Chapter Two

 

Priest’s Crossing, Montana Territory, July 1887

 

“McCutcheon!” The cheerful greeting rang above the din of thirty or so people crowded into the warm, medium-sized schoolhouse where Luke and his adopted son, Colton, stood with their backs to the wall, hair combed, wearing their Sunday best. Each held a cup of punch. The building, which also doubled as the church on Sundays, was decorated with streamers, paper hearts, and vases filled with wildflowers. The pine floor had a newly polished shine, and the four glass-paned windows were open to let in the breeze.

Happiness surged through Luke as he put up his hand and waved. Joe Brunn, his father’s good friend from way back, weaved his way through the guests, his new wife’s hand clutched in his own. The wide smile on Joe’s face and his high color were good indications he was having the time of his life. The bride looked to be close to Joe’s age. She wore a soft blue dress and matching hat.

Been a while since I was in Priest’s Crossing. A lot had happened in four years. This was where Ward Brown had carted Faith off to all those years ago, as well as her stepson, Colton, and newborn, Dawn, and forced her to marry him. Luke cut a quick look out the open windows to the undertaker’s building down the street, where she’d been roughed up by Ward amid Dawn’s cries of distress. The fact no one had stepped in to help Faith still rankled. Colton had filled Luke in on every moment of that horrible day. Of course, the marriage had been invalid, but that didn’t stop a blackness from descending over Luke. He reached forward and grasped Colton’s sturdy shoulder, the hold erasing away the bad memories.

“Luke, you son of a gun, you came!” Joe glanced around. “Where’s Flood and Claire? And your brothers?” After a second, his brow creased into a frown. “They’re not here?”

“Everyone’s real sorry. With all that’s happened over the brutal winter, Flood’s off to Cheyenne with my mother, Mark, Matt, Brandon, and Charity to the Stockgrowers Association annual meeting. As you know, ranchers were hit viciously hard this past year. The loss of cattle has wiped out countless breeders. Any other time, they would have skipped the meeting, Joe. They’re disappointed not to be here for you but send their sincere congratulations.” He smiled at Joe’s wife.

Joe sighed. Flood and Joe had traveled together to Montana Territory when they were strapping young men. They had a long history. “I understand. We were affected here as well. But I wonder why Brandon went? Being sheriff, I’d think he’d stick around town.”

Luke nodded. “You’re right. He and Charity are taking that long-postponed honeymoon. They’re sightseeing while the others are at the meeting.”

“Makes sense.”

Luke hoped his good friend understood. After the winter they’d just lived through, everyone needed a break. “Won’t you introduce us to your beautiful wife?”

Joe slipped his arm around the woman’s waist, bringing a smile to her lips. “I’m sorry. In all the excitement, my manners have flown right out the window.” He gently pulled the medium-height, delicately built woman closer as he gazed into her eyes. “Dear, this is Luke and Colton McCutcheon. Son and grandson of my good friend, Flood. They hail from Y Knot. Luke and Colton, this is Pearl Van Gleek, now Pearl Brunn.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Brunn. You’ve lassoed yourself a good man,” Luke responded and then waited a moment to give Colton a chance to speak up. As much as his son had come out of his shell, the lad still got tongue-tied around the opposite sex, even with someone old enough to be his grandma.

“Ma’am,” Colton said softly. “I’m pleased to meet you.” With everyone’s gaze on him, Colton’s cheeks darkened to a ruddy bronze.

Luke smiled to himself, proud of Colton’s manners. The boy didn’t spend a lot of time around the womenfolk and was normally a little shy, even for twelve. Boys his age were usually awkward at a gathering of strangers. Luke needn’t have worried about him. He was doing fine. With everyone else off to Cheyenne, the journey to Priest’s Crossing had turned into the father-son excursion he’d wanted for some time. They’d had quite a few enlightening conversations along the way as Luke taught him about camping, ranching, and life. They’d talked about Luke’s true heritage, the fact that he was half Indian, and that Flood wasn’t Luke’s real pa. Luke’s darker hair and skin. Things a boy his age might wonder about but lack the courage to bring up. Each night, as they stared into the campfire, Luke waited for his son to voice any questions he might have about women or queries along a more personal line, but none came. Perhaps the boy got some answers from Billy, Luke’s nephew, who was a year older than Colton. They had brought along Colton’s new rifle Luke bought last Christmas at Stan Lock’s in Waterloo. And this was War Bonnet’s, Colton’s horse, first time off the ranch. His son had a lot on his mind.

