Moon Over Montana (McCutcheon Family Series Book 5) (2 page)

“Who’s that?” Charity asked.

“Y Knot’s own town minstrel,” her mother said. “Casper Slack. You never know where he’ll show up next—to sing you a song. It’s really quite nice.”

As they neared the hotel, Charity navigated a step on the boardwalk, glancing away from Luke’s reenactment of Colton trying to saddle his new horse. Her gaze slid past a man standing in front of the leather shop, and she stopped abruptly when she recognized him. Her heart gave a happy leap. “Chance!”

Smiling from ear to ear, Chance Holcomb and a young woman with a head of curly blond hair started their way.

“Miss Charity, it’s darn fine to see you. I’ve heard all the news about your time in Texas and John getting married from the telegrams Brandon has sent back.” He laughed and shook his head. “It’s still hard to believe since I haven’t seen John since he went away to school. Why all the hands at the Heart of—”

He stopped abruptly and turned to the woman on his arm. “Forgive me, I’ve forgotten my manners. Charity, this is my wife, Evie Holcomb.” The proud ring to his tone was unmistakable. “Evie, this is Charity McCutcheon”—he motioned with his head—“the boys’ little sister. She’s been away for three months. That’s Brandon Crawford, her, uh—the sheriff of Y Knot.”

Brandon smiled and touched the brim of his hat.

“Wife!” Charity blurted, taking in the pretty woman in the lovely yellow dress. Her features were delicate and she had blue eyes full of wonder. Where the heck had Chance found her?

“I’m pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss McCutcheon.” Evie’s hand, tucked into the crook of Chance’s elbow, flexed.

Embarrassed over her outburst and the hurt in Evie’s eyes, Charity hurried to say, “I’m sorry. That was rude. I’m so very glad to meet you too, Mrs. Holcomb, but I do have to say I am a bit shocked. It must have happened very quickly.”

She sent Chance an apologetic glance for her blunder.

“We all think Chance is a sweetheart,” Charity went on, “which I’m sure you’re well aware of, because you married him.” She couldn’t stop the wide smile from taking over her face. “I’m certainly happy to have another woman in town. Do you ride?”

“Not well. Chance is teaching me, though.”

“You should see their home,” Faith said, holding on to Luke’s arm. “It’s beautiful. And Evie’s stove is the most extravagant contraption any of us have ever seen. Amy and I both want one just like it.”

“That’s so true, Charity.” Amy fairly glowed with excitement. “It practically fills the whole kitchen. Evie’s planning a baking day with all of us. Now that you’re home, you can come along.” Her shy sister-in-law looked lovely today, and adoration radiated between her and Mark.

“A house? When I left that was just an open piece of land with a barn and some fancy French cattle. You sure have been busy.”

One of her brothers cleared his throat. Then a chuckle eased its way around the group.

Charity glanced back. “What?”

“He’s been busy, all right.” Luke’s eyebrow peaked.

Chance’s face resembled the red saddle blanket on her horse.

“Oh!” Charity couldn’t help herself. She stepped forward and gave Evie a hug, then cuffed Chance on the arm. “I think that’s wonderful. Congratulations.” Heat wove around inside her belly when she thought of her and Brandon making a baby. Maybe by this time next year her arms would be full.

“Come on, folks,” Flood said. “We haven’t made much progress to the restaurant. Chance, we’re headed to Cattlemen’s for an early supper. We’d be pleased if you and Evie would join us. You’re practically family. It’s our treat.”

Chance looked down into Evie’s eyes.

“I insist,” Claire said, before they had an opportunity to say no. “I haven’t seen you for a month of Sundays, Chance. And I’m sure Evie would enjoy some time with other women. My gosh, for days on end it’s just you and the cattle.”

“Well, when you put it like that,” Chance said, chuckling, “how can I refuse? But I’m paying for Evie and me.”

“You’ll do no such thing.” Claire gave him a stern look. “We’ve meant to invite the two of you out to the ranch since your marriage. This will make up for our bad manners.”

Charity smiled. “Good. I’m glad that’s settled.”

She and Brandon led the way to the hotel. Before they went in, Brandon pulled her to the side, letting the rest pass. “I’m going to poke my head in the office for one minute and speak with Jack if he’s there. It won’t take long.” His gaze slid to the sheriff’s office next door and his expression went hard.

