The Montana Rancher's Bride (New Montana Brides) by Susan Leigh Carlton Page B
Authors: Susan Leigh Carlton
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Sunday…
“Today is a sad day for our church family as we mourn the loss of two loved on es, Blaise and Maddie Jamison. They were vital members of our family and they will be missed.” He read a scripture and Letty led the congregation in singing one of the traditional hymns.
Unbeknownst to Case, after he left the church, se veral of the members got together and decided to have a barn raising to replace the burned out barn.
The following Saturday, seven wagons driven by neighbors from the surrounding ranches, rolled into the driveway by the barn. The wagons were loaded with lumber, and tools with which to build. The wives had prepared food, and by dark, the new burned out po rtions of the barn were replaced. Case was humbled by the regard his family had been held by their friends and neighbors. He choked up when he tried to express his gratitude. To himself, he vowed he would be a good neighbor to these people in their times of need.
chapter Three
Life Goes On
Life without his parents was not something Case had planned . When his mother was alive, the house was vibrant and alive. The aromas of freshly baked bread or pies filled the house. Dinner table conversations were lively and across many subjects.
Now, he took his meals with the ranch hands, one of whom served as the cook . Very little conversation passed between them. In between meals, his life was atop a horse, wrangling cattle, with a trip into Helena every two or three weeks.
In for supplies, his first stop was the general store. “Haven’t seen you for some time, how have you been?” asked Silas.
“Working hard. We’re shorthanded right now, so the saddle is my home. I spent the past week rounding up strays. For some reason, the herd seems to be always looking for greener pastures.
“Her e’s the list the cook gave me. While you get it together, I’m going over to the café and have a bite cooked by someone that isn’t a cowboy, and with something besides beans. Then I’ll stop by to see Letty and Jack.”
“Take your time,” Silas said. “I’ve got another order to work on. Tell the Owens’ I said hello. I haven’t seen them in several days either,” Silas said.
“I’ll be back after a while,” Case said.
He hadn’t seen Jack and Letty since the Saturday of the barn raising and was having some guilt feeling about it. “Case,” a concerned Letty said, “how have you been? We’ve missed you.”
“I was just telling Silas, we’re a bit short-handed at the ranch right now and I’ve been working from sunup to sundown.”
“You know that’s not good for you. You need to let your mind and body rest, just like the Bible says.
“Yeah, well, whoever wrote that didn’t know an ything about life on a ranch,” Case said.
“Come on now,” Jack said . “Your father always found time to kick back or come to church. You should too.”
“Keeping busy keeps my mind occupied, so I don’t get so lonely.”
Letty said, “I want you to promise to come to church Sunday, and then take dinner with us.”
“I don’t know, Letty. I have a lot to do.”
“I’m not going to take no for an answer,” Letty said.
“Listen to the lady, Case. You can’t win an argument with her. I never have and I’ve tried for years. “She might not always right, but she’s never wrong. In her own mind, that is.” He laughed to show he was joking
“Listen to you. He’s going to think I boss you around,” she said.
“It is what it is,” said Jack.
“I promise, Letty. I’ll be at church this Sunday or next Sunday,” he offered.
“Why not both Sundays?” she countered.
“What did I tell you? Give up, and we’ll see you Sunday,” Jack said,
Sunday…
Case was out of bed and at work before sunup. With all of his chores complete, after breakfast, he got dressed in his Sunday clothes and rode into town. He was going to keep his promise to Letty. He left his horse at the livery stable, asked him to give the
“Today is a sad day for our church family as we mourn the loss of two loved on es, Blaise and Maddie Jamison. They were vital members of our family and they will be missed.” He read a scripture and Letty led the congregation in singing one of the traditional hymns.
Unbeknownst to Case, after he left the church, se veral of the members got together and decided to have a barn raising to replace the burned out barn.
The following Saturday, seven wagons driven by neighbors from the surrounding ranches, rolled into the driveway by the barn. The wagons were loaded with lumber, and tools with which to build. The wives had prepared food, and by dark, the new burned out po rtions of the barn were replaced. Case was humbled by the regard his family had been held by their friends and neighbors. He choked up when he tried to express his gratitude. To himself, he vowed he would be a good neighbor to these people in their times of need.
chapter Three
Life Goes On
Life without his parents was not something Case had planned . When his mother was alive, the house was vibrant and alive. The aromas of freshly baked bread or pies filled the house. Dinner table conversations were lively and across many subjects.
Now, he took his meals with the ranch hands, one of whom served as the cook . Very little conversation passed between them. In between meals, his life was atop a horse, wrangling cattle, with a trip into Helena every two or three weeks.
In for supplies, his first stop was the general store. “Haven’t seen you for some time, how have you been?” asked Silas.
“Working hard. We’re shorthanded right now, so the saddle is my home. I spent the past week rounding up strays. For some reason, the herd seems to be always looking for greener pastures.
“Her e’s the list the cook gave me. While you get it together, I’m going over to the café and have a bite cooked by someone that isn’t a cowboy, and with something besides beans. Then I’ll stop by to see Letty and Jack.”
“Take your time,” Silas said. “I’ve got another order to work on. Tell the Owens’ I said hello. I haven’t seen them in several days either,” Silas said.
“I’ll be back after a while,” Case said.
He hadn’t seen Jack and Letty since the Saturday of the barn raising and was having some guilt feeling about it. “Case,” a concerned Letty said, “how have you been? We’ve missed you.”
“I was just telling Silas, we’re a bit short-handed at the ranch right now and I’ve been working from sunup to sundown.”
“You know that’s not good for you. You need to let your mind and body rest, just like the Bible says.
“Yeah, well, whoever wrote that didn’t know an ything about life on a ranch,” Case said.
“Come on now,” Jack said . “Your father always found time to kick back or come to church. You should too.”
“Keeping busy keeps my mind occupied, so I don’t get so lonely.”
Letty said, “I want you to promise to come to church Sunday, and then take dinner with us.”
“I don’t know, Letty. I have a lot to do.”
“I’m not going to take no for an answer,” Letty said.
“Listen to the lady, Case. You can’t win an argument with her. I never have and I’ve tried for years. “She might not always right, but she’s never wrong. In her own mind, that is.” He laughed to show he was joking
“Listen to you. He’s going to think I boss you around,” she said.
“It is what it is,” said Jack.
“I promise, Letty. I’ll be at church this Sunday or next Sunday,” he offered.
“Why not both Sundays?” she countered.
“What did I tell you? Give up, and we’ll see you Sunday,” Jack said,
Sunday…
Case was out of bed and at work before sunup. With all of his chores complete, after breakfast, he got dressed in his Sunday clothes and rode into town. He was going to keep his promise to Letty. He left his horse at the livery stable, asked him to give the
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