CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Ashley opened the door to Angel Wings Café. Logan was sitting in the back of his wife’s eatery, reading the newspaper. The text he’d sent her yesterday was as unexpected as the messages from Matthew. A job had become vacant at the Bozeman Chronicle, and Logan wanted to know if she was interested in applying for the position.
“Hi, Logan.”
He looked up and smiled. “Welcome home.”
“It’s only for the weekend.”
“At the moment.”
The gleam in his eyes made Ashley smile. “Still the same Logan Allen. Do you ever take no for an answer?”
“Only where my wife is concerned,” he whispered.
Tess, his wife, came over to their table. “I told Logan to be on his best behavior. Is it working?”
“It’s too soon to tell,” Ashley said. “He’s just started his sales pitch.”
Tess left a cup of hot coffee in front of Ashley and refilled her husband’s cup. “Play nice. I don’t want you scaring Ashley away. It would be great to have her back in Bozeman.”
Logan grinned. “I might not need to push too hard. Why don’t you sit with us and tell Ashley why she needs to work with me.”
“I don’t need to sit with you. Ashley already knows what it’s like living in Bozeman.” Tess looked at the front counter. “I’d better give Caitlin a hand. Would you like something to eat, Ashley?”
“Not at the moment. I’ll come back with dad at lunchtime.”
“Sounds good. I’ll see you later.”
Ashley nodded and watched her friend refill another coffee cup on her way across the café. “Tess has worked hard to build her business.”
Logan sipped his coffee. “She’s one of the most determined people I know. Did you get the job description I emailed you?”
“I did, and I’ve read it from beginning to end. It’s a great opportunity.”
“Is it great for you?”
Ashley sighed. “It could be.”
“That’s more than I expected you to say.”
“Why is that?”
Logan shifted in his seat. “I heard on the grapevine that you’ve been speaking to Des Malone from The Washington Post.”
“How on earth did you hear that? The only people I told were Bonnie, Harry, and dad.”
“I worked with Des for a few years. He called me to ask if I could recommend anyone for his team.”
Ashley’s eyes widened. “And you recommended me, even though you want me to accept a job here?”
“You’re one of the best reporters I know. It’s up to you which position, if any, you accept.”
“You taught me everything I know.”
“I’ll tell you a secret that I don’t tell many people. You either have the drive and imagination to be a great reporter or you don’t. And you, Ashley Fisher, have both qualities by the bucketful. All I did was fine-tune what you were already doing.”
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure. That’s why we’re here.”
“Have you ever regretted moving to Bozeman?” She’d thought long and hard about this question. Before Logan joined the Chronicle, he’d worked as a war correspondent. If anyone knew how hard it would be to return to Bozeman, he would.
Logan looked across the café at his wife. “My story is a little different to most. I had post-traumatic stress disorder when I started working at the Chronicle. I needed to sort out my life and Bozeman seemed like a good place to do it. Have I ever regretted moving here? No. I met Tess the first week I arrived. Most days I came into the café for lunch. On my worst days, she kept me sane. On my best, I managed to annoy her. Now look at us—happily married and never wanting to leave. But everyone’s different. You need to do what’s right for you. Having said that, we need you on our team.”
“Did you work with Des Malone in Washington, D.C.?”
Logan shook his head. “No. We were employed by the same news agency in London. Between assignments, we’d meet at the local pub and trade war stories. He’s tough but fair.”
“Did you know he interviewed me yesterday?”
“I didn’t, but I’m not surprised. How did it go?”
“Better than I thought. His team is really friendly, and the salary is more than I earn in New York. One of the reporters showed me around town after the interview.”
“Have you been to Washington, D.C. before?”
“Once. Mom and dad took me when I was in high school. We spent almost two weeks visiting every museum we could find. It’s a wonderful city.”
“What can I say or do to make working for me better than Des’ offer?”
Ashley fiddled with the handle of her coffee cup. “There’s nothing you can do. Your offer was very generous.”
“What’s stopping you from working with our team?”
“A promise I made to my mom.”
Logan seemed surprised. “You promised your mom you’d never move back to Bozeman?”
