“Ryder, how are you doing today?”
Spinning around, I saw Destiny standing at the entrance to the barn.
“Hey, Destiny. I’m doing great. Yourself?”
She shrugged and made her way in. “Oh, I guess I’m doing okay. Been trying to get a few things taken care of around the place, but you know how that is. It’s a lot of work.”
With a chuckle, I nodded and turned back to brushing my mother’s paint, Lucky.
“Are you looking for Dad?”
“No, I was actually looking for you. Is um … is Ava still here?”
I paused for a moment before continuing to brush the horse. “Yep. I don’t think she is planning on leaving any time soon.”
“Really?” she asked in a surprised tone. “Doesn’t she have commitments she needs to get back to in Austin? Or you, for that matter? I didn’t think you were planning on staying in Montana for so long.”
“I wasn’t going to stay this long, but it’s nothing Nate can’t handle. Besides, he’s going to be handling it full time soon enough.”
She stopped right next to me and leaned against the stall door. “Rumor has it you’re playing house with your new friend.”
I dropped my hand and looked her way. “Ava is much more than a friend.”
Rolling her eyes, she looked away and mumbled, “Whatever,” as I went back to brushing the horse.
“Do you remember all the fun times we had in this barn?”
“Were you needing something, Destiny? If so, maybe you should just get on with it.”
Before I knew what was happening, she had her body pressed against mine with her arms wrapped around my neck as she tried to kiss me.
I grabbed her arms and pulled them down as I pushed her away. “What in the fuck are you doing?”
Her eyes looked pleading. “Come on, Ryder. Ava is locked away in that house and she’ll never know. You know you want me. I see it in your eyes and the way you look at me. Remember how many times we fucked in here? God, the thought of it makes me so horny.”
My mouth dropped as I stood there staring at her in disbelief as her hand moved over her body.
“Have you lost your damn mind? If you think for one moment I would ever cheat on Ava, you have another thing coming. I love her and nothing is going to change that.”
Destiny laughed. “You love her? Didn’t you just start dating her? No one falls in love that fast. Not even a helpless romantic fool like you.”
“I feel sorry for you. You really never have felt love, have you?”
“Fuck you, Ryder.”
“You already have.” Turning away from her, I looked back over my shoulder. “And if my memory serves me right, it was my best friend Roy you fucked in here, not me.”
With a huff, she stormed off and out of the barn, passing my mother without so much as saying a word.
Mom stopped and said, “Why hello there, Destiny.”
After she blew past her, mom turned to me and winked. “I take it she made a pass at you and got turned down.”
With a surprised look, I asked, “How did you know?”
Shaking her head, she chuckled and said, “Because I’m a woman, and I know how vile some of us can be. Jealousy does terrible things to people.”
Walking up to me, she kissed me on the cheek and then handed me a basket.
“What’s this?”
“A picnic basket.”
With a frown, I shook my head. “No, I know what it is, what’s it for?”
“It’s for you to take Ava lunch. With as much as you have been working the last few days around here, I’m sure she is going out of her mind in that tiny house all alone. I thought about inviting her up to the house tomorrow for lunch.”
With a smile, I said, “She would love that, I’m sure. She’s really getting around pretty good, I have to say.”
“So, with Thanksgiving next week, I dare say Ava will be joining us?”
Setting the basket down, I put all the grooming supplies back in the tack room. “If that’s okay with you?”
“Of course it is!” she exclaimed. “I really am found of her, Ryder. I see how happy you both make each other, but I must admit, I was worried.”
“Oh? Worried about what?”
“The two of you living together so quickly. Her being stuck in that small house twenty-four seven. According to your sister, it’s the most romantic thing she’s ever seen.”
I couldn’t help but let out a laugh. “Jennifer would think that.” Reaching for the basket, we walked together out of the barn. “But you have nothing to worry about, Mom. Everything is going great with us.”
She remained silent as we walked out of the barn. “So tell me, Ryder. How are you going to feel when Ava has to go back to reality? When your two worlds are separated by the paths you have both taken?”
My chest felt tight as I stopped walking and faced her. “I guess we’ll deal with that when the time comes. For right now, we’re living in the moment and isn’t that what you’ve always said to do?”
With a smile, she nodded. “Throwing my words back in my face, are you?”
“I learned from the best,” I said with a wink.
She waved me off with her hands as she said, “Go bring that sweet girl some food and let her know I’d love for her to join me for lunch tomorrow.”
Reaching down, I kissed her cheek lightly. “I will.”
The short walk to the stone house had my stomach in knots. There was going to come a time when Ava and I would have to face reality. But for now, I was going to lose myself in the world we knew at the moment.
“I’M STUFFED,” AVA said as she leaned back and sighed. “I swear I think your mother is trying to put weight on me with the amount of food she keeps sending over.”
With a chuckle, I nodded. “She’s worried you’re bored.”
“Oh my gosh, are you kidding me? This morning I finished a design I had been working on and it was amazing to have full concentration on it.”
I gathered up the paper plates and brought them over to the trash. One thing my mother believed in was making things simple. Thank God for that.
