Read Moon Over Montana (McCutcheon Family Series Book 5) for Free Online

hadn’t had a chance to stop by the bunkhouse and check the schedule for a few days. With completing the barn and then working Colton’s new horse, life had been busy. Now, with the lumpy jaw appearing in the herd, life would get busier.
    “Back to the bunkhouse.”
    Roady left and Luke closed the front door. Leaning to the side was the wooden bar that he’d drop into place just as soon as he dealt with the horses. Slowly, he reached out and touched the sturdy barrier, thinking how his ma had tried and failed to protect herself against her abductors all those years ago.
    “What is it?” Faith asked.
    When he looked over, a scrunch of worry marred her brow. She could read him like a book.
    “Nothin’,” he replied with a smile.
    He crossed the room and sank back into the sofa. The sight of his pretty wife did little to replace the niggling sensation of trouble in his gut. As hard as he tried, tonight that was impossible to do.

 
     
     
    Chapter Five
     
     
    A fter seeing Charity off with her parents, Brandon made one more fast visit to the jail. Jack was gone. The lamp left burning in the window cast a lonely light around the brick room. The jubilation he’d expected to feel on his return was dampened by the envelope burning a hole in his back pocket. With the wedding announcement, the meal, and the evening that had sped by so quickly, he’d hardly had a chance to think about what the letter might mean with respect to his and Charity’s life.
    He went to the back of the room and pulled open the solid, steel-fortified door. Dank air stirred in the short hallway. Three jail cells lined the right side. Each had a cot and blanket, a wooden bucket for drunkards’ vomit, and a chamber pot. Beyond the bar-lined window was a view of Half Hitch Street and the livery. A light winked on in the rustic two-story barn. June Pittman must still be working.
    Restless and not yet ready to open the letter, he turned on his heel. June would fill him in on the comings and goings of the regular folk while he’d been away. It wasn’t until he was across the street that a deep male voice drifted out from the livery. By June’s girlish laughter and quick, teasing tone, this fella might be more to her than just an acquaintance.
    His curiosity pricked, Brandon paused at the open double doors. His gaze swept the large straw-strewn barn. June sat on a stall divider, an unknown man standing a foot away. With all their talk, they hadn’t noticed his arrival.
    “Good evening,” he said.
    “Brandon!” June hopped down and rushed over to give him a hug. “Welcome home! It’s darn good to see your face back in Y Knot!”
    She was only chin high, so Brandon had to lean over to accomplish the embrace. “Thanks, June. Saw your light burning from the jail window, and wanted to come over and say hello.”
    June’s visitor stayed where he was. He was tall and burly and had a head of thick, dark hair. Brandon had never seen the man before.
    “When did you get back?”
    “This afternoon. Just finished supper with the whole McCutcheon clan at Cattlemen’s.”
    June stepped away, her hands still clutching his arms, and took stock. Silly as it was, his face warmed as if out in the sun.
    “How’s Charity?”
    “Good. And, actually, we announced our intention to marry tonight. News will be all over town by tomorrow. Lenore Saffelberg waited on our table and heard everything. Not that it’s a big secret or anything.”
    She pulled him in for another heartfelt hug. It was then the big fellow crossed the dirt floor and stood by her side, staking claim. Brandon couldn’t miss the hitch in his gait, unusual for someone his age. The hard set to his jaw and narrowed eyes said he did not appreciate the hugs his girl was giving to the newcomer. Brandon hid his smile.
    Turning, June gripped the fellow’s forearm and pulled him forward. “Brandon, this is Morgan Stanford. Came to town in your absence and works out at the Klinkner mill. Morgan,