Montana Wrangler (13 page)

He switched the light on and hurried to open the door.

Not Paige.
Bryan.

“What's wrong?” Jay asked.

“I wanted to tell you I'm running away tonight. After everybody's asleep.” Bryan looked him right in the eye.

A full-blown panic attack spurred Jay to action. He yanked the boy inside and closed the door behind him. “You can't do that. Where would you go? How are you going to take care of yourself? What are you going to eat? Where are you going to sleep?”

“I'll be okay.” The boy stared at the floor, his voice not as cocky as it had been a minute ago.

It dawned on Jay that Bryan had come here hoping Jay would talk him out of his plan. He relaxed a little.

“Look, kid.” Jay put his hands on Bryan's shoulders and looked into the boy's troubled eyes. “It's going to be okay tomorrow. It's just a hearing. It's not like Paige is going to stuff you in her car and drag you off to Seattle right after the meeting.” Jay would do his best to stop that if the worst happened.

“But what if she does? It'll be too late for me to run away then.”

Jay didn't want to give Bryan too much hope. But he had to find a way to stop him from acting tonight. Then maybe there would be time to work things out.

“Look, how about I talk to the judge? Maybe he can come up with an idea to keep you here.”

“You'd do that?”

“I'll do my best. But no promises. Okay?”

Bryan threw his arms around Jay. “Thank you, thank you,” he sobbed. “I wanna stay here with you and Grandpa. You won't let some judge send me away, will you?”

Jay cupped the boy's head where it rested against his shoulder. In so many ways, Bryan was the son he'd never had. He'd been watching the boy grow into a strong, smart, fine young man for the past five years. Jay didn't want to lose him anymore than Bryan wanted to go. He loved him.

So did Paige.

But what of his feelings for Paige? Chances were they would fall on deaf ears.

* * *

The clock tower of the old Flathead County Courthouse in Kalispell stood out above the turn-of-the-century three-story building. The actual courts, however, had been moved across the street to the Justice Center.

Jay found a spot in the parking lot, and the three of them went inside.

Waiting in the hallway for the case to be called, Paige noticed Bryan fidgeting. He couldn't seem to keep his feet still. He rotated his head on his shoulders. Picked at a scab on his elbow. Glanced constantly at Jay as though looking for reassurance.

He'd been that way during the entire ride to Kalispell.

Both Jay and Bryan had dressed in good jeans. Jay wore a blue dress shirt with the cuffs rolled up, Bryan a red T-shirt with “Grizzlies” stenciled on the front. Paige was wearing the one outfit she'd brought to Bear Lake suitable for business. Or a funeral.

Several people were waiting along with them, including family groups. Most looked eager and hopeful.

In contrast, Paige's stomach was on a rampage. Her chest felt tight. She'd fiddled with the latch on her purse so much it was a wonder she hadn't broken it.

This could well be the most important day of her life. And Bryan's.

Finally a court clerk called them in. The room was small, nothing like a courtroom used for a jury trial. The gray-haired judge, dressed in a business suit, sat at a conference table, a stack of file folders next to him. A nameplate announced he was the Hon. T. S. Willinger.

Chairs were arranged at the table opposite him. Paige gestured for Bryan to sit next to her but he demurred, claiming a chair beside Jay, leaving Paige feeling like it was two against one.

The court clerk sat to the judge's right ready to record the hearing on her steno machine.

“Good morning,” Judge Willinger said with a friendly smile. He nodded toward Paige. “I take it you are Paige Barclay, who has requested that you be named guardian of...” He acknowledged Bryan with another nod. “Bryan Barclay, your nephew.”

“Yes, sir.”

He turned his attention to Jay. “And you are...?”

“Jay Red Elk. I'm, um...” He glanced at Bryan. “A friend. I work for Bryan's great-grandfather.”

The judge sifted through the forms Paige had submitted. “This all looks pretty straightforward. Based on the written request of the deceased mother of Bryan Barclay, his aunt, Miss Paige Barclay, has asked to be named Bryan's guardian.” He gave Bryan a pleasant smile. “You're a lucky young man to have your aunt—”

“I don't want her to be my guardian!” Bryan blurted out.