“Have you sent it to Maurice?”
She gave me a wide smile. “Yep. And he loved it! I’m not sure if he’ll use it, but he had very good things to say about it!”
I couldn’t help but feel her excitement. “I’m glad he liked it.”
Standing, she nodded her head. “Me too. I hate to say it … but breaking my leg might have been the best thing to ever happen to me.”
I broke out into a full smile. “And why is that?”
She made her way over to me and wrapped her arms around my neck. “Well, first off, I’m living in a terribly romantic stone house with the most handsome man I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
“Go on,” I prompted as my hand moved down to cup her sweet, tight ass.
“Second, sex with this handsome man is beyond amazing.”
With a wider grin, I winked. “He is rather good.”
Ava held her laughter back as she said, “Yes he is.”
I lifted my brow and asked, “And is there a third reason?”
Her eyes danced with passion as I pulled her closer to me. “I can’t explain it, but I feel like I’m at home here. Like something about this old house brings out something in me.”
I pulled my head back and looked into her beautiful blue eyes. “Really?”
She nodded her head. “Let’s just say I’m thinking it’s really too soon for me to be traveling. It’s probably a good idea for me to stay at least until I get my cast off.”
I don’t think I’d ever felt so happy in my life. My hand laced though Ava’s hair as I pulled her lips to mine and kissed her. It didn’t take long for things to heat up and we soon were lost in each other.
As I held Ava in my arms after we made love, I couldn’t help but feel the same way she did. There was something about this old stone house. It was almost as if I could feel it in the ver
y core of my body. The more time we spent together, the more I realized I wasn’t going to be able to live without Ava in my life.
RYDER HAD GOTTEN up early and headed out to do some work on the ranch, giving me a chance to finish up a design Maurice asked me to fix up. It was a new designer he had brought on full time in his store in Paris. I knew had I taken him up on his offer to work for him full time, my wedding gowns would be among top designers who graced the catwalks.
Tomorrow was Thanksgiving and it had been almost a month since I had broken my leg and set up camp in the old stone house. This morning’s conversation with my mother didn’t go at all like I planned.
“Your father is ready to fly up there and drag you back to Texas.”
With a chuckle, I shook my head. “I know I’ve stayed longer than we planned, but it’s worked out really well. Ryder and I have gotten to know so much about each other. Plus I’ve gotten to know Lucy and Nate Sr. Not to mention Dani is teaching me how to knit.”
“Knit?”
“Don’t sound so surprised, Mom. I’m making her a blanket for the baby.”
The silence over the phone was almost too much to bear. “I’m coming home soon.”
“When?”
“After Thanksgiving.”
My mother let out a frustrated sigh. “Ava! Thanksgiving is tomorrow and that is a very vague answer!”
Pressing my lips together, I held back my laughter. “Well, ya know it’s almost been a month; I could just stay here and go to the doctor for my six-week checkup.”
“Christmas. I demand you be back home by Christmas.”
My mouth dropped open. “You demand it? Mom, I’m a grown woman, you can’t demand anything of me. Besides, I like it here. I feel … at peace here. Although sometimes I swear this old house is haunted … it sometimes feels like I’m living in a romance novel.”
I could hear her taking in a calming breath. “I, for one, can certainly see the romantic side to all of this, Ava, but sometimes you have to go with reality over a romantic dream. I also understand I can’t demand you come home, but it’s hard for me knowing another family is taking care of my baby. It should be me taking care of you.”
And there lies the real problem.
“Mom, no one on this planet could ever replace you. It’s just a part of me is almost afraid to come home. I know it’s childish, but the moment I set foot on that plane, it’s reality and the fact that at some point in the future Ryder and I will be living thousands of miles apart from each other. Please just give me more time. I have the perfect excuse to be here right now. Let me explore this road.”
I could hear her sniffle and it broke my heart. “He’s going to steal you from me … I just know it.”
Quickly wiping a tear from my face, I tried to make my laugh sound sincere. “Nonsense! No one is stealing anyone.”
I was positive my mother didn’t believe that statement any more than I did.
Making my way into the kitchen, I leaned the crutches against the wall and took the boiling water off the stove. Pouring it over my tea bag, I let it seep while I peeked around the house.
“Today I shall explore every single corner of you,” I said as I smiled.
Yesterday I had tried to make it upstairs when Ryder came home and caught me half way up the stairs. I soon realized I had made a mistake when I got stuck half way up the steep narrow staircase. We both agreed if I wanted to explore, I should start downstairs.
Taking the cup of tea, I held it in my hand while I used my other arm to hold the crutch. It had taken me some time at first, but I quickly figured out a good way to get around the little house.
I set the tea down on the table and looked around. The old antique furniture in the house was beautiful. I fully intended on looking over the writing desk better, but that would be saved for another day.
“Okay, I say we start with the bookshelf. Who knows what amazing books we can find.”
I had gotten into the habit of talking to myself … or at least that’s what I thought in the beginning. I had the strangest feeling I wasn’t alone. Ryder said I was getting cabin fever, but I swore I felt a presence. Call me crazy, but I knew I wasn’t alone.
