My Montana Home

“You know, as long as I’m at work, I could take care of a dislocated finger or two,” Jolie said in a deadpan voice. Cassie glared at her. It seemed she was doing a lot of glaring today.

“Very funny. I’m glad Gwen saw fit to share the whole humiliating episode with you.”

“Oh, I’m up on everything,” said Jolie. “Thea gave me a call this morning and told me about the kiss. So, just how serious is it with you and this Andrew?”

Cassie raised her head. “I only met him yesterday, for goodness’ sake—”

“Fast work,” Jolie said approvingly. “Maybe he’s the one…”

The problem was, Jolie as well as Thea had recently found happiness in love. Ever since Thea had married Rafe, last Valentine’s Day, and Jolie had walked down the aisle with Matt Dawson in June, the two sisters seemed to think Cassie should do the same.

Granted, Matt and Jolie’s ceremony had been a small, private affair, attended only by family and a few close friends. Their father’s ill health and their kid brother’s troubles had precluded a larger celebration. Jolie had insisted on that and for once, all three Maxwell sisters had agreed. But even so, Jolie had made a lovely, radiant bride. Thea had been equally lovely—and equally radiant at her wedding in February. Now the two of them kept hinting that Cassie needed to find a bridegroom of her own.

“Jolie,” Cassie tried again, “you forget that I’ve already been married once. I’m not looking to do it again.”

Jolie gave a dismissive wave. “Jeff doesn’t count by anybody’s calculation. You need to find the real thing.”

“I don’t believe in ‘the real thing,’” Cassie said. “Don’t forget—I married Jeff to rebel against Dad…etcetera, etcetera. I’ve never been one for romance.”

“Nonsense,” Jolie said inelegantly. “Sure, part of you wanted to thumb your nose at Dad. But you really were in love with Mr. Jeff Warren, aka His Royal Blondeness. I remember—you thought he was the most wonderful man in the world. So…you made a mistake. So…you try again. And this time you do it right. Who knows, this Andrew guy could be the one.”

“I’m not trying anything again. And I certainly didn’t come here to talk to you about Andrew…or love…or…”

“Relax,” Jolie said, propping her feet on the windowsill and settling back more comfortably in her chair. “Don’t get in a tiz. What did you want to talk about?”

Cassie stared out the window. She knew the sights of Main Street so well she could have cataloged them in her sleep. Grizzly’s Diner across the way, with the beauty parlor right next to it. Dillon’s Feed and Tack down the way, no doubt advertising another special on bran mash. The Lone Wolf and the Silver Spur…all too familiar, all making her feel claustrophobic. She just wanted to get in her car and floor the gas pedal back to Billings. But for Zak’s sake…

“I guess I want to ask your advice,” she said grudgingly.

“Don’t overwhelm me with your enthusiasm,” remarked Jolie. “But maybe I’d better make a record of this. Cassie Warren, actually wanting her big sister’s advice. Who would’ve thought. All those years you complained I just wanted to boss you around…”

“Are you finished?” Cassie asked with exaggerated patience.

Jolie gave a conciliatory grin. “You always take things too seriously—that’s why you’re fun to tease. But I’ll stop. Just tell me the problem.”

Cassie tapped her nails on the sill in a restless rhythm. “Dad’s at it again. Wanting me and Zak to move to the ranch house, and live with him. He thinks it’s the best thing for Zak. And maybe he’s right. Maybe Zak needs more stability than I can give him on my own. I can just picture what Zak is doing right now. Tagging along after his grandfather, or having Beth make a fuss over him. It’s exactly what he needs.”

Jolie was all seriousness now. “What do you need, Cassie?”

She closed her eyes for a moment, seeking clarity. But none came to her. “I don’t know…I just don’t know! Jeff racked up so many debts before our divorce, I’m lucky I walked away with the clothes on my back. After that, I promised myself I’d give Zak a home—a real home. Living in Hannah’s guest house, I’ve been able to start saving for a down payment. I’ve done pretty well, I think—”

“I’m not the one you have to convince,” said Jolie. “You’re still trying to prove something to Dad.”

Cassie gazed out the window again. “If I move back home, he’ll just take over my life. That’s his way. Always has been.”

“You know,” said Jolie, “Thea’s the one you should be talking to about this. Before Rafe came along she spent all those years at the ranch, trying to carve out some independence for herself at the same time. Ask her how she did it. Maybe that’ll help you with the decision.”

Cassie didn’t say anything at first. Thirteen years ago, she’d eagerly left the ranch to attend college in Bozeman. Jolie, too, had left home for college. Thea, on the other hand, had stayed at Walking Stones. She’d always insisted that she loved ranching, and that she couldn’t imagine any other type of work. But staying home had put her in an unenviable position between their father and their kid brother. Thea had pitted herself against Robert Senior’s formidable will, and at the same time she’d tried to be a surrogate mother as well as sister to Robert Junior. She would’ve been totally justified for harboring any resentments against Cassie and Jolie for leaving her to deal with the two difficult Maxwell men. These days she never complained, but still…

“Talk to Thea,” Jolie repeated.

“I can’t,” Cassie burst out. “I just…I just feel guilty about all the time I’ve spent away. And I’m sure deep down she must still resent me for it.”

“So you think she won’t give you an unbiased opinion,” Jolie said astutely. “You think she’ll tell you to come back so you can put your time in with Dad, too.”

“She’d have every right to ask that,” Cassie said.

