A Valentine's Choice: A Montana Sky Series Holiday Novella (The Montana Sky Series) by Debra Holland Page A

only. But , she argued with herself, there’d be no need to grow a potato crop to sell, for Alana and I wouldn’t need the money to survive.
    In the distance, Bridget heard the sound of the side door, and then the firm clicks of male boot heels and the jingle of spurs on the wooden floor. Quickly, she tucked both Valentine cards into the book and closed it.
    James burst into the room. “Bridget, I have good news for you!”
    “What?” She dropped the book onto a side table and stood, moving to meet him.
    He clasped her hands. “I rode to town to see Dr. Cameron. He visited your aunt just yesterday and told me her fever had broken, and he expects a full, although slow, recovery.”
    “Oh, Jamie!” She threw herself into his arms, tears of joy in her eyes.
    He hugged her tight. “And there’s more.”
    She pulled away enough to gaze into his dear face.
    “Dr. Cameron says your sister has a good appetite, has put on weight, and has lost the shadows in her eyes.” He grinned, showing his dimples. “I figured an update on your family would be the best Valentine’s Day gift I could give you.”
    “Ye figured right!”
    The weight Bridget had been carrying for weeks—no, if truth be told, for months —lifted from her shoulders, and she burst into tears of joy, sagging against him.
    His arms tightened around her, and he kissed her head. “Go ahead and cry, dearest. I know how worried you’ve been.”
    She took full advantage of his offer, sobbing out the strain and fear of the last year.
    He held her until she wept out the pain, then with one arm still around her shoulders, James fished a handkerchief from his pocket and handed her the cloth.
    Bridget mopped her eyes and turned her face from him to blow her nose. She became conscious that her eyes and nose must be red, not the appearance she wanted to present on such an important occasion. “Oh, dear. I must be a sight.”
    “A beautiful sight, my love.”
    “Sally!” Bridget clutched his arm. “Have ye told her?”
    “No. I came straight to you.”
    “We must go to her this instant. Oh, how happy she’ll be!” She turned to rush out the door.
    James grabbed her arm. “Wait! The news can keep for a few more minutes, for I need to ask you an important question.”
    “Oh, I know.” She practically caroled the words.
    He cocked an eyebrow and pressed his lips tight. “You do, do you?”
    Bridget wiggled from his grasp, picked up the book, and pulled out his Valentine, trying to take care so he wouldn’t see Patrick’s. But the edges caught, and the fancy card dropped to the floor. She let it lay and held up James’s. “I will be yers, my dearest Jamie.”
    “Where did you get that?”
    Puzzled by the question, she cocked her head. “From Christine.”
    “That little rascal. She sure put one over on me!” Shaking his head, James laughed. “I’d planned to buy you a card like that.” He pointed toward the floor. “But I didn’t do so soon enough. Mrs. Cobb told me that Patrick had bought the last one. So when I saw how poorly mine turned out, I gave up on the idea.”
    “’Tis a lovely card, Jamie. I won’t have you disparage your gift. I shall treasure yer Valentine all my days for ye made it with yer own hands.” She set the card on the table and held out her hand for his.
    James drew Bridget toward him, staring into her face, his eyes full of wonder.
    His gaze penetrated all the way into her heart, which swelled with happiness.
    “So you’ll marry me, my darling?” he asked. “Soon? I know from experience that we, the men of the ranch, can build a house in a week—winter or not. Although we’ll need an extra room for Alana, so the construction might take a few extra days.”
    He understands! Misty-eyed with joy, Bridget gazed at him. “Mr. Waite prophesied a Valentine wedding,” she reminded him.
    He kissed the tip of her nose. “Well, we came close. But I’m sure you’ll want to wait until your aunt has recovered and your