Born to Be a Cowboy

Finn Monroe unlocked the door to his law office and tossed his battered attaché case on the desk. He then removed his fringed buckskin jacket and draped it on the back of his chair. Both the attaché and the jacket had been gifts from his mentor, Zachariah York, when Finn had passed the bar. They’d been the old lawyer’s trademark and were now Finn’s daily uniform, as was his longer-than-typical hair. He figured if Zachariah could look like a lion in court, he could, too.

He’d begun his practice here in the little town of Haller Creek by accepting every legal request that came his way, from an arrest for impaired driving to settling neighbors’ property disputes. Recently he’d snagged the attention of the national media by winning a case against the county for the largest monetary award ever, for a rancher who had suspected county officials were blocking his herd’s access to his water supply. There was now talk of submitting Finn’s name for a city office, even though he insisted it wasn’t his dream.

Finn ignored all the background noise of politics and continued to go about his business.

Hearing the door open behind him, he glanced over his shoulder.

“Mr. Monroe?”

The feminine voice was soft, tentative.

He tried not to stare, but the women who usually came to his little office here in Haller Creek didn’t look like corporate executives.

Instead of boots, denims, and a T-shirt, she wore heels, a sleek dress, and a matching jacket. Her blond-streaked hair fell in soft waves around a small, heart-shaped face. Except for the nerves that had her wringing her hands, she was almost too perfect to believe.

To put her at ease, Finn stepped around his desk to offer a handshake. “My friends call me Finn. Finn Monroe.”

“Jessica Blair.” She paused and tried to smile. It had her lips quivering. “My friends call me Jessie.”

“Nice to meet you, Jessie. You’re not from around here.”

“I grew up in Arvid. It’s a little town about a hundred miles from here.”

He nodded. “I’ve heard of it. Lots of great cattle ranches. Did you grow up on a ranch?”

“Yes. My aunt Nola, Nolinda Blair, raised me on her ranch after my parents died when I was five. She’s the only family I’ve ever had.”

“You’re lucky to have family willing to take you in. It sounds as though you love her a lot.”

Her eyes filled, and Finn had to resist an unnatural urge to wrap his arms around her and offer her comfort.

Instead he indicated the chair facing his desk. “Why don’t you sit and tell me why you’re here.”

As she sat, she said, “Please, give me a minute.”

He rounded his desk and took a seat facing her. To give her time, he asked the first question that came to him. “Is your aunt’s ranch big?”

Jessie nodded. “Big enough to provide a comfortable life for us, and for four previous generations of Blairs.”

“I bet she and her husband needed a big family to keep it all going.”

“Aunt Nola never married. There were just the two of us. And a team of loyal wranglers who’d been with her for years.”

“So you worked the ranch with her?”

“I did until I left for college. And even then, I came back every chance I had, and every summer. I’ve always loved living on her ranch.”

Seeing the glint of fresh tears, he gave her time to compose herself. “I know what you mean. My family has a ranch outside of town. When I’m not here, I’m at home on a tractor or riding in the high country with the herds.”

Her eyes brightened. “You’re a rancher? Then you understand how important the land is.”

“I do.” He folded his hands, hoping to ease her into the reason for her visit. “If you grew up in Arvid, why are you here?”

“When I went on the internet and researched the town of Haller Creek, yours was the only law office listed.”

“Why Haller Creek?”

“My aunt mentioned it. She said that’s where her new wrangler had once worked.”

“Does your aunt want me to look into this wrangler’s background?”

She shook her head. “I’m here because…” Again that threat of tears. When her lower lip quivered, she bit down before speaking. “I believe my aunt is in some sort of serious trouble. All because of a smooth-talking cowboy. She’s disappeared without a trace.”

Finn let out a slow breath. “So your aunt’s missing?”

She nodded.

“And this wrangler…?”

“Wayne Stone.” She lifted a handkerchief to her nose as if she’d just smelled something distasteful.

“Wayne Stone is the smooth-talking cowboy?”

Another nod while she twisted the handkerchief around and around her fingers.

“Have you gone to the police with your suspicions?”

“Yes.” She lifted her head. “They looked into it. They said the marriage was valid, and there was no sign of foul play.”