“Promise you’ll be quick?”

“Of course. We have big things to talk about.” He leaned in close. “I wish I could kiss you.”

“I know. Me too.”

“And we can’t make the announcement until I speak with Flood. It wouldn’t be proper.”

Charity couldn’t stop this odd feeling that something was going to go wrong. Somehow, some way, their intentions would be jumbled. Just like all the other things that had kept them apart through the years.

“You’ll speak with him today, at the party, right?”

He gave her a smile that had the power to send her stomach somersaulting. Since the hayloft in Rio Wells, her awareness of Brandon had changed. Grown deeper. She’d experienced a sliver of what husbands and wives held special. The secret power that connected them. She couldn’t wait to be man and wife.

“That’s our plan. Now go inside and get comfortable,” he said. “I’ll be right in. I’ll take Flood aside and do the asking. You don’t think he’ll say no, do you?”

“Charity and Brandon, are you going to stand out there all night?”

Her mother had come outside looking for them. The light shining in her eyes said she knew exactly what they were discussing.

“We’ll be right there,” Charity called. She gave her mother a smile and turned back to Brandon. “Say hello to Jack for me.”

At the mention of his deputy, Brandon gave an exasperated sigh. “He’s the only one I’m not anxious to see.”

Chapter Two

B
randon covered the ground between the hotel and the sheriff’s office. It was good to be back in Y Knot. He hadn’t realized how much he’d missed the place. He paused, taking a good look down the street. A few horses dozed in the sun in front of the Hitching Post Saloon. Farther down at Lou and Dritt’s boardinghouse, someone swept the boardwalk in front, pushing the dirt into the street. He grinned. In one day the dust would settle right back onto the wood. Glancing across to Lichtenstein’s Provisions, he wondered how the feisty German fared, as well as his timeworn clerk, Mr. Simpson. That old codger hadn’t missed a day since Brandon had taken over as sheriff.

These were his people. He’d been looking out for their welfare for a good number of years. They were his friends, and the only family he knew. And of course, there were the McCutcheons. They’d be true family once he and Charity tied the knot. He swallowed down a small lump of emotion. A vision of Charity maturing over the years brought a smile to his lips.

Charity.
My girl.
She’d finally said yes.

The door of Berta May’s sewing shop opened and Berta May stepped out. Her smile transformed her face into a glow of happiness. “I thought that was you, Sheriff Crawford! Welcome back. Seems like you’ve been gone forever. How long has it been?”

“Over two months.”

“Everyone is sure going to be glad to see you back. I know I am.” She drew out the word
I
, and then smiled shyly. “Let me know if there’s anything you need. Anything at all.”

He couldn’t miss when the handsome, aging seamstress batted her lashes at him, and he smiled. “Thank you, Berta May. It’s darn good to be home. If I think of anything, I’ll let you know.”

“You do that, Sheriff. Still, I’m baking you a pie tomorrow. Yes, sir, that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I hope you like apple—Brandon.”

He nodded. “My favorite.”

“That settles it. Look for it bright and early.”

Stepping across the threshold of his office, Brandon stopped short. The disarray hit him like a board in the face. Jack Jones sat behind Brandon’s desk, asleep. The deputy’s muddy boots were propped up over a mountain of papers, and his hat covered his face. A long, rippling snore almost woke him, but not quite.

Brandon stepped over and knocked Jack’s boots off the desk. When the deputy’s feet hit the floor, his head jerked with an angry growl. He blinked several times, as if he thought Brandon was a mirage.

Brandon’s smile was tight. “What? You thought I wasn’t coming back? That I was leaving the good citizens of Y Knot in your care forever?”

“Brandon! When did you arrive?” Jack stood, smacking his lips as he pushed his scraggly hair out of his eyes.

Brandon looked around. “Where’s Craig?”

“Quit the week after you left.”

Anger twisted up Brandon’s spine, but he took hold of his temper. “And you didn’t see fit to let me know?”

“I couldn’t. The telegraph line in Rio Wells was down. You said that yourself when you telegrammed from San Antonio.”

“A week after I left Y Knot, I sent you three telegrams from Denver—before I left Colorado for Texas.”

Jack had the decency to look ashamed. “Guess it slipped my mind.”

