Montana Sky

“We can’t leave Adam alone.”
    “He’s the one with the gun,” Tess began.
    “I can’t leave him alone.” Quaking at the prospect of defying an order, Lily nonetheless turned and started back.
    “Hey, don’t—oh, hell. This’ll make a dandy scene in a script,” Tess muttered, and trotted after her. “You know, if he shoots us by mistake, we’re going to be really sorry.”
    Lily only shook her head and, veering off the road, started into the hills, following Adam’s tracks. “You know how to get back if you had to ride quickly?”
    “Yeah, I think, but—Christ, this is insane. Let’s just—”
    The gunshot split the air and echoed like thunder. Before Tess could do more than cling to her skittish horse, Lily was galloping headlong into the trees.
     
    N ATE DIDN ’ T COME ALONE . BEN DROVE UP BEHIND HIM . with his sister-in-law and his niece. Shelly came into the house chattering and immediately began unwrapping the baby.
    “I should have called, I know, but when Ben said he was coming by I just grabbed Abigail and jumped into the rig. We’ve been dying for company. I know you’ve got business to tend to, but Abby and I can visit with Bess while you’re talking. I hope you don’t mind.”
    “Of course I don’t. It’s good to see you.”
    It was always good to see Shelly, with her happy chatter and sunny smile. She was, Willa had always thought, perfect for Zack. They meshed like butter on popcorn, both lively and entertaining.
    With the baby happily kicking on the sofa, Shelly peeled off her hat and fluffed her sunny blond hair. The short, sassy cut suited her pixie face and petite build, and her eyes were the color of fog in the mountains.
    “Well, I didn’t give Ben much choice, but I swear I’ll stay out of your way until you’ve finished.”
    “Don’t be silly. I haven’t been able to play with the baby in weeks. And she’s grown so. Haven’t you, sweetheart?” Indulging herself, Willa lifted Abby and hefted her high over her head. “Her eyes are turning green.”
    “She’s going to have McKinnon eyes,” Shelly agreed. “You’d think she’d have the gratitude to take after me a bit, since I’m the one who carried her around for nine months, but she looks just like her pa.”
    “I don’t know, I think she’s got your ears.” Willa brought Abby close to kiss the tip of her nose.
    “Do you?” Shelly perked up immediately. “You know she’s sleeping right through the night already. Only five months old. After all the horror stories I heard about teething and walking the floor, I figured I’d—” She held up both hands as if to signal herself to stop. “There I go, and I promised I’d stay out of the way. Zack says I could talk the bark off a tree.”
    “Zack’ll talk you blind,” Ben put in. “Surprises me that with the two of you as parents, Abby didn’t pop out talking.” He reached out to tweak the baby’s cheek and grinned at Willa. “She’s a pretty handful, isn’t she?”
    “And sweet-natured, which proves she isn’t all McKinnon.” With some regret, Willa passed the cooing baby back to her mother. “Bess is back in the kitchen, Shelly. I know she’d love to see you and Abby.”
    “I hope you have time for a little visit when you’re done, Will.” Shelly laid a hand on Willa’s arm. “Sarah wanted to come by, too, but she couldn’t get away. We’ve been thinking about you.”
    “I’ll be down soon. Maybe you can talk Bess into parting with some of the pie she’s been making for supper. Everything’s up in the office,” she added to the others, and started upstairs.
    “You understand this is just for form’s sake, Will,” Nate began. “Just so there’s no question about adhering to the terms of the will.”
    “Yeah, no problem.” But her back was stiff as she led the way into the office.
    “Didn’t see your sisters around.”
    “They’re out riding with Adam,” Willa told him, moving behind the desk. “I don’t imagine they’ll be out too much longer. Hollywood’s blood’s too thin for her to handle the cold for more than an hour or so.”
    Nate sat, stretched out his legs. “So, I see you two are still getting along beautifully.”
    “We stay out of each other’s way.” She handed him a record book. “It works well enough.”
    “It’s going to be a long winter.” Ben eased a hip onto the edge of the desk. “You two ought to think about making peace, or just shooting each other to get it