“Wait a minute.” He held up a hand to stop her. “Marriage? When did your aunt marry him?”

“Two weeks ago. Even though she barely had time to get to know him.”

“That must have been a surprise. Did she tell you about it before the wedding?”

“She called me the day they were getting married, on the way to town. She said after the wedding they were leaving for a honeymoon. And there hasn’t been a word from her since.”

“I’m guessing your feelings were hurt that she waited so long to let you know.”

“This isn’t about my hurt feelings.” A big tear rolled down her cheek and she brushed it aside. “It isn’t like Aunt Nola to do something like this. This is completely out of character.”

“It may not be usual, but a woman has the right to share her life with someone. And going on a honeymoon isn’t a crime.”

“You don’t understand. She couldn’t bear to be away from the ranch for more than a few days at a time. And now she’s been gone for two weeks without a word. I just know something’s wrong.”

Finn steepled his hands on the desk. “Miss Blair, you don’t need a lawyer. If the police won’t help, and you want to pursue this further, I’d suggest a private detective.”

“I hired one.” She dug into her pocket and held out a business card.

Finn took it and read the name. “Matthew Carver. Retired FBI agent.” He looked over at her. “Are you happy with his work?”

She nodded. “He called to say he had some news. He sounded…agitated. We were supposed to meet yesterday.”

“Let me guess.” Finn sat back, folding his hands atop the desk. “He never showed up, and you realize he skipped town with your money.”

“No.” Another tear slipped out and she brushed it aside. “He was involved in an accident on the interstate. He’s dead, and whatever information he had for me died with him.”

Finn experienced a little tingling at the base of his spine—a sure sign that he was beginning to get sucked in. “A good investigator would have kept notes. Could you call his office and ask his assistant…”

“I called. Her name is Bev, and she’s his wife. She was so grief-stricken she could barely speak, but she said when his belongings were returned to her, his briefcase containing all his notes was not among them.”

The little tingling got stronger.

Finn sat staring at the woman across the desk, mulling the consequences of what he was about to do. If he took this case, he’d be up to his eyebrows in work that could keep him from helping friends and neighbors in need of legal counsel.

Still, there was that tingle.

And the fact that she was just about the prettiest woman he’d ever met.

He dismissed that out of hand. He wasn’t stupid enough to let important work pile up while he pursued some ridiculous story for the sake of a pretty face.

Was he?

Yeah, maybe he was.

And right now, though he could think of all the reasons why he should send her packing, the only thing that mattered at the moment was getting a chance to know more about the fascinating Jessica Blair. And maybe, just maybe, he could help her.

“I’ll need a lot more information than this.” He lifted a packet of documents from his desk drawer and passed them to her. “I’d like you to fill these out. If I need more, where can I find you?”

She took in a deep breath. “I checked into the Dew Drop Inn on the interstate last night so I could find you first thing today.”

“Okay.” He shoved back his chair. “While you answer everything on these pages, I’ll head on over to Dolly’s Diner and bring back coffee. How do you take it?”

“Two sugars and two creams.”

He grinned. “So you like a little coffee with your cream and sugar.”

That remark brought a half smile to her lips.

As he started down the street, he was chuckling to himself. He’d figured that a woman with a figure like that would never let sugar past her lips.

His smile suddenly dissolved when he realized it may not be the only wrong impression he’d had. As he began to put time and distance between them on the walk to Dolly’s and back, he began to question his rash decision to take this on.

Jessica Blair could turn out to be a jealous, vindictive relative who’d just discovered she’d been locked out of a hefty inheritance. And though her nerves looked real enough, she could be nothing more than a really good actress playing on his sympathy.

“Two creams. Two sugars.” Finn set the lidded cup on his visitor’s side of the desk before taking his chair and picking up the completed pages.

As he started to read, he looked up. “You’re an accountant?”

“A certified public accountant with Ayers and Lanyer in Bozeman.”

At the mention of one of the state’s biggest firms, he lifted a brow. He would have pegged her for something in the public eye. Modeling. TV news.

“I’ve taken a leave of absence until my aunt is found. My boss isn’t exactly happy about it.”