Judge Willinger's brows rose by an inch, and his forehead creased. “I beg your pardon?”

Tears filmed Bryan's brown eyes. “She's gonna take me to Seattle and make me stay there with her. I don't want to go. I want to stay here with Jay and my great-grandpa.” His voice sounded incredibly young. “He needs me.”

I need you too,
Paige almost burst out.

“Great-grandfather? You've mentioned him twice.” The judge questioned both Jay and Paige.

“Your Honor, my grandfather, Henry Stephenson,” Paige responded forcefully, “is eighty-five years old and in fragile health. He himself suggested to my sister that I be named Bryan's guardian should anything happen to her. That in itself should be reason enough to appoint me as guardian. As I noted in my application, I have included a copy of Kristine's will in her own handwriting to back up that statement.”

“Interesting.” The judge turned back to Bryan. “How old are you, young man?”

“I'm twelve.” The boy turned to Jay, his eyes frantic, tears now oozing down his cheeks. “You promised you'd stop her. Not let her take me away.”

Paige glared at Jay.
He'd promised?

“Your Honor,” Jay began as he reached his arm around Bryan's shoulders. “Bryan wants to stay in Bear Lake where he was born and has lived all of his life. I think that would be best for him. Because of that, I'd like to apply to be Bryan's guardian.”

“What?” Her face heating with shock, Paige shifted in her chair and gaped at Jay. “You can't do that. Krissy wanted me—”

“I tried to talk you into a compromise. Shared guardianship or something. But you wouldn't hear of it. I'm sorry, Paige.” His gaze darted to the judge.

“You're sorry?” she gasped. The pain of Jay's action was like a slap to her face. It took her breath away. “What about Krissy's wishes? Bryan's mother wanted
me
to raise him. You're not even a blood relative.”

Judge Willinger cleared his throat. “Let's remain calm, shall we?”

Paige turned on the judge. “I'm trying to fulfill my sister's last wish and you want me to remain calm?” Just yesterday Jay had kissed her. For the second time! He'd made her fall in love with him. And all the time he'd been plotting to become her nephew's guardian. Plotting to break her heart. How could he?

“Please, Miss Barclay.” His eyes sympathetic, the judge held up a hand to quiet her.

Seething, she sat back in her chair. Of course Jay hadn't been pleased about her moving Bryan to Seattle. She understood that. But to go so far as to challenge Krissy's wishes and become Bryan's guardian in Paige's place was unconscionable.

“Apparently this case is a little more complicated than I had anticipated.” Swiveling his chair, Judge Willinger talked quietly to his court clerk. After a moment, he returned his attention to Paige and the others.

“I believe this young man will be best served if I refer the case to a mediator. Because you, Miss Barclay, and you, Mr. Red Elk, both care about the boy, you'll be able to work out Bryan's living arrangement.”

Bryan jumped to his feet. “I'm not going to move to Seattle with Aunt Paige! I won't go!”

“Sit down, son,” the judge said patiently. “In two years, when you're fourteen, under Montana law you'll be able to decide where to live. But for now, promise me you'll let the adults work this out.”

Bryan sat, but his red-faced expression spoke more loudly than any words could. He wasn't promising any such thing.

Sick at heart, Paige squeezed her eyes closed. How could her plans, Krissy's wishes, the thing her parents would have wanted, have gone so wrong?

The court clerk finished her telephone conversation and whispered something to the judge.

He nodded and turned back to Paige and the others. “Your appointment with the mediator is scheduled for next Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. here at the courthouse. Meanwhile, Mr. Red Elk, you'll need to complete the necessary paperwork to contest Miss Barclay's application.”

The judge stood and swept out of the room, the court stenographer right behind him.

Paige's hopes and dreams for her future as Bryan's guardian, the chance to raise him, to love him as her own, shimmered like a desert mirage. Insubstantial.

As empty as her own life had been.

What would she do if the mediator recommended Jay as guardian instead of her?

