The Cowboy’s Lost Family (The Malones of Grand, Montana Book 1) by Roxanne Snopek

Author:Roxanne Snopek [Snopek, Roxanne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tule Publishing
Published: 2023-08-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Brade headed for the boardwalk early the next morning, needing coffee and escape from his own thoughts. He had an appointment to speak with the parish priest later, and though he and Kendall had planned to go together, he was on his own now.

But what did he expect?

He’d said exactly the wrong thing last night. He knew it. Kendall had a myopic, obsessive concern for her siblings that he didn’t understand, but whatever it stemmed from, it wasn’t his place to try to talk her out of it. He didn’t know a thing about what it was like to have a younger brother or sister, let alone have them depend on him from a young age. Without reliable parents in the picture, Kendall had been, by necessity, both mother and father, stepping up to the plate with competence and grace. She’d grown accustomed to the role. Discovering she’d been outgrown could present a crisis for her.

It sounded all so logical, in his mind. But when he’d called her after returning to the Yellowstone, she’d sounded worried and distant, and they didn’t speak long. Whatever they were beginning together, it was on hold. He needed her, but whatever she might need from him couldn’t compete with the debt she believed she owed Jason and Ashley.

He forced himself to look around as he walked, to soak in the summer sunshine and just be. Every breath was precious, and it was easy to forget that if you didn’t take time to notice your surroundings.

The businesses along the upscale riverfront area were decked out with hanging baskets bursting with color. Sandwich boards announced sales and invited browsers. Benches alternated with shade trees, and picnic tables dotted the grassy area nearest the water. A couple of men were playing chess on one.

The Wayside Café was a pleasant place to sit with his laptop on his days off, or before hospital shifts, and today he hoped it would help him let go of the hurt he felt when Kendall had closed the door behind him. It wasn’t exactly personal. He knew that. Time to grow up.

He was about to enter the café when a voice called out, “Morning, Dr. Oliver!”

A tall, tan-skinned woman with a small kid in tow waved at him. Crow, he thought. Blackfoot, maybe.

He waved back. He didn’t recognize the mom, but he’d seen the girl, and he knew Felicity Wilson, the woman they were walking with, from the hospital. Both women wore leggings and flip-flops, full makeup, and hair tied back smooth and tight.

“Hey, Brade.” Felicity stopped and gestured to her friend. “This is Tracey McKenzie, attorney and dance mom, like me.” She made a face. “No rest for the wicked.”

Tracey grasped his hand. “I’ve been wanting to thank you. You treated Summer after a bee sting a few weeks ago. My husband took her in. I was at work, and by the time I knew what was happening, it was all over. Big drama in my house. Anyway, thank you. Summer?” She glanced down at the child, also decked out for practice.

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