Read Online Painted Montana Sky: A Montana Sky Series Novella by Debra Holland - Free Book Online Page A

mischief. “Sounds like a plan,” he drawled. “Much obliged.”
    Daniel rounded the barn at a run.
    Does that boy ever walk?  
    Daniel stopped next to his mother. “I watered him, Mr. Dunn. He’s tied to the rail by the trough.”
    “Thank you, Daniel.” Tyler made his tone sound man-to-man.
    The boy brightened, his mobile eyebrows flying up.
    “Go inside,” his mother ordered. “Send the twins out here. Then change and you can have milk and cookies with Christine.”
          No sooner had Daniel gone inside than two boys opened the door and leaped down the steps. “Howdy, Mr. Dunn,” one said. The other boy didn’t say anything, only ducked his head in a greeting. They had unruly brown hair and mischievous green eyes in identical faces, although one had longer hair.
    “Hello.” Tyler didn’t dare guess which boy was the speaker. He’d never talked with either one before, but had seen them at church and on the days he rode with Oliver to or from school.
    Their mother explained what she wanted them to do, and both boys shot each other excited grins, and headed for the barn.
    While Tyler waited for them to hitch up the buggy and saddle their horses, he and Mrs. Thompson made polite conversation. They talked about the school; the teacher, Mrs. Gordon, had ordered an up-to-date world map; Wyatt Thompson’s prize mare had delivered a filly; and the ice cream social was planned for Saturday night.
    “You will bring Miss Maxwell to the social?” Mrs. Thompson had a matchmaking glint in her eyes. “We’re holding the event at the school.”
    “Hadn’t thought that far ahead,” Tyler muttered, remembering how Oliver had chatted about the social two days ago, and he’d promised his son that everyone could go. The precipitous arrival of Lily and Dove into their lives had banished Oliver’s memory of the social. And for a little boy who loved ice cream...that was some doing. And of course, without the boy’s constant reminders, Tyler had forgotten the event as well. “Miss Maxwell’s mighty busy trying to meet her deadline for those pictures of hers.”
    “Miss Maxwell can hardly paint in the dark,” Mrs. Thompson oh-so-carefully pointed out.
    She’s right about that. Tyler shrugged, trying not to show his excitement about the idea. “Guess we’ll be there.”
    She gave a decisive nod. “Good. I’m sure Elizabeth Sanders would like to meet your Miss Maxwell, too.
    She’s not my Miss Maxwell , Tyler almost protested. But his instinctive denial lacked strength.
    “Mrs. Sanders is quite the artist, you know.”
    He didn’t know. And, given his aversion to artists, Tyler was glad he hadn’t known before. Beautiful Mrs. Sanders, who had been a wealthy spinster before Nick Sanders snapped her up, had stirred the same urges in him that the former Mrs. Rodriguez had…meaning none.
    Then a slip of a girl with fine violet eyes had fallen into his life and changed everything.
    Just thinking about Lily made him want to hurry back to the ranch. He couldn’t wait to see her reaction to the small buggy pulled by Chico, the midget horse.
    ~ ~ ~
    Lily had lingered too long in the kitchen, enjoying the company of the Pendells, Tyler, and Oliver, and if truth be told, avoiding the task ahead of her. Now the afternoon sun had moved, still bright enough to paint by, but she wouldn’t have a lot of time until the light dimmed. She had to make the most of every minute.
    Back at the easel with the thicket of thimbleberries in front of her, Dove curled up under a bush, Lily bent to her task. As she worked, she forced herself to take the deepest breaths her corset would allow, striving for calm. From experience, she knew trying to hurry just made for mistakes.
    This drawing has turned out reasonably well. She dabbed on a final dot of green. Perhaps anyone who didn’t have an expert eye would judge it to be a fine piece. But Lily knew better. The painting wasn’t her best effort. Too stilted, no life to the