Mitch's Win (Montana Collection, Book 1) Read online

  Mitch shook his head. “It’s alright, Heather. This isn’t the first time this has happened.” He tipped his hat to the man. “We’ll be back in five hours.”

  As the man nodded, Mitch turned from the stable and waited for her to join him before he slowly walked down the street. Uncertain of what to say, she slipped her arm around his, hoping to give him some comfort, even if it was a small one.

  “I shouldn’t be surprised,” Mitch mumbled. “He can’t help but go back to the bottle as soon as he sees his children. It happens every time. I don’t know why I thought this time would be any different.”

  “He’s not a bad man.”

  “I know he’s not.” He rubbed his eyes and released his breath. “I know he’s having a hard time, but it’s been two years. At some point, he needs to get on with his life. There has to be something that can force him to take responsibility for his life and do right by his children.”

  “Do you have any idea what that something would be?”

  “Well, it’s nothing I’ve tried.” He stopped walking and turned to face her. “Next time someone comes up to my house to tell me he’s in trouble, I’m going to let him fend for himself. Otherwise, I’m not helping him.” He paused and studied her expression. “Does that make me a bad person?”

  “No,” she whispered, hating the thought of what this might mean for Boaz but understanding that there was only so much Mitch could do for his brother. “You’re right. At some point, he has to save himself.”

  Just like Abe needed to straighten his life out on his own. In silence, they resumed their walk, and as they crossed the street, she took a good look at the businesses. She caught sight of the saloon where her brother had taken her. She inwardly shuddered.

  “What’s wrong?” Mitch asked.

  “Oh, I was just thinking of the night my brother took me to the saloon,” she replied, thinking that this would be the right time to mention how her brother had asked her for money the other night. “Mitch, I need to tell you something, but it needs to be in a place where we won’t be overheard.” She paused. “I shouldn’t have waited so long to tell you, but I didn’t know how to say it. I still don’t, to be honest.”

  He tilted his hat back and studied her. “What is it, Heather?”

  Scanning the people around them, she asked, “Can we go to a place where there aren’t so many people?”

  He nodded and led her down the street until they came to a park. Once they found a bench in a secluded spot, he sat next to her and held her hands. “What is it? What do you need to tell me?”

  She scooted closer to him and lowered her voice. “My brother is still around here.”

  His eyebrows furrowed. “Where?”

  “I don’t know exactly, but he’s staying somewhere in the area.”

  “I know you ran into him last time we were in town.”

  “He was also on the front porch the night we had our fight, after Patty, Greg and Boaz left. When I left the barn, he confronted me and said he wanted money so he could go to Canada to look for gold.” She noted the way his hands tightened around hers, but he didn’t hurt her. Though he wouldn’t like what she said next, she felt she had no other choice but to add, “I told him to leave Lewistown, but I don’t think he will.”

  “And you don’t know where he’s staying?”

  “No. He didn’t tell me.”

  “Have you seen him since that night?”

  “No.”

  After a moment, he said, “I don’t want you to go outside at night by yourself. If you need to go to the privy or anywhere else, I’ll go with you.”

  “I’d feel safer if you did. I don’t trust him.”

  “I don’t blame you, not with the way he bet you in a game of poker.”

  “I’m sorry, Mitch.”

  “For what? You did nothing wrong.”

  “No, but this is supposed to be a good day, a day we can relax and enjoy ourselves.”

  With a smile, he leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “It’s a good day, Heather. You’re with me. That’s all that matters.” He stood up and helped her to her feet. “I don’t know about you, but my stomach’s rumbling something awful.”

  Feeling much better, she nodded, and they strolled through the rest of the park. “We should get something to eat before we do anything else.”

  He placed his arm around hers and led her to the restaurant where they enjoyed a good meal.

  ***

  Boaz stirred from his heavy slumber, his head pounding loudly in his ears and an empty bottle of whiskey in his hand. He tried to remember the events of the night before, but it was a complete blank. All he knew was that he’d gotten drunk and was waking up in the alley…again. This wasn’t the first time he ended up here. The all-too-familiar heat of shame rose to his face. He thought of Hannah and their children. She would be disappointed in him. They didn’t know him enough to be disappointed, but when they got older and understood how much he ruined everything, they wouldn’t have anything to do with him.

