Montana Sky (27 page)

Regardless of life and prosperity, death was lurking much too close.

Lily was flushed with love and planning a spring wedding. Tess had nudged Nate into a weekend away at one of the tony resorts. And Ham wanted her to put on her dancing shoes.

She was terrified.

And hit the brakes, hard, to avoid running into an eight-point buck. She swerved, skidded, ended up sideways across the road, as the buck simply lifted his head and watched the show with bored eyes.

“Oh, you're a beauty, aren't you?” Laughing at herself, she rested her head on the steering wheel while her heart made its way slowly out of her throat and back to her chest. It took a fast leap back up when someone tapped on her window.

She didn't recognize the face. It was a good one, angelically handsome, framed with curly golden-brown hair under a dung-brown hat. As his lips, accented with a glossy moustache, tipped up in smile, she slid a hand under her seat toward the .38 Ruger.

“You okay?” he asked when she rolled down the window an inch. “I was behind you, saw you skid. Did you hit your head or anything?”

“No. I'm fine. Just startled me. I should have been paying more attention.”

“Big bastard, isn't he?” Jesse turned his head to watch as the buck walked regally to the side of the road, then leaped over the mound of snow. “Wish I had my thirty-thirty. A rack like that'd go fine on the bunkhouse wall.” He looked back at her, amused to see fear and suspicion in her eyes. “Sure you're okay, Miz Mercy?”

“Yes.” She slid her fingers closer to the gun. “Do I know you?”

“Don't think so. I've seen you around here and there. I'm J C, been working at Three Rocks the past few months.”

She relaxed a little, but kept the window up. “Oh, the poker ace.”

He flashed a grin, and it was as formidable a weapon as the Ruger. “Got me a rep, do I? Gotta say it's a pure pleasure taking your money, indirectly, that is, through your boys. You're a little pale yet.”

He wondered what her skin would feel like. She was part Indian, he remembered, and had the look of it. He'd never had a half-breed before. And wouldn't that just fix Lily's butt if he went and fucked her sister?

“You ought to take a minute to get your breath back. If you hadn't had good reflexes, I'd be digging you out of the drifts now.”

“I'm fine, really.” He had gorgeous eyes, she mused. Cold, but beautiful. They shouldn't have made her insides curl up in defense. “I'm on my way to Three Rocks, as it happens,” she continued, determined to work on those social skills. “I'm told Mr. McKinnon's under the weather.”

“Flu. Put him down hard the last couple days, but he's feeling some better. You've had your own problems over to Mercy.”

“Yes.” She drew back instinctively. “You'd better get back in your rig. It's too cold to be standing out there.”

“Wind's got a bite, all right. Like a healthy woman.” He winked, stepped back. “I'll follow you in. You be sure to tell old Jim I'm up for a game anytime.”

“I'll do that. Thanks for stopping.”

“My pleasure.” Chuckling to himself, he tipped his hat. “Ma'am.”

He chuckled out loud when he climbed back into his rig. So that was Lily's half-breed half sister. He'd bet she would give a man a hard ride. He might have to find out. He hummed all the way into Three Rocks, and when Willa took the turn toward the main house, tooted his horn cheerfully and waved her on.

Shelly opened the door, with the baby on her shoulder. “Will, what a surprise. Pie!” Her eyes went huge and just a little greedy. “Come in, grab a fork.”

“It's for your father-in-law.” Willa held it out of reach. “How's he feeling?”

“Better. Driving Sarah crazy. That's why I'm here instead of home. Trying to give her a hand. Take off your coat, come on back to the kitchen.” She patted the gurgling baby on the back. “Truth is, Will, I'm spooked staying home alone. I know it's stupid, but I keep thinking someone's watching me. Watching the house, looking through the windows. I've had Zack up three times this week to check locks. We never locked up before.”

“I know. It's the same at Mercy.”

“You haven't heard any more from the police.”

“No, nothing helpful.”

“We won't talk about it now.” Shelly lowered her voice as they approached the kitchen. “No use getting Sarah upset. Look who I found,” she announced as she swung through the door.

“Willa.” Sarah put down the potatoes she was peeling for stew, wiped her hands. “How wonderful to see you. Sit down. There's coffee on.”

