Page 24 of Montana's Bravest

The lack of a father in the picture, the absence of a ring on her finger—it all hints at possibilities I hadn’t allowed myself to consider. I may be getting ahead of myself, but if I ever had a family of my own, I wanted them in it.

I watch, silently, as she loses herself in the memory of the snapshot. This woman is stunning. Her eyes are like the first strokes of brush from a master painter; spontaneous and unpretentious, soft yet striking. Definitely a class above Taylor. Her broad shoulders carry a pair of tight arms, made for work—and dare I say, made for loving another human being.

“So she’s home now?” I query.

“Yes.”

I’m waiting to hear her say ‘She’s with her dad.’

“With my mom.” She obviously feels the need to clarify, which I appreciate.

Mark appears, breaking the moment. “Sorry to interrupt, but I’ve got someone I’d like you to meet.” He looks at me straight, giving no room for me to interpret it as a joke.

“Be right back,” I say to Cass.

“It’s fine. Go!” she says.

Returning to the fold of the party, I’m introduced to a man who apparently has premises in Helena available to lease. But my attention keeps dragging back to Cass. She’s in her element, making each person feel seen and important, her charisma clear in the way the guests gravitate towards her.

Mid-conversation, I’m jerked out of the polite exchange by a movement at the periphery. A figure shadows Cassidy to the bathroom corridor. “Excuse me,” I blurt, drawn away by an instinctive pull of protection.

The scene that unfolds sets my blood ablaze. A man, bold and uninvited, has his hand on her breast, pinning her against the wall. But Cassidy is no damsel. She’s a storm. With a sharp pivot, she sends her elbow soaring into his nose.

The man laughs as he wipes his bloody nose—either he’s totally drunk, or enjoying the fight. I know Cass is quite capable of defending herself, but as his laughter turns sinister, it’s no time to test his intentions. I curve my arm around his waist and mercilessly drag him outside like a sack. Then I throw him onto the ground.

“Fuck!” he yells. This time he definitely feels pain.

I clutch and twist his hand, the one that tried to grope Cass’ breast. “You fucking touch her, I’ll guarantee you’ll spend at least a hundred days nursing your sorry fingers—every knuckle, every digit.Ifyou’re lucky!”

The man gets up as soon as I let him go. Pointing a finger at me, he staggers across the lawn.

“The hell!” Mark says as he joins me.

“Why the fuck did you invite that scumbag?” I scold him.

“He came with the governor’s son,” he says. “I didn’t know…”

“You should’ve known better!” I don’t think I’ve ever been that angry with him. Then I turn to the crowd. “There’s nothing to see here, folks. Please go inside.”

As everyone makes their way into the house, one figure remains—and I swear to God I’ve never seen a woman that pissed after being rescued.

“I had it under control, you know,” she complains.

This woman doesn’t need my protection. But the more she shows she doesn’t need me, the more I want to be close to her.

“You did,” I acknowledge her, but my admission hasn’t cooled the heat.

I take back my assessment of her eyes resembling Taylor Swift. The singer is known to channel her anger through her songs, but I bet she’ll never look as mad as Cassidy right now. She throws glances at the evicted guest who’s driving off. Perhaps her anger spawns both from my intervention and from an undiluted rage toward her attacker.

“With all due respect, Cassidy, you’re not in your bar, you’re in my house, and you’re my responsibility.”

Past her earlier fear, behind the tough persona she’s donning right now, there’s something in her that I can’t resist. If she gives me a chance, I know I’ll find in me the foundation that has been missing in my life. And I’ll build myself up so I can be the one she relies on.

“I’m sorry, we shouldn’t have invited him,” I apologize.

She straightens herself as if she hasn’t already. “We should go back inside.”

We enter as she delivers her final remark. “I do that all the time—kicking dickheads out, restoring peace. It’s no big deal. You shouldn’t have been so over the top.”

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