Ashley wished it was that easy. “I promised I’d live my life to the fullest and never stop believing in myself. If I move back home, it would feel as though I was giving up our dream.”
“We might not live life at the same frantic pace as New York or Washington, D.C., but we have our moments.”
A smile slipped across Ashley’s face. “Somehow I don’t think Bozeman has the same number of crimes or dubious politicians that Washington, D.C. does. Am I wrong?”
“No, but we do have billionaire ranchers, environmental activists, and lots of moose. That’s got to count for something.”
“If you say so.”
“At least think about my offer. If you decide to work at the Chronicle, we’ll figure out your start date and go from there.”
Tess walked across to their table and handed Ashley a brown paper bag. “For you and your dad.”
Ashley opened the bag and sniffed. “Yum, blueberry muffins. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Did Logan convince you to apply for the job?”
“Maybe.”
The bell above the front door jingled, and Tess scanned the café. “You can tell me more at lunchtime. I need to get another table ready.”
Before Ashley could say goodbye, Tess was gone. “Is the café usually this busy?”
Logan looked at the people walking toward Tess. “It’s becoming busier, just like the rest of Bozeman. We’re the fastest growing city in Montana. The county is upgrading our infrastructure to cope with the demand, but it’s come at a huge cost. If you were working at the Chronicle, you could write a report on our public amenities and infrastructure projects.”
“Are you trying to make me work for you or go to Washington, D.C.?”
“It could be an interesting story.” Logan grinned. “Whatever you decide to do, make sure you weigh everything up. There are a lot of reasons why Bozeman is a great place to live, and one of them is walking toward us.”
Ashley looked over her shoulder and stared into the eyes of the man she hadn’t expected to see.
News traveled fast in Bozeman.
***
Matthew walked into Angel Wings Café and stopped. He blinked a couple of times before realizing that the woman sitting with Logan was real.
Ashley was supposed to be in Washington, D.C., not drinking coffee in downtown Bozeman.
Logan looked at him, then said something to Ashley.
Her eyes widened when she saw him. “Matthew? What are you doing here?”
“I should be asking you the same question. Did you get my messages?”
“That’s partly why I’m here.”
Logan cleared his throat. “I’ll leave you two to sort out your lives. Give me a call, Ashley, when you’ve made a decision.”
“I will. Thank you for thinking of me.”
“You’re welcome. See you, Matthew.”
“Bye.” He stood beside the table, not knowing what to say to Ashley.
She pointed to the chair beside her. “You could join me if you like? I have to meet dad in twenty minutes, but it would give us a chance to talk.”
“Your dad’s here as well? Is everything okay?”
“More okay than it’s been in a long time. Dad wanted to see me, so we decided to meet in Montana. I didn’t see your first message until I landed in Washington, D.C. I didn’t call you because I wanted it to be a surprise.”
“I called Bonnie. She said you had an interview for a job at The Washington Post.”
A blush skimmed Ashley’s face. “The editor of the investigations team offered me a job.”
His heart pounded. “Are you going to take it?”
“I don’t know. It’s a great job and the team is really nice. But Washington, D.C. is almost as expensive as New York.”
“What did Logan think about the job?”
“He thought it was a wonderful opportunity.”
“When would you start?”
“In six weeks.”
Matthew felt like a ten-ton weight had landed on his shoulders. Ashley would be mad not to accept the job. It was everything she’d ever wanted.
“Jasmine Alfredo was released on bail a couple of days ago. She’s resigned as chairperson of The Reaching High Foundation.”
“Have you heard what’s happening with Congressman Welsh?”
Ashley frowned. “He’s at home with his wife, waiting for his trial date. I spoke to Anita, the youth center manager. Someone has made an offer to purchase the warehouse. Everyone’s hoping the youth center will remain open.”
Matthew waited for Ashley to ask if he knew who was behind the offer, but she didn’t. “If the warehouse is sold, the new owners would be heartless if they closed the center.”
“Maybe, but the warehouse is in an area that’s being redeveloped. The building might be too valuable to keep as a youth center.”
Tess brought a cup of coffee across to Matthew. “I’ve got your phone order at the front counter when you’re ready.”
“Thanks.”
