“I know.” She looked at the Cattlemen’s Association calendar on the wall. It was already the twenty-seventh of December. “But I’ve been doing well here working for them. I like being busy and was afraid if I came home for the holidays, I’d be overwhelmed with memories and I can’t deal with that yet.”
The car crash that had killed her beloved parents seven months ago had been so devastating that Brianna was amazed she’d survived this long.
“I hear you,” he said in a mournful voice, “but I want you to realize that Carol and I miss you more than anything.”
“I feel the same way.” But Doug, her elder brother, who was as blond as she was and sounded like their father, had only been married to his longtime girlfriend a few months before their parents had been killed. They were now running their parents’ fruit farm in Marysville, California, and making a success of it. This early in their marriage they shouldn’t have to worry about Brianna. Not when they’d had so much responsibility thrust on them.
The aunt and uncle she adored and who’d been so close to their family had never been able to have children. They’d begged her to come and live with them for a while.
“If you stay away any longer, you’ll probably forget you have an older brother.” He was twenty-seven to her twenty-three.
“Don’t be silly. I love you to death and promise to fly home soon.” The nearest airport was in Missoula, a half hour away from Stevensville. An hour if the roads in midwinter were bad. According to her uncle, this winter hadn’t hit them too hard and business had been good. Today was a beautiful day with a lot of sun that had brought in the customers.
Four or five times a year since she was a little girl, Brianna had come to Montana with her family to visit her aunt and uncle. They often took in a rodeo because her father and uncle once did bull riding themselves and Brianna loved it. In fact the three of them were going to the Stevensville rodeo tonight. While she stood there swamped by sweet memories, she heard the front door open. It was closing time, but she hadn’t locked up yet.
“Doug? I’ve got a customer. I promise to phone you next week and we’ll have a good talk after I’m off work. Give my love to Carol.”
“Will do. Talk to you later, sis.”
Brianna hung up. An attractive male, probably in his late twenties, had just come into Frosts’ Western Saddlery, one of Stevensville’s oldest and most well-known stores. They sold everything cowboys and cowgirls could possibly need. A lot of men young and old came in all the time, but she’d never seen this guy before. He had light brown hair and wore a gray North Face half-dome hoodie and jeans.
His hazel eyes twinkled as they fastened on her. “I can see you’re new here. Where’s Clark?”
“He left for home ten minutes ago.” Their ranch house was only a mile away. “What’s your name? If it’s an important matter, I’ll call him and tell him you’re here.”
“I’m Roce Clayton, but please don’t bother him.”
That name caught her attention in a hurry. “One of the legendary Claytons?” The Clayton Ranch was one of the oldest and most famous ranches in the Bitterroot Valley. It lay between the Bitterroot and Sapphire Mountains outside Stevensville. What a coincidence! Brianna was planning to drive there later to visit the Sapphire Mine Gem Shop owned by the Clayton family.
“Well, now, that all depends.” His smile made her chuckle. “What’s your name?”
“Brianna Frost.”
She could hear his mind working. “You’re Clark’s niece!”
“Yes. How did you know?”
“I’m a vet. I’ve taken care of their dog, Taffy, for the last year.”
“Aha. So that’s where I’ve heard your name.”
“He just called me to take a look at her. I’m afraid her hip is bad.”
Brianna loved that dog. “She’s getting worse.”
“It’s a shame. You know, whenever I make a visit, all he talks about is you and your brother.”
“You poor man.”
“Not at all. I heard about your parents’ death. Clark took losing his brother very hard. I can only imagine the pain you’ve suffered. I’m so sorry.”
His sincerity touched her. “Thank you.” She cleared her throat. “I understand your father passed a little while ago, too. My uncle really misses him. It couldn’t have been an easy time for your family, either.”
“You’re right about that. He died thirteen months ago. Thank Heaven my mother is still alive. My older brother Wymon is head of the ranch now, but, between you and me, we’d all fall apart without her.”
Tears stung her eyes. “I know what you mean. You’re lucky to have her.”
“That’s for sure, but I don’t see her often enough.”
“Why is that?”
“I work at an animal hospital in Missoula and only come home when I can take an odd weekend off.” He gave her a half smile. “Anyway, I just thought I’d drop in to buy a pair of driving gloves while I’m on my way to the ranch.”
“For yourself or someone else?”
“For me.” He gave her the size. “My old ones are falling apart. Maybe I’ll pick up a pair for my mom, too.”
“We’ve got some great gloves.” She walked him over to a display case and showed him several styles. He found the gloves he wanted and went back to the counter to pay for them.
After handing him the bag she said, “If you’re going to the ranch, could I follow you? I’ve never been there and I want to visit your family’s gem shop. Uncle Clark wants to give my aunt a gift for their wedding anniversary coming up next week. I told him she’d love a ring. I’d like to see what’s available.”
“Then you’re welcome to trail me.”
“Thank you so much. Let me just grab my jacket and purse from the back, then I’ll meet you in front.”
After she’d locked up, Brianna stepped outside and was greeted by clear blue skies, the temperature hovering around a chilly thirty-four degrees. She climbed into the Ford pickup her uncle let her drive. It helped that the sun had melted the ice on the windshield. Roce Clayton waved to her from his black Escalade and she followed him down the snow-packed road in the direction of the ranch.
He seemed like a great guy—it was too bad she wasn’t attracted to him. While Roce had been buying his gloves, she’d noticed he didn’t wear a ring. With a smile like his and his classic good looks, she figured he wouldn’t be single much longer. Her brother had been like that. Attractive and sweet. Carol had fallen for him in high school. Brianna hadn’t found that kind of connection with anyone yet.
She’d had a series of boyfriends in college, but she’d never been in love before. Not really. Her feelings toward the guys she’d dated had never
