Beneath Montana Skies

And then, she heard herself say, “Ty, I know there’s something you’re not telling me. What happened to bring you home this way?”

Frowning, he motioned her to a nearby bale of wood shavings. As he sat beside her, for the first time she noticed that his once-fluid movements had a labored look to them. Resting his hands on the knees of his expertly ripped designer jeans, he took a few moments to collect himself before starting. “Last year at an event in Oregon, I got tossed coming outta the chute. The bull was still fresh and had a good head of steam, and he decided throwing me wasn’t enough. Long story short, he kicked me around that arena like a rag doll, and before the clowns could draw him away, he broke my back.”

And his pride, she added silently. Anyone who’d known him before the accident could see that. “Oh, Ty, that’s awful. He could’ve killed you.”

“Yeah, I know,” he admitted, swallowing hard before going on. “Anyway, I was in the hospital and rehab a long time, and even with my insurance, it got pretty expensive.” Nodding out to the truck, he added, “I’ve had to sell everything except that and Clyde. As of tomorrow, the truck belongs to a guy who lives over in Pine Valley. So it’s just me and Clyde and the five acres I bought from my parents when they sold their place a few years ago.”

“What are you gonna do?”

“Not sure,” he admitted soberly. “Preferably something that won’t cripple me.”

Tyler Wilkins had never been renowned for his brains, and physical work was clearly out of the picture for him now. That didn’t leave many options for him around a small town like Mustang Ridge. “Such as?”

“Not sure,” he repeated, adding a wry grin. “Guess I should’ve paid more attention in math class.”

“And science, social studies, English.” She added a few more of his less successful academic subjects through the years, ticking them off on her fingers.

“Yeah, well, you were always the smart one.”

“I never should’ve let you copy off me. You would’ve learned more that way.”

“No, I’d still be in high school, trying to figure out why the guy who invented algebra thought that mixing letters and numbers was a good idea.”

She laughed at that, and when he joined her, it struck her as odd to be sitting here in the barn, sharing a humorous moment with the man she’d once vowed to never speak to again. She hadn’t forgiven him, but she also couldn’t bring herself to keep kicking him when he was so far down he might not claw his way back to what he used to be for a long time. If ever.

“So,” he ventured in a hesitant voice, “does this mean you don’t hate me anymore?”

She didn’t answer him right away, as if she had to think it over. They were still there on that bale, mutely staring at each other, when her younger brother Ryan appeared in the open doorway at the other end of the barn.

“What’s goin’ on in here?” he demanded, clearly alarmed by what he saw. Hurrying over to stand in front of them, he planted his hands on his hips as he faced Ty in a protective stance. “Whatever you’re doing here, it looks to me like you’re done. It’d be good for you to leave before I forget we used to be friends.”

“I’m not here to make trouble,” Ty explained, his reasonable tone another surprise from the formerly hotheaded cowboy she recalled. “Morgan and I have something to talk about.”

“Not anymore, you don’t. You wanna talk to her, use a phone.” Ryan took another step forward and growled, “Now, get out.”

Ty didn’t protest further, but he did tip his hat to her on his way out. The faint smile he gave her was a pale imitation of the one she’d treasured in the past, and despite the jolt he’d given her, she couldn’t help feeling sorry for him. He’d tumbled a long way down from the peak of his spectacular life, and it seemed that he was in for a long, hard recovery.

Then, in a flash of insight, she understood why her brother had rushed to her defense when he—like everyone else—knew she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself. “How much did you hear?”

“More than I think you’d like.” Grimacing, he added, “Then again, I figured it out for myself about ten minutes after you came home to tell Dad you were pregnant.”

That was news to her, and her heart plummeted to the floor. “How? I was eight weeks along, and Ty was long gone. Anyone could’ve been the father.”

“Come on, sis,” he chided, shaking his head. “You might’ve fooled everyone else, but I know you. It was Ty. It was always Ty.”

Yes, it was, she conceded as he strolled off and left her alone in the barn. But for the past seven years, she’d been focused solely on raising her girls and doing everything in her power to keep their legacy ranch in the black. Then the threat of development had pushed her to start the conservancy, which gobbled up most of her precious spare time. By necessity, she’d put aside her past failings and turned all of her effort toward making the future the best it could possibly be for her daughters.