“More like you enjoyed your unchallenged authority around here. Did you run Craig off?” Brandon went over to the wall where the wanted posters hung. It only took a second to see that a couple were outdated; he recognized the faces of criminals already arrested or killed. He looked over his shoulder. “Where are the new flyers?”

Jack tipped his head toward a chair behind the door. “Over there. I’m switching ’em out later today.”

Resigned, Brandon nodded. “Well, why don’t you get to it while I go through this mess on my desk.” He pushed some papers aside with his finger and sat. “Anything important happen in my absence?”

Jack pulled the pins from the corners of a poster. “I helped solve a crime that almost killed old man Klinkner.”

Brandon looked up from his chair. “Oh?”

“Yeah, his steam engine blew up and his leg got broke. Lucky he and Hayden weren’t killed. At first, everyone thought it was an accident, but after snooping around, me and the sheriff in Pine Grove discovered different. Turned out Abner Lundgren’s wife didn’t like losing business to the Klinkner mill in Y Knot.”

Brandon nodded and stood. He needed to get back to the restaurant. Ten minutes had already passed and Charity would come looking for him any moment. Ever since she’d agreed to marry him, things had been going along well. He didn’t want to start this new chapter off on the wrong foot. “That was good work, Jack. I appreciate you taking the reins while I was gone.”

“You’re not mad at me?”

“I’m plenty perturbed.”

Jack cast his gaze to the floor, where a light coat of dust crunched under Brandon’s boots. “I’ll get this place cleaned up right away.”

Brandon took a step toward the door. “I’ll be over at Cattlemen’s having supper.” He’d crossed the threshold when Jack called him back.

“I almost forgot. You got some important-looking mail while you were away.”

By the battered envelope Jack handed him, it seemed his deputy had been curious as to the contents.

“Thanks,” Brandon said, taking the post.

“I couldn’t help but notice it’s from a US marshal in Kansas City.”

Brandon stared at the logo stamped on the front. “So it is.” His nonchalance was difficult to keep up.

The job.
Months had passed since he’d sent the letter. When he hadn’t heard anything, he figured James Timberlake had forgotten who Brandon Crawford was. Deputy to a US federal marshal, especially one as famous as Timberlake, would be a huge step up in his career.

But one that would take him away from Y Knot. Would Charity go with him? The ranch was everything to her and all she ever talked about.

He’d known things with Charity were too good to be true. They should have gotten married in San Antonio, the same night as John and Lily. Then she’d have to go with him. Torn, he stepped outside and gazed up into the sky, not knowing what to think. He didn’t want to miss this opportunity, but he didn’t want to lose the love of his life either. Seemed hard choices had come home to roost.

Wait a minute. I haven’t gotten the job yet. Maybe Timberlake’s turning me down
. There had to be more than a few men interested in such a good position.

Disappointment registered at the possibility. He’d dreamed of a federal career since the day the silver star of Y Knot had been pinned to his vest. Why he felt so strongly about it, he wasn’t quite sure—except that it had been a federal marshal who had avenged his parents’ murder.

With a sigh, he started for Cattlemen’s.

When he was halfway to the restaurant, Charity opened the door and hurried out to meet him. He folded the envelope and stuffed it in his back pocket.

“I thought you said you’d only be gone a moment,” she said, laughter in her voice. “I can see I’m going to have some stiff competition for your affections now that we’re back in Y Knot.” He’d closed the remaining space between them. “I won’t be jealous, though, I promise. I know there’s enough of you to go around.”

Charity’s strawberry-blond hair flowed around her shoulders. Even after days in a stagecoach, she was still the most gorgeous woman he’d ever set eyes on.

She cocked her head as she looked up at him. “Is everything all right? You seem funny.”

He wasn’t ready to tell her. Not yet. She’d been so happy during their travels home. And now today. It wasn’t right to burst her bubble before she had a full chance to enjoy it.

Brandon patted his stomach. “I think I’m just hungry. I haven’t had a good meal in days.”

She looped her arm through his and hugged it to her. They went together into the hotel. “You’re not getting a good steak yet, cowboy. You still have some important business with my father to take care of. You haven’t changed your mind, have you?”

He hadn’t, but had fate changed it for him?

Chapter Three

C
harity all but floated across the dining room floor. With Brandon at her back and the gaze of her whole family on her, she glided into the seat next to her mother. Brandon helped push her in, then settled next to her.