Finn nodded. “Then there’s no time to waste. I’ll begin by running a check on Wayne Stone. If he worked on ranches in Haller Creek, he should be easy to find. From time to time I employ a detective, Basil Caldwell, also a retired FBI agent, and I trust him to be thorough and discreet. He should have something for me by the end of the day. Can you give me a number where I can reach you?”

She spoke the numbers, and he entered them in his cell phone before giving her his number as well.

“As soon as I hear from Basil, I’ll call you with the information.”

For the first time her smile wasn’t forced or nervous. “Thank you, Finn. You don’t know how much this means to me.”

“Don’t thank me yet. The police could prove to be right, and we’ll find we don’t even have a case.”

She touched a hand to her heart. “I don’t care what the police think. I know I’m right. And I know when your detective starts checking, he’ll know it, too. I’ve lived with my aunt long enough to guarantee she would never willingly be gone from her ranch this long.”

Finn watched her walk out the door before sitting down to continue reading through the papers she’d filled out. Her handwriting was easy to read. He wished he could say the same for the woman. He wouldn’t be the first person to lose perspective because of a pretty face. But what he liked even more was that she had a good mind to go with the looks. Anyone working for Ayers and Lanyer had to be sharp. But that didn’t mean she was to be trusted. He intended to reserve judgment until he found out more about Jessica Blair and her aunt.

If he’d learned one thing since going into this business, it was the fact that a good mind and a pretty face could mask a greedy heart.

Finn tossed his attaché case on the passenger side of his truck before heading back to his family’s ranch.

The little town of Haller Creek was bustling with people happy to be outdoors. Winter in Montana was always blustery, but this particular year had been long and bitter. Now the hillsides, covered with snow just weeks ago, were showing signs of green. Cattle were being herded to higher elevations, where they could soon feast on lush grass. The wranglers who tended them had replaced their heavy parkas with rolled shirtsleeves.

Springtime was a season of hope, and nowhere more than here in Montana.

When he arrived home, he noted the line of vehicles parked alongside the back porch and found himself grinning. As always, his oldest brother, Ben, and his wife, Becca, had managed to make it out to the ranch for supper. And that was a good thing, especially since Penny, his middle brother Sam’s new bride, was just about the best cook in the entire state. Ben, Haller Creek’s sheriff, was happy about that because Becca was taking cooking lessons from Penny. Ben claimed he didn’t marry Becca for her cooking skills, and it was true that they were madly in love, but Finn figured good cooking couldn’t hurt.

Ben and Becca were currently building a new home on a parcel of land on the family ranch. Until it was ready, they still lived in town in her rental house.

Sam and Penny were planning on doing the same, but they were still in the talking and planning stage, and still living in the main house.

The old red van parked alongside the barn belonged to Mary Pat Healy, and that meant she’d just returned from another road trip. Mary Pat, the county’s social worker, nurse, and homeschool advisor, visited every isolated ranch in the district during the year, dispensing equal amounts of advice, comfort, and hugs to the many ranch families who held her in highest esteem. She’d been a friend to their family since before Finn and his brothers had come here to live as Mac’s sons.

As Finn walked up the porch steps, he could smell the amazing scent of pot roast and cherry pie and was reminded once again of how happy he was that his brothers’ wives enjoyed cooking. Though he had no intention of following their lead, the women who graced their family were much better cooks than Zachariah, who had formerly assumed most of the kitchen duties.

Now Zachariah could concentrate all his energy on assisting Finn whenever he had to prepare for a particularly challenging trial.

The first to greet Finn was Archie, Ben and Becca’s dog, wriggling with delight. Finn knelt to scratch behind the big brown mutt’s ears and was rewarded with wet kisses.

“About time you got here.” The shiny sheriff’s badge on Ben’s shirt winked in the light as he clapped a big hand on his brother’s shoulder. “We’re holding supper for you.”

“Nice of you, bro.” Finn tossed aside his attaché case bulging with papers and rolled the sleeves of his white shirt before accepting a longneck from Sam.

Otis Green and Roscoe Flute tramped into the mudroom and washed up at the big sink before strolling into the kitchen, to greet the others.

Archie rushed up to greet each member of the family as they entered, expecting to be petted. He wasn’t disappointed. The entire family lavished him with love. He dashed over to Zachariah, whose lion’s mane of white hair framed a handsome, weathered face.