Slay Bells Read online

  Chapter Fourteen

  December

  This time the arrival at the Missoula airport was so different than the first time Gabriela had come to do a story of a winter festival in a place she’d never even considered visiting. This time she was waiting for passengers disembarking instead of fighting her way out. She looked toward the stairway waiting for her family, excitement bubbling.

  It had been several months since seeing her mother, Nana and brother. Her father had already made a couple trips. First trip, he helped her drive there, and the second trip was to spend time with Jeremy and her soon to be father-in-law on a fishing trip.

  She’d lived there for over half a year and it was definitely the best decision of her life. Already she’d started a book club with a group of local women. She was involved in a wine tasting club and she had an office that looked out onto Main Street in downtown Missoula.

  Although technically she didn’t need an office, it was easier for her to adjust to a slower life by going somewhere busier than the quiet street where she and Jeremy lived.

  Now that she rented a small office space, she not only continued writing for the online magazine, but she’d also been hired as an editor for the local city magazine, which conveniently had its offices in the same building. They’d loved her experience in writing and explained they needed someone with fresh eyes to write about the town’s social scene.

  A group of loud people came from the parking area and bustled to where Gabriela stood. A red-faced woman glared at who Gabriela assumed was her husband. “I told you we’d be late. I bet the plane has already landed.”

  The group looked at the lighted arrivals board, all of them speaking at once about which flight whoever they were there to greet was on.

  Gabriela moved away from them when one of the men proceeded to pick his nose and rub his fingers on his pants leg.

  The same man pointed to where passengers were appearing. “Here they come now.”

  The group moved forward, effectively blocking Gabriela’s view of the doorway. She shifted from one side to the other, but they were rather large people.

  “Excuse me.” She tapped a woman’s shoulder. “I can’t see.”

  “It’s not a parade honey, you’ll be okay,” the woman screamed more than said. The same woman shoved one of her own group out of her way. “I can’t see either. Move!”

  Someone came up behind Gabriela and jabbed her arm. “Excuse me lady, I can’t see with all of you in the way.”

  Gabriela blew out a breath and decided to go stand by the baggage claim. Her heel caught on something and she fell backward. Out of pure reaction, she grabbed the woman in front of her who immediately lost her balance too.

  A man in the group tried to catch them, but instead of helping, they pulled him down with them.

  Thankfully, Gabriela landed on something soft. Possibly, the person who’d tapped her on the shoulder. Unfortunately, two rather large people fell on top of her making it difficult to breathe.

  “Need assistance?”

  Above her, Jeremy’s face came into focus. “You really need to stay out of airports.” He pulled her to her feet while people helped with the others.

  “You made me fall,” the red-faced woman shouted at the same man she’d been irritated with earlier. “All you had to do was hold my arm, not do whatever you did.”

  The group lost interest in the fall when someone called out a name and everyone rushed to greet their person.

  “Don’t tell my family what happened. They always rib me about being so accident prone.”

  Laughter broke out and she turned to find Nana in the center of the rambunctious group looking at someone’s cellphone.

  “You’re a hoot,” her Nana said, wiping tears from her eyes. “All that’s visible is a leg and your hair. It could be me.”

  “My Nana thinks they’re here to greet her,” Gabriela said hurrying to retrieve her grandmother.

  The drive from the airport was uneventful. Jeremy drove her father and brother and she her Nana and mother. All the way, they discussed last minute wedding items that needed to be done. The entire time, Gabriela couldn’t stop grinning. It was a happy time.

  This was actually going to work out. Her family would come to Montana often. As a matter of fact, her brother already had plans to come in the spring to help with ranching. Juanito was always up for exploring new adventures.

  Her parents and Jeremy’s were negotiating traveling back and forth and exchanging homes, depending on the seasons. Her parents wanted to come up and experience a white winter, while the Hawkins’s were excited about a milder San Diego one.

  “What the hell is that?” her Nana called out pointing. “Is that a naked man? Pull over. Stop the car.”

  Gabriela slowed down and then brought the car to a stop.

  “Henry, what the hell are you doing?”

  Nana got out and rushed to the man holding out a shawl. “Did someone mug you and take your clothes?”

  “No Ma’am,” Henry replied with a smile. “I am responding to a dare. I am not the kind of man to be dared.”

  “Well that’s just plain stupid,” Nana said, wrapping her shawl around his midsection. “Your pecker is going to fall off.”

  Henry considered what she said. His teeth chattered and his lips were already turning blue. “You think so?”

  “Get in the back Henry, we’re going to the ranch. Jeremy is going to be mad at you.”

  “All right. Let me get my clothes.”

  Her mother peered out from the back window and gasped. “You’re putting a naked man in the back seat with me? No way.”

  “I’ll sit with him,” Nana said. “He’s a bit young for me, but I suspect he’s single.”

  Gabriela burst out laughing as her mother hurried to sit in the front. “Come on, let’s get to the ranch. We have a wedding to plan.”

  Her parents and brother each had a cabin. Gabriela and Jeremy were going to stay at the same one she’d stayed when first coming to visit until the wedding.

  That night after dinner, Jeremy took her hand. “Come outside, I have a surprise for you.”

  It took a few moments to get her coat, scarf, and gloves on before she left with him. They went to the snowmobile and Jeremy drove away from the main house.

  The cold air made her cheeks sting, but she loved holding onto Jeremy as they zipped across the expanse of the land.

  At the cabins, one in particular had the indoor lights on, and he pulled the snowmobile to a stop in front of it.

  Gabriela smiled. “What’s inside? Wanna peek first and make sure there’s no dead body?”

  They walked hand in hand to the door where she gasped. The main area was sparsely furnished with only a table, two chairs and a bed. On the table were two candles, a huge vase with beautiful red roses, two goblets and champagne chilling.

  “Merry Christmas,” Jeremy said with a wide grin. “I hope you like it.”

  She blinked tears back. “Oh my goodness. I got you a backpack. I feel so lame.”

  “There are also chocolate covered strawberries,” Jeremy added.

  “I put gum in one of the pockets.”

  “I need a backpack.” He kissed her and pulled Gabriela tight against him.

  “And I need you naked and on that rug.”

  “Is that all you think about?”

  “Pretty much.”

  About the Author

  Most days USA Today Bestseller Hildie McQueen can be found in her overly tight leggings and green hoodie, holding a cup of tea while stalking the lawn guy. In the afternoons she browses the Internet for semi-nude men to post on Facebook.

  Being a full-time writer is no joke, the co-workers are dogs, no one cleans the office and the only human contact is usually carrying a package and in a hurry to leave.

  Author Hildie McQueen loves unusual situations and getting into interesting adventures, which is what her characters do as well. She writes romance because she is in love with love!
Author of historical and contemporary romances, she writes something every reader can enjoy.

  Hildie’s favorite past-times are reader conventions, traveling, shopping and reading.

  She resides in beautiful small town Georgia with her super-hero husband Kurt and three doggies.

  Visit her website at

  www.hildiemcqueen.com

  Facebook:

  facebook.com/HildieMcQueen

  Twitter:

  twitter.com/HildieMcQueen

  Instagram

  instagram.com/hildiemcqueenwriter

  Other Contemporary Romances by Hildie McQueen

  Laurel Creek Series

  Jaded: Luke

  Broken: Taylor

  Ruined: Tobias

  Brash: Frederick

  Montana Cowboys

  Montana Bachelor

  Montana Boss

  Montana Beau

  Montana Born

  Montana Bred

  Standalone

  Even Heroes Cry

  The Last Hero

  Melody of Secrets