The Construction of Cheer - Liz Isaacson Page 0,59
you know Montana Martin. She works with me on all the construction around the ranch.” He’d released her hand, and she hadn’t stood up with him.
His throat felt as if he’d glued sand to it. “We’re dating, and she’s brought her daughter, Aurora and her aunt and uncle, Jackie and Bob Kent, to celebrate with us.” He smiled at her aunt and uncle across the room. “So be nice to them, okay? I’m trying to make a good impression.”
“Shouldn’t have invited them to a full family party, then,” someone said, almost like they were trying not to be heard, but definitely loud enough to be heard.
“Oh, stop it, Cactus,” Etta said as Bishop sat down. He wasn’t sure where Cactus was standing as he couldn’t see him right now. Part of him worried that he’d done something to upset his brother, and a strong prompting told him to get out to Cactus’s that day.
“Welcome, everyone,” Etta said brightly. “Since it’s Bishop’s birthday—or it was on Friday—and he loves potatoes and good meat, we smoked brisket and made mashed potatoes and gravy, scalloped potatoes with extra cream, and fried potatoes with a bit of spice. There’s potato salad and potato chips, and Ida even brought potato rolls from Heidi’s.” She beamed at the spread of food on the counter.
Bishop couldn’t help grinning, and he retook Montana’s hand in his. He did love potatoes, and there was no reason not to eat them for every meal, though he did like that bacon peanut butter toast Montana had made for him once.
She’d told him once that she loved toast, and she dressed it up in different ways as often as she could. Something had happened at the cabin where they’d been working, and the conversation had been interrupted.
“I didn’t know you were such a potato freak,” Montana whispered, and Bishop shrugged as cowboy hats got removed, and Bear asked Judge to say the prayer.
He pressed his hat to his chest, his hand still secured in Montana’s, and looked at her until she bowed her head. Her silky hair fell between them, and all Bishop could think about was opening that tiny box she’d brought him and kissing her until she whispered that she better go find her daughter and get on home.
Then he’d kiss her again, just so she’d know that he didn’t like it when she left him here at Shiloh Ranch by himself.
He wasn’t sure where his feelings had come from, or how they’d gotten so strong so fast. He knew Montana was strong and sexy, kind and hardworking. She loved her daughter, and she loved wood, and she wanted to make her aunt and uncle happy.
“Amen,” everyone chorused, and Bishop tacked his on at the end, because he hadn’t been listening at all.
“Do we swarm or wait?” Montana asked.
“I’m going to swarm,” Aurora said, jumping to her feet. She went off on her own, and Montana looked after her.
“She’s great,” Bishop said. “She talks to people like she’s an adult.”
“She’s quite mature, yes,” Montana said, standing. Bishop went with her, and right behind the couch, he came face-to-face with Cactus. He knew the look, and he shook his head.
“I have to,” Cactus said.
“I’m coming by later then,” Bishop said.
Cactus reached up and pushed his hat forward and down. “You do what you have to do.”
“Will you let me in?” Bishop hadn’t had to ask to enter Cactus’s house for months now, and he felt like the whole world was spinning the wrong direction.
Pain radiated from Cactus, and Bishop leaned toward Montana. “I need five minutes. You go on ahead and just save me a spot, okay?”
She looked from Cactus to him, nodded, and followed her daughter, though Aurora had already been surrounded by Glovers.
Cactus stepped out the nearest door, and Bishop followed him. He didn’t know what to say, and sometimes letting Cactus start the conversation was better.
But Cactus said nothing. They went away from the table under the shade and around the front of the house.
“You’ll bring me some cake later?” Cactus finally asked.
“Two pieces.” Bishop leaned against the railing. He let out a long sigh. “I’m worried I did something to upset you.”
“It’s not you,” Cactus said.
“Is it me dating Montana?”
“No, she’s great.”
“You just don’t want to be around it, because it makes you sad?”
“No.” Cactus bit the word out and then exhaled heavily. “It’s none of that. It’s just…I met a woman, and I really liked her.”