Forever in Love (Montana Brides) (12 page)

Nothing had changed, he thought. The stubborn teenager had been replaced with an equally stubborn adult. “She’s buried everything so deep that I doubt anyone will ever get the whole story.”

His dad frowned. “Be gentle with her, son. Amy’s always planned her life in triplicate. As soon as she decided she wanted to be a doctor she applied for every scholarship she could find. And she got there. But her baby sister changed everything. I’d guess that right about now her world feels about as stable as a pond of quicksand. She never had an easy life to start with and she’s going to need all our support to get back onto steady ground.”

Nathan stared at the pen sitting on his desk. “I care about her.”

“I know you do.” His dad’s eyes clouded over. “You’re a good person, Nathan. I’m very proud of you, but take things slowly. You’ve been through a hard time yourself.” He moved across to a chair shoved against the wall, filled with a pile of old newspapers and mail. He stacked the paper onto an empty shelf on the bookcase and sat down. “But that’s not all I want to talk about. Your mother and I have decided to move to Florida. How do you feel about taking over the management of the ranch?”

“What?” Nathan felt his jaw drop. Three generations of Grays had lived and died on the ranch. He never thought his parents would leave unless they were in a pine box, heading six-foot under. “You can’t be serious? You love this place.”

“I can learn to love somewhere else too. Your mom’s health is better in a warmer climate and her sister keeps pestering her to come and live by the ocean. It’s not forever. Matthew and Sean can stay here. And when we do come back to visit they’ll have to scrape their mess off the floor and make room for us. What do you think?”

Nathan’s thoughts raced inside his head. He’d built his entire life around one day managing his family’s ranch. Even the three years he’d spent at university hadn’t managed to dent his need to be close to the land.
 

He moved in his chair. The scars on his back pulled tight, reminding him that his life had changed. “I don’t know, dad. I’m still having problems with my back.”

“That’s what you’ve got family for. Sean and Matthew are more than capable of taking responsibility for the jobs that are too difficult for you and we’ve already employed an extra ranch hand. Even Sally’s happy to get her nails dirty every now and then.”
 

A smile tugged at his dad’s mouth. They both knew Sally could do every job on the ranch, she just chose to be picky about what she helped with.
 

“Have you talked this over with the rest of the family?”

“No. I thought I’d ask you first.”

Nathan stared at his computer. He didn’t want to let his dad down. He didn’t want to let himself down. He needed to know he was making a difference, that he could build on the dream his great-grandfather had started.
 

“When do you need my answer?”

“Let me know sometime in the next couple of weeks. Your mom and I want to be in Florida before the end of January.”

“Why so soon?”

His dad crossed his ankles in front of his chair, staring at the wooden floor. He looked up and Nathan saw his dad’s answer before he heard it. “This land’s a part of me. The quicker we make the break the easier it will be.”

“I’ll let you know as soon as I’ve thought it through.”

 
“Don’t sell yourself short, son. Everything you’ve learned over the years will keep the ranch growing and running at a profit.” His father stood up. “Your mom promised me flapjacks for breakfast and I’m not about to miss out. Do you want to come and keep an old man company?”

“I’ll be there soon. I’ve just got to send an order off. And you’re not old, dad.”

“Some days I feel ancient. Think carefully about the ranch. It’s everything you’ve ever wanted.”

Nathan turned back to his computer, staring at the spreadsheet in front of him. With his dad gone they’d have to employ at least one more cowboy in the spring and summer. His mom did most of the paperwork, keeping the bills paid and suppliers happy. He could do that side of things, but he’d sooner be outside, working the land like he’d been born to do.
 

Opening another file, he looked at their end of year accounts. They’d been slowly growing their herd of buffalo, supplying grass-fed bison to a local company that processed, froze and boxed the meat for online orders. The profit margins were a lot higher than beef and the market for bison had grown fifty percent since they’d started. The ranch made a decent profit each year. With careful planning their income should continue to increase, even with the downturn in the economy.
 

