Montana Mountain Valley Bride (Western Romance) Read online

  Contents

  TITLE

  COPYRIGHT

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  EPILOGUE

  Also Available

  MONTANA MOUNTAIN VALLEY BRIDE

  By

  MAYA STIRLING

  Copyright

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

  © 2021 Maya Stirling

  CHAPTER ONE

  January 1869

  Montana

  Brodie Cameron saw the woman he’d been hearing so much about as he and his brother, Aiden were riding into the town of Inspiration around midday on Monday beneath a Montana sky heavy with dark, threatening clouds. The woman, clad in a bulky woolen coat and fur hat to protect herself against the chill wind from the north, was about a hundred yards ahead of the two Cameron brothers. She was riding a fine-looking pinto, moving at a steady lope along the trail.

  Minutes before, when Brodie and Aiden had been making their way down the trail leading to town, the woman had turned her head quickly upon hearing the sound of advancing hooves. It was then that Brodie had gotten his first glimpse of the woman’s even features, her bright eyes, and the dark hair which tumbled from beneath her fur-covered hat to settle around her shoulders. For a brief moment the woman, who Brodie guessed was not much younger than his own twenty-eight years, fixed him and Aiden with a gaze filled with instant suspicion. Then, abruptly, she’d turned her head and encouraged her mount to a faster pace.

  She led a packhorse loaded with empty saddlebags as she guided her mount in the direction of the northern end of Main Street. Also, attached by a long rope to the woman’s pinto was one thing that really caught Brodie’s eye.

  It was the most beautiful example of a wild horse he’d ever seen. The animal’s brown coat shone with natural health; every muscle on the horse’s tall body looked lean and honed to perfection. Brodie guessed the animal was around seventeen hands high. There was a natural power in the horse which suggested it had roamed free all its life. Vitality shone in every sinew, and in the spirited, defiant way it twisted its head repeatedly at the rope which held it secured to the woman’s pinto. Brodie wondered how such a fine creature had come into the woman’s possession.

  “That’s an excellent horse she’s got there,” Brodie observed.

  Aiden narrowed his eyes and examined the animal. He nodded. “Is that the woman you haven’t stopped talking about, lately?”

  Brodie nodded. His brother was always at least two steps ahead of him. Aiden usually did like to cut to the chase. “Curtis was telling me about her last week when I was in the livery. She brought that powerful chestnut horse and sold it to him. You know, the one the sheriff bought.” He laughed quietly. “She likes to haggle for a good price.”

  “Nothing wrong with that.”

  “I don’t know who she is,” Brodie said thoughtfully. “No-one does. I asked around in town. She comes in every once in a while, sells a horse to Curtis at the livery, and buys supplies at the mercantile. Then she’s gone.”

  “Maybe she lives local,” Aiden suggested.

  Brodie shook his head. “I’ve asked around. Nobody knows where she lives. None of the ranchers know her.”

  “Maybe she’s a homesteader.”

  “None of them know her, either,” Brodie declared.

  Aiden glanced at Brodie. “Are you just interested in her horses? Or do you have something else on your mind?”

  Brodie felt his cheeks flush. His gander rose, just like it always did when Aiden teased him. He refused to take the bait offered to him by his older brother. “I don’t know where she gets such fine horses. Curtis says that every one she’s brought has been amongst the best he’s seen in years. Prime stock.”

  “When did she start bringing them to town?” Aiden asked.

  “Last year.”

  “And you’ve been keeping an eye on her all this time?”

  Brodie frowned at Aiden. “Not the whole time.” He grinned. “You know me, Aiden. I’m just the curious and friendly type.”

  Aiden shook his head and laughed quietly. “Have you spoken to her?”

  “Now why would I go and do a thing like that?” Brodie asked, trying hard to sound offended.

  “Well, seeing as how you take charge of the horses at the ranch, I figured you might see it as your professional duty to make inquiries. See if there was some way you could buy some of that fine stock of hers.”

  “I would if I knew for sure where she gets the horses.”

  “You don’t think they’re stolen, do you?”

  Brodie shook his head. “Not with animals as good as that,” he said, and gestured toward the woman rider. “If they were rustled stock, I’d hear about it around town.” He tightened his grip on his reins and sighed. “Nobody knows where she lives. Let alone where she’s finding these horses.”

  “So you’ve decided to make it your business to find out,” Aiden suggested in a flat voice.

  Brodie shook his head. “The woman’s private life is none of my concern.” He tried to sound disinterested, but he could see by Aiden’s risen brow that he hadn’t succeeded.

  Up ahead, the rider reached Main Street and guided her mount toward the livery. Soon Brodie and Aiden were riding along the dusty street. Passing the livery, Brodie gazed across at its open doors. The woman, dressed practically in her heavy woolen coat and boots, was standing with Curtis Pennebaker, the owner of the livery. As Brodie and Aiden rode past, Curtis saw them and waved in his usual friendly manner.