Because, quite honestly, the only other option was to give up. And no matter how long the odds were, a Whittaker never, ever quit.

That thought had just rolled through her head when her cell phone rang. She didn’t recognize the number, so she answered with, “Whittaker Ranch, this is Morgan.”

“Hey there, cowgirl.” A sigh escaped her before she could stop it, and Ty chuckled. “Not who you were expecting, huh?”

“How did you get this number?”

“Found it on the ranch’s website. Nice job with that, by the way.”

“Jessie’s in charge of that stuff, so I’ll pass on the compliment. What do you want?”

“We weren’t exactly done talking when Sheriff Ryan showed up and ran me off,” Ty pointed out, his tone as casual as if they’d been discussing the next livestock auction on the schedule.

“I was.”

Her terse response seemed to catch him off guard, because there was a quiet hum on the line while he absorbed that one. “Well, I wasn’t. I just found out I have two daughters, and I’ve got some more questions.”

“Such as?”

“I’d really rather hash this out in person.”

She’d really rather never see him again, but apparently that wasn’t going to happen. They’d have to hammer out some kind of compromise eventually, so she relented. “Fine. When and where?”

“I’ve got stuff going on the next couple days, so I was thinking my place Friday night, after you get the girls tucked in. I’ll be around, so come over whenever it works for you.”

“It doesn’t work for me anytime,” she spat before realizing that he’d already hung up. Thumbing her phone off, she glared at it and slid it into the back pocket of her jeans.

An evening alone with Tyler Wilkins, she mused while she slit open another bale of shavings and began shoveling the contents into a wheelbarrow. There were plenty of women who’d kill to be in her boots right now.

Too bad she wasn’t one of them.

To Ty’s knowledge, there wasn’t a word for how bad the cabin smelled.

His concerns about rodents had turned out to be right, but he hadn’t counted on there being so many corpses scattered around. Opening all the windows had helped a little, but he was going to need some heavy-duty cleaner and a good measure of patience to rid the house of the smell entirely. Fortunately for him, there weren’t any storms in the forecast for the next week, so he should be able to air it out in a few days.

For the past couple of days, he’d been relegated to being outside, cleaning up years’ worth of fallen limbs and rotting leaves. Behind him, he heard a mellow nicker and said, “Not now, Clyde. I know you’re antsy, but I’ve got a ton of stuff to do today. We’ll take a ride tomorrow.”

“How ’bout now?”

Startled by the sound of another voice, Ty whipped around to find Morgan and Sadie trotting up the grassy aisle that separated his property from the Whittaker place. Setting aside his rake, he strolled over to greet them. “And here I thought he was talking to me. Weren’t we meeting up on Friday?”

“I don’t get out as much as I’d like these days, so I was going to ride out and watch the sunset anyway. If you want to come along, we can talk on the way.”

Translation—I don’t want to give you home field advantage. She was the only woman he’d ever known who strategized that way, and it was comforting to know she hadn’t lost that sharp quality over the years.

It was also more than a little intimidating, he mused as he quickly tacked up and hauled himself into the saddle. She’d always been smarter than him, and chances were the gap hadn’t closed up enough to make much difference. He’d do well to remember that.

The horses were old friends, and the two of them traded looks occasionally while they trotted companionably side by side, as if they’d last seen each other earlier that week instead of seven years ago. Morgan seemed content to ride in silence, and Ty followed her lead, taking the opportunity to reacquaint himself with his surroundings.

Wild prairie and barely tamed pastureland stretched out like a quilt of grass and flowers for miles around them. Ringed by thick stands of pines, the broad valley was cut through by the winding currents of the Calico River. Modest in width but dependable even in the driest years, the deep-running mountain stream supplied the local ranches with a reliable source of water for their livestock.

Beyond that rose the majestic Bridger Mountains, which ran along the northern boundaries of Mustang Ridge and several other small towns nearby. Home to everything from mountain lions to grizzlies to bighorn sheep, those ragged peaks were the image that always came into Ty’s head when he thought of home.

