His Montana Homecoming

Dale matched her serious tone. “I see.”

Yeah. That cleared it up.

Dale sighed. It was only a few days. He’d leave in a few days and his world would return to normal. His normal. And it couldn’t come soon enough.

* * *

The next morning, Faith poured orange juice into a glass and looked at her father. Jackson Shaw had been grumpy the last couple of months and it was no wonder. The pressure from a six-month-long centennial celebration would wear on anyone. Being mayor of a small town that needed big results crushed heavy.

Good thing her dad had broad shoulders. Cord said he’d finally agreed that Jasper Gulch needed to grow to not only survive but flourish.

She watched him rub his temples. “You okay, Dad? Didn’t you sleep well?”

Her father sighed. “I slept just fine.”

She didn’t believe him. Dark smudges hung under his eyes and he hadn’t even touched his favorite sweet roll.

“Good morning.” Dale Massey entered the dining room dressed in a suit. A suit! Shirt, tie, jacket, all in shades of olive. What man wore a color like that unless his clothes were army fatigues?

Faith stared.

He gave her one of his slow smiles that felt like a caress. “Something wrong?”

A man shouldn’t be allowed to smile like that!

“You’re dressed awful...” Faith stammered, “...awfully fine this morning.”

“I’ve got a meeting at Lone Peak ski resort.” Dale poured himself a cup of coffee from the carafe on the buffet as if he owned the place.

Obviously Dale didn’t know that people didn’t dress like that around here. Maybe he was meeting with a fancy client on vacation. But then, they wouldn’t dress up like that, either. Not while on vacation.

“It snowed there overnight.” Her father steepled his fingers and stared her down.

Faith knew what he was getting at. Dale wouldn’t make it through the mountains in that rental car. He might do fine on the interstate, but once he hit the back roads, he’d get stuck for sure. “Dale, you can take my car. It has all-wheel drive and chains in the back.”

Dale looked confused about the chains. “Thank you. Unfortunately, you’re not authorized to use the lemon.”

“Oh, that’s okay. I can use my mom’s car if I need to go anywhere.”

“Faith.” Her father’s eyes briefly closed. She’d seen that look a dozen times growing up. It was his you-should-know-better look. “Take him there. Dale’s our guest.”

Dale gave her a wary glance before zeroing back in on her father. “I’m sure I’ll be fine—”

“These mountain passes can be tricky this time of year. Faith knows the way and a shortcut, to boot.” Her father gave her a nod that said arguing would be fruitless. “Adam and Austin will see to your chores.”

Faith held her breath before letting it back out. She could refuse, but that wouldn’t go over well with her father. Not when she still lived under his roof. And she’d look foolish in front of Dale. She’d planned to practice her violin, but she could do that tonight, so that was not the best excuse for declining. Butterflies in her stomach were even worse. Besides, that reaction played right into her father’s matchmaking hands.

She wasn’t interested in a guy like Dale Massey. Attracted? Who wouldn’t be? She’d seen his taut abs outlined by the skimpy undershirt he wore. She glanced at their guest. “I need to drop by the bank on our way. How much time do you have?”

“Plenty.” Dale sipped his coffee.

In other words, that meeting waited for him. Nice. The world revolved around Dale Massey’s schedule. “Then I can eat breakfast.”

“Take your time.” Another sip.

“Have a seat, Dale.” Her father gestured toward the table. “Sandy made a frittata but if you’d like something else, say the word. The boys have already eaten, but there’s plenty.”

“Sandy’s a friend and our housekeeper and also a knitter for Julie’s business,” Faith explained while she loaded her plate from the chafing dishes on the buffet.

He gave her a bored look. “Coffee’s fine.”

Faith went back to the business of filling her plate. Dale would wish he’d have eaten these fixings after they were in the car for an hour-plus drive to Lone Peak. She made a mental note to stuff a few granola bars in her purse before they left. Then she sat down across from Dale, ignored his surprise at the heaping portion on her plate and dug in.

* * *

Dale watched Faith kiss the mayor’s forehead.

“Bye, Daddy. Not sure when we’ll be back.” She sounded genuinely considerate. Spoiled, maybe? No. He knew spoiled, and Faith Shaw wasn’t that.

“Take your time. And fill up your gas tank before you leave Jasper Gulch.”

“Will do.” She waited for him by the doorway. “Ready?”

Dale gathered his thoughts. “Yes.”

She gave him a once-over. “Don’t you have a different coat? Or boots?”

“This coat is warm, and these are my boots.” They were Gucci and comfortable.

Her eyes lowered in a knowing look. “You’ve never been to Lone Peak.”

“No.” Dale wasn’t a ski nut like Eric, his half brother. He never had the time or the inclination. “How’d you guess?”

“You’re a bit overdressed.” By her tone, he knew she wasn’t giving him a compliment. “I’ll get some real boots for you.”

“But we’ll be in the car.” Dale looked out the window as he followed her. The sun shone through puffy white clouds in a blue sky. Not a flake of snow at the Shaw spread.

“Out here, it’s best to be prepared.”

“For what?” Dale waited for her as she dived into a large walk-in closet.

She looked at him as if he lacked a brain. “We’re driving through the mountains. We could go off the road, get stuck in snow. Any number of things. The ski resorts have snow. The peaks always have snow. Your feet will freeze if we have to walk anywhere.”

“I see.” Dale owed the mayor a debt of gratitude for making Faith drive. He’d never given a breakdown or accident a single thought. Probably not wise to drive around this desolate area alone. He’d already learned cell coverage was spotty at best.

“Try these.” She tossed a pair of thick boots his way. They were huge lace-up things with felt liners.

Dale slipped off one sleek leather boot and stuck his foot inside. “Yeah, they fit.”