  His body shook and tears slid down his face. This wasn’t anything like he envisioned his life would be when he married Hannah. Back then, he hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol. He was working hard with horses. He had his whole life in front of him. He was happy, and he never would have run off on the people who needed him.

  But he wasn’t that Boaz anymore. Now he woke up in alleys, sometimes lying in a muddy puddle, sometimes shivering because he was cold. Sometimes he remembered what happened the previous night; sometimes he didn’t. Sometimes his head hurt so badly he couldn’t get up for at least an hour. The worst part of waking up was the stark reminder of what his life had once been—who he’d once been.

  After he spent half an hour crying, his emotions settled, and he was able to get to his feet. He wiped his eyes and took a deep breath. Blinking, he waited for his vision to clear before he stumbled out of the alley. The bright sunlight hit his eyes. Squinting, he turned around and went back to get his hat. Once it was on his head, he returned to the edge of the alley.

  He slowly made his way down the street, eyes downcast so he wouldn’t have to look at anyone he passed by. It wasn’t that he feared a condemning look. No. He was ashamed of his life. Every day he told himself he could change, that he could be the man he once was. Sometimes he even tried it. But today he didn’t have the strength to battle the need for liquor.

  So he headed for the saloon. As he approached the swinging doors, he caught sight of his brother and Heather. They were entering the restaurant. Even from a distance, he could see how much they enjoyed being with each other. He swallowed the lump in his throat. His brother deserved to be happy. Mitch had always done what was right. He’d graciously stepped aside and let Boaz marry Hannah when Hannah made her choice. And Boaz couldn’t even count all the times Mitch came running to help him when he got in over his head at the poker tables.

  Boaz turned his gaze from Mitch. It shouldn’t hurt to see Mitch so happy, but it did. It was a reminder of all Boaz had lost, and the more he thought of what he lost, the greater his need grew for the solace found only in a bottle. Few things dulled the pain like liquor. And it was so hard to get through the day sober. Mitch had no idea how hard it was. Fortunately, he’d never find out.

  Boaz entered the saloon, his eyes quickly adjusting to the lack of sunlight. He dug into his pockets and pulled out a couple of coins. His horse was still at the livery stable. He frowned. He didn’t have enough to pay to get his horse and to have a drink. He knew what he should do. It was never a question of not knowing the right course he should take. But as much as his mind prompted him to go back outside and get his horse, the weaker part of him screamed for a drink. He closed his eyes. He hated this constant battle between the will and the flesh because the flesh was so much stronger.

  “You look like you could use a drink.”

  Boaz turned around and saw a familiar man standing a couple of feet from him. “I’ve seen you before.”

  “
Yes. Your brother married my sister,” the man said. “Name’s Abe.”

  It took him a moment to remember that night he almost lost his horse. “Oh, right. Yes, I know who you are. I’m surprised you’re still in town.”

  “Are you?”

  Glancing at the few men in the room, he said, “You tried to sell your sister in a poker game.” His gaze went back to him. “I thought my brother chased you out of here.” He walked around him and sat on the stool by the bar.

  Abe followed him and sat beside him.

  Despite his unease, Boaz remained seated and told the bartender he wanted a shot of whiskey.

  “Make that two,” Abe added. “And I’ll pick up the tab for my friend here.”

  He waited for the bartender to set the shot glasses in front of them before turning his attention back to Abe. “What do you want with me?”

  “An ear to talk to. Nothing more.”

  “And if I don’t want to talk to you?”

  “Fair enough. My sister is now your sister-in-law. You have a loyalty to your brother. All I ask is that you give me a chance.”

  “I’m not the one you need to ask for a chance.” He drank his shot of whiskey and set the glass on the bar. At once, the alcohol soothed him. “You ought to be going to Mitch.”

