Read Online Montana Dawn by Caroline Fyffe - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Caroline Fyffe
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From her seat by the fire, Faith watched the three McCutcheon brothers discussing cattle, clearly engrossed in the topics of breeding and ranching. Facts and statistics bounced back and forth, each man holding his own. The two-year-old bull the creepy Will Dickson had delivered was the topic most discussed. Matt liked the straightness of his legs, while Luke thought his height and length would be an outstanding cross with their heifers.
All three McCutcheons were attractive men with a strongfamily resemblance. But something about Luke was different, and not just his black hair. It was his eyes, Faith decided. They were dark. Wild.
The tone between the men got heated, volatile, each of them taking turns spouting off. Just as Faith felt the uncontrollable urge to run for cover, laughter broke out. One brother was affectionately jabbing the other in the shoulder. It was truly amazing.
Flanked by Francis and Jeb, Chance made his way toward Faith. He was holding something in his arms. “Miss Faith,” the lanky cowboy said, clearing his throat. “We heard that little Dawn was lacking blankets and such, so we took up a collection.”
Faith felt her throat tighten as she took the items he offered. “Thank you all very much. That was so kind of you.” She couldn’t look at the trio standing there so sweetly; she’d cry for sure. She ran her hand over the stack admiringly. “Very soft,” she murmured.
“ ’Tweren’t nothin’, ma’am.”
She couldn’t agree.
Matt, Mark and Luke’s conversation had stopped. Mark looked over to Matt. “What do you make of it?”
“They’re all smitten,” Matt replied, watching Chance hand over the supplies. “Nothing like a little wiggle to make a man go a whistlin’.”
Luke realized his brothers were watching him, waiting for his response. He nodded. “She’s got ’em buggered up all right. But this job’s too dangerous not to have your head on straight. I don’t like it.”
Mark stretched his legs. “What do you think she’s really doing out here alone?” he asked, keeping his voice low.
“I’ve been trying to figure that out since I found her,” Luke replied. “Her story just doesn’t hold water.” He paused. “On the run, maybe. I can’t think of any other explanation for anexpectant mother ready to deliver to be out in the wilderness, with only an eight-year-old boy as her help. Says, though, she has an aunt she’s going to live with.”
“Could be,” replied Matt. “I’d feel a whole lot better if she did have an aunt. I’ll send a telegram, do some checking around when we hit town.”
“That won’t do any good,” Luke prophesied. “We don’t have the name of the aunt, or even know where Faith’s from. She’s been pretty closemouthed when it comes to information about herself.”
Matt and Mark nodded.
“She seems the most comfortable with you, Luke,” his older brother said. “See what you can find out. I don’t like not knowing what she’s all about.”
The next few days came and went without incident. Since her set-to with Luke over Colton, Faith had kept to herself, giving him a wide berth. To the other hands’ disappointment, she avoided them as well. All except for Francis.
“We should reach Pine Grove by twilight,” the youth told her that morning at breakfast. “Now’s when we always get to spend this one night in town before reaching the ranch, as sort of a reward. The men draw straws to see who gets to go and who has to stay with the cattle.” He ducked his head. “I’m shore gunna miss ya,” he said sadly.
This was it. She’d known the day would come when she stayed and the others went on; she just hadn’t thought it would come quite so quickly. Or that she’d feel quite so sad. Time had a way of silently slipping away. The thought of starting off alone again was daunting.
Luke hadn’t given her so much as the time of day since the morning she panicked about his discussion with Colton. He was
From her seat by the fire, Faith watched the three McCutcheon brothers discussing cattle, clearly engrossed in the topics of breeding and ranching. Facts and statistics bounced back and forth, each man holding his own. The two-year-old bull the creepy Will Dickson had delivered was the topic most discussed. Matt liked the straightness of his legs, while Luke thought his height and length would be an outstanding cross with their heifers.
All three McCutcheons were attractive men with a strongfamily resemblance. But something about Luke was different, and not just his black hair. It was his eyes, Faith decided. They were dark. Wild.
The tone between the men got heated, volatile, each of them taking turns spouting off. Just as Faith felt the uncontrollable urge to run for cover, laughter broke out. One brother was affectionately jabbing the other in the shoulder. It was truly amazing.
Flanked by Francis and Jeb, Chance made his way toward Faith. He was holding something in his arms. “Miss Faith,” the lanky cowboy said, clearing his throat. “We heard that little Dawn was lacking blankets and such, so we took up a collection.”
Faith felt her throat tighten as she took the items he offered. “Thank you all very much. That was so kind of you.” She couldn’t look at the trio standing there so sweetly; she’d cry for sure. She ran her hand over the stack admiringly. “Very soft,” she murmured.
“ ’Tweren’t nothin’, ma’am.”
She couldn’t agree.
Matt, Mark and Luke’s conversation had stopped. Mark looked over to Matt. “What do you make of it?”
“They’re all smitten,” Matt replied, watching Chance hand over the supplies. “Nothing like a little wiggle to make a man go a whistlin’.”
Luke realized his brothers were watching him, waiting for his response. He nodded. “She’s got ’em buggered up all right. But this job’s too dangerous not to have your head on straight. I don’t like it.”
Mark stretched his legs. “What do you think she’s really doing out here alone?” he asked, keeping his voice low.
“I’ve been trying to figure that out since I found her,” Luke replied. “Her story just doesn’t hold water.” He paused. “On the run, maybe. I can’t think of any other explanation for anexpectant mother ready to deliver to be out in the wilderness, with only an eight-year-old boy as her help. Says, though, she has an aunt she’s going to live with.”
“Could be,” replied Matt. “I’d feel a whole lot better if she did have an aunt. I’ll send a telegram, do some checking around when we hit town.”
“That won’t do any good,” Luke prophesied. “We don’t have the name of the aunt, or even know where Faith’s from. She’s been pretty closemouthed when it comes to information about herself.”
Matt and Mark nodded.
“She seems the most comfortable with you, Luke,” his older brother said. “See what you can find out. I don’t like not knowing what she’s all about.”
The next few days came and went without incident. Since her set-to with Luke over Colton, Faith had kept to herself, giving him a wide berth. To the other hands’ disappointment, she avoided them as well. All except for Francis.
“We should reach Pine Grove by twilight,” the youth told her that morning at breakfast. “Now’s when we always get to spend this one night in town before reaching the ranch, as sort of a reward. The men draw straws to see who gets to go and who has to stay with the cattle.” He ducked his head. “I’m shore gunna miss ya,” he said sadly.
This was it. She’d known the day would come when she stayed and the others went on; she just hadn’t thought it would come quite so quickly. Or that she’d feel quite so sad. Time had a way of silently slipping away. The thought of starting off alone again was daunting.
Luke hadn’t given her so much as the time of day since the morning she panicked about his discussion with Colton. He was
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