Page 20 of Choosing the Montana Cowboy

She ran her hand across the stony structure, trying to imagine how difficult it must have been to do that work before modern equipment was available. “So much history…”

“Yeah, if those stones could talk.” Sam came to stand beside her, hands in his pocket as he cast a fond look at the fireplace. “You can see why it means so much to us to keep our lodge open.”

His voice was softer now, the teasing edge gone. In that moment, she didn’t feel like opponents vying for control over what happened on the property next door. Her mind went back to when they were at the café earlier, just two adults sharing a conversation. It surprised her again at how easy he could be to talk to when they weren’t talking business. And yet, their conversations seemed to always circle back to it.

“I can’t imagine that your lodge wouldn’t remain open,” she said truthfully. “I mean, look at the character encapsulated by every stone. Our resort is going to look night and day from this, Sam. Surely, guests wanting a more rustic experience will still choose the Flying J.”

“Maybe. But—”

“Sam! Natalie girl! We were just coming to look for you!”

The serious tone left Sam’s voice as he turned toward his grandfather. “Perfect timing as always, Gramps. We just finished our tour.”

“Well, then, follow me.” Eli started down another side hall. “The stew is ready and my Sunshine doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”

Natalie looked from Eli to his grandson. Her company was causing them anxiety. She’d never worked on a project that had overlooked one conflict, let alone two. And both affecting the same landowners! All she could hope was that tonight’s dinner went well and that everyone kept an open mind when it came to mutually agreeable solutions. Because back in Indiana, her boss was doing all he could to find them.

She just hoped it wouldn’t take a miracle for that to happen.

Chapter Seven

Sam couldn’t rememberthe last meal his family had shared that involved so much laughing and storytelling. If any of their guests had walked into the back kitchen, they would never have guessed it was Natalie’s first dinner with them. Whatever shyness or reservation she’d had when she was first introduced to Norah and Madison had quickly dissolved. By the end of the appetizer, the three had identified they all loved the same television bake-off show. By the end of the main course, they’d all shifted their attention to Sam.

Specifically, poking fun at him.

“There I was, crying about my missing hamster, and Dad sees the open window and says, ‘Well, now, honey, snakes gotta eat, too.’ Likethatwas going to make me feel better?”

Sam hung his head as Madison’s story brought a fresh round of laughter to the group. That hadn’t been his shining moment as a father, but it made his heart feel good that they could laugh about it all these years later. And, damn, his poor heart had been through more than enough.

“Did he at least buy you a new one?” Natalie asked, eyes bright with interest as they had been throughout the evening.

“Oh, trust me, I tried,” he confessed. “But Madison had decided it was time to move on to bigger and better pets. I told her we had several hundred head of bigger and better animals.”

Norah leaned forward, grinning. “So Auntie Norah stepped in. I took her up to Bozeman that weekend, and we went looking for pet stores. Found a cute one not too far from the Montana State University campus with all sorts of critters.”

“That’s where I fell in love with Milky.” Madison released a dreamy sigh.

Natalie looked between the two women. “Milky?”

“My albino silkie guinea pig. He was so cool. Used to run around my room, popcorning, then he’d get tired and come snuggle with me.”

“Popcorning?” Natalie laughed. “Is that a thing?”

Sam nodded. “Trust me, it is. Guineas get all excited and have these spasm-like hops when they’re happy. Madison must have had the happiest damn guinea pig on the planet. That thing popcorned all the time. Would scare the crap out of me when I’d go walking by her room.”

“He was awesome, but he didn’t last very long.” Madison frowned.

Natalie’s expression turned sympathetic. “Another open window?”

“Nah, they just don’t live very long,” his daughter replied. “Milky lasted about three years.”

“And after allthosetears, I said no more animals in the house,” Sam said.

Madison grinned and leaned toward Natalie. “Aunt Norah said if I wanted another pet, we could just add it to our lodge’s petting zoo. Now we have cats and dogs and ducks and chickens and goats and even two mini-Highland cows. We can go out there after dinner if you want to see them!”

Sam watched their guest, whose gaze flashed to his. Just like when he’d first arrived, the hint of fear lingered in her hazel eyes. What had happened to make her so nervous around animals?

And why did he feel the sudden need to protect her?

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