Moon Over Montana (McCutcheon Family Series Book 5) (11 page)

Lucky and Smokey joined in with their guitars, creating a beautiful sonata. Several nicely dressed couples swung out into the middle of the barn to waltz. The straw on the ground provided a nice, shuffle-inducing dance floor.

Charity took note when her parents followed suit, moving together as perfectly as if they were made for each other. Her mother gazed up into her pa’s eyes, unmindful of who might be watching them.

Charity tried to smile as she tapped her foot with the music, but the corners of her mouth wobbled. After Brandon hadn’t shown up last night for dinner, she’d asked Roady to ride into town to see if he was all right. Roady returned with the news that Brandon was still in Pine Grove. Jack Jones was back and said the issue was nothing much, just a case of butchered stock, and that Brandon intended to be at the party tonight.

Jack had arrived alone an hour ago—and now stood with a cup of punch by the open double doors with Mr. Lichtenstein and Mr. Simpson, the merchant’s forgetful clerk. He’d come with no news about Brandon.

Luke meandered his way through the crowd toward where she was more or less hiding in the shadows by the empty stalls.

“What’re you doing back here in the dark?” he asked. “I’ve been looking for you for ten minutes. Everyone wants to talk to you. Congratulate you.”

“I don’t feel much like socializing without Brandon,” she replied sullenly. “What if something’s happened to him? What if he’s hurt and needs help?” She’d wanted to send out a search party after what Roady had reported last night, but Luke and the rest absolutely forbade it.

“Nothing’s happened to Brandon. He’ll be here. He won’t mess this up.” He tipped her chin up with a gentle finger. “You better get used to him getting called away. He takes his job seriously, and that’s what makes him a darn good lawman. You’re made of stronger stuff, Charity McCutcheon. There’s a party going on and you’re the guest of honor. Do you want to make all the guests feel bad?”

Luke’s tone brooked no argument—and he was right. Just because she was down didn’t mean she should ruin the night for everyone else. She squared her shoulders, pasted on a smile, and pushed away her doubt about Brandon. She’d taken her mother’s words seriously her first night home, but maybe there was something to her intuitions. Maybe Brandon
had
been having second thoughts about marrying her and just didn’t know how to break it to her. Perhaps his absence last night, and now tonight, was his way of letting her down easy without having to explain himself. A flash of anger zipped through her before she reminded herself he’d just sent her that nice note. Brandon would never abandon her. Not after everything they’d been through together.

Luke grasped her hand and dragged her out to the middle of the dance floor, mixing into the flow of dancers next to Chance and Evie, and Matt and Rachel. Everyone in the room clapped when they saw her.

“There you are,” Rachel said. “I’ve been looking for you.”

Hayden caught her eye from the punch bowl area and waved. Charity had yet to meet his wife, Heather, who stood next to him and another tall, dark-haired man who was unfamiliar to Charity. June Pittman was here too. Seemed the whole town had turned out.

On the next revolution, Charity answered, “I’ve been over there.” She pointed to the back of the barn.

Rachel gasped. “That’s no place for you! You can still have fun until Brandon shows up. Any word yet?”

She shook her head. It was almost seven o’clock. The side of beef cooking over the fire pit would soon be sliced up and the rest of the dinner brought out to the table. The night would be gone before Brandon made a showing. Not to mention, she had spent two hours dressing. She couldn’t smell any sweeter if she tried.

The music stopped and the musicians put their instruments down. It was the first break in an hour, and the silence at once sounded deafening.

Chance and Evie smiled. “Good to see you dancing, Charity,” Chance said. “No need to worry over Brandon. He can take care of himself. But while you’re waiting, I’d like to introduce you to a newcomer to town who arrived when you were gone.”

A lot of that happening lately.
She thanked Luke for the dance, then followed Chance and Evie to the barn doors, feeling like a third wheel without Brandon. She smiled and nodded at friends. Chance stopped next to a new fellow standing by himself, who, even though he tried to cover it, looked bored. His sandy blond hair, cut just below his ears, was neatly combed, and his shirt was pressed. “This is Tobit Preece,” Chance said. “He’s relatively new to Y Knot. He lives several miles past our place with his grandfather. Tobit, this is Charity McCutcheon.”

