the others as they said things to him. At one point, Cactus left the group surrounding the letters and stepped over to Montana and Bishop. He handed an envelope to Bishop, who looked at it and then up at Cactus.
He said something and stood up, embracing Cactus. Bear wanted to know what that was about, and he wanted to show Bishop his letter so he’d know he’d loved Bishop and taken him as his long before Daddy had asked him to.
Later, he told himself. They had a date at the cemetery, and Bear would bring his letter with him then.
“All right,” he said. “There’s more. Bishop?”
Bishop turned away from Cactus and surveyed the group. “I’m going to clean up the box and letters and give them to Mother for her birthday. So it’s a secret for now, okay? Not a word to her.” He sought out Arizona and cocked his eyebrow. “Zona?”
“Fine,” she whispered, her tears obvious in her eyes and voice. “Not a word.”
“Daddy had a bunch of money in the envelope,” Bishop said, looking at Bear. “We’re not sure what it’s for, but I think I’ll use it for the restoration of the letters, and maybe to bind them in a book.”
“Good idea,” Bear said.
“And Daddy wrote us each a letter,” Bishop said, picking up the envelope. “Bear and I have ours, and we’ve agreed that everyone should get to read their letter in private and only share what you want with who you want.” He pressed the envelope to his chest. “So we can eat first or you can take your letters now.”
Mister took a step toward Bishop, his choice obvious. “I love your food, Bishop, but I want my letter.”
Everyone did, and Bishop handed them all out, and in only a matter of seconds, Bear and Bishop stood with Ranger, Ward, and Ace. Sammy had wandered over to Montana, and Bear felt a new kind of peaceful spirit enter the homestead that he hadn’t felt before.
“I wonder if my father wrote us letters,” Ranger said, his eyes bright.
“I’m sorry, Ranger,” Bear said, grabbing onto his cousin and one of his best friends. “This can’t make things easier for you. I shouldn’t have invited you.”
“I’m glad you did,” Ranger said. “Sometimes I just miss him, you know?”
Boy, did Bear know. “Yeah,” he said, his voice thick. “I know.”
Chapter Twelve
Montana cocked her head to the left to put in her earring. Her heart beat unnaturally, because it was ten minutes until six, and then Bishop would be standing at the door. She’d given him the address to her aunt and uncle’s house against her better judgment. She’d let Uncle Bob take Aurora to get ice cream for a party she was going to that night.
“Ollie Osburn,” she muttered. She’d told Aurora she needed to meet the boy soon, and Aurora had asked why. Actually asked why Montana needed to meet the boy she was crushing on and spending so much time with.
She’d been over to his house just the one afternoon, but they spent a lot of time texting, and this was the second party at the boy’s house. It was just as well, because Montana was not ready to introduce Bishop to her daughter, or her daughter to Bishop.
She was mildly horrified to have to introduce her aunt. If she lived alone, there would be no introductions. Just a handsome cowboy on her doorstep, with a picnic basket in his big truck.
Right on time, the doorbell rang, and Aunt Jackie must’ve leapt from her chair in the kitchen, because it banged into the wall behind it. “I’ll get it!” she yelled as she came jogging into the living room.
Montana stared at her, her stomach suddenly cramping. “This is a bad idea.”
“Oh, you look beautiful.” Aunt Jackie’s hand fluttered near her mouth.
Montana had chosen to wear jeans, as they were hiking. They were form-fitting jeggings actually, and she’d tucked them into a pair of black boots with great traction that went all the way to her knee.
She wore a short-sleeved shirt in dark blue, because that color made her eyes brighter and her hair stand out. A simple silver necklace lay against her collarbone, and large hoops dangled from her ears.
She wasn’t sure if this was what one wore on a hiking date, but she wanted to be able to move if she needed to.
Aunt Jackie’s voice sounded, and Montana realized she’d moved to the door. “Come in, come in.”
Bishop appeared, and he too wore jeans and a