“Pie.” Though she was never quite sure how to respond to the spontaneous affection, Willa smiled when Sarah kissed her cheek. “For the invalid. Bess's sweet potato.”

“Maybe that'll keep him busy and out of my hair. You tell Bess how much I appreciate it. You sit down now, have some cake with that coffee and talk to us. Shelly and I have about talked each other out. I swear winter gets longer and meaner every year.”

“Beau Radley's selling out and moving to Arizona.”

“No.” Sarah pounced on the nibble of gossip like a starving mouse on cheese. “I hadn't heard that.”

“Sold to developers. They're going to put in a resort. Dude ranch. Buffalo.”

“Oh, my.” Sarah whistled through her teeth as she poured coffee into her company cups. “Won't Stu have six fits when he hears.”

“Hears what?” Silver hair flowing, bathrobe comfortably ratty, Stu strolled in. “We got company and nobody calls me?” He winked at Willa, gave her a quick pat on the head.
“And pie? We got pie and you leave me up there moldering in bed?”

“You won't stay in it long enough to molder. Well, sit then. We'll have pie instead of cake with coffee.”

He pulled up a chair, eyed his daughter-in-law. “Going to let me hold my baby yet?”

“Nope.” Shelly swiveled Abby around. “Not until you're germ-free. Look but don't touch.”

“I'm being run into the ground by women,” he told Willa. “Sneeze a couple of times and you find yourself strapped in bed having pills forced down your throat.”

“He was running a fever. One-oh-one.” Clucking, Sarah slid pie under his nose. “Eat that and stop complaining. Babies are less trouble when they're ailing than any grown man I know. I can't count the number of times I've been up and down those stairs in the past three days.”

Even as she said it, she was cupping his chin, studying his face. “Color's better,” she murmured, letting her hand linger. “You can have your pie and a visit, but then you go back and take a nap.”

“See?” Stu gestured with his fork. “She can't wait until I'm feeling off to start bossing me around.” He brightened considerably when the door opened and Zack came in. “Now we'll even the odds a bit. Come on in, boy, but don't think you're getting any of my pie.”

“What kind? Hey, Will.” Zack McKinnon was a slimly built man who stopped just shy of lanky. He'd inherited his mother's wavy hair and his father's squared-off jaw. His eyes were green, like Ben's, but dreamier. He was a man who liked to spend his days in the clouds. The minute he was out of coat and hat, he kissed his wife and picked up his daughter.

“Did you wipe your feet?” his mother demanded.

“Yes'm. Is that sweet potato?”

“It's mine,” Stu said darkly, then nudged the pie closer possessively as the door opened again.

“The piebald mare's looking ready to—” Ben spotted Willa and his smile came slow. “Hey, Will.”

“She brought pie,” Zack said, eyeing it avariciously. “Dad won't share.”

“What kind?” Ben dropped into a chair beside Willa and began to play with her hair.

“Your father's kind,” she said, and brushed his hand away.

“Thata girl.” Stu scooped up another forkful, then looked crushed when his wife sliced two more pieces. “I thought I was sick.”

“You'll be sick if you eat all this yourself. Give Shelly the baby, Zack, and pour the coffee. Ben, stop fussing with Will and let the girl eat.”

“Nag, nag, nag,” Stu muttered, then beamed when Willa winked and slid her piece of pie from her plate to his.

“Stuart McKinnon, shame on you.” Sarah put her hands on her hips as her husband dug in to the second piece.

“She gave it to me, didn't she? How are those pretty sisters of yours, Will?”

“They're fine. Ah . . .” Neither Lily nor Adam had asked that it be kept secret. In any case, Willa imagined tongues were already starting to wag. “Adam and Lily are engaged. They're going to be married in June.”

“A wedding.” Shelly bounced as happily as the baby. “Oh, that's wonderful.”

“Adam's getting married.” Sarah let out a sigh as her eyes went sentimentally moist. “Why, I can remember when he and Ben used to tramp off to the stream with fishing poles.” She sniffed, dabbed her eyes. “We'll help you with the shower, Willa.”

“Shower?”

