Amelia's Montana Wedding (Love In Montana Falls Book 1) Read online

  Lucas shook his head. "Black is fine ma'am."

  Everyone else's drinks were served and they settled down to continue the conversation.

  "Speaking of ranch life," Miss Hardie said after a while, "we would love to hear some more about what it's like to live on a ranch. Wouldn't we girls?"

  Amelia and Bethany nodded in unison while they both sipped from their cups. Amelia secretly wished Miss Hardie wouldn't refer to her and Bethany as girls. Somehow, when speaking with someone like Lucas, it didn't seem quite right.

  Lucas paused. "I don't know where I can start."

  "What does your typical day look like?" Miss Hardie asked.

  "Do you have to deal with rustlers?" Bethany asked breathlessly.

  Amelia saw Miss Hardie look at Bethany as if she wanted to scold her. Trust Bethany to ask about something like that.

  "Rustlers?" Lucas asked looking mildly surprised. He looked at Bethany and smiled at her. "What would you know about rustlers, Miss Lennox?"

  Amelia heard Bethany draw a sudden breath in. "I just read about them somewhere," she explained. Amelia didn't think Bethany sounded too convincing.

  "I think she might have been reading some dime novels, Mr Monroe," Miss Hardie said.

  Bethany glanced at Miss Hardie but didn't say anything in response.

  "We do get some trouble with rustlers," Lucas said. "But our men usually deal with them pretty quickly."

  "Is there violence involved?" Miss Hardie asked.

  Lucas shook his head and grinned. "Not really." He smiled at Bethany. "Just a little gentle persuasion. Then, they usually don't come back."

  Amelia controlled the urge to frown at that last remark, and the look he had given Bethany.

  "That sounds exciting," Bethany said.

  Lucas continued. "There are other things about ranch life that are much more exciting."

  "Like what?" Bethany asked.

  When he spoke Lucas' voice was filled with sudden certainty. "Well, there's the pleasure in raising a herd of cattle, making sure it prospers. There's the days spent outdoors under the sun in the middle of the most beautiful country this side of the Rockies. There's working with men you respect and who respect you as well."

  "That sounds like a very different life from back East," Amelia said.

  Lucas glanced at Amelia. "Oh, it's very different Miss Crawford. I know it is. I tried city life for a while."

  "Really? Where did you go?"

  Lucas' gaze shifted down to the cup he was holding. "Minneapolis," he said quickly.

  "When were you there?" Miss Hardie asked.

  "Some time ago."

  "How long did you spend there?"

  "A few weeks."

  Amelia noted Lucas' unease and wondered what had caused it. "What took you to Minneapolis?"

  Amelia saw Lucas' face color. He swiftly drew the cup to his lips and took a long sip of coffee. She was sure he looked like he didn't have an immediate answer. It was obvious he didn't want to talk about his time in Minneapolis.

  As if sensing Lucas' unease Miss Hardie spoke. "City life is so very different from here. Isn't that the case, Mr Monroe?"

  Lucas looked at Miss Hardie. Amelia was sure she could see some conflicting emotions behind those eyes. "It sure is, Miss Hardie. The people are different. It's like they just don't have the same priorities as folks out West."

  Miss Hardie smiled triumphantly. "That's exactly what I've been telling Bethany and Amelia. Out here, the priorities are so very different. You've spent your whole life here, Mr Monroe. You must understand that better than anyone."

  Lucas nodded. "City folks seem to be always running around like headless chickens."

  Bethany laughed out loud at that. Lucas glanced at her and gave her a soft, slow smile.

  Lucas continued. "And they wind up dragging innocent folks into their mess. That's the worst of it."

  Miss Hardie seemed intrigued. "Are you talking about criminal types?"

  Lucas frowned. "Mostly. It's hard to know who you can trust when you're living in a city."

  "I think we're getting the distinct impression you prefer the country life. Am I right?" Miss Hardie said.

  "You are completely right, ma'am. I don't intend ever to spend any more time in the city."

  "Then why did you go in the first place?" Amelia asked.