Chapter Twelve

“I
'm sorry, Paige.”

Stepping out of the courthouse side by side, Bryan running ahead of them toward the parking lot, Paige angled a look at Jay. “No. You are not sorry. You softened me up. Made me care. And then undermined my application to be Bryan's guardian.”

“I was afraid Bryan might do something crazy.”

“Like actually want to move to Seattle?”

She climbed into the truck. Bryan was already in the backseat, avoiding her gaze. Head held high, she stared out the window. She was sure of one thing. No matter what happened with the mediator, she'd never again trust Jay.

Although Paige had no appetite, Jay stopped at a drive-thru to pick up lunch before they left Kalispell. They ate as he drove them back to Bear Lake.

They didn't speak.

The countryside on the outskirts of Kalispell spread out flatter than the area around Bear Lake, much of it planted with cherry orchards. Scattered fruit stands stood empty waiting for the harvest.

What would she do if she and Jay couldn't come to terms and the mediator ruled against her?

She drew a painful breath. She had her job. Her career.
If
she didn't get fired for staying away too long. For trying to do what she thought was best for Bryan.

Was she wrong? Had Krissy and Grandpa been wrong?

It's what Mom and Dad would want you to do.

She glanced at her watch as Jay turned off the highway, following the red arrow on the Bear Lake Outfitters sign. He pulled the truck up in front of the main house. Bryan started to get out.

“Wait just a minute,” she said, trying to stop Bryan. “I'm going to Seattle for the weekend. There's a big conference scheduled and my boss really wants me there by tomorrow when the guests start checking into the hotel. I'd like you to come with me, Bryan.”

“Tomorrow's the last day of school.” He pushed his door all the way open.

“You'd have free run of the hotel. There's a heated swimming pool. An exercise room. Even a rec room with table tennis and darts. Cable TV. I'll bring you back home on Monday.”

“I'd rather stay here.” He hopped down from the truck.

“If you come along, you'd get a chance to see my condo and a little of the city. Of course, I'm planning to buy a larger condo if you—”

“I'm not gonna live in a condo. Not ever.”

“Then a house. We can find something—” She heard the desperation in her voice, but it was too late. He'd already run off toward the barn and stables. His horse and the dog. His favorite things that she could never give him.

Tears clogged her throat. If he'd just give her a chance, they could be happy in Seattle.

* * *

An hour later, Jay was in the barn office doing some paperwork when Henry came shuffling in. “Paige left for Seattle. She seemed pretty upset.”

“I know.” Jay was wound up fairly tight, too. From the moment he'd told the judge he wanted to be Bryan's guardian, Paige had looked like she'd been run over by a herd of wild horses. She'd never seen it coming. He hadn't meant to blindside her. Guilt zinged him with a headache, a shot right between the eyes. But he had tried to tell her Seattle wasn't going to work for Bryan.

Henry pulled up another chair, dusted the seat off with his hat and sat down. “You want to tell me what's going on? All Paige said was that she'd be back next week for another hearing.” He smoothed the brim of his hat before putting it back on.

“I think I messed up big time, but I didn't know what else to do.” Jay told him about the court hearing, how he'd signed up to be Bryan's guardian and how there would be another meeting to mediate the case.

“Why'd you go and do a fool thing like that?” Henry scrunched his face, his wrinkles folding into a troubled mask.

“Because of the kid. Bryan's threatening to run away.”

“Nonsense. Once he knows he has to move to Seattle, he'll settle down.”

“I don't think so, Henry. He seems dead serious to me.” Bryan had ridden out of here as soon as he could after they'd gotten back home. He hadn't even taken time to change out of his good jeans. Jay had made sure the boy hadn't packed any gear to take with him. He was just out for a ride. Blowing off steam.

Removing his hat again, Henry scratched the top of his balding head. “I thought you and Paige were getting along pretty good.”

“We were.” But not anymore. Jay tripping her up had seen to that.

“I love that girl, son. You, too. Was kind of hoping there'd be a spark between you.”

