Montana Wrangler (14 page)

* * *

Paige's neighbor, Mrs. Martell, called her Sunday morning inviting her to go to the early service at church.

On the short drive to the church on the corner, Paige brought her up-to-date about her trip to Bear Lake and the complications she'd encountered.

“How wonderful it is that you've taken responsibility for the young boy. I'm sure you'll be an incredible guardian for him.” Mrs. Martell always wore gloves and a hat to church, usually a small one that perched on top of her gray hair. A stylish throwback to an earlier era.

“I hope so. But I'm going to have to move. My condo is way too small for two.” Paige had dressed in a navy power suit to go to work after she dropped Mrs. Martell at home following the church service.

“Oh, dear, I'll miss having you for a neighbor. But I'm sure it's for the best. God must have something special in mind for you, you're such a good person. He'll lead you on the right path.”

Paige wasn't sure about being a ‘good person,' not after some of the diabolical thoughts she'd contemplated to get revenge on Mr. Emerald. But she could hope that the Lord would have a hand in leading her on His chosen path.

Chapter Thirteen

P
aige left Seattle at a civilized hour on Monday morning. Her boss hadn't been pleased she was returning to Bear Lake so soon. After the weekend babysitting several hundred innkeepers, she didn't much care what Mr. Armstrong thought.

She stopped in Missoula at a grocery store and picked up some barbecue ribs she could reheat for dinner, a big tub of coleslaw and one of potato salad. Maybe the way to the heart of a growing boy like Bryan was via his stomach.

As she drove north on Highway 93 through Polson, her anxiety grew. She'd been so hurt by Jay challenging her request for guardianship, she didn't know what to say to him. If anything.

What must Bryan be thinking at this point? Maybe during her absence, he had calmed down a little. Adjusted to the idea of moving to Seattle.

Her mouth dry, an ache in her chest, she pulled up in front of her grandfather's house. Almost immediately Grandpa appeared on the front porch. He waved and smiled.

“There you are, child. How'd it go in Seattle?”

“About as expected. Demanding guests and crazed staff.” Opening the door, she climbed out of the car. She inhaled the sweet scent of pine trees and fresh mountain air. Too bad she couldn't bottle enough to fill her condo with the invigorating perfume.

He came down the steps and hugged her. “Good to have you back, child. I missed you.”

“I missed you too, Grandpa.” He felt wiry and tough, his cheeks rough with a day's growth of whiskers. “How did your doctor appointment go?”

“That youngster said I was fit as can be.”

She raised her brows.

“I have to keep taking those silly pills. Waste of money.” He
harrumphed.
“Well, bring your things on in. You know where to put them.”

“I brought dinner. Barbecued spare ribs.” Smiling at her grandfather's attitude, she opened the car's back door and retrieved the grocery sacks. When she turned around, Jay was standing right in front of her. His broad shoulders were rigid, as if he expected to be attacked, his blue-green eyes beneath the brim of his cowboy hat unreadable.

Even so, with his chiseled cheekbones and strong jaw, he was the most potent male she'd ever known. So much more of a man's man than any of those innkeepers and the Mr. Armstrongs of the world, he nearly took her breath away.

“I'll carry those in for you,” he said.

“Thanks.” As she passed the groceries to him, their hands brushed. An electric pulse shot up her arm. How could she have forgotten what an impact he had on her? Why hadn't she gotten over him while she was in Seattle?

It would take more than three days to achieve that much amnesia.

From the trunk, she retrieved her suitcase. This time she'd brought along her own jeans and more casual clothes, including her running shoes.

She put her suitcase in the sewing room and went to the kitchen to put away the groceries. Jay was examining the wrapped barbecue ribs.

“I'll reheat those in the microwave for dinner,” she said.

“Great.” His gaze skimmed over her. “I like your jeans.”

“Krissy's didn't fit me right.”

“Krissy was different than you are in a lot of ways.”

“Yes, she was.”

“I don't think she ever fixed barbecue ribs.”

Paige looked at the way Jay was cradling the ribs in his big hands. “Reheating something isn't that hard to do.”

“For some people it can be. Especially if they got it wrong the first time.”

Wondering what Jay's sudden fascination with ribs was all about, she took them to put in the refrigerator along with the coleslaw and potato salad. Then she washed the apples and oranges she'd bought and put them on the counter to drain. There had been some cherries on sale but the price was still too high. Another few weeks and the local cherries would be in the stores.

