Moon Over Montana (McCutcheon Family Series Book 5) (16 page)

All eyes shifted from her to the staircase, and tension filled the room. Brandon was on his way down.

“What’s going on?” her mother asked. Her concerned gaze made Charity’s insides freeze up.

So much for her acting abilities. When she was little, she’d have been able to pull this off with ease. But not now. Not with her entire life crashing down around her shoulders. Not with the three-foot knife that was slicing away at her heart. And especially not with Brandon in the same room.

She heard his footsteps, felt his presence behind her. If she could only turn back the hands of time, back to Texas when they were happy—without all these problems. Oh, why hadn’t she married him then? Glancing into the kitchen, she longed to disappear out the back door.

“Morning, Brandon,” Roady said. He looked around at everyone, a confused expression pinching his face. “You’re out early.”

“Had things to discuss with Charity.” The hard edge of anger in his voice was new.

Her mother wrapped her arm around Charity’s shoulder. “I wondered where you’d gone off to, Brandon. You two aren’t…”

Unable to hold in her feelings any longer, Charity burst into tears. She pulled out from her mother’s arm and raced back up the stairs. It didn’t take but a second for Claire to follow behind.

• • •

Luke watched until Charity disappeared into the upper hall. Was this a case of jittery nerves caused by the upcoming wedding? It was possible, but by the look on Brandon’s face, he’d bet it was a lot more than that.

With Charity and his mother gone, and him and Roady already having eaten, Matt was the only one to take a seat at the table. “I’ll be with you men as soon as I wolf this down.”

Esperanza’s expression said she was not pleased with everyone deserting the meal.

Luke headed to the door, and Brandon and Roady followed him outside. Roady beat a fast retreat to the bunkhouse. “Let me know when you’re ready to get started,” he called to Luke.

Luke waited until Roady was well out of earshot. “What’s going on
now
?”

Brandon looked away for several seconds. When he turned back, his gaze was flinty hard. “You just had to toss that in, didn’t you?”

“Toss what in?”

“The ‘now.’ You and everyone else just love to throw that in our faces every chance you get. The fact that we seem to argue a lot.”

Luke took a step back. “Hold on. I didn’t mean anything by what I said. You’re stewing for a fight, Brandon, but you won’t get it from me.”

Brandon didn’t answer. He just looked off into the pasture as if he were contemplating some big issue. Surely Charity was being overly sensitive, the way women could be sometimes—a lot of the time, he corrected. Men just had to be on the lookout and know when to cut their losses. Pick their battles. Brandon had a lot to learn about the fairer sex.

“What’s the problem? Is she insisting you wear some flowers in your hair at the wedding, or something similar? Talk to me. Maybe I can help.”

When Brandon turned, the anger in his eyes startled Luke. “What?”

“It’s nothing like that. Actually, I thought Charity might have already told you, but I can see now that I was wrong. She usually comes running to you for everything.”

That comment went right up Luke’s back. Why wouldn’t she? She was his sister. He looked out for her. Then, now—and would continue to do so in the future. Nothing would change that, not even her getting married.

“I’m going to ignore you just said that, because I can see that you’re fuming mad and upset. But you had no call. I hope Charity never stops coming to me for advice. Now, are you going to spit out what has you riled, or am I going to have to beat it out of you?” he said half-jokingly.

Brandon scoffed.

“Well? You being so close-mouthed leads me to the conclusion that Charity may be in the right and you in the wrong. Am I getting warm?”

“It’s not like that. Neither is right or wrong. Just that I have a chance to be a federal deputy marshal, albeit a small chance, but I need to go to Kansas City. I want Charity to marry me and come along. Make a real honeymoon out of it.”

Luke had to clench his jaw to keep it from falling open. Federal deputy marshal? Where had that idea come from? He’d never heard Brandon speak about leaving Y Knot. No wonder his sister was in a world of hurt.

“I can’t believe what I’m hearing. This feels totally out of the blue.”

“Maybe to you, but not to me. I’ve always had the desire.”

“You just never mentioned it to anyone, least of all Charity?”

Brandon pointed a finger at Luke. “Does my job change her feelings for me? I thought it was me she was supposed to love, not where we lived or what I did to make a living.”

