Free Moon Over Montana (McCutcheon Family Series Book 5) by Caroline Fyffe Page A

you say so.”
    Matt winked at her. “I just did. Hey, how was the tea party? Rachel could hardly sleep last night with excitement. She had me dig out her best linen and set up an extra little table for the tykes, all before you arrived.”
    When Charity heard that, she was doubly glad she hadn’t canceled time with the family to join the meeting.
    “It was nice. Her berry pie was delicious. And before you ask—there’s plenty left for you.”
    “Thank goodness. The smell of it baking this morning about drove me loco.”
    As Flood loped away, he called over his shoulder, “You coming, Daughter, or are you going to sit there all day talking?”
     
    • • •
     
    It took a good twenty-minute lope to make it out to the big herd. Luke and Mark would be out to check this group, but she’d asked her pa if they could come this direction on their way to Covered Bridge so she could see the sight of all those steers grazing. The vision always did funny things to her insides.
    They stopped on a hill overlooking a valley filled with bovine. “You know, Pa, I really enjoyed Texas, but I’ll never be able to describe how much I missed this.”
    She swung her arm wide, indicating the land and the cattle.
    “You don’t have to explain anything to me, darlin’. I understand completely. And I wasn’t even born here. You were. This land is in your blood. I don’t think you could get it out even if you tried.”
    They sat for a few minutes in silence, just enjoying the view.
    “Have you and Brandon discussed where the two of you will live? Will you stay in his house in town?”
    Flood tipped his hat back and turned to her, a totally innocent look on his face.
    Charity fought to keep a straight face. A year ago, while she was in Y Knot, she’d stopped into the office of Mr. Browning, attorney-at-law, and the man who represented the ranch if they had need of counsel. Everyone had been out to lunch. She had a parcel from her father to deliver, so she put it on the man’s desk. She wasn’t snooping, but right there, for all the world to see, was a document labeled LAND GIFT FOR CHARITY McCUTCHEON. With a heading like that, it would have been impossible not to stop and glance it over.
    Her parents and brothers were gifting her, upon her marriage, a chunk of land she and Brandon could build on, make into whatever they chose. She knew they’d done it so Brandon would be close enough to town to keep an eye on things as sheriff, and yet live with her where she’d be happy—and where she’d be nearer to the home ranch so she could continue to work there.
    “Where else? For now, at least, I’ll move into his house behind the sheriff’s office. I admit, it’ll be different, a huge change for me, but I’m looking forward to it. A little variation is always good, don’t you think, Pa? At least, that’s what you’ve always said.”
    “Indeed.”
    He was looking at the cattle again. She loved when his eyes took on that faraway, dreamy look, and his lips turned up, resembling her brothers’.
    “That’s what brought me out to Montana all those years ago,” he said. “And gave me the inspiration to leave the rest of my brothers behind and see what life had to offer over the next rise. As much as I’ve missed them through the years, I wouldn’t change a thing about my life.”
    She almost sighed at his intense countenance. He was thinking back, remembering all the good times.
    “It was in this rugged, take-no-prisoners land that I met your mama. My whole life changed.” He chuckled and shook his head. “Your grandfather was dead set against her marrying a thick-skulled hothead—that’s what he used to call me. His sweet girl was the apple of his eye and his only child. We met on a frigid December night when the snow swirled so thick I couldn’t see the hand in front of my face.”
    He removed his hat and scratched his head. “From the moment I saw Claire, I knew she was the one I would marry. I was smitten.