Montana Reunion Read online

  The tiny town of Jasper Gulch, Montana, is celebrating their hundredth anniversary, and you’re invited! Get lost in Big Sky Centennial, a land of ranches and romances and memorable characters you can’t help but root for. In this short prequel from Valerie Hansen, a small-town beautician with a big heart reunites with the high school beau she could never forget....

  Word travels fast in a small town, and it spreads like wildfire that Tony Valdez is back in Jasper Gulch. The former bad boy is now a respected veterinarian, but he’s still got that sparkle in his eye. And that’s what has Annette Lakey worried. She vows to avoid the man who once stole her heart—until a stray dog and her impending puppies bring Annette and Tony face-to-face. Seeing him again makes her feel all warm and fuzzy...and afraid she might fall all over again!

  And don’t miss the first book of the Big Sky Centennial miniseries, Her Montana Cowboy by Valerie Hansen.

  Big Sky Centennial: A small town rich in history...and love.

  MONTANA

  REUNION

  Valerie Hansen

  Dear Reader,

  This story is an introduction to the Big Sky Centennial continuity miniseries, the town of Jasper Gulch, Montana, and its quirky citizens—some a little sweeter than others and some downright odd. My kinds of folks!

  Like all old towns, Jasper Gulch hides plenty of secrets and its legends are the stuff of dreams. As each month unfolds featuring special events in the Centennial Celebration, there will be a new book by a different author to carry you through from July 4th to Christmas and the new year. It’s my hope and prayer that you will enjoy visiting Big Sky Country as much as I, Ruth Logan Herne, Carolyne Aarsen, Brenda Minton, Jenna Mindel and Arlene James have. We’re looking forward to seeing you at the centennial!

  Blessings,

  Valerie Hansen

  Dedication

  To my Joe, who has always looked over my shoulder while I write and always will.

  Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.

  —Isaiah 43:18

  BIG SKY CENTENNIAL:

  A small town rich in history...and love.

  Her Montana Cowboy by Valerie Hansen,

  July 2014

  His Montana Sweetheart by Ruth Logan Herne,

  August 2014

  Her Montana Twins by Carolyne Aarsen,

  September 2014

  His Montana Bride by Brenda Minton,

  October 2014

  His Montana Homecoming by Jenna Mindel,

  November 2014

  Her Montana Christmas by Arlene James,

  December 2014

  About the Author

  Books by Valerie Hansen

  Love Inspired

  *The Perfect Couple

  *Second Chances

  *Love One Another

  *Blessings of the Heart

  *Samantha’s Gift

  *Everlasting Love

  The Hamilton Heir

  *A Treasure of the Heart

  Healing the Boss’s Heart

  Cozy Christmas

  Montana Reunion (ebook only)

  Her Montana Cowboy

  Love Inspired Suspense

  *Her Brother’s Keeper

  *Out of the Depths

  Deadly Payoff

  *Shadow of Turning

  Hidden in the Wall

  *Nowhere to Run

  *No Alibi

  *My Deadly Valentine

  “Dangerous Admirer”

  Face of Danger

  **Nightwatch

  The Rookie’s Assignment

  **Threat of Darkness

  **Standing Guard

  Explosive Secrets

  Family in Hiding

  **A Trace of Memory

  Love Inspired Historical

  Frontier Courtship

  Wilderness Courtship

  High Plains Bride

  The Doctor’s Newfound Family

  Rescuing the Heiress

  *Serenity, Arkansas

  **The Defenders

  VALERIE HANSEN

  was thirty when she awoke to the presence of the Lord in her life and turned to Jesus. In the years that followed, she worked with young children, in both church and secular environments. She also raised a family of her own and played foster mother to a wide assortment of furred and feathered critters.

  She loves to hike the wooded hills behind her house and reflect on the marvelous life she’s been given. Not only is she privileged to reside among the loving, accepting folks in the breathtakingly beautiful Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, she also gets to share her personal faith by telling the stories of her heart in Love Inspired Books.

  Life doesn’t get much better than that!

  Contents

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Excerpt

  Copyright

  Chapter One

  “You don’t say?”

  “It’s true! I saw her driving his pickup today with my own eyes.”

  “Probably because the roads are too slippery for a car.”

  “Or, she’s taken up with him again. Imagine that!”

  Annette Lakey wanted to laugh aloud. Instead, she kept working. She was happiest when the Cutting Edge Salon was busy. Customers like the one in her chair right now always kept her well entertained, so the time flew by.

  Middle-aged Myrtle Kretsch, Mert for short, a waitress from Great Gulch Grub, was one of the most interesting storytellers, probably because her job at the café made her privy to plenty of gossip and wild tales.

  Comb raised and scissors poised, Annette almost accidentally nicked her own finger when Mert grinned at their mutual reflections in the mirror and said, “I suppose you heard. Tony’s back.”