  “I would if I could get near him, but he won’t have anything to do with me.” Abe let out a long sigh, his thumb rubbing the edge of his shot glass. “I made a real mess of things. I deserve what I’ve gotten. No brother should treat his sister the way I did. Don’t think a day goes by that I don’t regret what I did. I want so badly to make things right, but Mitch won’t let me get near her.”

  Noting the pain in his voice, Boaz took a good look at him.

  He rubbed his eyes and shook his head. “I’ve made such a mess of my life. My pa and ma would be rolling over in their graves if they knew what I did, and Heather must think I’m a monster.”

  Boaz winced.

  Abe made eye contact with him. “I keep thinking if I could just talk to her and apologize, I could ease my conscience. Do you know what it’s like to live with the guilt of knowing you hurt those you love?”

  Swallowing the lump in his throat, Boaz nodded and blinked back his tears. It was one thing to cry alone in an alley, but he couldn’t bear to cry here, not in front of others.

  Abe pushed his shot of whiskey in front of Boaz. “Thanks for listening.”

  As Abe rose to his feet, Boaz turned to face him. “That’s all?”

  He shrugged and threw a couple coins on the bar. “All I needed was a kind ear.” He motioned to the bartender. “Give my friend whatever else this will cover.” Tipping his hat to Boaz, he added, “Maybe we’ll talk again.”

  Boaz glanced at the coins. Was this some of the money Abe got back when Mitch won the game that night he married Heather? He fingered one of the coins. This was an unexpected windfall. Now he could get his horse back. But why would Abe give him so much just to listen to him?

  He looked over at Abe who was leaving the saloon. Abe’s head was bowed and his shoulders slumped. The man was weighed down by the burden of his guilt. Boaz closed his eyes for a moment and opened them. He knew how Abe felt. Broken, defeated, hopeless, trapped. He blinked back more tears and drank the whiskey in front of him. No one should be burdened by the past. No one.

  ***

  As Abe stepped out of the saloon, his gaze went to the restaurant. He crossed the street and approached one of the windows. The people in the restaurant laughed and talked, but his attention was drawn to his sister who sat at a table toward the back of the room.

  She was smiling while Mitch told her something. He studied her, recalling the way the men had looked at her when they were in the saloon. She was a beauty alright, and who knew what kind of money men might be willing to gamble away in hopes of winning her?

  Of all his plans to make a lot of money, this was his best one. This one would work. All he needed to do was get her. And with Boaz’s help, he would succeed. A slow smile spread across Abe’s face before he continued his walk down the street.

  Chapter Fourteen

  That Sunday as Mitch pulled back the reins to stop the horses, Heather scanned the church lawn for Greg. She knew what she had to do to make things right between him and Mitch. Turning to Gerty, she said, “I’ll take the fried chicken to the table.”

  “You’ll have to get down first,” Mitch told her with a wink. “Though I think the other men will be green with envy when they realize how good I eat.”

  She giggled, pleased by his compliment.

  Once he set the brake, he helped her down, and Gerty handed her the dish full of fried chicken.

  “I better get over there before the table is too full for me to find a spot,” she told him, glancing at Leroy and Hannah who seemed content to stay in the buckboard for a little bit longer. Good. She was hoping to talk to Greg without anyone distracting her.

  While Mitch turned to help Gerty, she hurried over to the table and set the dish down. She caught sight of Greg as he gave his horse an apple. If she was going to set things right, she needed to do it now. Before she could lose her nerve, she hurried across the lawn.

  Ignoring the pounding of her heart, she called out to him as she reached him. To her relief, he didn’t scowl at her. He wasn’t smiling either, but at least he offered a polite nod and tipped his hat.

  She cleared her throat. “I wanted to explain, about that night you came to my house.”

  “You don’t need to explain,” he replied as he gave his horse another apple.

  “Actually, I do. You see,” she took a deep breath, “it was my fault. I asked Mitch to invite you to supper, but I didn’t tell him I had invited Patty, too. Mitch had no idea she was coming. I was the one who was trying to play matchmaker.” She shifted from one foot to the other. “Anyway, I’m sorry. What I did was wrong, and I promise I won’t do it again. Please don’t be angry with Mitch for what I did.”