A surge of memories made her smile. As a girl, she’d galloped Buttercup, her first horse, over the meadows that bordered the Preece farm, splashing through the river on especially hot days. “Your grandfather is Isaiah Preece?”

“That’s correct, miss,” he said with a somewhat shy smile.

Charity couldn’t stop her smile from widening. “How is he? I haven’t seen him in a very long time.”

“He gets around fair t’middling for a man who will be eighty-five this year. Well enough to drive the buckboard to town once a day, delivering milk to the mercantile, and to check on things ’round the farm I’m supposed to get done.”

Tobit had a slight Southern accent, which made all his words sound warm and inviting.

“I’m happy to hear that. When I was just a girl, I used to ride my horse up the river and venture out your way. I used to think him the nicest man in the world. If he spotted me, he was always so friendly. And he’d talk up a storm.”

His mouth quirked. “That sounds like Gramps. Never lets his chores interfere with his jawing.”

She looked around. “Is he here tonight?”

“No, he stayed home.”

Charity liked Tobit’s eyes. They were kind and inquisitive. Showed an intelligent wisdom. “I have to say, I’m surprised to meet you. I wasn’t aware Isaiah had any children, let alone a grandson. He never said anything.”

Tobit’s smile dimmed.

Me and my big mouth.
The moment the words were out, she wished she could call them back.

“Tobit has a lot of new plans for the farm,” Evie said, skillfully changing the subject. “And he’s sketched it all out on a big board, so even a city girl like me can understand.”

Thank God for Evie.
“That sounds really nice, Tobit.”

“Charity,” Faith called, waving from across the barn. “Can you come here?”

She nodded, and snagged Tobit’s gaze. “Be sure to tell your grandfather Charity McCutcheon says hello, and that I’m going to come out to see him sometime soon. Also, that I’m delighted to meet his grandson.” She reached out and touched his arm. “All the McCutcheons are, Tobit. Now that you know us, don’t be a stranger.”

Tobit shook his head, then smiled at the Holcombs. “No, miss. Chance and Evie have taken me under their wing and are working hard to make sure I meet absolutely everyone in Y Knot.”

Feeling a bit better, Charity set her hands on her hips. “And to think I thought I was special.” They all laughed.

• • •

Brandon rode toward Luke and Faith’s barn, which was full to overflowing with townsfolk. Buggies and wagons were everywhere. Horses were tied to hitching posts and trees. The sounds of laughter and the buzz of friends talking drifted out through the darkness to meet him.

He glanced around, miffed at being kept away for so long. After completing several more chores for the good sheriff of Pine Grove that had taken a full day and a half, he’d gone back out one more time to examine the area where the calf had been found. After widening his search, he’d found a new set of horse tracks. Then two more. After climbing a steep embankment, one horse had headed toward Y Knot and the Heart of the Mountains, and then up to Luke’s.

He didn’t know if it had anything to do with the dead calf, or perhaps with the men Huxley felt sure had killed each other, but it was disturbing that the trail led here. At this point, nothing about the Pine Grove case made much sense. He
did
know he was trail weary. His travel plans still needed to be worked out. He’d stood Charity up last night. And now he was arriving late to his own party.

A shout went up from the partygoers when he was still fifty feet away.

Everyone turned. They waved and called to him, their voices exuberant and cheerful in the cool evening air. It wasn’t but a moment before Charity spotted him.

In a flurry of fabric, she dashed in his direction, holding up the front of her pretty dress so she wouldn’t trip. Her hair bounced on her shoulders, her eyes wide with excitement and relief.

He could tell she’d gone to great lengths preparing for this night, which made his own trail-worn appearance seem all the worse. The letter from Kansas City pricked his mind.

He wished he could just forget about the job interview, the letter, and what it represented. Pretend he’d never received it—surely, he did. If he had returned from Texas a week later, it would have been out of his hands. But he knew he wouldn’t.

Timberlake. His parents’ death. After all these years. A connection more real than his dreams.

As Charity ran toward him, he wondered: Was this a great opportunity, or the biggest mistake of his life?

Chapter Fifteen

B
randon dismounted and dropped his reins in time to swoop Charity into a massive hug. He kissed her lips, not caring who might see.