  Meeting her own gaze, Annette realized her mouth had dropped open. She snapped it closed. “Tony Valdez?”

  The older woman snickered like a teenager. “Yup. Rented the old Cosgrove house for a month, so they tell me, and moved in a few days ago. Guess he got fed up with city life and decided to give us another try.”

  “I can understand not liking the city,” Annette said, hoping her nervousness wasn’t noticeable. “Those of us who have half a brain stayed right here in Jasper Gulch where we belong.”

  “He’s sure a good-lookin’ rascal,” the waitress remarked, continuing to study the slim young woman who was trimming her hair. “Filled out since he’s been away, too. Not nearly as skinny as he was in high school.”

  “Neither am I,” Annette told her with a nervous chuckle. “If I’d had all these curves when I was sixteen, maybe Tony wouldn’t have stood me up for my junior prom and left town without even saying goodbye.”

  “I never knew that, honey. I’m so sorry. Didn’t his family move away shortly after he got into more trouble with the law?”

  “Yes. The kids who lit those fires in the old barns eventually confessed and cleared him, but by that time he and his folks were long gone—and I was stuck with a beautiful prom dress and nowhere to wear it.”

  “What a shame.”

&nbs
p; Shrugging and shaking off the gloomy memories, Annette managed to smile. “That’s all water under the bridge. And speaking of bridges, how are the restoration plans for the one over Beaver Creek coming along?”

  “Not so good. In a few months, after the centennial celebration kicks off, we should have a better idea of what we can and can’t afford to repair.” Mert rolled her eyes. “If Mayor Jackson Shaw wasn’t such a...” She snickered. “Never mind.”

  “Hey, you don’t have to tell me what our esteemed mayor is like. I grew up here, remember? If you look up the definition of stubborn in a dictionary you’ll probably find his picture.”

  “You’ve got that right.” Smiling, Mert paused to study the mirror again. “How do you think I’d look with a few of those crazy streaks of bright colors you’ve started putting in your hair?”

  It took Annette a few moments to realize the older woman was teasing. “Hey, if you’re game, I’ll be glad to add some for you.”

  “Let’s hold off, okay?” She glanced out the front window into the street. “Brrr. Looks like the storm’s building. I thought winter was supposed to be all over by Easter.”

  “Me, too. Guess the good Lord decided we needed the rain.”

  “Rain? That looks more like sleet to me. I’m gonna freeze my fanny off getting back to work—if I don’t slip and fall on it.”

  Annette sighed. “Which probably means I’ll have a bunch of cancellations for tomorrow. Hopefully, the ice will melt off in a day or so.”

  The front door suddenly swung open, startling Annette and letting in gusts of freezing air. It was old Rusty Zidek, a well-known sight in the small Montana town. She was about to tell him to hurry and shut the door when she noticed that he wasn’t alone.

  At his feet, shivering and hunched over, was a small, mostly black, long-haired dog with wet, ice-encrusted fur. Annette’s heart instantly melted. “Oh, you poor thing!”

  Rusty gave her a grin that lifted the ends of his mustache and showed a gold tooth. “It is mighty cold out there.”

  “Not you,” she countered with a grin. “Your dog. She looks frozen.”

  “That she is, ma’am,” he replied. “Only thing is, she ain’t mine. I just stumbled across her on my way to dinner.” He eyed Annette’s customer. “Figured if I took her with me to eat, Mert would have my hide. Since she’s here, maybe I can get away with doin’ it, after all.”

  “Not on your life,” the waitress snapped back. “You want to get us shut down by the Health Department?”

  “No sirree. I surely don’t.” His gaze shifted to Annette. “Guess she’ll have to stay here with you.”

  “No way. I can’t keep a dog in my shop, either.”

  “You could let her warm up in your apartment in the back,” the old man suggested. “Just for a bit.”

  What could she say? The poor animal was suffering. “Oh, all right. Take her in back and see that she’s comfortable. I don’t have any dog food, though.”

  “That’s no problem. I’ll be glad to go to the store for you.”

  “I hate to put you out like that.”

  Rusty was already halfway through the shop, the dog at his heels. “It’ll be my pleasure, Miss Annette. I knew you’d be a Good Samaritan.”

  “Am I that predictable?” she asked him.

  He chuckled. “Yes’m. You have a heart of gold and everybody knows it.”

  “You’re saying I’m a patsy.”

  The elderly man laughed hoarsely. “Yes, ma’am. You surely are.”

  * * *

  Tony had never intended to return to Jasper Gulch. His memories of the rural community were not the best, nor was he eager to be faced with questions about his checkered past. The fact that a series of odd circumstances had lured him back there shortly after getting his degree was more than a surprise. It was a conundrum.