He rubbed his hand along his jaw and felt the rough prickle of stubble. His dad had been right, he hadn’t gotten much sleep last night. His six-foot frame had complained about having to slouch in his sister’s armchair. After watching Amy’s shaking body for most of the night he’d finally given in to exhaustion and stretched out on top of the blankets beside her. And there was no way in hell he’d do that again. Not with the scream she’d let rip at three o’clock in the morning.
 

He took a deep breath, remembering what she’d told him. No wonder she’d left Bozeman as fast as she could when she’d been a teenager. He’d scared her, and that was the last thing he’d ever wanted to do.

Matthew walked into the office. “Mom’s got breakfast cooking. How’s Amy?”

“Still asleep when I checked on her an hour ago. How on earth did you sleep through her scream?”

“Beats me. Sean reckons I must have been snoring like a freight train to miss it. You really spooked her to get that sort of reaction.”

He wished to God that was all it had been. Standing up, he stretched cramped muscles, nearly groaning at the pain streaking down his back. “I need food.”

“Follow me. But if you eat all the flapjacks you’ll be in trouble.

Amy felt as though her body had been tossed in the washing machine and left on heavy-duty spin. After she’d woken up it had taken most of her energy to pull on the clothes stacked on the chair in Sally’s bedroom. She’d had to stop twice on her way down the stairs, leaning against the wall while she waited for the house to stop spinning. She couldn’t believe how stupid she’d been. First the flat tire, then her cell phone, and then Nathan.
 

She walked into the lounge, smiling at Sally and the plate of chocolate chip cookies balanced on the arm of the sofa. “I thought you’d be at school by now.”
 

Sally cradled a hot drink between her hands. “What am I, Attilla the Hun? Nathan just said the same thing. The road’s closed and no one can get in or out of Bozeman. What are you doing out of bed?”

“I feel much better.”

“You could have fooled me. Are you alright?”

Amy took a deep breath, ignoring the concern on her best friend’s face. “Sort of. It was just a nightmare. Now move those feet, girlfriend. Those cookies smell divine.”
 
Sally passed the plate of cookies over and they sat in easy silence, munching on the home baking in front of them.

 
Nathan walked into the lounge. He stopped, staring at her like she had a bad case of poison ivy. Amy looked down at her baggy sweatpants and purple sweater. She didn’t look like she’d be going anywhere fancy in a hurry, but she didn’t think she looked that bad. Unless he didn’t know what to say after last night. Her heart sank. She should have made up some phony excuse for screaming the roof off the house. He didn’t need to know about her past. No one did.
 

The chunk of chocolate melting in her mouth turned to glue.

“You should be in bed,” he growled.

Sally looked between the two of them. “Don’t go all caveman on Amy. She had a tough night and you don’t look much better.”

Nathan walked toward the sofa. His gaze flicked to his sister, then to the half-eaten plate of cookies balanced on a cushion.
 

“I don’t think so,” Sally said, moving the plate out of his reach. “If you want some you’d better go and see mom. These are for me and Amy.”

The front door slammed and Sean walked past the lounge door, doubling back when he saw Nathan. “I thought I could smell mom’s baking.” Before Sally could move, he grabbed a handful of cookies off her plate.

“Hey, get your own.”

“They wouldn’t taste as sweet as yours.” He turned to Nathan. “We’ve checked the cattle in the northern fields. They seem okay but the fence needs mending. Evan’s giving Matthew a hand to get everything secure before another storm passes through.”

“Make sure you keep a lookout for any stray cattle. Some of the McGill herd may have wandered over here.”

“No problem. I’m going to make myself some lunch then head back outside. Dad said to tell you that the four-wheeler’s working fine now.”

Amy frowned at Nathan. “You’ve been outside already?”

“It’s midday. City life must have softened your brains.” Nathan crossed his arms in front of his chest, rocking on the heels of his socks.
 

Amy pulled herself off the sofa. “I’ll go and see how Catherine is.”

“No need,” Sally said. “Mom put her back to bed an hour ago for a morning sleep.
Stay here and I’ll go and get you a hot chocolate.” She left her mug on the coffee table and went into the kitchen.

Amy glanced at Nathan, then turned her attention to the fireplace. It was easier staring at the orange flames than the frowning face hovering a few feet away.

“How do you feel?” he asked.

“Okay.”
 