As he and Morgan gained altitude, they got an ever-broader perspective of the valley below. When a small herd of horses came into view, he asked, “Where did they come from?”

“Everywhere. A few years ago, the state took an interest in our mustangs and managing the population. I didn’t like their solution, so I stepped in and petitioned to adopt the herd.” Gazing over at the milling animals, her face softened with affection for the creatures she’d managed to save. Pointing, she explained, “Over there is public land available to anyone for open grazing, and the strip with access to the river belongs to a local family. They gave me permission to use it, so I relocated the ponies and started a mustang rescue. I break and train some of them for people who want to use them as pleasure horses, but the others stay here, where they belong.”

Her very practical approach to the problem didn’t surprise him in the least, but he was impressed all the same. “That’s awesome. Not many folks would go to that much trouble for some wild ponies.”

“They’re the symbol of everything the Mustang Ridge Conservancy stands for,” she told him firmly, her jaw set in determination. “If the animals who’ve always lived here lose their birthright, chances are we won’t be far behind.”

When Sadie and Clyde reached the southern bank of the creek, Morgan finally stopped and turned to him. Her eyes held a resigned look that he tried not to take personally.

Letting Sadie drop her head for a drink, Morgan said, “So, you wanted to talk.”

“Can we get down first? My back’s not as limber as it used to be.” Plus, he didn’t want her taking off if she didn’t like something he said. Clyde was a gamer, but there was no way he could catch the half-mustang mare at a full run.

“Fine.”

Swinging down, she led Sadie to a nearby clump of elms and tied her reins to a branch to let her graze. Ty did the same and then joined Morgan on a fallen log near the creek.

When he noticed her pained expression, he asked, “Something wrong?”

“You weren’t exaggerating about your back, were you?”

“Nope. I’ve got a bunch of fused vertebrae and a doctor’s warning to never get on another horse for the rest of my life.”

“But you’re still riding?” Giving him a hard look, she shook her head. “That’s crazy.”

“Maybe, but Clyde’s as safe as one of those carousel horses kids ride on at the fair. Besides, life’s too short to be afraid of things that might happen. When you’ve had the misfortunes I have, you learn to appreciate what’s left.”

That got him a nod, which he took as a tacit sign of acceptance, if not understanding. They sat for a while, trading small talk while they admired the gradually sinking sun as it began its nightly descent over the mountains. He recognized that she had children to get home to, and he moved on to the subject he’d insisted they discuss.

“Morgan.” When he had her attention, he summoned his courage and forged ahead. “I want to help out with Allie and Hannah. You’ve carried all the weight for long enough, and I’m ready to take on my share.”

That got him a derisive snort. “I doubt it.”

Reaching into his back pocket, he pulled out a folded paper and handed it to her. “I’m serious. Maybe this’ll convince you I mean what I’m saying.”

She carefully took the certified check from him as if it was a rattlesnake coiled to strike and opened it with a wary expression. When she saw the amount, her mouth fell into a shocked O, and those gorgeous blue eyes met his in astonishment. “This is a lot of money.”

“Delivered my truck to the new owner the other day,” he explained, feeling proud of himself for the first time in ages. “I found a used one cheaper than I expected, so the rest is for you and the girls. I talked to a lawyer buddy of mine and found out that six years of child support for two kids adds up to a lot. This is a down payment. Once I get myself sorted out, he’ll help us come up with a permanent arrangement so you won’t have to worry about money anymore.”

“Thank you,” she murmured, clearly stunned by the offer. “I never would’ve expected this, Ty. It’s very generous of you.”

It was, which was what he’d been counting on when he devised a plan for approaching this very independent woman about their daughters. Having offered his help, he now moved on to what he considered to be the more important element of his proposal.

“It’s my responsibility, as their father,” he ventured cautiously, watching her for any sign of disagreement. When she didn’t show one, he decided it was safe for him to continue. “It’s also my responsibility to be a part of their lives. If they want me there.”