  He’d initially resisted his former mentor’s plea for help. Anybody in his position would have, he reasoned. But his conscience had eventually won out and he’d agreed. After all, the assignment was only for a few weeks. Since he was already familiar with Jasper Gulch, it made perfect sense for him to be the one to take over J. T. Paul’s veterinary practice during the family emergency that had called the older man away.

  Besides, as long as this foul weather lasted, few people would be venturing out for routine pet care. Chances were, he’d spend a lot of his time playing solitaire on the office computer or scanning help wanted ads for a permanent position somewhere else. Anywhere else.

  Tony had few fond memories of the little Montana town. His parents had brought him to the place he’d viewed as the end of the earth when he was in high school, and his negative reaction had been to make everybody’s life as miserable as possible. Only now, in retrospect, was he able to see that most of the problems he’d faced then had been due to his off-putting attitude and unwise associations with a rowdy crowd.

  The office phone rang. The answering machine caught the call before Tony could reach the front desk. He snatched up the receiver just as a man’s voice said, “Hello?”

  “Sorry. I’m here. How can I help you?”

  “Where’s your receptionist?”

  “I gave everybody else the day off because of the forecast. It’s too dangerous to be out and about.”

  “This ain’t Dr. Paul,” the caller stated, sounding bothered.

  “No, sir. This is Dr. Valdez. I’ll be substituting for him for a short time. He’s away on a family emergency.”

  “Well...”

  “I assure you I’m fully qualified. Be glad to show you my diploma.” Which is still so new I haven’t had time to frame it.

  “Valdez, Valdez. That name rings a bell.”

  Tony sought to change the subject. “Do you have a sick animal, sir?”

  “Not exactly. I found a stray dog. She was near froze to death and I was gonna ask the doc to look her over.”

  “I’d be glad to do that. How soon can you be here?”

  “Well, see, that’s a problem. I just got her inside to warm up and I don’t reckon I should make her go out again, ’specially since the heater in my old Jeep is broke. I was hopin’ maybe you could stop by here on your way home.”

  “How do you know it’s on my way?”

  “Even if it ain’t, will you come? She don’t look good at all.”

  Considering his vows to help animals and his promise to J.T. to take good care of his practice, Tony didn’t see any way to refuse. In view of the foul weather, the caller was probably right about it being best to keep the already stressed dog as warm as possible.

  “All right. Give me the address. I’ll put a message on the answering machine that we closed early due to inclement weather and make a house call pretty soon.”

  “Dr. Paul picked a fine substitute.” The caller cited a number on Main Street. “We’ll be waitin’.”

  * * *

  Mert was Annette’s last appointment for the day, and she was already getting cancellations for the rest of the week. Rusty Zidek had made himself at home in one of her chairs and started leafing through a magazine before he’d nodded off.

  She touched his shoulder. “Rusty? I hate to disturb your nap but I’m ready to close and you haven’t brought me that dog food yet. Do you want me to go get it?”

  He snapped to attention and yawned. “No, no. I just needed a short nap. It plumb tuckered me out helpin’ that poor dog out of the street.”

  “I looked in on
her just now and she’s sound asleep on a blanket in the corner of my kitchen,” Annette said. “I’ll put up my closed sign but leave the doors unlocked so you can let yourself in when you come back. Are you sure you don’t want me to go instead?”

  He settled his damp Stetson on his head. “Nope. It ain’t far.”

  When she tried to hand him shopping money he backed off. “No need for that. I rescued her and I’ll pay for her feed since you’re givin’ her a home.”

  “Whoa!” Hand raised, palm out, Annette stopped him. “I never said I was going to keep her. She’s only here to get warm and rest a little.”

  “Whatever you say. I called the vet, too, and he promised to stop by. Keep an eye out for him, okay?”

  “Sure. No problem. Be careful out there.”

  “Yes’m. Will do.”

  Scanning the nearly abandoned street as best she could through the stinging, blowing sleet, Annette watched Rusty pick his way cautiously to his Jeep. She might not know much about dogs, but she was well acquainted with Montana’s weather. She’d be fortunate if any of her regulars showed up for their weekly appointments, let alone had walk-in business. Nobody in his or her right mind ventured out in a storm like this.

  Except a lost dog, an old man with a tender heart and whoever was slowly working his way in her direction on foot. The figure was bent forward, leaning into the gale and clearly battling to keep his balance. He was clad in a jacket that looked more suited to the city and a ball cap he kept tugging lower on his forehead.

  There was a piece of paper flapping in the man’s hand. He wasn’t even wearing gloves! Who in Jasper Gulch would be that foolish?

  Because he had to use both hands to still the note, he let go of his cap. It took flight. He made a grab for it and missed. When he turned back to face her before ducking his head against the effects of the storm, she found it hard to catch her breath. That thick, dark hair. Those compelling eyes. He was older, of course, and condensation on the window dimmed his image, but there was no doubt in her mind.