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Dania waved goodbye and got in her Ford Escape, fastening her seat belt. She tapped the music icon on her cell, and the upbeat tune of “Rewrite the Stars” vibrated through the small SUV.
She followed Cynthia out of the parking lot and pulled onto the highway. Cynthia lived just a couple of miles past Dania’s place. Ordinarily, Dania trailed behind her until she reached her turnoff, but she had a stop to make. This morning, she and Matthew needed to celebrate, and that called for fresh cinnamon rolls from Sunrise Bakery and omelets stuffed with sausage, bacon, onion, and red pepper flakes.
She turned into the parking lot between the bakery and the market and could hardly contain herself as she bought the warm, gooey pastries. Next, she headed to the grocery store. She hummed to herself as she shopped the aisles.
After loading the grocery bags into the car, she called Matthew.
Still, no answer.
Since he wasn’t home, maybe she should stop at the gas station too. She liked to keep her tank full in case of an emergency. As she filled the car, an urgent need to get home overcame her. She topped off the gas and jumped into the vehicle.
Their ranch-style house sat on five acres and had enough space for horses, a garden, and their growing family. She pictured Matthew in his jogging shorts and tank top, with a sheen of perspiration on his forehead. Even hot and sweaty, he was sexy. He’d be thrilled about the baby.
It would be a wonderful new beginning. And who knew, a child might even help mend the rift with his father.
Walter Tyler was the attorney general of the great state of Montana. He had cut Matthew off when he’d learned that Matthew and Dania had eloped. The feud between the Black and Tyler families was legendary. It had started with a fight over cattle on the open range during the late 1800s. The Tylers had been cattle barons and claimed that Dania’s great-great-grandfather Asa Black had stolen their calves. Not long after, Asa had been found dead on the range. That fueled a bloody range war that had lasted well into the early 1900s. Even though the feud had ended, the families had avoided each other for decades until Dania and Matthew had met in college and fallen in love.
After the big fight between father and son, Dania had gone, by herself, to talk with Walter in his office. She’d hoped her father-in-law would respect that she wanted to meet with him and would be impressed by the effort.
Walter hadn’t been. He’d put on a good face until his secretary had closed the door and Dania had sat in front of his spacious desk. Then he’d looked down his long roman nose at her and said, “I’ve never had a member of the Black family in my office before.”
She sat taller in the chair. “Good. It’s about time. The feud between our families needs to be over. I came here to let you know directly from me that I love your son. I will never say or do anything to hurt him or cause shame to your family.”
As he settled in his tufted winged-back chair, he drew in a long breath, as though gathering patience. “Haven’t your people taken enough from mine? Did you have to steal my son as well?”
“What?” She rubbed her forehead, trying to wrap her mind around what he’d just said. “He’s still your son.” She paused a moment. “And how did ‘my’ people take anything away from your family? My father gave up ranching after my mother died. There are no more Blacks in the area, except for me. You win.”
He gave a heavy sigh. “Your people are thieves. Always will be. Did your father tell you that before he moved, I caught him stealing water?”
She highly doubted his accusation, and it took all her willpower not to call Walter a liar. Her father would never steal. She’d come here to make peace. “Water was always a huge issue. I’m sure it still is, but again, my family is out of the business. And as you know, my father passed away a couple of years ago.”
Walter went on as if she hadn’t said anything. “During the range war, the governor sent the cavalry to save your family. Government has a long reach. And then, do you know what they did?” His nostrils flared as he folded his arms.
“I have no idea.” But if it would make him feel better, she wanted to know. “Why don’t you tell me.”
“They said that we had to fight through the court system. So we did. It took years, but we had eyewitnesses. And then those witnesses suddenly disappeared. The judge dismissed the case. My great-grandfather died at the hands of your family, and the government let them get away with it.” He squinted at her as he stared.
This was a different story than what she’d heard. “Actually, it was your family who killed my great-great-grandfather Asa. But I’m willing to let bygones be bygones. Matthew and I have a bright future together. Time heals old wounds. Our families can finally let the past go.”
He clenched his teeth. “Time heals old wounds, or it drives the dagger in deeper. My great-grandmother and her sons were left without a husband and father. The Blacks were waiting for them to give up. But they didn’t. It was through their blood, sweat, and tears that they kept their ranch. They swore nothing like that would happen again and sent me to college so I could defend them should the need arise. And I’m determined to continue doing so.”
Though Dania was tempted to rebut what he’d said, she decided against it. He wanted an argument, but she wasn’t going to give it to him. “Obviously, things were handled poorly decades ago for both families.”
Walter shot to his feet. “I’ll never trust a member of the Black family.”
Dania slowly rose. “Walter, this quarrel has no winners, only losers. That you’d let what happened so long ago steal happiness from the present is on you. Not Matthew. Not me.”
His expression didn’t change. The scars of the family grudge lived within him.
She had to ask. “Does Matthew know how you feel?”
“Of course he does. He’s made his choice.” Walter’s mouth formed a grim line.
Grateful that Matthew knew all this and didn’t hold the same resentment, Dania started for the door. Before leaving, she turned. “Walter, please know that you and Carol will always be welcome in our home.”
She hadn’t seen him since. Matthew would occasionally be summoned to his parents’ home, and Dania would always opt to keep her distance. But maybe now... with the baby... things might change between them. They could have a redo.
Pushing old memories behind her, she turned off the highway onto the dirt road lined with lush green pines and aspens whose leaves were changing to yellow. She loved this time of year. Her heart warmed as their earth-toned rambler came into view. A gable over the front porch gave the house an inviting look. They had four bedrooms waiting for the laughter of children. And now, finally, one of those rooms would become a nursery.