I slowly made my way to the bookshelf and smiled as I looked at it. Books from floor to ceiling filled the two bookshelves, with one each flanking the fireplace. Old knickknacks also took up space on the shelves, along with a few old family pictures. The old writing desk was pushed up in the corner and to the right of the fireplace. The view out the window was breathtaking and one I could certainly get used to. Ryder said it had been that way when his sister Kate used to spend time here in the house.
I walked up and reached to pull out a book but screamed when I heard a loud crash. Turning, I saw a picture frame had fallen off the shelf and landed on the desk.
“Holy living shit balls. That scared the piss out of me!”
I used the furniture to make my way over to the desk. My drawing pad was sitting neatly on the side table, waiting patiently for me to get back to work. I didn’t have to turn in my design to Maurice until next week, so I had plenty of time to play and explore.
By the time I got to the desk, I felt exhausted. “Jesus,” I panted out. “I need to move around more. I’m out of shape.”
I lifted the picture and gasped when I saw it. “Kate,” I whispered as I looked into her deep blue eyes. Lifting my gaze, I scanned all the other pictures of Ryder’s family. Most were of his great-grandparents, his grandparents and his father. There were a few of all the kids, but this seemed to be the only picture of Kate.
“That’s weird. I wonder if Lucy put this here after …”
I stopped talking when I felt a chill come over my body. The glass in the picture frame cracked as I lightly ran my finger along the pattern. I couldn’t help but feel like the picture was calling out to me. Almost as if Kate was trying to tell me something.
Closing my eyes, I took in a deep breath.
“So, this is all new to me. I’m not really even sure if you’re here, Kate. If you are, please don’t make things fall at night. I’m just saying, I have a weak bladder and if you don’t want to scare your brother away from me by me peeing in the bed, let’s just come to that understanding now shall we?”
I peeked my eyes open and glanced around. “Hello? Anyone here?”
Good lord. I’m talking to pretend ghosts now. Maybe I do need to get out of this house.
Pushing out a breath, I let out a giggle. “I’ve officially gone insane.”
Placing the picture on the desk again, I turned to head back to the table and to the bookshelf but something caught my eye. The sunlight was hitting the picture frame and casting the light onto a book. Reaching up, I pulled it out and gasped.
Montgomery Family Bible
“Oh my word … this is beautiful.”
The leather Bible was old and in delicate shape. I carefully opened it to see the front pages filled out with births and marriages.
My heartbeat began beating faster as I carefully closed it and made my way over to the couch. Slowly sitting down, I set the Bible on the table and cautiously opened it again. This time, I ran my finger over the faded writing.
Robert Montgomery – Hampshire 1890
Candice Montgomery – Hampshire 1892
Katherine Montgomery – Hampshire 1893
“Holy. Shit,” I mumbled as I tried to read the next name but couldn’t make it out.
My head snapped up as I looked around. “How cool is this!”
When I glanced back down to the Bible, I saw a piece of paper sticking out and turned to the page that held it.
It was an old letter folded up neatly. I ever so carefully unfolded it and started to read it.
I read the letter three times before folding it back up tucking it into the page where I found it.
What did he do? What was the decision he made? Did Lizzy accept his proposal? Was that the same Robert as in the Bible? Who was Lizzy?
My mind
raced as I carefully turned each page. I was stunned to find another letter … this one much more recent.
As I read it, my heart dropped and tears formed in my eyes. It was clear who had written it.
My hands dropped to my lap as I held the letter.
Kate.
She must not have had a chance to mail the letter to her best friend before she passed away.
I placed the letter on the table and began going through the Bible in hopes of finding another letter or something from either Robert or Kate. After no luck, I turned and glanced back over to the shelf.
“There has to be a journal somewhere.”
I stood and made my way back over to investigate. Glancing down to Kate’s picture on the desk, my eyes moved across the desk as I took it in. Leaning over, I looked at the old piece of furniture.
“I wonder if it’s like Grandma’s old desk,” I mumbled to myself as I reached under to find a button that might open a secret drawer. When I felt it, I smiled wide. Holy hell … could it have been really that easy?
“Bingo. If all these old pieces had secret compartments how was anything kept secret?”
The excitement in finding an old journal had my hands shaking. Scandalous love affairs! Wait until I tell Mom about this. She’ll eat it up.
I tried my best to bend over more to watch where the drawer opened. Hitting the button, a small drawer at the bottom of the desk opened. Reaching down, I took out a package that had been neatly wrapped in a piece of burlap.
Shutting the drawer, I stood and looked at the treasure I had in my hands. I’d never been so excited in my life to figure out what I had stumbled upon.
As I made my way back to the sofa, I tried to settle my breathing down. This kind of thing only happened in books where you found old Bibles and journals. “Let’s see what kind of trouble the Robert and Lizzy were up to.”
The fabric fell to the side easily as I gasped at what was in my hands. It wasn’t an old journal from Lizzy. My fingers lightly moved across the journal owner’s name.
Kate Montgomery
“HOW IS AVA feeling?” Nate asked.