Beneath Montana Skies by Mia Ross

Author:Mia Ross
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mills & Boon Love Inspired
Published: 2018-02-25T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

“Bye, Mommy,” Hannah said, hugging Morgan before giving her a sunshine smile. “I know you’ll do a great job telling those people in the government about our mustangs.”

“Thanks, punkin. I’ll try.”

Allie hung back a little, and Morgan didn’t prompt her to come say goodbye. It was mid-July, and somehow the conservancy had scraped together enough money for Ty and her to travel to Washington to present their case to Craig Barlowe’s Natural Resources Committee. They’d be gone for three days, which right now felt like an eternity for her to be separated from her girls. Even though Dad, Ryan, Jessie and Ben were all pitching in to cover her absence, she hadn’t been gone even a single night since they were born. The idea of taking a trip to the other side of the country without them was equal parts exciting and terrifying.

Once Hannah stepped back, Allie came forward, a rolled-up piece of drawing paper in her hands. Holding it up, she offered a rare smile of her own. “This is for you.”

Morgan had learned to respond quickly to her reserved child, so she immediately said, “Thank you, sweetie.” When she unrolled the page, she was truly amazed at the detailed picture her daughter had drawn of the wild herd that meant so much to all of them. Hunkering down, she pointed to one horse in particular. “Is this one your favorite?”

Allie nodded. “She’s like Sadie.”

“She is, and I would’ve recognized her anywhere. You did a great job.”

“Hannah helped me with the flowers.”

As always, Morgan thought as she gathered both of them into her arms. Holding them away, she said, “I’m so proud of my talented girls. We Whittakers make a great team, don’t we?”

Both of them nodded, and she hugged them again, reluctant to let go. She had an important task ahead of her, but the fact that it was taking her away from them didn’t sit well with her. The single-mom effect, she mused sadly. The endless tug-of-war that went on between motherhood and her obligation to the larger world was always tough to manage, but today it was even more so.

Aware that she was sliding into the quicksand of self-pity, she was actually relieved when Ty’s truck pulled into the long driveway. Standing, she got a firm grip on her runaway emotions and shouldered her carry-on. Looking around the family circle who had come to see her off, she forced a confident tone. “That’s my ride. I’ll call you when we get there.”

“Weather looks good all the way east,” Dad told her, patting her shoulder. “You’ll have lots of prayers behind you when you make your presentation to the committee tomorrow.”

She knew he was behind that, and she smiled. “Thanks. That’s good to know.”

“Can’t miss,” Ryan assured her, his characteristic swagger on full display. “No matter where they’re from, folks know a good argument when they hear one.”

“Jessie and I are splitting rug rat duty,” Ben reminded her, flashing her one of his cheerful country-boy grins. “You can count on us.

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