“I’m so sorry, darlin’. I wanted to be here sooner—to be here last night.”

“Oh, Brandon! I thought something had happened to you. That you were shot or killed.”

Her words against his mouth were sweet until he tasted her tears.

“Or that you were hurt somewhere and there wasn’t anyone to help you. That I’d never see you again.”

He took her face between his palms. With his thumbs, he wiped away her tears, then kissed each eye. “I’m sorry. I hate that I worried you. But it couldn’t be helped. I got caught up with this issue in Pine Grove. Can you ever forgive me?”

She wrapped her arms around his middle and laid her head against his chest. “Now I can. Now that you’re here and alive—and nothing more can go wrong.”

“I must smell like a horse.” He tried to take a step back, but she squeezed him tighter.

“You’re not going anywhere, Sheriff, so just get that thought out of your head this instant,” she said against his chest, her spunk returning. “You owe me a thousand dances, a thousand hugs, and a thousand kisses.”

He chuckled. “All tonight?”

“Yep.”

“Well, we better get moving, then. I see some brothers of yours on their way out here.”

Charity groaned. She eased up enough to look over her shoulder. “Can’t they
ever
leave us be?”

“I don’t think so. It’s their job to look after you.”

“Soon that job will belong solely to you,” Charity said. “And I can’t wait.”

He turned her away from inquisitive eyes for one more quick kiss. “I’m counting the minutes for that job, but you may be mistaken about your brothers relinquishing their hold on you. They won’t be giving that up anytime soon.”

“Brandon,” Matt said when he arrived at their side with Luke and Mark. His brow arched at the sight of his little sister and the firm hold she had on Brandon’s hand. “Jack filled us in on the situation in Pine Grove. Did you find out anything more?”

“Not much.” He pulled Charity close and sent them a meaningful look. He’d not spoil another evening for her. Later, when he was alone with the men, he’d tell them he’d finally spotted a trail to follow. And surprisingly, it had led to their ranch, and now to Luke’s. He’d keep a sharp eye out tonight for anything that looked suspicious. Besides, with so many men here, the guests were safe if those responsible intended anything other than a good time.

Matt slapped his shoulder. “Tomorrow’s another day. Maybe you’ll have more luck then. Let’s get back to the party. Flood should be finished slicing the beef. Hope you’re hungry.”

Brandon barked out a laugh. “Hungry? Look at me.” He gestured to the two-day growth of whiskers that covered his jaw. “I’m not only starving, I need a good soak and shave.”

“You look handsome to me,” Charity said, walking next to his side. She’d yet to release his hand. “I like this rugged look.” She looked up at him with stars in her eyes, and he reminded himself just how fortunate he was.

“You like anything he does,” Mark said. “I remember the time he made you jealous by talking with Lynn Dray at Mr. Lichtenstein’s ice cream social. You didn’t think he was so wonderful then.”

Charity laughed. “He wasn’t talking, he was
flirting—
outrageously. I remember that night well. You can’t blame me for dumping that bowl of ice cream over his head. I was only a girl. And it felt really good. That doesn’t count.”

Mark gave his sister a pointed look. “You were thirteen. Plenty old enough to act like a lady, if you’d been so inclined. Mother was scandalized, as were we all. Even weeks later, the cowhands turned pink when anyone broached the subject.”

Brandon rubbed the top of his head with one hand, and carried his hat, along with the reins of his bridle, in the other. “Don’t be hard on her, boys, I liked it. Cooled me off right quick and made my hair shiny for a week. As I recall, I actually enjoyed it when it started to melt and run down my face. Besides, it told me that Charity cared a lot more than she was letting on. I had to do something to get her attention.”

Charity gasped. “You rascal! I couldn’t get your goat no matter how hard I tried. I went home and cried for a week.”

He pulled her to a stop. “I never knew that,” he said regretfully. “You cried for a week?” The thought of her miserable over him hurt. He never wanted to be a source of pain to her again.

“I cried more than that over you. I cried all the time. I just never let you know.”

“Holy smokes,” Luke complained. “This is getting deep.”

“By the way, Sheriff,” Charity said, her chin tilting to the side, a sure sign trouble was on the way. “Just how well do you know Fancy Aubrey anyway—and
why
is she on a first-name basis with
you
?”