”

Jim sighed. “I’ve still got a long way to go to make up for hurting Kristina the way I did. I hurt a lot of people, Gracie, including you.”

Kristina walked across to the pantry and took out three mugs. “I’d like to write a letter to your mother, Gracie. I need to apologize for destroying the letter she wrote to Jim. If you get a chance I’d be grateful if you could give me her address.”

Gracie’s hand hovered over the handle of the kettle. “Mom died earlier this year.”

Karen left the mugs on the counter and touched Gracie’s arm. “I’m sorry.”

Gracie nodded. “I’d always thought my father was dead. It wasn’t until mom was diagnosed with cancer that she told me the truth.”

Jim left his hat on the counter, looking a little lost. “I’m sorry about your mom, Gracie.”

Gracie’s vision clouded. She wiped her face with the back of her hand and poured hot water into the mugs. “I’m just happy that you want to talk to me.”

“We want to do more than that,” Kristina said. “Jim and I had a good talk about everything last night. We want to get to know you. If you’d like to get to know us, it would mean a lot.”

 
“I almost forgot,” Jim said. “I’ve got something for you and Karen. Wait here and I’ll be back in a minute.” He disappeared out the kitchen door.