  When the woman turned her head to see who Curtis was waving at, her brows furrowed. Now less than twenty yards away from her, Brodie got a better view of the woman’s features.

  He was startled. She was extraordinarily pretty. Even beautiful, Brodie told himself. High cheekbones offset dark brows; her green eyes shimmered with urgent curiosity. Her lips were set in a firm line with just a hint of disapproval. The brown woolen coat seemed too large for her, and he guessed it hid a petite physique. She turned her back emphatically on Brodie and Aiden and continued speaking with Curtis.

  Riding on, Brodie dragged his gaze away from the newcomer.

  “Don’t think she appreciates all the attention,” Aiden suggested.

  “You might be right,” Brodie responded.

  Brodie and Aiden halted outside the mercantile and tied their horses at the hitch rail. Inside the store, they were the only customers and spent a while gathering some supplies. All that time, Brodie struggled to get the image of the woman’s undeniably attractive features out of his mind.

  He wondered where she was from; who she was; why she came into town to sell horses. According to what Curtis had told
Brodie, he’d paid the woman decent sums of money for the animals she’d brought to town.

  Just as Brodie and Aiden started to get ready to leave the mercantile with their purchases, the door opened and in strode the very woman who’d occupied Brodie’s thoughts. A blast of freezing air swept into the mercantile.

  The woman closed the door and paused. As she removed her gloves and pushed them into the pockets of her heavy coat, her glance flitted briefly across Brodie’s features.

  “Anything I can help you with, ma’am?” Lucius, the owner of mercantile asked.

  The woman said nothing. She shook her head and strode to a nearby table upon which were laid various rolls of fabric. Her booted feet sounded loud on the wooden boards.

  Inexplicably, Brodie felt his heart leap, and when he glanced at Aiden, he saw an inquiring look on his brother’s face.

  As the woman started to gather her purchases and take them to the counter, Brodie convinced himself that there were a few extra things he’d forgotten to buy for himself. Secretly, he was glad the woman had come to the store. It would give him a chance to delve deeper into the mystery of who she was. Brodie continued to scan the shelves.

  Aiden was holding two bags in his arms. “I’ll wait for you outside,” he told Brodie.

  “I won’t be long,” Brodie reassured Aiden.

  After he’d paid for the items, Aiden left. Brodie wandered amongst the rows of tall racks, barely interested in their contents. The sound of the woman’s footsteps was steady and rhythmic. The temptation to glance from time to time at her proved impossible to resist. This close to her, Brodie confirmed to himself that she was indeed a fine-looking woman. Her sun-kissed skin hinted at time spent outdoors. Her movements, as she examined the various items she’d come to buy, revealed a steady, calm and measured confidence.

  On one occasion she caught Brodie throwing a glance her way. But she simply gave Brodie a blank look and turned quickly, striding to the counter. Apparently she’d gotten everything she needed and it was time to leave.

  Inspecting the pile of goods in front of him, Lucius smiled. “Will that be all, Mrs Hoxton?”

  Brodie was making his way around the end of a tall stack of shelves when he heard those words. He froze on the spot.

  Mrs Hoxton? She was married?

  “Can you parcel this all up so it’ll fit into the two large saddlebags on my packhorse outside?” she inquired. Her voice was soft, but there was also a directness in the way she’d spoken to Lucius.

  “I’ll do even better than that, ma’am. I’ll take this out to your horse and pack the bags myself,” Lucius offered.

  “That’s very kind of you,” Mrs Hoxton replied. Lucius set about his task of adding up the cost and packing her things. As she paid Lucius, Brodie moseyed over to the counter and stood a couple of feet to one side of the woman.

  Tentatively, Brodie placed two tins of beans on the counter. Lucius looked quizzically at Brodie. “I thought you and your brother got all you needed, Brodie?” Lucius asked in a flat voice.

  Brodie shrugged. “Forgot the beans,” he murmured, aware that Mrs Hoxton had turned her head and was looking straight at him. Brodie met her gaze and, once again, felt his heartbeat quicken. He was inches from her. She was roughly the same as age as himself, Brodie noted. The wedding ring on her finger glistened in the light spilling in through the window behind Lucius.

  When Brodie offered the woman a smile she quickly whipped her gaze away from him.

  Brodie cleared his throat. “Forgive me for bein’ forward, ma’am, but I couldn’t help noticing you taking a fine specimen of horse over to Curtis at the livery.”

  She turned to face him and slowly arched a brow. “Is that so?”

  “It’s the kind of thing I notice,” Brodie explained. “My brother and I run a ranch in these parts. And I take to do with the horses most of the time. You could call it my professional expertise.” He’d thought his words would sound smart, but instead they’d come out sounding stupid.

  She turned her head away from Brodie and watched as Lucius was gathering up her purchases ready to be taken outside to her horse. “I’m very happy for you,” Mrs Hoxton said in a flat voice.

  Brodie removed his hat. “I’m Brodie Cameron, ma’am,” he announced.