“So this is a bribe?” she demanded, jamming the check into his chest with enough force to nearly knock him off the log. Shoving away from him, she jumped to her feet and scowled down at him. “Keep your money and your fake concern, Tyler Wilkins. My daughters and I have done just fine without you all these years, and we’ll keep going that way long after you’re gone.”

This woman could still spike his temper into boiling range with a single look, but he summoned a calm tone as he got to his feet and matched her frosty look with one of his own. “I’m not going anywhere, MJ. First off, I’ve got nowhere else to go. And second—and more important—I intend to stick around so my daughters and I can get to know each other. I’ve missed the first six years of their lives, and I’m not gonna miss any more.”

With that, he wheeled around and mounted Clyde as gracefully as he could. Reaching over, he tucked the check under the corner of Sadie’s saddle blanket and headed toward home without a look back.

Let her stew over that one, he thought with a grin as he rode away. She wasn’t the only one with a stubborn streak.

Chapter Three

“Now, remember, Morgan,” Dad cautioned her as he pulled into the parking lot at the high school. “This is our first meeting with this energy company rep, and it’s bound to be a little nutsy. This is an important issue for everyone around here, not just us. You’re gonna have to be patient with folks when they’re trying to talk.”

Morgan gave him the irritated look she reserved for people who had the gall to tell her how she was supposed to behave. “I know that, Dad. Please don’t speak to me like I’m ten years old.”

“You’re real passionate about this, and I love that about you. But let’s be honest—you’ve got a knack for taking over a situation, convinced you’ve got the answer to the problem. This is bigger than one or two families, and it’s gonna take all of us to hammer out a solution everyone can live with.”

“You know some of our neighbors are on the verge of selling out to that greedy shark, right?” He nodded, and she turned to face him squarely. “If they accept his offer, we might as well do the same thing, because in a couple years the Calico River will be liquid poison and our place will be downstream from an industrial complex that’ll be churning out pollutants and noise twenty-four/seven.”

“We’re not gonna let that happen,” he assured her, patting her shoulder in a calming gesture. “But we won’t get anywhere by pressuring folks into seeing things our way. They’ve gotta come to the right decision on their own.”

“I just can’t believe anyone who’s got half a brain would want to ruin all that,” she grumbled, staring out the dusty windshield of his truck at the expanse of the oddly named Crazy Mountains to the north. “That’s some of God’s best handiwork out there, and it’s up to us to keep it that way.”

“Preaching to the choir.”

“I know. I’m just more frustrated than usual, I guess.” She blew out an exasperated breath to cool her temper. It helped, but not enough. She recognized that was because she now had a new problem to contend with—namely Ty Wilkins—and she didn’t know what she was going to do about it.

Heaving a sigh of his own, Dad got out and circled the old SUV to open her door for her the way he’d done since she was a child. “Stick with comments about God’s handiwork in there, and you’ll get a lot further than if you get into a shouting match with people who’re on the fence about land development.”

“Okay,” she agreed grudgingly. “You make a good point.”

“Flies and honey, sweetheart.”

Diplomacy wasn’t exactly her strong point, Morgan groused silently as they went up the wide front steps into the school. But the Mustang Ridge Conservancy was fighting for the very existence that generations of Whittakers had worked so hard to create. She wanted Allie and Hannah to grow up surrounded by the same view she’d loved from the time she could appreciate it. If the only way to make that happen was muting her characteristic drive, she’d just have to figure out a way to do it.

Inside, the auditorium was packed. Up on the stage that normally hosted student concerts and plays, there was a long table and several chairs. A man she didn’t recognize was talking with Kevin Carmichael, the town’s only dentist and their newly elected mayor. He was the developer everyone had been buzzing about the past few weeks, judging by his tailored suit and polished appearance.

Her father had artfully intercepted the man when he visited their ranch, respectfully hearing him out before sending him on his way. Mostly because he knew perfectly well that if the stranger had found Morgan first, she would have blown a gasket before throwing him off the property. Her beloved mustangs had nowhere else to go, and if the Whittakers lost their right to use the open rangeland where the wild ponies roamed, they’d be rounded up and sent to some random place where she wouldn’t be able to help them. The only way to save them was to get that land legally protected as wilderness forever. It was a tall order, even for a woman who’d never run from a challenge in her life.