  Lucas sighed. "It's a long story. Not one for this kind of pleasant evening. In any case, enough about me." Lucas glanced at Bethany. "What is a beautiful young lady like you doing out in Montana?" he asked in a deep, drawling voice. Bethany shifted in her chair and sat bolt upright. Amelia thought Bethany was suddenly about to jump out of her seat.

  Bethany looked lost for words so Amelia spoke. "Bethany has always dreamed of living in place like Montana. Isn't that right, Bethany?"

  Bethany nodded and glanced appreciatively at Amelia for the moment of respite her friend had given her after the sudden compliment Lucas had paid her. "It sure is. Montana seems like such a lovely place. And everyone we've met since we got here has been so nice to us."

  "Who have you met?" Lucas asked.

  "Mostly some of the Dunbar family members," Bethany replied.

  Amelia saw Lucas' eyes darken briefly. Then he regained control of himself. Did it only take the mere mention of their neighbors to prompt such a reaction? Maybe there was more to the Dunbar and Monroe rivalry than folks had been admitting.

  "They're such lovely people," Miss Hardie said. "I take it you know them, Mr. Monroe."

  "I do ma'am. Can't say we've always been on the best terms. Being neighbors hasn't been easy at times."

  Well at least he was being honest, Amelia thought. One thing had struck her about Lucas Monroe. He was a plain-speaking man. She guessed it must have been his upbringing that had bred that into his character.

  "I'm sure it has caused its fair share of trouble. But you all seem to get along eventually," Miss Hardie said obviously determined not to let anything negative intrude into the conversation.

  Miss Hardie lifted up the plate of biscuits. "Would you like another biscuit, Mr. Monroe?"

  Lucas smiled and reached over to the plate. "I don't mind if I do," he said.

  "You must be used to home cooking on the ranch," Bethany said.

  "We have a wonderful housekeeper."

  "You mean you have servants?" Bethany exclaimed.

  Lucas quirked a brow at Bethany. "I wouldn't call her a servant. Especially to her face. I'd be liable to get slapped for my trouble. She's in charge of everything domestic in the ranch house."

  "That sounds like a lovely arrangement," Miss Hardie said.

  "She's a mighty fine cook."

  "Well, I imagine that's important around the ranch. How many ranch hands does she have to cook for?" Amelia asked.

  Lucas answered immediately. "Twenty-five men in total. Some of those have been with us quite a few years. Things have been busy now that Landon's around less."

  "Your mother and father must be proud of you and your brother."

  The mention of Landon prompted a slight change in Lucas' demeanor. "Right now, it's just me and my parents, along with my sister, Eloise. Landon went to California a while back. I don't know when he'll be back."

  Amelia glanced at Miss Hardie. She was sure she saw an unspoken signal to change the subject. Before Amelia had a chance to do so, Lucas turned to her. "And what are your plans, Miss Crawford." Amelia saw Lucas pause and stop himself from saying something. Then he continued. "Are you going to remain in Montana?"

  Amelia almost finished Lucas' sentence for him. Are you going to remain in Montana after I have married Bethany? That's what he had been about to say, but he'd stopped short of finishing his thought. Amelia shifted in her seat. Why had he gone and asked her such a question? Especially during an occasion like this. "My plans are to return to Boston," she said. "I live with my uncle. He has quite a prosperous position in Boston society."

  Lucas' eyes widened. "That must be nice."


  Amelia didn't know whether Lucas was being sarcastic. Judging by his comments about city life, she supposed he had simply made his mind up that any kind of city living wasn't worth the effort.

  "Amelia doesn't appreciate the pleasures of Montana living," Miss Hardie said rolling her eyes at Amelia.

  "That's not quite true, Miss Hardie," Amelia replied. "So, you're changing your opinion about this place."

  Amelia shook her head. "Not as such. But I admit that the people who live here seem to be different than the people back home."

  "So Boston is still going to be your home?" Lucas asked quickly.

  Amelia restrained the urge to frown. What was everyone trying to do? Were they all intent on making it impossible for Amelia to leave Montana Falls?

  "If you do go back, Amelia, you must promise to visit," Bethany said.