Tess nodded and moved to the next table, taking her customers’ orders before refilling more coffee cups.
A family sitting behind Ashley left their table. She moved forward, giving them more room to walk between the tables. “How are Catherine and Toby?”
“They’re good. They liked the bubbles you sent them.”
“I’m glad.” She looked down at her hands. “I was going to call you after lunch. Would you like two visitors this afternoon?”
“You could come for dinner. Sean’s heading into town, so it would just be me at home.”
The relief on Ashley’s face made him wonder if she was feeling as uncertain as he was.
“That would be great. Dad and I should be finished with everything we need to do by four-thirty. We could be at the ranch by about five o’clock if that suits you?”
“Five o’clock it is.” He picked up his cowboy hat and glanced at the clock on the wall. “I should leave. Sean’s waiting at Jake’s Hardware for me. Do you want a ride somewhere?”
Ashley shook her head. “Dad hired a rental car. He’s not far away. He wanted to visit some friends before we head to the cemetery.”
“You’re going to see your mom’s grave?”
Sadness darkened Ashley’s eyes. “And my grandparents.”
Matthew didn’t know what to say to make her feel better. “I’m looking forward to spending time with you tonight.”
“Me, too. I’ll bring dessert.”
He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “I’m glad you’re here.” And before he changed his mind, he left the café.
Ashley had her life all mapped out. All he needed to do was figure out how he would get through tonight.
***
It didn’t matter how much Ashley prepared herself for visiting her mom’s grave, the impact of seeing the granite headstone always left a knot of grief in her chest.
“It doesn’t seem like it’s been more than three years since your mom died.”
Ashley wrapped her hand around her dad’s elbow. “A lot has happened since then.”
He nodded and knelt on the grass, placing the roses he’d bought on either side of the headstone. “Your mom loved yellow roses. She told me they were little pots of gold.”
“I always wondered why she grew more yellow roses than any other color.” Ashley stood beside her grandparents’ grave and added more roses to their vases.
Her dad stood back and sighed. “The gardening magazines were the worst. Whenever a new variety came on the market, your mom had to order at least one plant.”
“I think she got that off Grandma Josephine. The two of them were hopeless in a garden center. We couldn’t leave without a trunk full of plants.” Ashley lost herself in the memories of her childhood, the days that were some of the happiest in her life. “Mom would be proud of what we’ve done, dad.”
“She would be even more proud that we’re here today.” Her dad wiped tears from his eyes. “I don’t want to lose you, too, Ashley.”
“That’s not going to happen. I can visit you more often, and you and Trisha could come and see me.”
“It’s not the same as living in the same city.”
“I know,” she said softly.
“What have you decided to do about the job offer in Washington, D.C.?”
“I’m still thinking about it. I’ve got until next Tuesday to let Mr. Malone know what I’m doing.”
“When you were about ten years old I was offered a job in Dallas. Your mom and I agonized over what we’d do. It would have almost doubled my salary and given us the kind of life we never thought we’d have. But we turned it down.”
“Why?”
“Because there’s more to life than money. We had good friends in Bozeman. Your grandparents enjoyed spending time with you, and you were doing well in school. If we’d moved, all of us would have had to start again. Your mom and I never regretted that decision.”
Ashley tried to imagine her childhood without her grandparents or the friends she’d made at school. “I’m glad you decided to stay in Bozeman.”
“I learned a valuable lesson from that job offer. When you have a big decision to make, follow your heart. Even if everything changes further down the line, you’ll know you made the right decision at the time.”
Ashley pushed a strand of hair off her face. “I saw Logan Allen this morning. He offered me a job at the Bozeman Chronicle.”
“Because of your articles about The Reaching High Foundation?”
“Sort of. Logan was the person I most looked up to when I was working at the Chronicle. He taught me a lot about journalism. The job that’s vacant would report directly to him.”
“It sounds like you’ve got a lot of decisions to make. What do your friends think you should do?”
“Bonnie and Harry think I’d be crazy not to accept the job in Washington, D.C. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted.”
“Do they know about the position in Bozeman?”
Ashley nodded. “Bonnie does, but I haven’t told Harry.”
“What does Matthew think?”
