The Cowboy’s Forever Promise (The Westons of Montana #6)

Chapter One

“Oh, I can’t wait for you to get here,” June was saying over the phone. “I do want to mention again it’s the last week of September already, you were supposed to come in July!”

Abby smiled. June had been trying to get her to visit her in her new home on a ranch outside the small town of Marietta, Montana, since she’d married the love of her life earlier in the year.

“It’s just been such a crazy year. But I’m finally on my way, and I’ll be there for the launch of your very first children’s book. ”

“I still can’t believe that’s actually happening. I’ve dreamed about it for so long. It’s just so perfect that you’ll be able to celebrate the big day with me. Where exactly are you now?”

Abby quickly glanced at the GPS on the dashboard of her car. “I’m close to the Vantage Bridge. Apparently, they’re working on it and there’s just one lane, but I’m sure it won’t be too much of a delay.”

June sighed. “I thought you’d be closer to Spokane by now.”

“Finalizing my last project back in Seattle took longer so I left later than I’d hoped, but I should reach Spokane before dark. If all goes well, I’ll be in Marietta around lunch time tomorrow.”

“I wish you’d reconsider and stay with us?” June pleaded again.

“With newlyweds?” Abby chuckled. “No, thank you. But I promise as soon as I’ve settled in the guest house, I’m at your service and ready.”

“I’m glad you’re staying at Annie’s,” June said. “She and her husband Craig have become good friends. And you’ll probably meet her sister and—”

Abby laughed. “Wow, let me meet Annie first, okay? There is no way I’ll ever remember everyone you’ve talked about.

Anyway, I’m only going to be there for a short time to help you declutter and organize your house and help you move into your new study.

I won’t really have much time for socializing. ”

“Well,” June said with a smile in her voice, “you’ll have to steel yourself because in Marietta, we socialize, a lot. Besides, you never know. Maybe you’ll decide to stick around. Marietta has a way of changing one’s mind.”

“Not happening. You know me …”

“Your life plan?” June chuckled. “I think you’ll find life plans tend to change at the foot of Copper Mountain.”

“My life is back in Seattle. As you very well know, it has taken me years to build my business. I’ve just bought my very own apartment, even if it’s tiny, so I’m finally at a place where I can relax and not work all the time.”

“You, relax?” June said with a laugh. “You’re always straightening things or decluttering. I don’t think you know how to relax.”

“I relax when I work. Nothing gives me more of a kick than when I sort out a mess. However, I have spoken to Sarah Lewis.”

“Oh, I remember you’ve mentioned her before. She’s also a professional organizer like you?”

“Yes, that’s right. She’s taking my appointments this week while I’m visiting you.”

“Really? I’m so glad to heart that. You haven’t taken a break in forever! Well, there is a big mess waiting for you here. You’ll be happy to know you won’t be without work! And wait until you see Carson’s house—you won’t be able to help yourself.”

“Who is Carson again?”

“My new brother-in-law, Dylan’s brother.”

“And they’re all living on the same ranch and have their meals together? Isn’t it a bit like being back in foster care?”

June laughed. “Not at all. The Weston Ranch is a huge enterprise that both Weston families manage together with Willow’s husband, Hunter. But you’ll see. Drive safely and let me know when you’re in your hotel room tonight, okay?”

“Will do!”

Rolling down the window, Abby inhaled the crisp fall air.

She loved this time of year. Fall had always been her favorite season.

Yes, Seattle was glorious during September, but she rarely had time to just enjoy nature.

Ever since she’d left the city behind her this morning, she’d been treated to the dazzling display of earthy browns, deep reds, and tapestries of golds on the trees. It was breathtaking.

Exhaling, she closed her window again. Her mind went back to her conversation with June.

By now, she was used to people teasing her about her need to tidy up any mess she encountered, but nothing gave her more of a kick than when she could show someone how easy it was to keep a home neat and organized when it had been decluttered.

Growing up in the foster care system, it was exactly this trait that had been her way of coping with her situation.

Keeping herself, her closet, and her bed neat and tidy had been the only things she had control over.

She liked order, liked knowing what was going to happen next. That was the only way she’d felt safe.