  Amelia looked at her friend with thinly veiled amazement. Had Bethany already decided on Lucas? She had only known him for a brief time, but already she sounded as if her marriage to Lucas were a certainty. Wasn't that just far too sudden, even for Bethany?

  Amelia decided to err on the side of politeness. "I promise I'll come and visit you, Bethany," she said glancing in the direction of Lucas to see whether he had understood the importance of what Bethany had just said. Judging by the expression on Lucas' face, the significance of Bethany's assumption that she would be remaining in Montana hadn't been lost on Lucas.

  "I think you might just be persuaded to spend a little more time in Montana, Amelia," Miss Hardie said chiming in.

  "I'm sure it would nice, but I have so much to attend to back in Boston," Amelia replied certain that she didn't sound entirely convincing. Amelia smiled at Bethany. "But I'm not leaving just yet."

  The conversation drifted on for the rest of the evening. They talked about many things. Lucas told them some amusing stories of his life on the ranch. Bethany told Lucas some equally amusing tales of school life, some of which made Amelia cringe with embarrassment.

  By the end of the evening, Amelia realized that Lucas Monroe had made a very strong and positive impression upon her. And upon Bethany. He was nothing like she had imagined. He was sweet, kind and well-mannered. Nothing like Amelia's preconceived notions of what a rancher was like.

  Amelie felt mildly ashamed of the way she had prejudged Lucas. Maybe she had been wrong about Lucas, after all.

  And, as she sat in the parlor making polite conversation, another thought forced its way into her mind.

  Perhaps she had also been wrong about Wilder Armstrong.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Wilder stood at the end of the road that led to Miss Hardie's house and tried to keep himself in the shadows. He could see the lights inside the house. More than once in the last half hour he'd seen figures silhouetted in the light, moving inside the room. He hadn't dared get any closer for fear that someone would emerge suddenly and catch him standing in the street. He'd have a darned difficult time explaining what he was doing watching the Hardie residence at this time of night.

  From the shadows he could see back toward the main street. Noises from the busy saloon drifted down the cool night air. Wilder wore a dark suit and dark Stetson pulled low over his brow.

  Once or twice people had drifted by, but they hadn't seen him. He was sure no-one knew he was standing against the entrance to the alleyway that led to the back of the livery stable.

  From inside the livery he heard the sounds of horses shifting in their stalls. He'd need a horse soon enough. He was planning to ride up to the Monroe ranch once he had more information to go on.

  But first he had to get some impression of Lucas Monroe. There were too many questions to answer, too many doubts that had to be resolved.

  Then Wilder saw what he'd been waiting for. The door to the Hardie home opened up. A rectangle of soft light spilled out across the porch and down onto the stairs that led to the fenced-in garden. Wilder pulled back deeper into the shadows.

  He saw a group of figures emerge from the hallway. He recognized Bethany and Miss Hardie. Then he saw Lucas Monroe. His tall figure filled the doorway. He had his back to Wilder so he couldn't see his face. All three of them seemed amiable and friendly. By their demeanor it looked like they were saying their polite farewells. He couldn't see any sign of Amelia, and felt a momentary stab of disappointment. He wondered why she hadn't accompanied Bethany to the door. Maybe she was trying to make some kind of point; giving Bethany a moment with Lucas.

  Wilder saw Lucas bow politely and say something that made Bethany smile and raise a hand to the collar of her attractive dress. She looked mighty fine in that dress, and Wilder could understand why she had gone to so much trouble to get Erin Dunbar to help her look her best.

  Then Lucas turned and headed down the stairs. His carriage was parked in front of the garden gate. He stepped up onto the carriage and took his seat, looking back up at the door one more time. Miss Hardie had stepped back inside leaving Bethany standing there on her own. Wilder took in a deep breath and sighed when he saw Lucas raise his hat and bid Bethany farewell.

  From where he was standing it certainly looked like Lucas Monroe had made a good impression. Wilder wasn't yet sure whether that was a good or bad thing for Bethany, but he intended to find out.

  Wilder leaned back into the darkness of the alleyway and watched as Lucas started to drive his carriage away from the house. Bethany stepped back into the house, waving goodbye and then the door was closed.

