Montana Hearts Read Free Page B

instructed, she took Second Street north out of town. Residences on modest lots quickly gave way to open prairie. Scattered clusters of cattle grazed on rolling hillsides and horses stood head-to-tail in pairs beneath shade trees, switching flies with their tails. A gentle breeze rippled the fields of tall grass like waves on a summer-green ocean.
    Soon she spotted her destination. She turned off the road to drive under the arched entrance of the Rocking R Ranch. In the distance, a two-story house appeared through the rising waves of heat. Several outbuildings were also visible including a large red barn and a corral. The Rocking R appeared to be a profitable enterprise.
    In front of the house, a white gazebo sat in the middle of a lawn surrounded by flower beds that had been left untended for some length of time. Weeds had invaded the plots where rosebushes and irises had gone scraggly. Sarah suspected Zoe had kept her garden a showpiece. Since her death, the family had let the beauty wither away.
    A porch with two wicker rocking chairs and a cedar porch swing stretched the width of the house on the western side. She imagined sitting there at the end of a day, drinking iced tea and watching the sun set behind the distant mountains.
    A black-and-white dog wandered out of the barn and barked at her.
    As soon as Sarah came to a stop, the front door of the house opened. Kurt waited for her on the porch, his thumbs hooked in the pockets of his jeans, his legs wide apart. The cuffs of his blue work shirt were rolled to his elbows, revealing muscular arms lightly covered in dusky hair.
    The dog had kept track of her as far as the corner of the house, where he stood guard.
    â€œThanks for coming,” Kurt said as she reached the porch steps.
    â€œYou have an amazing place here. How much of this land do you own?”
    â€œAbout all you can see plus a little bit more.” She sensed he wasn’t bragging. He was simply stating a fact.
    Sarah’s small cottage on a city lot didn’t bear comparison.
    â€œCome on in. Beth’s fixing some iced tea. I wanted you to meet my kids.”
    He held the screen door open for her. As she passed him, she suddenly realized how tall Kurt was. He stood well over six feet. At five foot four, she barely came up to his chin.
    She stepped inside and caught the faint scent of lemony furniture polish.
    The Western decor was immediately obvious, maple furniture with floral print upholstery. A large fireplace made of river rocks bisected one wall, a variety of riding trophies displayed on the oak mantel. The opposite wall contained family photographs, grandparents and probably great-grandparents in old black-and-white shots, the history of the Rocking R Ranch down through thedecades. In the center of the collage stood Kurt and his beautiful blonde bride, Zoe.
    With a lump in her throat, Sarah quickly looked away. Guilt burrowed like a garden gopher into her midsection, as though she were responsible for stealing Zoe’s life. Not just exercising her heart.
    Sarah struggled to regain her composure.
    Kurt introduced his son, Toby.
    She extended her hand to the boy, the resemblance to his father striking. “I guess some of those trophies are yours.”
    â€œYep.” Dressed like his father in jeans and a work shirt, he shook her hand firmly. “Calf roping for ten and under.”
    â€œCongratulations.” She felt overdressed wearing slacks and a fussy cotton blouse when the uniform of the day seemed to favor jeans.
    â€œHave a seat, Ms. Barkley.” When she sat down on the chintz-covered couch, Kurt said, “How is it you happen to be in Sweet Grass Valley?”
    â€œI’m on vacation, taking some time off to see the countryside.” She wondered what he would say if she told him the truth. How she had ferreted out the death of his wife. And why.
    Sitting in the adjacent armchair, Kurt appeared to consider her answer. “Did you lose you job or