Forever in Love (Montana Brides) (3 page)

“I don’t need your help.”

He walked back to the table, glaring at her with violet eyes. “I disagree, but then you’ve always done what you wanted without thinking about anyone else.”

Heat rose in her face. “That’s not fair.” Catherine wiggled in her arms, dousing the anger that spiked inside her so fast that she felt breathless. “I’ve never had anyone else to think about. Everything I’ve ever done has been for a reason.”

“Yeah, and that reason involved getting as far as hell away from here,” he said, his voice low and angry. “You know better than most that life isn’t fair. Bad things happened to good people and no amount of wishing can turn back the clock.”

Amy stared at the steaming mug in Nathan’s hands. She remembered a time when she’d thought his hands could hold a future for both of them. That maybe she could be happy with who she was, that she didn’t need to be more than where she’d come from. Then reality had struck and she hadn’t looked back. Until now.

“I visited you in the hospital. After the barn fire.”

Nathan’s hand lifted to his neck. Her gaze zeroed in on the scars wrapped around his jaw and he frowned, yanking his arm back to the table.

“I didn’t know.”
 

She wasn’t surprised he couldn’t remember. For the first few weeks after the fire he’d been drip-fed a constant diet of morphine, reducing the pain of second and third degree burns to a dull ache. If that wasn’t bad enough, falling timber beams had smashed his bones like matchsticks, adding more worries for the team of surgeons looking after him.
 

“I couldn’t stay any longer than a couple of days.” Amy cleared her throat. She wanted to keep her voice strong and not let Nathan know how guilty she felt about leaving him and his family. “When I got back to Chicago, mom arrived with Catherine. How are you?”

He kept quiet, ignoring her question.
 

“You’re going to have to tell me sometime.”

“Why?”

She raised her eyebrows. If she hadn’t been so tired, she would have smiled. Almost. “You’re busy picking my life to shreds, but not willing to tell me about yours.”

“There’s nothing much to tell. Doc Johnson’s happy with how everything’s healing.”

“That’s not what I asked. How are
you
?” Catherine cuddled into her neck, snuggling closer as sleep sent her to dreamland. “Well?”
 

 
“I’m fine.” He paused, scowling like a caged tiger. “There’s no point rolling your eyeballs at me, Amy Sullivan. I’m not into all that mumbo-jumbo Doc Johnson’s been babbling about. I got hurt and I’m dealing with it.”

“I can tell.” The sweet smile she plastered over her lips turned his scowl into a lethal weapon.

He leaned forward, grabbing hold of his mug. “I’m tired and I’ve got an early start in the morning. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He stood up and headed toward the kitchen.
 

“Someday you’re going to have to deal with what’s eating you up.”

He stopped and turned to face her, anger etched in the hard planes of his face. “And of course you know all about sorting your life out. I’m not your patient. I don’t need you interfering in something you don’t understand.”
 

Amy felt her jaw drop. She sucked in a lungful of air, not sure whether she wanted to cry or scream. This wasn’t the Nathan she remembered. The man who’d move mountains to help anyone. She blinked back the tears clouding her vision. It had been a long day and an even longer seven months. If she’d known Nathan was staying at his parent’s ranch she wouldn’t have come, wouldn’t have torn open a part of her life she wanted to leave behind.

 
“I’m sorry.”

She looked up, not sure whether it was her imagination or an apology drifting across the room, almost gone before it started.
 

“I don’t see any point talking about something that can’t be changed.” Nathan poured his coffee down the drain, leaving the mug in the sink. “The boys are heading into town tomorrow. If there’s anything you need, make a list and I’ll get them to pick them up for you. Good night.”
 

He ignored the hurt pouring off her in waves, walking out of the room before she could tell him what a complete jerk he was. And then tell herself what an idiot she was for caring.

CHAPTER TWO

Amy stretched in bed, listening to the sound of the ranch waking up. A truck lumbered past the homestead, drowning out the high-pitched screech of a rooster. Wooden floors creaked as the Gray family moved from room to room, getting ready for whatever nature threw at them. Catherine stirred in her sleep. The glow from the night-light bathed her thumb sucking little sister in a soft yellow haze.
 