“Hey, Morgan.” Hearing her name, she turned to find Dave Farley sitting behind her. “Any of those mustang yearlings ready to go yet?”

“A couple. What are you looking for?”

“An Appaloosa. A friend of mine in Billings just lost her mare after twenty-plus years and is looking for a youngster to take in. I told her about your rescue outfit, and she’s interested in meeting you.”

Finally, some good news, Morgan thought, smiling as she fished a card out of her purse. “Tell her she can call me anytime. I’ve got an App who should be green broke sometime this summer, if that works for her. If she sends me her info, I’ll take some pics and email them to her. He’s gorgeous, and the vet says he should top out around fifteen hands.”

“That’s tall for a wild one.”

“His daddy’s a big, strapping stallion,” she explained, feeling a jolt of pride that her small herd of wild horses and rescues was doing so well. “I’ll send your friend some photos of the sire and dam, too.”

“Thanks. I’ll let her know.”

He sat back, then stood and grinned at someone behind Morgan. “Hey, Ty,” he greeted their prodigal cowboy, offering his hand. “Welcome home.”

“Thanks, Dave. It’s good to see you. How’re Bonnie and the boys?”

“Good, busy. They’re both playing baseball this year, so she’s at their game tonight.” The proud father held up his phone. “She’s keeping me updated by text.”

“Great idea. Tell her I said hi.”

“Will do.”

Dave sat and started typing on his phone while Ty looked down at Morgan. “Mind if I take this seat?”

She shrugged. “It’s a free country.”

The moron actually had the audacity to grin at that, and once he was settled, he leaned in to say, “I’m not the enemy, MJ.”

“Y’know,” she shot back, her already unsettled nerves tightening like the overstretched strings of a fiddle. “No one calls me that anymore.”

“Yeah?” The grin widened, and he draped a muscled forearm over the back of his chair. “Then I guess that makes me special.”

Dad chuckled beside her, and she angled a look at him. “You think that’s funny?”

“Yup. You two are as entertaining as ever.”

“I’m so glad you’re amused by your daughter being harassed.”

“How’s Clyde settling into your new place?” he asked, pointedly looking over her head at Ty.

“Fine. He’s used to moving around, so being in a new barn doesn’t bother him a bit. The house, well, that’s a different story.”

Dad chuckled again. “Oily rags and a match might be your best option.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

The two of them carried on that way, talking over the top of her as if she wasn’t even there, until Kevin called the meeting to order.

“Okay, folks, let’s all take our seats.” Once everyone was settled, he gripped the lectern in both hands as if he was preparing for a long, difficult night. “Since we all know why we’re here tonight, I’d like to turn the stage over to Mr. Reynolds, a representative of Cartwright Energy. They’re the outfit from Utah that’s interested in prospecting for oil and natural gas on the wild lands north of town, and he’s here to make a presentation about their proposal. After that, he’ll answer any questions you might have about their operation.”

Morgan had read the prospectus cover to cover—three times—so she knew what it contained. After several hours of discouraging research, she had a pretty good idea what they were up against. While she half listened to the slick performance unfolding up on stage, she kept a roving eye on the assembly to gauge their neighbors’ reactions to what they were hearing. Some looked intrigued, others were obviously fuming, but most seemed to be neutral.

At least for now.

Those who hadn’t yet made up their minds were the ones who gave her hope that their efforts to protect the ridge from development might actually have a chance at succeeding. When the man was finished, several people asked the usual questions about land values and potential for damaging the local environment. All of them were deftly handled by their guest, who clearly had a lot of practice dealing with local residents’ apprehension about his company’s activities.

When the comments dwindled into silence, Kevin stood to take his place at the lectern. “Thank you for coming, Mr. Reynolds. I’m sure we’ll be talking to each other again real soon.”

Their polite handshake was punctuated by equally polite applause, and the executive gathered up his materials and his designer briefcase and strolled out. His confident gait suggested to Morgan that he thought the presentation had gone well.