“Yeah, there's a spark but it can't start much of a fire if she's living in Seattle and I'm living here.”

Henry settled his hat back on his head and stood. “Pity there isn't a way to fix that.” Moving slowly, he walked out of the office.

Staring after the old man, Jay knew he didn't want to move to Seattle any more than Bryan did. The only difference was that Jay was an adult. He couldn't be forced to live somewhere else.

Neither could Paige.

A real pity. Because he'd like a little more time to see if that
spark
Henry was talking about could ignite a full-fledged wildfire.

* * *

Driving straight through for nine hours got Paige home after midnight.

Her eyes burning from staring into headlights and her back aching, she hauled her suitcase upstairs and collapsed on her bed. She dragged the pillow into her arms, curled around it and cried the tears she'd been holding back all the way from Bear Lake.

When she woke, she staggered into the bathroom to take a shower. One look in the mirror and she knew there wasn't enough makeup in the world to disguise her puffy eyes.

If Jay hadn't kissed her, his betrayal wouldn't hurt so much. Why couldn't he have told her from the beginning that he wanted to be Bryan's guardian? At least she would have been prepared for a battle.

As she drank her coffee, she walked through her condo. She'd gone for contemporary furniture with smooth, simple lines and pastel colors in the living room. Oddly, after her time at Grandpa's house, it all looked dainty, not at all suitable for a big man like Jay. Or even an active boy like Bryan.

No stains on the carpet. No clutter on the coffee table. No comfortable spot for a twelve-year-old boy to sprawl out and be himself.

Of course, with her work schedule, she wasn't home often enough to make a mess. If Bryan lived here, she'd make it a point to be home more often. To spend quality time with him.

She winced as she stepped into her home office. A desk, chair and filing cabinet filled most of the room. She'd have to move most of it out into the living room to make space for Bryan, even temporarily.

If
she could get him to Seattle. Compared to the wide open spaces of Montana, he'd hate living here.

She pulled her lip between her teeth. She'd make it better for him. She vowed she would.
If
he gave her a chance.

She dressed in a green silk suit she had bought off the sale rack at Nordstrom. Picking up her briefcase and laptop, she went downstairs to her car. She didn't know many of her neighbors except for Mrs. Martell, an older woman who sometimes asked Paige to come in to feed her cats when she was away. Mrs. Martell had also been the one to invite her to church shortly after Paige had moved into the condo complex, which had been a true blessing.

As far as Paige knew, no children lived in this condo complex at all. Strictly an adult crowd.

Not much fun for a kid like Bryan.

* * *

The Elite Hotel in Seattle was fifteen stories tall and boasted a ballroom that seated nine hundred, if you squeezed them in tightly enough.

Paige used her employee pass to enter the underground garage. She wound her way down to the lowest level, parked and rode the elevator to the lobby. The buzz of guests chatting in various conversational groups greeted her as she stepped out onto the granite floor.

Compared to the silence surrounding her grandfather's house, the noise generated by these strangers offended her auditory nerves.

She waved a greeting to the bell captain and turned down the hallway to the guest services offices.

A stack of unopened mail overflowed her in-basket. A jumble of pink phone-message notes covered the top of her desk.

She scooped up the messages and sat down. Sorting through the pink slips, she discovered several from Mr. Emerald, her contact with the innkeepers' association. Apparently he'd been asking for changes in the original conference plan. Nowhere on the note had Betsy indicated she had taken care of the request. Paige was going to have to backtrack—

Mr. Armstrong rushed into her office. Usually he was very calm, almost staid, but today his face was flushed, his perfect silver hair mussed and his eyes wild.

“That Emerald fellow is demanding a wine cocktail reception tonight.” His highbrow English accent had turned Cockney. “Seven o'clock. He claims he called about it but no one got back to him.”

Entirely possible given the pink message slips on Paige's desk. “Apparently Betsy wasn't able to return his calls. Does catering know about the change?”

“They do not! You need to fix this right away. Peter is going to have a fit and Emerald is stomping all over the hotel complaining to anyone who'll listen what a mistake it was to book their conference here.”