Counting to three, Amy shoved the blankets off her body and dived toward the clothes she’d carefully hung over a chair the night before. Goosebumps prickled her skin as she pulled on her jeans and t-shirt. Even with central heating, cold air still managed to sneak inside the house, weaving through old timber floors and walls too thin for Montana winters.
 

Grabbing her thick sweatshirt, she peeked through a gap in the curtains. It had rained for most of the night, hitting the window with a force that almost buckled the glass in its frame. The rain had definitely stopped, and from the looks of it, the sky would soon be turning crystal clear blue. Either more snow was on its way or they were in for one of those rare days when you could almost imagine winter had been forgotten and spring was just around the corner.

She ran her hands along the end of her bed, hunting under layers of blankets for the socks that had kept her feet warm during the night. Pulling them on, she glanced at Catherine. The little human dynamo had a high-powered sensor attached to her body, telling her the moment Amy moved. But this morning her sister’s eyes were still glued shut. Tiptoeing out of the room, she headed downstairs toward the kitchen. She had a lot to do today and the sooner she got started, the sooner she’d get settled in Bozeman and out of Nathan’s life.
 

“How did you sleep?”

Her foot slipped on the top stair. Something pulled her backward, straight into hard muscles and warm arms.
 

“You gotta watch those steps.”

Nathan’s voice rumbled through his chest and into her body. An arm wrapped itself around her waist, hugging her close. Her heart pounded. She gazed down the stairs, imagining her body lying battered and bruised on the bottom step. Taking a deep breath, she wiggled away from her rescuer. She’d been determined to put as much distance between the two of them as she could and here she was, practically falling into his arms before she’d had breakfast.

Nathan frowned.

Her gaze shot to his shoulders. “Are you okay?”

His mouth set in a stubborn line.

“What’s the big deal about telling someone you’re in pain?”

 
“A thank you would go down really well about now,” he growled.

“Ignoring my question won’t make it go away, but thanks for catching me.” Stubborn. That’s what he was. A stubborn, crazy, cowboy that had wormed his way into her dreams and left her tired and cranky. “You’re not going to tell me if I hurt you, are you?”
 

“I’m not hurt. Satisfied?”

“No, and I don’t have time to pester you until you tell me. I’m going to have something to eat before Catherine wakes up.”

“Do you need a hand getting to the kitchen in one piece?”

“Oh, for goodness sakes,” Amy huffed. “I slipped, that’s all.” She purposely walked down the centre of the staircase, ignoring the banister. “Look, no hands.”

“Famous last words.” He moved down the stairs. “You’ve never been much of a dare-devil, and I wouldn’t push your luck with those fluffy orange death-traps attached to your feet.”

She looked down, frowning at her feet. “They’re socks and they keep my feet warm.”

“They’ll get you killed on mom’s polished floors.”

“If you hadn’t snuck up on me, I wouldn’t have slipped.”

“I didn’t sneak, I walked. You must have had your head in the clouds and not been paying attention.”

“Move out of the way you two. Argue somewhere else, I’m hungry.” Matthew appeared behind Nathan, a smile taking the edge off his words. “It’s just like old times. Welcome home, Doc.”

Amy grinned at Matthew. Nathan’s brother still had the same dark brooding good looks and green eyes that made more than one heart flutter in the streets of Bozeman. “Did you have a good time last night?”

A blush skimmed along his cheeks. “You could say that.”

Nathan crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Should I be worried?”

“Nope.” Matthew moved around them and headed downstairs.
 

Shaking his head, Nathan watched his younger brother make a fast exit. More noise erupted from the kitchen. “You’d better hurry if you want something hot. Sally cooked pancakes and bacon. If you don’t make it into the kitchen in the next few minutes, Sean and Matthew will eat everything.”
 

Breakfast in the Gray household had always been pure madness and from the clatter of dishes and loud voices drifting up the stairs, nothing had changed. Amy grabbed hold of the banister, frowning at the smile on Nathan’s face as he passed her. “I’m being careful.”

His smile got a whole lot wider.

She followed him down the stairs. Nathan stopped a couple of steps below her, bringing her eye-to-eye with laughing blue eyes.
 