Jolie straightened. “Listen, Cassie. I’ve had my own share of guilt for leaving Thea here to be family caretaker. And maybe that’s part of the reason I came back to Montana. I wanted to make it up to her somehow. But she made a choice to stay—and it was the right choice for her. You just have to decide if it’s right for you. I can’t give you the answer, and, in the end, I suppose Thea can’t, either.”

That left Cassie right back where she’d started. Confused. Uncertain. Wanting with all her heart to do what was right for her son. But feeling that something inside her would die if she lost the independence she’d struggled so hard to attain.

Jolie glanced at her watch and stood up. “We’re gonna be late for church. We’d better get moving.”

“Oh, no. I’m not up to going to church in Paradise today—”

Jolie gave another grin. “Did you just listen to yourself?”

“Okay, okay, very funny. But you know how I feel about this. When the Maxwells show up at First Methodist, they’re on display. And right now I just don’t want to be…on display.”

“Honey,” said Jolie, “you won’t be the one giving the show this time. Our kid brother is going to try talking to Megan again, and we’re all going to be there to lend support. I think it would mean a lot to him if you were there, too.”

Cassie wasn’t so sure about that. But, like everyone else in her family, she had a major soft spot for Robert Maxwell Jr.

Church it was going to be.

CHAPTER FOUR

THE MAXWELL CLAN filled up two entire pews at First Methodist Church. Cassie’s attention strayed from the sermon as she sent a glance down the row of faces next to her. Robert Sr. sat in his customary seat next to the aisle, as if ready to make an exit at any time. He always gave the impression that God would have to wait on his schedule, not the other way around. Beside Robert Sr. sat young Zak, looking a little sleepy-eyed by now. And, next to Zak, sat Beth Peace, her eyes on the minister. Thea and her handsome husband, Rafe, took up the last seats in the pew. Thea didn’t seem to be paying much attention to the sermon, either. She kept turning to gaze at her husband. He gazed back just as adoringly. Someone ought to censor those two.

Cassie didn’t have to turn around to see who sat in the pew behind. Jolie and her own handsome husband, Matt Dawson. No doubt they were doing the adoring bit, too. Next to them would be Lily, who’d just turned fifteen, and ten-year-old Charlie, Matt’s kids from his first marriage. Cassie heard some whispers and a muffled laugh, and then Jolie’s voice shushing. It had been tough going at first with teenage Lily, but Jolie had won over both her stepchildren big time. She’d acquired a family as well as a husband.

And, of course, at the very end of the pew, right behind Cassie, would be Robert Maxwell Jr. Nineteen-year-old Bobby, trying to deal with the terrible troubles he’d caused this past year. The drunk-driving accident that had left his best friend, Dan Aiken, seriously injured…the volatile love affair that had left him with a baby daughter and a girlfriend who had declared categorically that she wanted nothing more to do with his charming unreliability.

The congregation stood to sing a hymn. As the organ music swelled, Cassie unaccountably felt her throat tighten. The gold and ruby and turquoise of the stained-glass windows seemed to waver through the tears that rose to her eyes. She told herself fiercely to get a grip. What was wrong with her? Just because she was surrounded by her family…the family that she wanted to embrace and escape all at the same time…that was no reason to start blubbering.

Cassie managed to get herself under control. The service ended, and the Maxwells filed out with the rest of the worshipers. The blue Montana sky stretched overhead, clean and brilliant, while a breeze stirred through the aspens beside the little white church. It should have been a time of peacefulness and contentment. But one of the congregants, Megan Wheeler, was walking away quickly, long auburn hair flying behind her. She carried a blanket-wrapped bundle protectively against her body. Bobby hurried after her.

“Shucks,” murmured Jolie by Cassie’s side. “I thought he was going to wait for the moment to be a little more opportune.”

“He can’t wait,” said Thea on Cassie’s other side. “Megan’s making her getaway.”

The three sisters watched as Bobby caught up to Megan and began talking to her earnestly. They were too far away to hear what was being said, but the body language was more than eloquent. Megan stood stiffly, angled away from Bobby, still holding her baby close to her body. Cassie knew how much the girl had been through this past year or so…loving Bobby, believing he loved her, giving in to his charm. She’d been terribly hurt at his first reaction to her pregnancy—his blustering denial of responsibility. Later—much later—he’d tried to make amends. He was still trying. But who could blame Megan for refusing to trust him?

Now Cassie studied Megan’s regal bearing. Over the past months she’d changed from a shy, hesitant girl into a confident and independent young woman. Jolie could be credited for a lot of that. When Megan had run away from her abusive father, Jolie had taken her in, offered her a roof and a job. Now Megan lived with Jolie and Matt, and still worked at the clinic. Although she saw her mother and her little sister, Lisa, quite often, she never talked about her father who was serving time in prison. And, with Jolie’s help, she’d won a scholarship to Montana State University in Bozeman. She’d be starting school very soon…starting a new life. A life, perhaps, that would not include Bobby.

Megan’s face had turned stony and implacable. She listened to Bobby for another moment. He made wide gestures as he spoke, no doubt promising grand reforms. Megan, clearly, was not impressed. She simply walked away from him…more slowly this time, as if she knew that Bobby wouldn’t follow her. He didn’t. He just stood gazing after her, a look of despair on his face. And then, rather belligerently, he glanced at the people who had been watching him with covert interest. He strode off in the opposite direction from Megan.

“We have to go to him,” said Thea.