“The bridal shower,” Shelly said, gearing up. “I can't wait. They'll live in that adorable little house of his, won't they? I wonder what kind of dress she's looking for. I'll have to tell her about this wonderful shop in Billings where I found mine. And they have gorgeous bridesmaids' dresses too. I hope she wants vivid colors for you.”

Willa set her cup down before she choked. “For me?”

“I'm sure you and Tess will be her attendants. Both of you want strong colors. Rich blue, dark pink.”

“Pink?”

At the desperate look in her eyes, Ben howled. “You're scaring her bloodless, Shelly. Don't worry, Will. I'll look after you. I'm going to be best man.” He toasted her with his coffee. “I just talked to Adam this morning. You beat me to the announcement.”

With his plate scraped clean, Zack came up for air. “Better let me talk to him. I've still got the scars from our wedding.” As Shelly's eyes narrowed, he grinned. “Remember those monkey suits we had to wear, Ben? Thought I'd strangle before I could say ‘I do.' ” He bent to his coffee when Shelly smacked the back of his head. “Of course, I had a lump in my throat when I looked down the aisle and saw this vision coming toward me. The most beautiful sight any man sees in his life.”

“Good save, son,” Stu commented. “I don't mind weddings myself, though your mom and I did it the easy way and eloped.”

“That was only because my father wanted to shoot you. You tell Lily to let us know if there's anything we can do to help, Will. Just thinking about a wedding makes spring seem closer.”

“I will. I know she'll appreciate it. I have to get back.”

“Oh, don't go yet.” Shelly reached out to grab her hand. “You've hardly been here at all. I can have Zack go down to the house and get my stack of
Bride's
magazines and the photo album. It might give Lily some ideas.”

“I'm sure she'd like to come over herself and huddle with you.” Now the idea of a wedding was making her shoulder blades itch. “I'd stay if I could, but the light's already going.”

“She's right,” Sarah murmured, shooting an uneasy glance out the window. “It's no time for a woman to be out on the road alone at night. Ben—”

“I'll ride over with her.” Ignoring Willa's protests, he rose and fetched his hat and coat. “One of your men can drive me back, or I'll borrow a rig.”

“I'd rest easier,” Sarah put in before Willa could refuse
again. “It's a shameful thing what's happened here. We'd all rest easier knowing Ben's with you.”

“All right, then.”

Once the good-byes were said, with the rest of the McKinnons walking them to the door, Will climbed behind the wheel of the rig. “You're a lucky man, McKinnon.”

“Why is that?”

She shook her head and stayed silent until they'd left the ranch house behind. “You can't know, you can't possibly understand how lucky you are because it just is for you. It's just the way it is and always has been.”

Baffled, he shifted in his seat to study her profile. “What are you talking about?”

“Family. Your family. I sat there in that kitchen. I've sat there before, but I don't know if it all sank in. It did today. The ease and affection, the history, the bond. You wouldn't know what it's like not to have any of that. It's just yours.”

It was true enough, and he didn't know if he'd ever thought it through. “You've got sisters now, Willa. There's a bond there, and it's easy to see.”

“Maybe there's the beginnings of something, but there's no history. No memories. I've seen you start a story and Zack finish it. I've heard your mother laugh over something stupid the two of you did as boys. I never heard my mother laugh. I'm not being maudlin,” she said quickly. “It just hit me, sitting there today, watching you and your family. That's the way it's supposed to be, isn't it?”

“Yeah, I'd say it is.”

“He stole that from us. I'm just beginning to realize how much he stole from all three of us. Not just me. I'm going to make a detour.”

When they came to the boundary of Mercy land, she shifted into four-wheel drive and swung onto a winter-rutted access road. He didn't ask where she was heading. He'd already figured it out.

Snow was mounded over the graves, burying the headstones, smothering the wild grass and tender flowers. She thought it looked like a postcard, so perfect, so undisturbed, with only Jack Mercy's stone, higher, brighter than all the
rest, thrusting up out of the snow toward the darkening sky.

“Do you want me to go with you?”

“No, I'd rather you didn't. If you could just wait here. I won't be long.”

“Take your time,” he murmured as she climbed out.

She sank knee-deep in snow, trudged her way through it. It was cold, bitterly, with the wind slapping the air, sending snow swirling from its bed. She saw deer, a small herd of doe on the rise of a hill, like sentinels for the dead.