Montana Unbranded

“No, thanks, this is fine,” he said. He sat at her kitchen table and deftly kept her two golden retrievers at bay while he ate. “Thank you, that was great, way better than hospital food,” he said after finishing off all of the chicken, both pickles and his second cup of Earl Grey. “Eat up, Molly.”

“I am eating.” Molly’s eyes were red-rimmed from crying.

“No, you’re not. You haven’t touched a thing,” he chided. “What’re your dog’s names?” This he asked of Dani, who was nibbling on a chicken wing with about as much appetite as Molly.

“Winchester and Remington.” She smiled at his expression. “Jack liked to duck hunt.”

“Jack?”

“My ex. He left me his dogs when he moved out, but I’m not complaining. They’re great company, better than Jack ever was.”

He grinned at her words, and all at once Dani saw what Molly had been talking about. Take away the hospital pallor and the shadows beneath those wary eyes, add about ten pounds and Joseph Ferguson became the handsome brother Molly had bragged about. Not handsome the way Jack had been handsome. Not smooth, well-groomed, airline-captain handsome. More of a tough, streetwise and dangerous handsome. “I’ve heard dogs tend to be better company than most people,” he said.

“They go everywhere with me, except to work. Jack got them as eight-week-old pups, siblings, after we moved in together, but he’s an airline pilot and was gone most of the time. I think that’s the only reason he hung around so long, because he loved the dogs.”

“I find that a little hard to believe,” he said, and Dani felt her cheeks warm.

“Molly tells me you live in Providence,” she said, changing the subject. “That’s a big city compared to here.”

“It’s bigger, all right, but not nearly as good-looking.” He grinned that crooked grin again and Dani was completely disarmed.

“You’ll love it here, Joseph. You won’t want to go back to that smelly old city,” Molly said. “Besides, you can’t, at least not for a while. My wedding’s in less than a month, and from the looks of you, you’ll need at least a month of Montana living to get you back on your feet. Maybe little Fergie can come out early and stay with you. I haven’t seen him since last year and I bet he’s growing like a weed. It would do the two of you good to spend some time together out here.”

“I’ve never taken a month of vacation time all at once, but right about now that sounds pretty good.” He pushed out of his chair. “Thanks for the lunch, Dani.”

“You’re welcome. It’s nice to finally meet you, Joseph.”

“Joe,” he said, wandering into the living room, flanked by both dogs. “Did you take these photos?”

He was studying the gallery of prints she’d hung on her living room wall. “Yes,” she replied.

“They’re really good. You obviously like horses.”

“These shots are of the wild horse band in the Arrow Root Mountains. I’m documenting them for the Wild Horse Foundation, so I camp there a lot. I’m actually going up this weekend for the first time this year. I think the snow’s melted enough to hike to the forest service cabin I stay at.”

“Molly tells me you’ve climbed every mountain west of the Missouri.”

“Not quite, but I like to hike and mountain climb. How about you?”

“We don’t have many mountains in Providence, but I wouldn’t mind climbing a few of yours,” he said, casting that grin in her direction. Dani wondered if he always flirted so blatantly, and she also wondered why she was blushing like a schoolgirl.

“Joseph,” Molly scolded. “You’re in no condition for that sort of thing. The mountains out here are tall.”

“I’m sure we could find a short one,” Dani said.

“Just as long as it’s not Braveheart,” Molly said.

Dani shook her head. “We’ll leave that one for you and Steven, but you’d better climb it soon or Luther Makes Elk might not officiate at your wedding.”

“Luther Makes Elk?” Joe said.

“He’s a Crow holy man,” Dani said. “You’ll meet him at Molly’s wedding, if not before. Luther Makes Elk saved Steven’s life.”

“This Montana story just gets better and better. My baby sister’s been holding out some key information from her big brother.”

Molly jumped up and grabbed her purse. “Come on, Joseph, we better hit the road. I told Steven I’d be home for supper.”

Joe cast his sister a questioning look, and Molly sighed. “I promise to tell you all about Luther Makes Elk on the way to Bozeman. Thanks again for everything, Dani. I’ll call you tonight.”

“You’d better,” Dani said. “In the meantime, don’t worry about your wedding gown. It’s going to be beautiful.”

“It’s not the gown I’m worried about,” Molly confided as they hugged goodbye.

“Everything will be fine,” Dani said.

Joe shook her hand once more upon leaving, and Dani watched them descend the porch steps and walk out to Molly’s red Mercedes.

She waved them out of sight, then closed the door and leaned against it with a sigh. Her hand was still tingling.

So that was Molly’s big brother, Joseph.

Wow.

* * *

JOE WATCHED THE scenic vistas roll past his window as Molly pulled onto the highway heading south toward Bozeman. Mountains loomed in every direction, walling off the horizons. He’d never been west of New York before and, as exhausted as he was, he found himself captivated. He also found himself wondering about Dani Jardine. Attorney, great photographer, down-to-earth and drop-dead gorgeous. What sort of man would walk out on a woman like that?

“You’re being mighty quiet for a Ferguson, Joseph,” Molly prodded after a while.

“Just thinking.”

After ten more minutes of silence his sister cast another sidelong glance and nodded sagely. “You’re thinking about Dani. It’s written all over your face.”

“Not me, baby sister. I swore off women after my divorce.”

“I might have believed that two hours ago, but Dani’s smart, beautiful and has a heart of gold. I don’t see how any red-blooded man could help falling in love with her, especially after she fed him lunch.” Her teasing smile faded and her face grew serious. “Why are you really here, Joseph? You didn’t come just to see me. You would’ve called first, and Mom would’ve told me you were coming when I spoke with her last night. She doesn’t even know you’re here, does she? Does this have anything to do with Marconi?”

He gave her a sharp look. “What do you know about it?”

“Honestly, I wasn’t born yesterday. There’s this thing called the internet. I have access to legal search engines, and I tend to dig a little deeper than your average newspaper reporter. And don’t forget, I grew up with some of your friends. Rico always gives me the straight scoop.”

“Do Mom and Dad know anything about Marconi?”

“If they do, they didn’t get it from me.” She cast him a curious glance. “What did you tell them?”

Joe shook his head. “Same thing the newspapers said, that I stumbled into the middle of a drug deal and stopped a few stray bullets.”

“Have they caught him yet?”