If that made her a control-freak, so be it. Of course, she also never, ever colored outside the lines. That was what lines were for. Stay inside, stick to the plan. That way you’d never be caught off guard.

When she’d discovered the KonMari method of decluttering and tidying, she knew she’d found her passion.

While taking an economics course after school, she’d started her own business helping fellow students, their family members, and friends to declutter their lives.

That was how her business had started. Since then, she’d never looked back.

She’d really missed June over the last few months. They’d met way back in foster care as little girls and had always had each other’s backs. June was her only family.

When June had left earlier this year to visit Marietta for a month or two to write the children’s book she’d been dreaming about, neither of them had foreseen that June would meet and fall in love with a local cowboy.

Now her friend was married and living happily on a ranch outside the quaint town.

Of course she was happy for her, she’d never seen her friend so content, but Seattle just wasn’t the same without June.

Deviating from the plan she had for her life was not an option. Sticking to carefully organized strategies had always worked for her. It prevented her from doing things on impulse and, she’d learned, ignoring her impulses was usually the way to stay out of trouble.

She dated, but only after she’d found out everything she could about the guy. And of course, there never was a second date. Getting seriously involved with a man or, heaven forbid, getting married, was not something she would even consider.

Giving up her control—and that seemed to be what being married meant—wasn’t part of her plan.

*

It was nearly half past six and already getting dark when Carson finally left the gallery in Spokane. He slowly walked back to his hotel. He still couldn’t believe he’d just had a meeting with a gallery owner who wanted to showcase his photographs.

He’d always loved taking pictures, but he’d never really thought about his work as art. Earlier this year on a whim, he’d posted some of the landscape photographs he loved taking on Instagram and had been surprised by the reaction.

When his cousin Willow, a well-known artist, saw his photographs, she’d contacted a friend who owned a gallery in Spokane.

He hadn’t even given her introduction another thought and had been pleasantly surprised when Noah Felix, the gallery owner had called him, asking him for a meeting so that they could discuss an upcoming exhibition.

His phone rang. It was his brother, Dylan. Damn, he’d promised to text his brother when he arrived in Spokane, but it had completely slipped his mind. All he’d been thinking about when the plane had landed earlier, was getting to the gallery.

Quickly, he looked around to see where he could stand while talking to his brother and not be in anyone’s way. “Hi, bro. I’ve just finished my meeting. Sorry, I should’ve phoned.”

“We’re just so excited for you. So how was the meeting?”

Carson grimaced. The we his brother used lately, had started to slip in after he’d married the love of his life, June Kincaid, earlier this year. Dylan was clearly besotted with his new wife. Nowadays his older brother was either smiling or kissing June.

Of course he was happy for his brother, but it had already been awkward for him sitting around the table during meals while his four cousins kept kissing and touching their significant others. Now his own brother was doing the same thing.

“It went very well, thanks. I’m still a bit dazed to be honest. Noah wants as many photographs as I can give him for an upcoming exhibition of landscape photographers the last weekend in October.”

“That is so great, Carson!” June, his new sister-in-law called out.

Shaking his head, Dylan smiled. Apparently the we thing of his brother also meant his wife was included in all their phone calls lately.

“Thanks, I’m very pleased.”

“You should go and celebrate,” Dylan said.

“We’ll celebrate when I’m back home.”

“At least go and have a beer somewhere,” Dylan chuckled. “Perhaps you’ll meet a nice woman who may just pique your interest.”

“Not interested,” Carson said quickly.

“Just try it, you never know,” his brother said. They talked for a few more moments about the ranch before Dylan ended the call.

Shaking his head, Carson continued in the direction of the hotel.

When their cousin Hayden had initially reached out to him and Dylan the previous year to consolidate the two family ranches that had been split up years before because of a huge fight between their dads, they’d jumped at the chance to join their cousins on The Weston Ranch.

Theirs had not been a happy home. They were both excited to leave the memories of an unstable mother and a dad who hadn’t really talked but had spent his days outside on his horse, behind them. Literally. They hadn’t wanted to stay where they’d been so unhappy.

Hayden, his oldest Weston cousin, and Hunter Grant who was married to Hayden’s sister, Willow, were both experts on grazing, and since Hunter had bought a ranch adjacent to the Weston ranch, they had consolidated all three ranches.