“He doesn’t know about the job in Bozeman.”
“Will you tell him?”
“I didn’t want him to know about either position until I knew what I was doing. Bonnie told him I was being interviewed in Washington, D.C. I think he was disappointed that I hadn’t told him about it.”
“It’s a big change, especially if he wants to spend more time with you.”
Ashley focused on the lines of chiseled text on her mom’s headstone. “How did you know that mom was the person you wanted to marry?”
“I couldn’t imagine my life without her. She was the kindest person I knew. The hardest part was asking your granddad if I could marry his daughter.”
“What did he say?”
“He said I was a lucky man, and if I ever broke her heart I’d be in trouble.”
A smile tugged at the corners of Ashley’s mouth. Her granddad had been tall, with the broad chest and quick hands of a boxer. “I wouldn’t have wanted to get on the wrong side of granddad, either.”
“Your mom thought it was hilarious,” her dad said dryly.
“She knew granddad wouldn’t have hurt you.”
“I found that out later. I’m looking forward to seeing Matthew again.”
Ashley frowned. “You have to behave yourself. He doesn’t know that I like him.”
Her dad wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “He might know more than you think he does.”
She looked at her dad and sighed. “When did my life become so complicated?”
“About the same time you started breathing.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?”
“You’ve made important decisions your entire life, only most of the time you didn’t know it. This time, you do.”
Leaving Bozeman three years ago had been one of the hardest decisions she’d ever made. She’d loved Matthew, and nothing had changed. Working out what she was going to do about it would be harder than choosing which job she would accept.
***
Sean stuck his hands on his hips and glared at Matthew. “Will you stop running around the house like a demented chicken? You’re making me nervous.”
“I wouldn’t be running around the house if you did your share of the chores. How long has it been since you cleaned the bathrooms?”
“I cleaned them last weekend.” He grabbed the disinfectant out of Matthew’s hand. “I’ll do them again.”
“Vacuum the floor, too.”
“Is there anything else you want me to do?”
“Not upstairs, but you could vacuum the living room when you’ve finished the bathrooms.”
Sean stomped toward the stairs. “If this is what inviting Ashley and her dad here for dinner does, you should eat in town next time.”
Matthew didn’t know whether his brother was being deliberately annoying or behaving like he always did. Ever since they’d arrived home, Sean had been doing everything he could to annoy him.
He opened the oven door and quickly stirred the casserole he’d made. It was one of their mom’s favorite recipes and almost foolproof. The potatoes were sitting on the stove, ready to be cooked, and a salad was in the refrigerator. If Ashley’s dad had become a vegetarian, they were in trouble.
He glanced through the kitchen window and froze. A white SUV had stopped in their front yard. Ashley and her dad were early.
The kitchen was clean and the living room would have to do. By the time he opened the front door, Ashley and her dad were climbing the porch stairs.
He held out his hand to Ashley’s dad. “Hi, Mr. Fisher. It’s good to see you again.”
“You can call me Trevor, Matthew. Thanks for inviting us to your ranch. It’s been a long time since I was here.”
Matthew nodded. He’d kept in contact with Trevor for a few months after Ashley had left for New York. Her dad was convinced that his daughter would return to Bozeman within six months of leaving. Matthew knew how determined Ashley could be. It would take more than Trevor knew to make her return home. She had a point to prove, and knowing Ashley, she’d walk over hot coals before admitting defeat and leaving New York.
“Come inside. Sean’s upstairs. He hasn’t left for town yet.”
At the sound of his name, his brother poked his head over the rail. “Hi, Mr. Fisher. Welcome back to Montana.”
“Thanks. I’m enjoying my visit. You don’t look any different than the last time I saw you.”
Sean grinned and came downstairs. “It’s an optical illusion. I’m three years older and have a couple of gray hairs to prove it. Hi, Ashley.”
“Hi.”
“Would you like a cup of coffee?” Matthew asked.
“That would be great,” Trevor said. “We’ve been hiking in the Hyalite Canyon for the last couple of hours.”
Ashley handed Matthew the box she’d been holding. “Here’s something for dessert.”
Sean’s eyebrows rose. “Has someone been baking?”