“Yes, sir. I'll be happy to talk to them both immediately.” Of course, Mr. Armstrong was perfectly capable of altering the arrangements, but he'd rather yell at her.

“I can't imagine what made you think you could take two weeks off, Ms. Barclay. Not during our busy season.”

“Yes, it was unfortunate timing that my sister died so unexpectedly.” It was always busy season at the Seattle Elite Hotel.

Her sarcastic comment silenced him for a moment. Then he recovered as though she hadn't spoken and fussed at her about other details. When his tirade slowed, she asked, “Where might I find Mr. Emerald?”

“In the lobby. You can't miss him. He looks like a bowling ball in a Hawaiian shirt. That's the theme he wants for the cocktail party.”

Great!
She had to put a theme cocktail party together, including appropriate hors d'oeuvres and decorations, in seven hours. Peter Smedley, the catering manager, was going to kill her.

As predicted, Mr. Emerald was easy to spot. Unfortunately, he'd drawn a crowd of innkeepers around him, and he was waxing on about the lousy service they were getting.

Putting on her cheerful, competent face, Paige walked up to him and introduced herself. “I am so sorry there has been some miscommunication about this evening's cocktail party. If you'd like to step over to reception, I'm sure we can accommodate the changes you asked for.”

As he blustered about everything that was wrong, Paige couldn't help but imagine Mr. Emerald doing the hula in his garish shirt, rotating his ample figure to ukulele music. Only half listening to Emerald's complaints, she smiled as the “Hawaiian Wedding Song” played in her head.

When Emerald finally ran out of grievances, she agreed to make everything right for him, and quickly gave him a new estimate of cost. After a little sputtering, he signed the addendum to the contract.

Heading off to find Peter in catering, she mused that Jay, who was so athletic and physically graceful, would be a much better hula dancer than Mr. Emerald.

Jay would probably insist he would never do the hula; it was too girlie for a tough wrangler. And the image that came to mind was one she did not need and she forced it aside.

Why in the world was she thinking about Jay anyway? She'd wanted him to be her ally. He'd chosen to oppose her.

* * *

Bringing his trail riders back from an all-day trip through national forest land, Jay led them to the corral where they could dismount. He almost expected to see Paige standing on the front porch, a soft, gentle smile of welcome on her face.

But no, she wasn't there. She might never smile at him again.

He'd seen a bald eagle in flight around noon today and thought of Paige. She'd been so wide-eyed. Eager for the sights Mother Nature provided. She'd shared his awe at the natural cathedral where he'd kissed her.

He wondered if she was just as eager in her hotel job. Probably. When she set her mind to something, she was fully committed, whether it was learning to ride a horse or being Bryan's guardian.

Picturing her hobnobbing with fancy businessmen in their suits and ties, he felt her absence like a physical blow to his midsection.

Bryan came running out of the barn. “I'll unsaddle the horses and get 'em cooled down.”

“Great.” He relinquished the reins to the boy. “How was the last day of school?”

“Okay, I guess. Mrs. Waterfield said I'd be in Mr. King's sixth grade class next year.”

If Bryan was still living in Bear Lake.

“He's a cool dude,” Bryan continued. “At recess he comes out and plays basketball with the guys.”

“Sounds like you'd like having him for a teacher.”

“Yep. Can I go on the trail ride tomorrow?”

“Sure. If Henry says you can.”

Bryan tugged on the reins, taking the two horses to their respective stalls.

If Paige had her way, tomorrow's trail ride might be the last Bryan took for a long time. Unless the boy made good on his threat and went riding off on his own.

Removing his hat, Jay threaded his fingers through his hair.
Please God, whatever happens, watch over Bryan and keep him safe. Especially if You decide he should live in Seattle with Paige.

Somehow, in the past five years Bryan had become the son he was never likely to have. He didn't want to go through the heartbreak of losing a second son.

Jay's guts twisted as he went to round up the rest of the horses to be unsaddled, fed and groomed. When it came to Bryan's future, it was really hard to say
Thy will be done.