“Just in case you hadn’t notice, we put your suitcases at the end of the landing.”
 

She glanced over her shoulder, spying the rag-tag bunch of luggage. “Thanks, I’ll sort them out later. You’re in a better mood this morning. You must have had a good night’s sleep.”
 

Nathan frowned, the smile on his face disappearing as quickly as it had arrived.
 

A high-pitched squeal had them both turning toward the top of the stairs.

“Tell Sally I’ll be there soon,” Amy said. “I’ll leave you to fight over the last pancake.” She left Nathan on the staircase, glad of any distraction that kept her out of his way.
 

As soon as Amy walked into their bedroom, Catherine’s face broke into a cheeky grin. She’d pulled herself up against the side of the cot, clinging to the wooden rails like a starfish waiting for the next tide to take her to the bottom of the ocean.
 

“Good morning to you too, little girl.” A bubble of laughter filled the room as Amy lifted her sister in the air, wrapping a blanket around her body to keep her warm. “Let’s get your diaper changed and some clothes on you before we head downstairs.”

Catherine grabbed hold of Amy’s hair, tugging it into her mouth.
 

“There’s something even better tasting downstairs.” Prying her sister’s fingers loose, Amy moved quickly. She threw yesterday’s clothes into her carry-on and headed toward the bathroom. “As soon as we’ve had breakfast we’re going to sort through our suitcases, then drive into Bozeman and see Doctor Lewis. Then we’re going to find ourselves somewhere to live. What do you think about that?”

Catherine watched her with unblinking eyes.

“What? No smile? I thought you’d be incredibly impressed with my plan.” Amy closed the bathroom door and put her sister on top of a fluffy towel, quickly getting her ready for the day ahead. “We might even join a playgroup so you can make some little friends.”
 

Catherine gurgled and Amy took that as a definite yes. “Just you wait and see. Before you know it, everything will work out fine. Now let’s go and see what Aunty Sally has been cooking.”

Amy stood in the kitchen doorway. The three Gray men spread like giant tree trunks around the wooden table. Everyone had inherited the thick mop of dark hair and green eyes that marked the Gray offspring for three generations. Everyone except Nathan.
 

He’d been born with blonde hair that streaked to silver in the hot summer months, and blue eyes that turned violet whenever he got annoyed. But they all shared shoulders that were wide enough to withstand anything life threw at them and soft hearts that made those shoulders come in mighty handy.
 

Sally had squeezed herself between Matthew and Sean, a cup of something hot steaming in front of her. She grinned when she saw Amy and Catherine. “Come and join the breakfast circus. Nathan put our old highchair beside him and there’s hot food on the counter. Help yourself to whatever you want.”

Amy frowned at Sally’s toast. “Aren’t you having any bacon?”

“Weight Watchers,” Sally sighed. “I overdid my portion sizes yesterday, so I’m being extra good today.”

Sean stood up and moved toward the kitchen. “She’s always on a diet. God knows what for.”

“Men,” Matthew mumbled around a mouthful of bacon. “Ow.” He shot sideways, almost falling off his chair. “Keep those elbows to yourself, little sister.”

“Don’t you little sister me, you big Neanderthal. Just because I like being healthy doesn’t mean it’s because I want a man in my life.”

 
Matthew looked down at Sally’s elbows and pulled his chair out of the firing line. “I saw Gracie in the hardware store last week and she said one of the Jennings brothers has been sniffing around you.”
 

“They have not!”
 

Catherine’s head swiveled toward Sally.
 

Amy burst out laughing. “Nothing’s changed. Catherine, this is Matthew and Sean, two of the nicest men you’ll ever meet.”
 

Catherine gurgled and then buried her head in Amy’s neck.

“Sweet.” Matthew winked at Sally. “Pity you have to grow up.”

Nathan pulled the tray off the highchair. “You’d better put Catherine in here. At least she’ll be safe beside me.”

Sean leaned against the kitchen cupboards. “Before we
all
forget our manners,” he stared at Matthew, his twin brother, “I’d like to say welcome home, Amy. What are you going to have?” He waved a fork over the stack of food on the counter.