Free Painted Montana Sky: A Montana Sky Series Novella by Debra Holland

couldn’t resist. She added a butterfly in the top right corner, with big spotted wings and an angel face.
    Oliver leaned against her shoulder, his body relaxed, obviously happy and trusting.
    With a surge of maternal love, she gathered him into her arms and pulled him on her lap. He rested against her, and they both studied the drawings.
    For the first time since she’d started working on the botanical drawings for Mrs. Sebastian Regis-Smith, Lily felt relaxed and happy. She’d just used her artistic ability for fun and pleasure, something she’d been missing during the last few weeks. No wonder I haven’t been able to paint. Her painting wasn’t about moving a brush, pen, or charcoal stick with her fingers. The skill came from a well of creative, happy energy deep within her.
    The sun dropped lower, and the shadows lengthened. She turned her head to look at the orange orb, then seeing the sunset, shifted them both around to watch. Rosy and amber hues streaked across the broad purpling sky. A few puffy clouds glowed golden. “Look, Oliver.” Lily pointed upward. “God’s painting the sky.”
    He tilted his face to follow her finger, staying still as if catching her appreciation for the sight.
    Lily inhaled a deep breath, feeling the beauty of the sky as an ache in her soul, and she wished she could capture the vision before her on paper. Maybe another time, she’d try. But today, she was content to hold the child and watch the burning orb sink behind the land.
    Tomorrow, Lily knew instinctively, she’d be able to find that artistic place inside and her flowers would bloom on the paper as they were meant to. She could hardly wait.

 
    CHAPTER TEN
     
    The sun dropped lower and the shadows lengthened. From the corner of her eye, Lily caught a glimpse of movement on the road to the house. She took a closer look.
    Tyler approached on Domino. Next to him, a teenage boy rode a black horse and led a buckskin by the reins. The sight of another boy driving a small buggy hitched to a tiny brown horse made her gasp. “Whatever is that?”
    Oliver stood. “Pa and Jack and Tim!” He abandoned her to race over to the group.
    Lily set her charcoal stick in the easel’s rack. Stiff from sitting with Oliver on her lap, she rose and limped to follow the boy.
    Tyler held up his hand to stay her and nudged Domino in her direction. He had the biggest smile she’d ever seen on his face, and her heart couldn’t help but warm in response.
    He reined in before her and dismounted. “I have a surprise for you, Lily.” He tipped up his hat, exposing more of his face.
    “For me?” Her heart beat a bit faster
    “I’ve borrowed Mrs. Thompson’s little buggy and her Falabella stallion, Chico, for you.”
    “For me?” Puzzled, Lily could only repeat herself.
    Tyler took her hand, tucked it into the crook of his arm, and led her to the buggy. “So you can drive around the ranch to get to those flowers you want to paint.”
    Speechless, Lily stared at the adorable small horse, then back at Tyler.
    His grin crinkled the skin around his eyes. Tapping her on the nose, he tilted his head in the direction of the buggy. “Come meet Chico.”
    One boy stayed on his horse. The other, driving the buggy, set the brake, and climbed out, holding the reins.
    A quick glance showed her the two were identical twins. Normally, the artist in her would have wanted to study them, figure out the differences in their faces, but now the little horse captured her attention.
    Chico tossed his head, as if preening.
    “I’ve never seen the like.”
    The boy motioned her to come closer. “You can pet him, ma’am. He’s a Falabella. My mama brought him and the mares all the way from Argentina.”
    Unable to resist, Lily stepped forward and ran her hand over the stallion’s head and rubbed behind his ears.
    The horse stretched his neck.
    “You’re so beautiful,” she murmured to him. “I’m very pleased to meet you.” She looked up at the boy