“Everything go okay in Seattle?” he asked.

“The usual crush of problems. Nothing I couldn't handle.” Why was he just standing there leaning against the counter? Wasn't there a horse that needed grooming or something?

“I'm sure you're good at your job.”

Then why didn't he think she'd be a good guardian for Bryan? She had to “mother” the hotel guests 24/7. Even spoil them if that's what was needed to get their return business. How much harder could a twelve-year-old be to raise?

“If I stay away much longer, I won't have a job.”

“So you'll be going back right after the mediation meeting?”

She turned to face him straight on. “With or without Bryan, I'll go back to Seattle after the hearing. That's where my life is, Jay.”

“And Bryan's life and mine are here.” His liquid voice held a river of pain. “I'll see you at dinner.” He walked out through the mudroom, the back door slamming behind him.

She covered her mouth with her hand. She was
not
going to cry over a man who had betrayed her. She was through with that. Now she was going to move on with her life.

One way or another.

* * *

The following morning, Paige rounded up the bags of Krissy's clothing and personal items to take to the Second Time Around thrift shop.

A wave of grief nearly undid her as she put the last bag in the trunk of her car. Krissy would only be a memory now. Her pictures in scrapbooks the only tangible evidence of her life.

Her pictures and her son.

Somehow Paige would have to keep Krissy's memory alive for Bryan.

After delivering Krissy's things to the thrift shop, Paige's next stop was the local branch of Lake Country Bank in Bear Lake to determine how to transfer Krissy's accounts into a trust for Bryan at her bank in Seattle.

She made one last stop at the Love 2 Read Books and Bakery. Given the stress of dealing with Krissy's final affairs, and Mr. Emerald in Seattle, she deserved a sugary treat.

The interior of the shop was as cute and quaint as the exterior caricature of a baker reading a book on the large picture window. Several glass-topped vintage ice cream tables and chairs with wire backs twisted into a heart shape were scattered about. One entire wall was filled with bookshelves displaying mostly paperback books for sale. From the covers, it looked like more than half were romance novels.

Wrinkling her nose, Paige decided she wasn't likely to have the same happy ending with Jay that the heroines in those books achieved.

Standing in front of the bakery display case, she inhaled the scent of cinnamon, fresh-baked bread, chocolate and apple. Her mouth watered.

“Can I help you?” A high-school-aged girl greeted her with a smile from behind the counter. She wore a pale pink bib apron with the same caricature of a baker reading a book on the front that was on the window.

“I'd like a dozen assorted bear claws to go.” Surely they would appeal to Bryan's sweet tooth in the morning. “And I'll take one of the double chocolate chewy cookies to have now.”

“Yes, ma'am, those cookies are our most popular.” The girl boxed up the bear claws, handed her the cookie on a napkin and rang up the order on the cash register.

As soon as Paige got in her car, she took a bite of the cookie. Oversize chocolate chips and creamy dark chocolate melted in her mouth and tantalized her taste buds. She feared this one cookie alone would add an inch to her thighs.

Right now, she didn't even care.

* * *

The only time Paige saw either Jay or Bryan that day was at mealtime. She wasn't able to entice Bryan into playing the piano or even a video game with her after dinner. When she started a conversation with him, all she got in return was a grunt.

She woke Wednesday morning with a dull headache that throbbed at the back of her skull. The muscles in her shoulders and back felt like they'd been twisted into a pretzel.

From the empty bakery box, she concluded the men of the household had made quick work of the bear claws she'd bought in town.

Although she would have preferred to drive her own car to Kalispell for the custody mediation, Jay insisted all of them—including Grandpa, who demanded he go along this time—would be more comfortable in his extended cab truck. Since Grandpa had been feeling much stronger, and he had a stake in Bryan's future, Paige couldn't object to his demand.

She sat in the backseat with Bryan, who scrunched himself into the far corner. Her heart ached with the hope that the boy would
want
to live with her, but she'd feared that battle had already been lost. Perhaps permanently.

“You know all of us are trying to do the right thing for you,” she told Bryan.

He kept his eyes glued on the passing scenery. “It isn't right that somebody can make me move to Seattle.”

“If that's how the mediator rules, I'd like for you to at least give it a try. It's what your mother wanted.”

He didn't respond. Instead he kept staring out the window. The wall he'd erected between himself and Paige seemed impenetrable. If anything, he was more determined than ever not to accept Paige as his guardian.

