Montana Hearts Read Online Free PDF Page B

engaged to their weekend wrangler, Ryan Tanner, who had a seven-­year-­old son. Her older sister would be a mom . Like her. Now they’d have lots to talk about and that three-­year gap between them wouldn’t feel so large.
    And just last month, her older brother, Luke, proposed to their friend and next-­door neighbor, Sammy Jo. Never in a million years had Delaney expected to see him anxious to marry. But stranger things had happened.
    Like her divorce to Steve. She’d once thought he was the one for her. She’d never been so wrong. And now . . . well, she wasn’t sure of anything anymore. That’s why it was better for her to leave most decisions to the other older and wiser members of her family. They always knew what to do.
    Just like Grandma did, when Delaney let her see their rival’s poster and explained where she’d found it. Her grandmother’s bushy white brows drew together, and after scrunching her face into a sour expression, she commanded in a half snarl, “Everyone get to the kitchen!”
    No one questioned Grandma. The matriarch of the family even got Delaney’s father’s attention. However, that didn’t stop him from coming down hard on her.
    â€œDelaney, what the devil is this about?”
    Ugh. She hated having everyone’s eyes on her. Her chest tightened, her palms grew sweaty, and the back of her throat closed up as she tried to speak.
    â€œSpit it out, girl,” her father shouted. “We haven’t got all day.”
    Instead of trying to explain, she unfurled the rival outfitter’s poster and held it up in front of her, hiding her face.
    â€œGavin McKinley went and put his posters over all the ones we spent our hard earned money on,” Grandma told them.
    Delaney heard Bree gasp first. Then Ma let out a high-­pitched squeak. Luke and Sammy Jo’s voices murmured back and forth, followed by a deep, guttural growl that could only have come from Delaney’s father.
    â€œWho does he think he is?” Jed Collins demanded.
    Delaney peeked around the poster and grimaced. “That’s not all. I think he’s spreading rumors. Several ­people in town are saying they heard Gavin McKinley call Collins Country Cabins a second rate lodging facility that is constantly having trouble staying open.”
    â€œThat’s not true!” Bree protested. “Ever since we hosted the Hamiltons’ wedding a few weeks ago, business is booming. Every cabin is booked several weeks out.”
    â€œThat’s not true either,” Ma said, her tone rising into a high-­pitched squeak. “This morning we had several cancellations.”
    â€œMost likely due to this smear campaign,” Luke said, his jaw tightening.
    â€œThis is an outrage,” their father thundered. “What makes Gavin McKinley think he can run our name through the mud?”
    â€œMaybe the fact he’s the sheriff’s son,” Sammy Jo pointed out.
    â€œI could talk to the sheriff about him,” Grandma offered.
    Delaney thought that might work. Her grandma and the sheriff had grown close and were on the brink of “officially” dating.
    â€œBut why would he do this?” Ma asked, her face going pale.
    Delaney sighed. “He’s mad we’re staying open for fall.”
    â€œWe only decided to do that a week ago,” her father said, narrowing his gaze. “Who told him?”
    Delaney swallowed hard. “I did. Yesterday. At the Bozeman Stampede. Now Gavin thinks we’re going to steal away his business.”
    â€œHe would have found out one way or another,” Grandma sympathized. “But how was he able to produce so many posters so quickly?”
    â€œStores can print them up in less than an hour,” Bree informed her.
    â€œWhat about us?” Ma asked. “Can we print up more of our own advertisements?”
    â€œWe’d do better with a good