Pearl fluttered a small fan in front of her face. “Thank you, Luke, Colton. The pleasure’s all mine.”

Luke thought her voice suited someone not yet twenty. The soft, high-pitched tone almost made him blink.

Colton’s lips twitched several times as he looked up at Luke. The silent communication telegraphed his humor.

“Joe has shared many stories about your family and ranch,” she went on. “He thinks the world of all the McCutcheons. Please, call me Pearl.”

Joe’s proud smile was heartwarming.

“Now I understand why we haven’t seen him around Y Knot for some time.” Luke chuckled and thumped Joe affectionately on the shoulder while being careful not to jar Mrs. Brunn. “You’ve been courting. Your letter inviting us to your wedding surprised us all.”

“Sure did, Mr. Brunn.” Colton smiled at Joe. “Everyone was excited.”

Luke puffed out his chest. His son was growing into a well-spoken young man.

“Even the ranch hands,” Colton continued. “They’ve been taking bets on what your bride would look like.”

Pearl softly gasped and looked indignantly at Joe, whose mouth promptly fell open.

Colton, with eyes as wide as harvest moons, hung his head, wishing, Luke was sure, that the ground would open under his feet. His gaze jerked up to Luke’s for help.

Desperate to fix things, Luke blurted out, “I didn’t know that! If they are, I’m sure those crusty cowboys are all just jealous. I’ll be happy to report back Mrs. Brunn is as pretty as springtime in the high plains and sounds like an angel.” Luke searched his mind on how to change the subject. He’d be sure to remind Colton that what was said in the bunkhouse was not to be repeated. Anywhere! No exceptions. “The service was real nice. I wasn’t aware Reverend Crittlestick was making the trip. Looks like he’s enjoying the festivities as much as everyone else.”

Luke gestured to the front of the room where Y Knot’s circuit preacher was surrounded by a handful of chattering women.

“That he is,” Joe said after giving a hearty laugh. “That’s Widow Kane who has his ear. Mildred doesn’t act like an eighty-year-old.” He grasped Luke’s hand. “Thanks for making the trip.”

Luke lifted a shoulder. “We’ve enjoyed the time away. Colton has a new horse he’s wanted to put to the test in new surroundings. We’ve taken our time and done some hunting.”

“How long will you stay?” Joe asked.

“We’ll take a day or two to see the town, then head back. We don’t have any solid plans. I left a gift for you and Pearl over on the table. From all of us.”

A sentimental expression crossed Joe’s features. “You didn’t need to do that. Just having you here is a present enough.”

“Just a little something.” Luke waggled his eyebrows.

Joe scrubbed a hand over his face. “I wish we had more time. Pearl and I are leaving tonight, going north for a few days.”

“That just means you two will have to plan a trip to Y Knot. Lots of folks there will want to meet her.”

Pearl nudged her husband. “Joe, have you seen Blanche?” she asked softly. “I haven’t and I’m worried.” She smiled at Luke and Colton “I’m sorry to change the subject, but my brother had to be away on business, and I’m watching over his little wife while he’s away.”

Joe patted her hand. “She’s here somewhere, darling. Blanche, being Blanche, can do for herself just fine. I’m the only one you should be thinking about today!”

Luke chuckled. “Go, get socializing. We’ve taken too much of your time already.”

Joe and Pearl turned and were instantly corralled by several twittering ladies.

“Don’t know why women put so much stock into weddings,” Colton said quietly at Luke’s side.

“You’ll understand someday, Colton. But until then, you best not lose any sleep over the matter. Until you’re the one saying the vows, marriage never makes a lick of sense.” He recalled his vows with Faith, getting a light, squishy feeling in his heart. “There’s just something about that tie that binds. You hungry?” He glanced at the buffet table.

“Sure am.”

“Let’s go see what they’re serving. I’m hungry too.”

Women’s heads turned as they made their way through the crowd to the long table covered with a white cloth and an array of foodstuffs. Luke reached for the top dish when a low, sexy voice brought him up short.

