Wildest Dreams - By Rosanne Bittner Page 0,69

out there on his own land. He has ten men working for him year-round, hires more in the summer to help on the cattle drive so that some can stay here and watch the ranch. Those six cabins out there to the south belong to the families of some of the permanent men. It all seems so big to me already, but Luke says it will get much bigger— more land, more cattle and horses, a bigger house."

She sighed deeply. "With all this success, I feel sorry for Luke, because I know he still hurts inside, not just over

Nathan, but also over the situation with his own father. I told you in my letters the story behind why Luke came out here. He has written to his father several times, but the man never replies, nor does Luke's brother. I know it hurts him deeply, but he refuses to show it."

Katie took her daughter's hands. "And what about you? You went through so much hell those first couple of years."

"Life goes on, Mama. Actually it was Luke who thought about giving up, right after Nathan was taken. He said we could move to Denver so I could be with you, that he'd find a job there. I know he didn't really want that. He just made the offer for my sake, but I couldn't take his dream away, Mama; and I couldn't leave this place, not when I know in my bones Nathan is still alive. I've always thought that if he ever comes back, he'll come here looking for us. I want to be here when that day comes. At the same time, we've both grown to love this land. This is home now, Mama." She squeezed the woman's hands. "Except for the ever-present longing to find Nathan, we're fine. Our love is strong, and we have the other children. Life is still often very hard. It will be a long time yet before Montana is as civilized as most of the rest of the country; but we're getting there."

Katie smiled sadly. "I'm glad you're doing so well." She sighed deeply. "We saw the graves on the way in. Will reminded us about the outlaws buried there. I remember you telling us about it in one of your letters. I just couldn't imagine Luke shooting down seven men."

Lettie looked up the hill toward the graves, their mounds now sunken and weathered by time. "That was not an easy time for him, but out here men have to take the law into their own hands. In some ways Luke is a much harder man than the one you knew when we first parted on the trail. He's actually feared by some, respected by all. He has taken to this land and to ranching like a fish to water. Not all men can come here and settle. It takes a special breed." She looked back at her mother. "But when it comes to me, and to the children, he's always good and gentle," she added.

She put an arm around her mother then. "No more talk of this. We're happy and everyone is healthy, and it's been nine years since I've seen my mother. I can't believe you're really here. You'll stay till Luke gets back, won't you? Surely you didn't come all this way just to stay a couple of days. We have a brand-new bunkhouse that the men haven't moved into yet. It would be a very nice place for the three of you to stay. With five children and three bedrooms, there isn't room in the house, but you'd be quite comfortable in the bunkhouse; and of course, during the day you'll spend every minute with me, every meal. I'll introduce you to the wives of some of the help. We can have a big picnic when Luke gets back! That would be fun. He should be back within a week or two. You can stay that long, can't you?"

"We were figuring on a nice, long visit, unless we wear out our welcome!" The woman laughed lightly. "Louise's husband owns two banks. He's his own boss, so he can do what he wants. Their little girls will be fine with James and Sara. We had already agreed that we would stay as long as necessary. After all, I'm getting on in years myself. This might be the last time we see each other, Lettie."

"Oh, Mama, don't say that."

"Well, it's just a fact of life; but we won't think about