  Wilder could hear the rumble of the wheels on the hard earth. He knew he'd only have a short time to do what he had to do. But it was better this than facing Lucas at his family ranch with all the help of his ranch hands at his back. One on one, man to man. That was how Wilder preferred things.

  The rumble of the wheels was louder now. Wilder stepped out and took up a position right in the middle of the narrow dirt road. He looked directly at the oncoming carriage and stood his ground.

  A screaming noise from the startled horse filled the near darkness. Wilder saw Lucas pull hard on the reins and draw the carriage to a noisy, juddering halt.

  Wilder took a step back as the horse and carriage almost ran him over. He saw Lucas pull hard on the reins and then spring up to his feet.

  Wilder glanced quickly to the main street. It was good that there was no-one around.

  "What do you think you're doing?" Lucas Monroe yelled. "Get out of my way." He stared down at Wilder, fury written on his face.

  Wilder took one of the horse's reins in one hand and gripped it tight. He leaned away from the distressed horse as it snapped its head from side to side.

  "Get your hands off my horse," Lucas cried. "Who are you, anyway?"

  Wilder stared up at Lucas. "I'm just someone who wants to ask you a few questions."

  Lucas frowned. "What are you talking about? What kind of questions?"

  Wilder glanced toward the Hardie residence. Surely the noises must have been heard back at the house. "Maybe you and I can go some place where we can have a little privacy."

  Lucas jumped down off the carriage, landing with a thud on the dirt road. Up close Wilder saw that Lucas didn't resemble the likeness Wilder had seen back in Minneapolis. The young man looked like he'd grown up fast in the short time since he'd been in that city. His dark hair was longer, and he'd filled out with shoulders broadened and an upright bearing that declared entitlement.

  Lucas thrust his face inches away from Wilder. "You got some explaining to do, mister," Lucas declared.

  Wilder nodded toward the main street. "Maybe you want to park up. Then you and I can have a little talk."

  "You still haven't told me who you are."

  Lucas wasn't wearing a gun on his belt so he must have been figuring he was vulnerable, especially when Wilder saw him glance down at the pistol in Wilder's holster.

  "Look, if it's money you want, I haven't got any," Lucas said.

  Wilder shook his head and held onto the horse's rein. "I don't want your money. "Though I hear t
he Monroe family is doing pretty well for itself."

  Lucas' eyes widened at the revelation that this stranger knew who he was, and knew about his family. "I don't know who you are, mister. But if you know about my family then you also know that they aren't going to take any kind of trouble lying down."

  "I guess not. But I'm not here to talk about your family. I'm here to talk about you and your time in Minneapolis."

  Lucas took a step back. His eyes flashed from side to side. He paused and then peered at Wilder, questions simmering behind his eyes. Finally, he spoke. "I've never been to Minneapolis," he said hesitantly.

  "Really? Never?" Wilder asked.

  Lucas shook his head. "Hardly ever been out of Montana Falls, to tell you the truth."

  "The truth? Now, that would be mighty useful," Wilder said sarcastically.

  "Look, Mister. Let go my horse and get out of my way. You and I haven't got anything to discuss."

  Wilder sighed. "I can see you ain't gonna make this easy for either of us."

  "What are you anyway? Some kind of lawman?"

  "I guess you could call me that."

  "If the law has something on me, then the sheriff can deal with it."

  "Out of his jurisdiction," Wilder explained.

  Lucas sighed. "Look. Get out of my way. Are you going to stand aside or not?"

  Wilder shook his head. "I was hoping you'd be reasonable. I can see that you're not going to be."

  "I don't have to talk to you about anything," Lucas declared.

  Lucas was being more defiant now as if he sensed that Wilder had no real authority to force him to talk.

  Wilder glanced again at the Hardie house and saw a light come on in the upstairs. He saw a figure appear at the window and it was obvious that whoever it was, was looking at the scene taking place at the end of the road. He saw the figure snap quickly away from the window. Maybe it was time to call a halt to this conversation. In any case, now that Lucas knew there was someone in town who had an interest in him, it might make him more inclined to be co-operative. Once he'd had a chance to think about it for a while.

  "I can see you've talked yourself out with Miss Hardie," Wilder said.