It pained Paige the most that Jay had sided with the boy against her. If only he had supported her efforts, maybe Bryan would have willingly agreed to the move.

* * *

At the courthouse, they were directed to a conference room with a large table in the center and chairs on both sides. Grandpa sat beside Paige. Jay and Bryan sat opposite them. A perfect picture of a family in conflict.

Paige retrieved the paperwork from her briefcase and placed it on the table in front of her. While they waited, anxiety and fear filled the silent room like a foggy day on Puget Sound. The dampness chilled her.

Paige remembered dark nights when her childish fears became living things, ugly green monsters hiding under the bed. She'd wanted to call her mother to come hold her. But her mother worked hard all day. Paige knew not to disturb her mother's sleep. If only the monsters would leave Paige alone.

She started when the conference room door opened, admitting a tall woman who resembled a gray-haired scarecrow with a particularly prominent nose.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. I'm Angela Quinn,” she said, introducing herself in a pleasant, well-modulated tone. She sat at the head of the table and opened a file folder. “In my experience, disputes regarding guardianship can be among the most stressful, so let's all see if we can keep our emotions under control. For young Bryan's sake, if nothing else.”

She directed her attention to Bryan. “First of all, I want you to know how sorry I am that you lost your mother.” She spoke directly to him as though there was no one else in the room. “That's a hard thing to deal with at any age. How are you doing?”

He shrugged, typical-adolescent style. “I'm okay.”

“Good. I hope you know you're fortunate that two people love you enough that they want to be your guardian.”

He cut Paige a glance and immediately lowered his gaze.

Paige felt sorry for the poor kid. He hadn't asked to be orphaned. Or to have the aunt he barely knew be chosen by his mother to take care of him after she died.

Ms. Quinn turned to Paige. “I take it you're willing to be Bryan's guardian, Miss Barclay.”

“Yes, ma'am. Although I was surprised at first, I'm honored that my sister named me in her will. I'm very eager to serve as Bryan's guardian.”

A tiny frown lowered Ms. Quinn's brows. “Why were you surprised?”

Paige realized she'd dug herself into a hole. “Well, I hadn't thought... My sister was so young, I hadn't given any thought to what might happen if Krissy...Kristine died.”

Ms. Quinn nodded. “I see. And you, Mr. Red Elk? Is there a particular reason why you are contesting Miss Barclay's appointment? Do you find her unsuitable for the task?”

“No, ma'am.” Bryan started to say something, but Jay stopped him by putting his hand on the boy's arm. “Miss Barclay is a fine woman. Certainly she's well intentioned. But she lives in Seattle and plans to move Bryan there to live with her. I believe Bryan would be better off to stay where he is, living with his great-grandfather, Henry Stephenson, and me.” Jay indicated Grandpa. “It's the only home he's ever known.”

“I take it you are Mr. Stephenson's employee?”

“Yes, ma'am. I've worked for him at the Bear Lake Outfitters for five years now.”

“And you, Mr. Stephenson. What is your opinion in this matter?”

“I love the boy. His grandmother and I helped raise him since he was born.” He patted Paige's arm. “I love my granddaughter, too. Bryan's mother picked Paige herself. As much as I'd like for Bryan to stay with me, I have to believe Krissy knew what she was doing. I'm getting up in years now and won't be around much longer.”

Paige bit the inside of her cheek. Taking Bryan away from Grandpa would leave him all alone. Except for Jay. Had Krissy realized what that would do to their grandfather? Had Paige seriously taken that into account?

Second thoughts tumbled through her head. She wanted so much to be a parent to Bryan. A fill-in mother, who she hoped he would learn to love.

Wasn't this what her parents would have expected of her?

“Generally speaking,” Ms. Quinn said, “in the absence of any evidence of incapacity or cause to believe possible harm would come to the child, we try to comply with the wishes of the deceased parent.”

“No!” Bryan jumped to his feet.

Grabbing the tail of Bryan's shirt, Jay tugged him back down.

“Bryan, I know this is hard for you to understand.” The mediator's pale eyes filled with sympathy. “Your aunt does love you. Given the facts that Mr. Red Elk is not a relative and Mr. Barclay is in support of his granddaughter, it would be very difficult for me to make any other recommendation. You will be notified when Judge Willinger's decision is recorded.”

Bryan laid his head down on his arms. His slender, young body shook with silent sobs.