Page 2 of Montana Silence

Women should be seen and used, but not heard.

It was warm, but chills ran over my skin. In my mind, I still heard the sound of a belt marking my skin every time I made a sound he didn’t approve of.

After all these years, I hated that he still had this kind of hold on me. But Rayne kept saying that voicing it helped. Allowing it to exist in neutrality took away its power.

Still, the flashbacks had been getting worse lately, and I felt like I was moving backward. Like I was weak because of its ability to hijack my entire mind and body and literally put me on the ground.

But I didn’t have time to think about it right now. I had a place to be, and the evil lurking in my mind had no place at my friends’ wedding. It had no place anywhere near anyone, including me.

Now I just had to believe it.

Chapter1

Mara

The pileof plates in my arms teetered, and I just managed to keep them from crashing to the floor. That would have been bad. Instead, I got them over to one of the bins for the caterers and released them in relief.

There was still plenty to do, and I turned, observing the tent and the people in it. A variety of glasses were scattered around the space. I could collect the ones people seemed to be done with—it would keep me busy. My mind was still shaky from earlier.

Lena stepped in next to me as I picked up a glass, and she slipped an arm around my shoulder. “Mara?”

I looked at her with an eyebrow raised.

“Honey, you know you’re a guest and not the staff, right? You don’t have to bus the tables.”

A blush rose to my cheeks. “I know.” My voice was quiet—so quiet it could barely be heard over the cacophony of voices and music, but I preferred it that way.

If no one could hear me, it was nearly the same as remaining silent.

Lena laughed, but not like she was laughing at me. She would never do that. Lena was one of the kindest people I knew, and my life was filled with kind people. “Do your thing, girl. I just wanted to make sure you knew no one expects that of you here.” She squeezed me with the arm around my shoulder. “Just because you clean up at the ranch doesn’t mean it’s all we think of you.”

“Thank you.”

I knew it wasn’t what they thought, but it was still good to hear it.

Lena jumped and started laughing. Jude had snuck up behind her and pulled her away from me. They were engaged now, but it didn’t matter. Everyone considered them married.Theyeven considered themselves married. When they did have a wedding, it was going to be a party for the whole town.

Jude spun her around and took her face in his hands, kissing her soundly. After what they’d gone through, and how long they’d waited to be together, they didn’t hold back. “Hi,” he whispered.

“Hi.”

I saw just enough of Lena’s face to notice the way her eyes shone and the happiness there. Jude was still smiling when he turned to me. “How are you, Mara?”

Smiling, I nodded. I was okay. It wasn’t really the truth, but what was I going to say in the middle of Grant and Cori’s wedding reception?

“I was just telling her that she’s a guest and not being paid to bus the tables. So Ihope—” she looked at me with a wink “—that she enjoys herself.”

“I will,” I said, her joy finally breaking through and making me laugh.

She grinned, leaning into Jude. “Good.”

“Dance with me?” Jude murmured in her ear.

Lena flushed pink. “Always.”

He pulled her away to the dance floor, and I couldn’t help but watch them. They were so in love, and it was clear to everyone in their vicinity.

Grant pulled Cori onto the dance floor as well, and a hush fell over the crowd. The first dance had already happened, and I didn’t think there had been a dry eye in the tent. Because there was a time not so long ago when none of us was sure if Grant would be able to stand for a dance. But here he was, the two of them only having eyes for each other, standing tall and without any pain.

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