“Not us,” Ashley said. “We ordered a strawberry cheesecake from Tess. If you don’t feel like cheesecake, there are half a dozen muffins to choose from.”
Sean smiled. “I don’t need to leave for town just yet. I’ll make coffee.”
Ashley took a deep breath. “Something smells nice.”
“It’s mom’s beef casserole recipe,” Sean said as Ashley handed him the box. “Matthew cooks it at least once a week.”
By the time everyone was sitting in the living room, enjoying a cup of coffee, Matthew’s nerves were stretched tight. He’d missed Ashley and seeing her today was making it even harder to say goodbye.
Sean refilled Ashley’s coffee cup. “Matthew told me you’ve been offered a job in Washington, D.C. When do you move?”
“I don’t know if I’ll accept it.”
“You’ll stay in New York City?”
“I’m not sure.” She glanced at Matthew and sighed. “I’ve been offered a job at the Bozeman Chronicle. Logan needs another reporter on his team.”
If Matthew had been holding his coffee cup, he would have spilled the hot drink everywhere. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“I didn’t discuss it with Logan until this morning. He made me a good offer.”
“Good enough to stay?”
Sean’s eyebrows rose. “We need to peel the potatoes for dinner.” He grabbed Matthew’s arm.
“I’ve already done them.”
“We need more.”
“No, we don’t.” Sean’s scowl was the only thing that brought Matthew to his feet. His brother had something to say and he had no idea what it was.
As soon as the kitchen door closed, Sean spun toward him. “If you want Ashley to stay, you’d better change your attitude.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re pushing her again and it won’t end well. Give her time to work out what she wants to do.”
Matthew crossed his arms. “What do you mean ‘again’? I’ve never asked her to do anything she didn’t want to do.”
“Are you kidding me? From the first time I met her, all she talked about was becoming a reporter in a big city. You ignored everything she said and assumed she’d stay in Bozeman.”
“She told me she loved me. I thought we’d get married and have a family.”
Sean growled. “You’ve always jumped feet first into everything without thinking about the consequences. Just because she loved you, it didn’t mean she was willing to give up her career.”
“I gave her a ring.” Matthew glanced at the kitchen door and lowered his voice. “I wanted to marry her. If that didn’t tell her how serious I was, nothing would.”
“You pressured her into deciding between you and her dream job and we all know how that turned out. If you don’t want the same thing happening again, you’ll back off and give her time to figure out what she’s doing.”
Matthew clamped his mouth shut. The night before Ashley had left for New York, they’d had a big argument. He didn’t understand why she was leaving, and she didn’t know why he wasn’t happy she was following her dreams. They next time they’d spoken had been in Buffalo after she’d sent him the ring.
Sean threw a potato peeler at him. “You’d better peel some more potatoes in case Ashley walks in.”
Matthew opened the pantry and took a couple of potatoes out of a bag. “What would you do?”
“Ask her about the jobs, but don’t tell her what she should do. For all we know, she could have applied for a job in San Francisco. She might want to be closer to her dad than you.”
Matthew dropped a peeled potato into the sink. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Sure I do. From the look of things, Ashley and her dad are getting to know each other again. It makes sense for her to live within driving distance of his home.”
Matthew focused on the potato in his hand. Ashley was a talented reporter. Any company would be lucky to have her work for them. “She won’t stay in Bozeman.”
“You don’t know that.”
“She’s published a series of articles that were picked up by a lot of newspapers around the country. Two newspapers want her to work for them. I can’t compete with that kind of opportunity.”
Sean rinsed the last potato and added it to the pot on the stove. “You don’t need to compete with the job offers. Just be yourself. Ashley wouldn’t have contacted you on her way to Buffalo if she didn’t trust you. She knows how much you care about her.”
“I don’t think she does,” Matthew said. “But it’s too late now.”
His brother didn’t say anything—he didn’t need to. The chance of Ashley staying in Bozeman wasn’t great. “You’re right. I’ll back off and give her time to work out what she wants to do.”
Sean turned on the stove. “The potatoes should be ready in twenty minutes. Good luck with Ashley.”
It would take more than luck to make her want to stay in Bozeman—it would take a miracle.