Page 60 of Choosing the Montana Cowboy

Her vision swam. The one thought that had helped get her through the past few days was that she’d be back out to Montana in no time. And the minute she got back, she was going to tell Sam how she felt about him. About them. About how she wanted more than anything to try to make things work between them, however it looked. These weren’t conversations she wanted to have over the phone—they were ones she wanted to have while held in his strong yet gentle arms, getting lost in those inviting green eyes with the blue flecks.

Now, she had no idea of when—or even if—that would be. Worse yet, Sam would be expecting a call.

What was she supposed to tell him?

*

Sam disconnected hiscall with Natalie and stood in the hallway outside the lodge’s family kitchen, staring down at his cell phone. She’d called with good news. He’d gotten what he wanted—the resort was no more. And while he should be doing backflips across the kitchen floor; the desire wasn’t there. How could it be, when the one person he wanted to celebrate most with, the person who had ultimately helped spare their ranch, wouldn’t be coming back?

“Well?” Gramps asked as Sam returned to the breakfast table. “What did she say?”

Sam’s gaze fell to the plate of flapjacks before him. They’d tasted so good only a moment ago. Now, his appetite had gone. “Terakion is pulling out. The lodge is safe.”

His grandfather let out a whoop as Gran came over to hug her husband. “I knew ole Natalie girl wouldn’t let us down.”

“You did put a lot of faith in that woman,” Gran agreed. “Although, for the record, it was my idea to get her on our side.”

“But I knew the moment she dumped that punch all over Samuel that she’d make things right,” Gramps countered. “So, when’s she coming back so we can properly thank her and do some celebrating?”

“She isn’t.” The words spilled from his numb lips.

Silence descended on the room.

“What do you mean, she isn’t?” Gran asked.

He shook his head, still trying to process it himself. “Her boss decided that since this job was over, they would shift her to another project she’d been helping with the past week. She flies to Greensboro on Sunday.”

“Then have her fly out here for a few days in between,” Gramps said. “There’s plenty of time—”

“She can’t leave there, Gramps, she’s got a mess she’s still trying to clean up from the storm last weekend.” Sam pounded a fist on the table. “Dammit! If her house weren’t all torn up, I’d pay for tickets to get her out here myself!”

He raked a hand through his hair, trying to rein in his emotions. It wasn’t the storm’s fault that he’d put off having the talk with her about continuing to see each other after her job here was done—it was his. He’d kept postponing it out of fear. He’d been a damned coward.

Now, he wanted to kick himself.

Was she missing him as much as he was missing her? He hoped she was. But then, he hadn’t told her how he felt about her—about them—before she’d left. Would she wait for him, or would the flame flicker and go out before their relationship had time to make roots and grow?

“Well, maybe you could go out there,” Gramps said. “See how she’s doing.”

Sam gave him a dark look. There wasn’t time to drive out there, and flying wasn’t going to happen.

Gran took a seat at the table. “Samuel, I know this isn’t how you’d hoped things would go, but just because she had to go home for a little while doesn’t mean it’s the end.”

The end—those words echoed in his head. Was that what this would turn into? Maybe he should start to consider that option instead of the alternative.

“I suppose if she keeps this job and is traveling all the time, it won’t work anyway. I want a woman who can be here by my side, not halfway across the country.”

“You knew what you were getting into from the start, so don’t act like this came as a surprise.” His grandmother smirked. “Sounds to me like you two have some talking to do. And that might require some patience on your part, tough as that will be. Just don’t give up on her the second she leaves town—that wouldn’t be fair to either of you, not before you two agree on where you’re headed. Natalie’s good for you; she makes you happy. And that makes us happy. So, find a way to make this work.”

“But what if she doesn’t want to do the long-distance thing?” he asked, the question slipping out softly.

Gramps reached over and gave his fisted hand a squeeze. “Then you convince her otherwise.”

If only it would be that easy. Sam excused himself then headed for the stable. He needed to get away, to give himself space to think. So, he did what he’d always done when his heart was stinging from love…

He found his horse Whiskey and went for a long ride.

Past the corrals, past the feed lots. Past the foothills and the creeks and the meadow. He rode until he reached Snake’s Bend, then stopped to let his horse rest and get some water. There, he sat beneath the tree he and Natalie had spent the afternoon under, catching their breath, talking, and making love. It swayed overhead in the morning’s warm breeze, sending a chill of loneliness through him.

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