“You don’t look it.”

She pushed her hair behind her ears. “Gee thanks.”

“I take it you’re planning on staying inside today?”

The way she felt at the moment she’d be going back to bed as soon as Nathan left. She couldn’t remember ever being so tired. Or stupid.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” he growled. “I’m heading back to my place this afternoon.”

She lifted her head and stared into his steady blue gaze. She didn’t want him to go. Like every other mixed up, crazy thing that had happened in the last few months, she would miss him. “Thanks…for everything. I didn’t mean to blurt out what happened.”

“If you’d told me before I would have understood.”

She took a deep breath. “I wasn’t ready to tell you.”

“Obviously. So what are we going to do about it?”

“
We
aren’t going to do anything.”

“You can’t keep it bottled up inside you forever.”
 

“It’s not bottled up.”
 

Nathan snorted. “If you believe that, then you’re really in trouble.”

She’d been in trouble from the first time she’d seen him standing on his parent’s front porch, only she hadn’t known it.
 

Sally breezed into the room, a plate and a cup in her hands. “I made you a sandwich as well, Amy. You need to eat something to get your strength back. Pull the table closer, Nathan.”

He stepped forward, moving the coffee table within Amy’s reach. She smelt pine. And man. And good Lord, she was doing it again. She tried to ignore her pounding heart and the fact that Nathan had decided to sit beside her. And the surprised look on Sally’s face.
 

Her hand shook as she reached for a sandwich.
 

“I’ve got it.” Nathan grabbed the sandwich and held it toward her.
 

“Thanks.” Her fingers brushed his warm skin. He tightened his grip on the bread until she thought she’d have to wrestle it from his hand. Either that or eat squished ham and cheese. “I can manage.”

“You always do.”

She sat a little straighter. “I’ve had plenty of practice.”

“That’s enough you two.” Sally flopped down on a big red chair beside the sofa. She picked up her cookie and waved it in the air. “You need to let go of whatever’s bugging you otherwise you’ll end up with stomach ulcers and premature grey hairs. Look at me. I’m the most stress-free person in the house. You won’t see a grey hair anywhere near me.”

Nathan leaned across the sofa, almost flattening Amy with his wide shoulders and wicked grin. His hand snagged a cookie off his sister’s plate. “That’s because you spend a fortune at Loretta’s getting your hair smothered in dye.”

“Foils,” Sally muttered. “And it’s not a fortune. It’s an investment in my future.” She shoved the rest of the chocolate chip cookie in her mouth, glaring at her brother.

Somewhere around the mention of Loretta’s, Amy lost track of what they were saying. She hadn’t recovered from having Nathan’s body pressed against her chest.
 

It wasn’t fear that caught her breath in a tight knot or exhaustion that made her brain short-circuit. It was the man sitting beside her, totally oblivious to the storm raging inside her body. She wiggled an inch closer to the arm of the sofa, away from the weight of his leg still pressed against hers.
 

“Are you okay?” Sally held her hand against Amy’s hot cheeks. “Look what you’ve done now you big oaf. Amy needs lots of rest and plenty of good food.” She scowled at the half eaten cookie in Nathan’s hand. “If you’ve come in for lunch you’d better disappear into the kitchen before Sean eats it all.”

“Anyone would think all I ever do is eat the way you keep pushing me into the kitchen.”
 

“Go!”

Nathan hauled himself off the sofa. He cleared his throat, glancing quickly at his sister before turning his gaze on Amy. “How did you get on with the Andersons?”

“They gave me a key. I can move in whenever I want.”

“When do you plan on leaving the ranch?”

“At the weekend, if your mom and dad are happy for me to stay until then.”

Nathan nodded. “Well I guess I’ll see you around. If you need a hand moving your stuff into Bozeman, let me know. Or any help. I’m only a phone call away.”
 

“Thanks.” She gazed into his eyes, reading a whole lot more into his words than what he’d said.
 

“For goodness sakes,” Sally huffed. “Anyone would think Catherine and Amy were going to live in Siberia. Of course you’ll see her again. She’s only a half-hour drive away. Now go and get some lunch before the wind changes and turns that scowl into something more permanent.”