Katie and the Marshal (Montana Women Book 1) Page 7
“I’ll tell Father that you need me the extra hours. Are you and James prepared for the new baby?”
Just then, Katie’s husband, James Freeman, ambled outside. Pausing beside Katie, he took the broom from her hands and set it against the building. He scolded her, “Didn’t doc say you need bed rest, not work?”
Katie rolled her eyes. “Yes, but I’m going stir crazy!”
He hugged her as close as he could with her expanded stomach. “I know, but it won’t be for much longer.” He glanced up then. “Hey, Annie. How are you?”
“Just fine, thank you.” Annie looked between the two of them; saw the mock scowl on James’s face and the frown on Katie’s brow. “You two are more than ready for that baby to be born, aren’t you?”
“Baby!” Melanie exclaimed, excitement in her eyes.
James lifted Melanie in his arms, laughed and rubbed noses with her.
Annie laughed, marveling at the likeness between Katie and Melanie. Almost nine months to the day after James and Katie married, they had Melanie. It took another few years of praying for another child before Katie was pregnant again. Annie looked at James and saw his curiosity as he stared at Cane.
Where are my manners?
“Oh, uh, Katie, James? This is Cane Smith, newly arrived from Texas.”
James stepped forward and reached across Annie. “We’ve met before, briefly,” James said.
Cane took James’s hand. “Thanks for passing on the letter to the judge. I appreciate it.”
“No problem.” James stepped back from the wagon and looked at Annie, then Cane. “How long you going to be in Bozeman?”
“I’m staying permanently. Looking for some land to raise cattle and horses.”
“When you get a chance, take a look at the Ames place south of here twenty miles or so. It just went up for a sale. It’s a prime piece of property, so I don’t expect it to be unsold for long.”
Cane nodded. “Thanks for the tip.”
“We need to get home,” Annie said. She smiled at Katie. “See you Saturday.”
“I really do appreciate your help, Annie.” Katie’s gaze slid to Cane. “So how long have the two of you known each other?”
James warned, “Honey…”
Annie laughed. “I should have mentioned that we just met. Cane has business with Father.”
“I see,” Katie said.
Annie met Katie’s curious eyes and tried communicating through her own. I’ll tell you later. “We have to get home for supper.”
“I’ll see you Saturday then.”
Cane tipped his hat to Katie and a nod to James before slapping the horse’s rump with the leads. The sun had nearly set by the time they reached the Moonstruck Ranch. Mark scrambled down from the wagon and tore into the house. “Pa! Pa! We’re home, and Annie’s cooking us supper!”
Annie went to leave the wagon and found Cane standing with his arms raised to help her down. She bit her lower lip with indecision. He made the decision for her when he wound his hands around her waist and easily plucked her from her seat. “I don’t bite,” he said softly.
She raised her brow. “Oh! That’s good to hear.”
Cane chuckled. Annie’s face heated up in embarrassment.
On the ride home, she’d thought about the premonition at the schoolhouse. Could this be the man threatening to take Mark from her?
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About the Author
Nancy Pirri
Nancy Schumacher is the owner-publisher of Melange Books, LLC, writing under the pseudonyms, Nancy Pirri and Natasha Perry. She is a member of Romance Writers of America. She is also one of the founders of the RWA chapter, Northern Lights Writers (NLW), and is a member of Midwest Fiction Writers and Romancing the Lakes chapters in Minnesota.
www.nancypirri.com