  Greg looked in her direction, and a slight grin crossed his face. “I appreciate the apology, and I accept it. It’s not that I don’t like Patty. She’s a nice girl. But I have no interest in marrying anyone. There are some things I’ve seen that have convinced me that I’m better off alone. Patty’s better off looking elsewhere for a husband. There are plenty of good men to choose from.”

  “I understand.”

  After a moment of awkward silence, she got ready to head back to the group gathering around the table when he said, “You’re a good woman, Heather. Mitch did well to marry someone who does what she can to help him. Thank you for explaining what happened. I’ll be happy to come to your home for supper in the future.”

  Relaxing, she smiled. “Thank you.”

  “Heather?” Mitch called out from behind her.

  She glanced over her shoulder. “I wanted to apologize for the other night, and explain you didn’t know anything about Patty coming to the supper.”

  “Everything is alright, Mitch,” Greg added. “You married a good one.”

  “I know I did.” Mitch patted the small of her back. “That was nice of you, Heather.”

  “I didn’t want to come between two friends,” Heather softly replied. “Well, I should get back to Gerty and the children.”

  As she headed for the table, she caught sight of Patty and waved to her. Patty got down from her pa’s buckboard and returned the greeting. Heather glanced at Gerty to make sure she didn’t need her, and when she saw that Leroy and Hannah were playing with a couple of other children, she jogged over to Patty.

  “It’s a gorgeous day, isn’t it?” Heather asked once she reached Patty.

  Patty’s grin widened. “You look happier than you did the last time I saw you. I take it everything is back to normal with Mitch?”

  “It is. I had to promise Greg I wouldn’t try to play matchmaker again, though.”

  “I don’t expect you to play matchmaker for me, Heather. You’re a good friend to try it, but I’m going to have to fin
d another way to be with him.”

  “Another way? You haven’t given up on him?”

  “Of course not. Greg and I are meant to be together. I’ve known it ever since I was a little girl. Sure, I have to find a way to convince him, but it’ll happen.”

  Heather settled for smiling in agreement, though she wondered if Patty could, indeed, pull off such a feat. Patty seemed to be so sure of it, but Greg was surprisingly determined to remain a bachelor. Well, whatever happened, Heather would stay out of it. She just made peace with Greg and smoothed things over for Mitch and Greg. The last thing she was going to do was stick her nose in where it didn’t belong.

  “You ready to eat?” Patty asked, nodding toward Gerty who was getting food for Leroy and Hannah while a couple of other children excitedly talked to her. “The poor woman’s got her hands full.”

  Heather chuckled and headed over to Gerty, Patty quick to walk beside her. “Gerty’s good with children. I’ve noticed all of them love her as if she were their own grandma.”

  “She’s got a good heart, that’s why.”

  “She does.”

  Heather thanked her good fortune for marrying into such a wonderful family. She didn’t think her life could get any better than this. And there was nothing that was going to ruin it.

  ***

  Three weeks later

  “Boaz!”

  From where he sat in the corner of the rowdy saloon, Boaz lifted his gaze from the empty beer mugs on his table. He furrowed his eyebrows as the familiar man approached him. “Andrew?” he slurred, trying to connect the man’s face with his name. He knew he’d seen him, and recently, too. But for the life of him, he couldn’t quite remember.

  “Abe,” the man said and walked around the table so he could pat Boaz on the back. Leaning down so he could lower his voice over the crowd, he added, “I haven’t seen you for almost a month.”

  Boaz’s face flushed with shame. “I try not to come here.”

  This time he’d even left town to avoid the temptation to drink. He’d had nothing but his horse, a bedroll, water and a sack of jerky. He thought being away from the saloon would help, but it hadn’t. In fact, it was worse. All the quiet prairie did was remind him of how unhappy Hannah would be if she knew what he’d done with his life after her death. Nothing he did eased that heartache.