Page 61 of Beyond Montana's Sky
“That I am, Isaac.” The tall, elegantly dressed man grinned, looking as different from the solemn banker Cai had previously done business with as could be.
Full of vim and vigor, too. A honeymoon with a beautiful bride will do that to a man.
Cai couldn’t help envying him. He discretely studied Livingston’s face, seeing reminders of Edith in the large brown eyes, the similar features.
If Edith and I had a child, would he or she have brown eyes or blue?All of a sudden, he longed for that imaginary child. The thought of he or she never existing made his stomach ache.
Livingston placed a palm on the counter. “Everything all right, here, Isaac?”
“Fine and dandy, sir. Been rather quiet since the last of the wedding guests left. The staff has been taking days off like you said to.”
“Good, good.” Livingston nodded.
“We have several new bookings for Christmas time,” Isaac rushed, obviously eager to please. “Mr. Rockwell can tell you more. He has stepped out, but he will be back in half an hour.”
Livingston gave Cai a curious glance. “You here on business?”
“As a matter of fact. Uh….”
The hotel owner tipped his head toward an open door in the back. “Join me in my office.”
Cai nodded.
The man paused and swept his gaze around the lobby, as if assessing the place.
“Missing a few pews?” Cai joked.
Livingston chuckled. “More than a few. A whole church’s worth.” As he walked toward his office, Cai fell into step with him.
At the doorway, Livingston waved an arm to usher him inside. “You should see how full the attic is. Or maybe you already did. I heard you and your men helped haul the pews upstairs. You all have my gratitude.”
“I’ll pass your thanks on to the Andersons. I think a few of them were showing off their muscles for the ladies and hefted them up the stairs. I, of course, had better sense and only helped move the ones around the lobby.”So I could keep an eye on Edith.
Livingston motioned for him to sit in one of the two blue wingchairs in front of the large desk. “I saw you dancing at the wedding with my sister….” He let the hint for information hang and moved around the desk to settle in the leather chair. He met Cai’s gaze with knowing eyes.
“That I was.” Cai wasn’t about to elaborate with Edith’s brother. He glanced at the gold-framed paintings on the walls, the mistiness of the subjects making him think they must be by impressionists. Such fancy artwork didn’t belong on the log walls of a ranch house.How could I even think Edith might be happy there?
“The night of the snowstorm, my sister spent the night at your ranch.”
A night to remember forever.“That she did.” He lied to Edith’s brother without a trace of guilt.
Caleb fiddled with a pencil. “The week before the wedding, Edith wasn’t herself. She was…different. Distracted. I just put her mood down to the stress of the wedding, to our relatives visiting, to leaving…. Until I saw her dancing with you. The two of you looked very…” He raised his eyebrows and smiled. “Takenwith each other.”
That we were.Cai wasn’t about to say anything too revealing or anything at all, for that matter.
Livingston waited, apparently expecting more.
In an abrupt change of direction, Cai decided to throw caution to the winds. “Iamvery taken with your sister.”
The man’s eyebrows lowered. He nodded for Cai to continue.
“I wrangled a promise out of Edith that she’d write to me.” He pulled her letter from the envelope, waved the paper, and turned the page around to show the minuscule amount of words on the front. He kept his arm back far enough so Livingston couldn’t make out the actual meaning. Still holding the letter in the air, he reached around and tapped the middle. “As you can see, thesmallestamount she could possibly write.”
A smile played about Livingston’s mouth, but he pressed his lips tight.
Knowing he was making himself a laughingstock, Cai appreciated the man’s effort to remain straight-faced. Encouraged nonetheless, he plunged on. “So, I won’t allow her to get away with it. I’d like to respond. Iintendto respond. Right now.”
Livingston laughed. “Writing it here at the hotel will save you another long round trip.” He sat back and steepled his fingers. “I suppose I should act brotherly and ask your intentions toward my sister. But I saw your expression when you danced with her. You’re in love with Edith.”