“If it isn’t Luke McCutcheon, in the flesh. I thought I’d fallen asleep and was dreaming.”

His eyes shot wide open, making the young woman laugh. “Tilly?”

Before he could think better of the reaction, Luke looked her up and down, not with desire but surprise. The young saloon girl who used to work at the Hitching Post looked very respectable in a blue calico dress that covered everything up to her chin. He’d never have recognized her in a month of Sundays if she hadn’t spoken up. A white lace shawl covered her shoulders, and a feminine ribbon wound through her hair. At one time, she’d set out to marry a McCutcheon, any McCutcheon, and Luke, being the last single brother in town, had garnered all her attention. Tilly then ventured to Priest’s Crossing to take the job Faith had been after in Christine Meek’s mercantile.

“The one and the same, handsome.” She smiled sweetly at Colton. “This can’t be the same little boy who came to town with your wife? He’s all grown up.” She held out her hand waist high and winked at Colton, making his face flame red. “He was only this tall when I saw him last.”

Luke cleared his throat. “It’s him, all right. Getting close to being all grown up but not quite.” Tilly, being Tilly, laughed heartily. Seeing her again was good, but so strange in this setting. He was used to fending off the woman’s advances over a shot of whiskey. “Tilly, you look wonderful.” And she did. “I can see the change in scenery was just what you needed.”

Luke had had a friendly, teasing relationship with her for several years, as did his brothers, and so falling back into the old routine was easy. Before he knew what she was about, she wrapped her arms around him for an affectionate hug. Only then did he notice the bulge in her midsection he knew all too well, still too early to be easily seen. He stepped away.

“That’s correct, Cowboy. I can see you noticed.” She quickly gazed around the room until she spotted whoever she was looking for. She waved her arm. “Someone is here I’d like you to meet.”

A bookish-looking man made his way over and stopped at her side. He was average height, clean-cut, and well dressed. “Luke, this is Neil Huntsman, my husband. And the light of my life.”

Happiness for his friend lifted Luke’s chest. He thrust out his hand to grasp that of the fellow who had given an ex–saloon girl a chance on a new life. “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Huntsman. I’m an old friend from Y Knot.”

“Not that old,” Tilly practically purred.

Her familiar tone almost made him chuckle.

“At one time or another, I had a different McCutcheon in my sight—and you the longest, but to no avail. And now I’m glad. You know what they say about unanswered prayers.”

“A pleasure, Mr. McCutcheon.” For a moment, Neil gazed lovingly at his wife and then ran a hand down her arm.

He seemed in no way threatened by Tilly’s flirtatious nature. Luke felt certain Mr. Huntsman knew his wife’s history and didn’t care a lick. “Call me Luke,” he responded. “And this is Colton, my son.”

Neil shook Colton’s hand.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Huntsman.”

Tilly’s brows arched. “Such nice manners. Takes after his pa.”

She always was a tease. “I think congratulations are in order.”

“Neil is the bookkeeper at the bank next to the mercantile where I work. I spotted him as soon as I arrived.” She leaned into his shoulder. “It was love at first sight.”

At that proclamation, the man’s eyes warmed.

Whatever they were doing, they were doing it right.

“Three weeks passed before I dredged up the nerve to speak with him. I opened an account at the bank with a whole four dollars. Say, where’re you staying? At the hotel or with Joe?”

Luke shifted his weight. “At the hotel. I wouldn’t intrude on a man’s wedding night.”

“Mr. Kasterlee at the hotel is a charmer. Good thing you didn’t bring Faith along—not that you’d have to worry, Luke. Still, he tries so hard to act shy, but in reality—”

Luke wrestled the smile from his face. “And how exactly do you know all this?”

“I stayed there my first few days in town. We’re good friends—but just friends. I only have eyes for my husband.”

Neil calmly stood there and kept the smile on his face.

Luke was glad he didn’t seem threatened in the least by his ex-saloon-girl wife. She deserved all the happiness she could find. He lifted his glass, intending to take a drink, but Tilly stopped his arm, looking at his knuckles where the skin was torn away.

“What happened?”

“Nothin’ much. Skinned ’em last night wrestling some stubborn firewood. Not deep but stung pretty good.”

“You cowboys should take better care of yourselves.” She lifted one of Neil’s hands admiringly. “Women notice these things.”