“You’re not being fair,” Luke shot back.

Luke needed to remember his friend was hurting, but damn, this made him angry. He could see why it would throw Charity into a panic. He believed she loved Brandon with her whole heart, but she also loved her family, and the ranch. Never in a million years had she expected that marrying Brandon would mean moving away.

“You’re the first to know what this ranch and the family mean to her. When did you drop this on her? Today?”

They stood angry face to angry face. He couldn’t push Brandon much more or they would end up in a fistfight. “Well? When did you tell her, Brandon? I can guarantee it wasn’t at Cattlemen’s. I would have been able to tell if she were struggling with something. She was happier that night than I’ve ever seen her.”

“Saturday night after the party.”

Luke shook his head. This was big. He didn’t know how the two would work their way out of this one.

“I didn’t know until the day we returned to Y Knot,” Brandon said a little more calmly. “When I went to the office, Jack gave me the letter. Just because I have an interview, doesn’t mean I’ll get the job.”

Luke gripped the back of his neck, working his tight muscles. Brandon just stood there watching him, and he didn’t know how to respond. When a few seconds passed, Brandon started for his horse. “I need to get back to Y Knot. I have some prisoners that need tending.”

“When are you leaving for Kansas City?” Luke asked, watching him retreat.

“Tomorrow morning.”

“How long will you be gone?”

Brandon unwrapped his reins and turned his horse around to face him. “I don’t know.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

T
wenty-four hours later, Charity, mounted on her palomino, trotted down Main Street with Luke riding by her side. Few people were out at the early hour. The clapboard buildings running down both sides of the street appeared shabbier since her return from Texas. She didn’t like to think it.

When they passed the saloon, an upstairs window opened and Fancy Aubrey leaned out. “Morning, Luke.” She smiled and waved, unmindful that she was only in her dressing gown and was putting on a show for the whole world to see. “Charity.”

Luke waved back, and Charity nodded.

“That Fancy sure seems to get around,” she couldn’t stop herself from saying. The image Francis had planted in her mind of her and Brandon in close conversation now troubled her all the more.

“You sure you’re up to this?” Luke asked. “He may already be gone. He didn’t give me a time when he was pulling out.”

“I’m sure. I won’t be able to do a thing if Brandon and I don’t finish what we started yesterday.”

And it was true. She’d done a lot of soul searching last night. As much as it hurt, she only wanted what was best for Brandon. Her desire was for him to be happy. If Kansas City would do that, then so be it. They reined up in front of the sheriff’s office.

Jack Jones walked out to greet them. “Morning, you two. You looking for Brandon?”

She nodded.

“If you hurry, you might still catch him. He left for his house just a few minutes ago and plans to leave straight from there. He’s riding to Waterloo, where he’ll catch the train.”

“Thanks, Jack,” Luke said.

Jack turned and went back inside.

Luke reached out before she turned her horse. He laid his hand on her forearm. “Stay calm. Don’t let your temper get the best of you. I’ll be waiting at the saloon and will go over to Lichtenstein’s when the place opens up. Take as long as you need.”

She nodded. Gathering her courage, she rode down the alley between the sheriff’s office and Cattlemen’s Hotel, frightened she hadn’t made it in time. What if he’d already gone? Hadn’t she learned anything in that death cell with the rattlesnake? Didn’t she love Brandon above everything else?

“Charity!” Brandon said, surprised. His face lit with pleasure. She’d caught him just stepping through his front door, bulging saddlebags in his hands.

The happiness on his face brought a new burst of butterflies in her stomach. Maybe he hurt inside as much as she did. He rushed over and helped her dismount. When his hand grasped her arm, a flurry of tingles ignited in her belly. For a moment, they stood in silence, looking into each other’s eyes.

“I wanted to see you before you left.” That was all she could think of.
Really, I want to kiss you and feel your lips on mine.

“I’m glad you came. I wanted to come back out to the ranch, but the men we had locked up were a handful. I couldn’t leave Jack alone. They’ve all sobered up and have been released.” His eyes dropped to her lips, but quickly returned to her eyes. Shame for pulling away from his kiss yesterday filled her. The memory had kept her awake long into the early morning. What she wouldn’t give for that kiss right now.