  Apparently neither impressed nor interested, she didn’t even turn to look at him. It seemed like he’d already gotten off on the wrong foot, Brodie told himself.

  An awkward silence hung in the air. Then Lucius raced off, carrying her purchases. Following behind him, the woman started for the door.

  “Mrs Hoxton,” Brodie called out. “Can I ask you one question?”

  The woman halted and turned to face him. She tilted her head and sighed impatiently. “We don’t even know each other, sir, and you want to ask me something? Why?”

  “I’m just curious.”

  She frowned. “Last time I checked, a woman could keep her private business to herself.”

  Brodie heard the acid in her voice but pressed ahead. “That horse you had today. I take it you sold it.”

  “I did. What of it?”

  Brodie cleared his throat. “Curtis gave you a good price?”

  She frowned. “That’s between myself and Mr Pennebaker.”

  “You know Curtis will just sell it on at a profit.”

  She tilted her head. “That’s none of my business. I got what I think is good price. What he does with the horse is his affair.”

  Even in this brief back-and-forth Brodie could tell that Mrs Hoxton had a mind of her own. He figured she would most likely be a fearsome negotiator, and that any profit Curtis made would be small.

  He decided it was time to get to the point. “Do you and your husband own a ranch in these parts? I only ask in case you ever get horses you need to sell. I’d be happy to give you top dollar.”

  Her cheeks blossomed red, and she took one step toward Brodie. “Where we get the horses is surely none of your concern, Mr Cameron,” she said sharply. She tugged her gloves out from her coat pockets and continued to speak as she thrust her hands into them. “”I thought this was a neighborly town where folks minded their own business.” She sighed heavily. “Seems I was wrong.”

  And with that she spun on her heels and walked out of the mercantile, leaving Brodie standing in her wake. That hadn’t gone well, he told himself. Leaving the tinned beans on the counter, he made his way outside. Lucius was stuffing the saddlebags on the packhorse to bursting with Mrs Hoxton’s purchases.

  Aiden’s brows rose and he glanced at Mrs Hoxton. Brodie shrugged and went to Aiden. Neither brother spoke as Mrs Hoxton thanked Lucius, rose into the saddle of her pinto, forked leather and headed off at a steady lope up Main Street.

  “I see you haven’t lost your charming ways with women,” Aiden said jokingly.

  Brodie let that remark slide as he and Aiden rose into the saddle. Turning his horse, Brodie glanced over toward the saloon on the opposite side of the street. Three men were standing on the boardwalk. They were watching Mrs Hoxton as she rode up Main Street. Brodie didn’t recognize the three men. Newcomers passed through Inspiration all the time, so that wasn’t unusual.

  The trio hurriedly saddled up and galloped up Main Street in the same direction as Mrs Hoxton. Brodie frowned and wondered whether the riders knew the woman. It was probably just a coincidence, he told himself.

  “Something bothering you?” Aiden asked.

  “No,” Brodie said after thinking for a moment. He moved his horse on. When he and Aiden reached the edge of town, there was no sign of Mrs Hoxton or the three riders.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Bethany Hoxton knew she was being followed. After leaving town, she’d glanced back at Main Street. The three men who’d been standing outside the saloon, watching her leave the mercantile, had saddled up and were now on her trail.

  Bethany dug her heels into her pinto. The horse’s pace quickened as it raced up the northbound trail. Behind her the solitary packhors
e, attached by rope, nickered rebelliously. But, despite its protests, the animal matched the fast pace of the pinto.

  Another glance along her back trail told Bethany that the three riders had adjusted their own pace to match hers. It wasn’t the first time Bethany had attracted unwanted interest whenever she made one of her regular trips into town. She was sure it wouldn’t be the last time she’d have to deal with that. At least she had enough supplies for the next few weeks. Now the winter had settled in, supplies were all that mattered.

  Leaning forward, reins grasped in gloved hands, dark hair dancing across her shoulders in the wind, Bethany glanced up at the heavy clouds. The chilled air told her snow was imminent.

  She knew why they were following her. Her visits to town, bringing with her such valuable horses, had finally caught the attention of the wrong kind of men.

  Bethany knew the northbound trail well, having ridden it often during the last year. It was a three-hour ride to her precious mountains, along a trail which wound its way beside creeks, along gullies and past the boundaries of the many ranches which surrounded the town.

  On previous occasions, the ride had passed without incident. But today promised to be different. She had to shake off these pursuers. It was no coincidence they’d left town at the exact same moment as her. In her mind, it was clear the riders did not have good intentions.

  As she rode on, the clouds darkened. Bethany paused by a river to give her pinto, which was puffing heavily, some rest. The clouds finally opened, releasing snow, just as Bethany had expected. It fell lightly at first, swirling in light drifts, but then soon became heavier. Over the next half hour visibility worsened, and Bethany felt a momentary relief. The thickening snowfall would make it hard for her pursuers. The trail disappeared into the curtain of falling snow. This might well hide her from her pursuers, she told herself. But there was no guarantee she would elude them.