She glanced over her shoulder. “Is there somewhere we can talk? I feel conspicuous standing out here.”

“Sure, sure. Just let me get rid of this.” He went to his horse and hefted the saddlebags over the back of the saddle and buckled them on.

He disappeared inside, then brought out two chairs and set them on the porch. They’d be out of view if someone looked down the alley from Main Street.

“Come sit down.” He gestured with his hand.

For one instant, she let her thoughts run wild. He was so earnest. His strong, handsome profile did silly things to her heart. His hatless hair glistened in the sun. But it was his eyes that made her insides feel like melted butter. Here they were again, tiptoeing around each other. She wanted the intimacy back. The easiness, when she knew where she stood and so did he.

He smiled when she lowered herself into the plain, straight-back chair. “There. You good? Is that comfortable?”

He’s trying so hard
. When she nodded, he sat opposite her and waited for her to say something.

“I’m sorry about yesterday, Brandon.” She didn’t need a script. She’d say whatever came out of her heart. “The argument, not kissing you—and for running up to my room when I should have stayed and heard you out. You came all the way to the ranch. That was the least I could have done. Please forgive me.”

He nodded as she spoke, as if he felt the same. “I’m sorry too, Charity. Yesterday didn’t go at all like I planned. Not even close.”

They stared at each other. Her mouth went dry. The depth of his sorrow was easy to see. “I don’t really know what else to say, Brandon, except that I love you.”
And want you to be happy.
“No matter what, that will always be true.”

She dropped her gaze for a moment. Maybe he wasn’t planning on coming back if he got the job, just staying on there and starting up. He probably didn’t know what the marshal would want from him.

He leaned forward and tentatively took both her hands. His calloused palms had never felt so good. His thumbs rubbed back and forth across her skin, and she had to swallow back her grief. “I know,” he replied. “And I love you. I’ve been doing some hard thinking about what Luke had to say. How I wasn’t being fair to you by dropping this in your lap after you had said yes to becoming my wife. I didn’t want to believe it then because I was mad, but he was right. I don’t know what I expected. I still don’t.”

Unable to stop herself, Charity slipped onto his lap. His arms immediately closed around her and he held her tight to his chest. She burrowed in closer, her face against his good-smelling, warm neck, and all their problems faded to the back of her mind. This was Brandon. Her protector. It was so good, so uplifting to be here in his arms, somewhere she thought she’d never be again. He was everything in the world to her.

“I’m sorry I hurt you, Charity,” he said, running his hand down the back of her hair. “You deserve more than that. You deserve more than I can ever dream of giving you. Maybe this is for the best. Maybe—”

She pulled back to look into his face. “Don’t you dare say another word. Have I ever said I want more than you can give me? No. Never. So don’t say that now. That has nothing to do with where we are today.”

“You’re right, sweetheart,” he replied. He gently took her chin and found her mouth with his own. The kiss was sweet, and apologetic. He cupped her face between his hands, taking his time moving his lips over hers, and she thought she’d die from the goodness of it.

“Do you want me to stay, Charity? I will if you say so.”

She shook her head. This would be the hardest thing she’d ever done, but he had to be able to follow his dreams.

“No, if being a deputy marshal means that much to you, I’d never want to hold you back from your dreams. Later, you’d resent me for it and always wonder what would have happened if you’d tried. I insist that you go. I won’t have it any other way.”

“What about the wedding? Are you saying you’ll wait?”

She shrugged. “We’ll cross that bridge when you return.”
If you return.

Setting him free was like a broken bottle raking over her heart, but she had to do it. He’d not go if he thought she was going to be pining over his every move. “I think it’s best if we don’t upset everyone now. We’ll tell them the wedding is still on for when you come home. That way, if it happens, no one will have worried unduly, and if it doesn’t, at least their vexation will have been for a shorter amount of time.”

“I never told you why this means so much to me, but I want to now, before I leave, so you can understand.” He looked away, gathering his thoughts. “I’m sorry about not being truthful with you about my parents. I just couldn’t tell anyone because of the guilt I felt—still do—about how they were killed. I was only a kid, but somehow I thought I should have been able to protect them from the outlaw who robbed and then killed them.”