Kyle's Modern Montana Bride (The New Montana Brides Book 6) Read online

  Kyle’s Modern Montana Bride

  A New Montana Brides Series (Contemporary)

  Susan Leigh Carlton

  Amazon Publishing

  Copyright © 2014 by Susan Leigh Carlton.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the address below.

  Susan Leigh Carlton Assocuiates

  Tomball, TX 77377

  www.susanleighcarlton.com

  Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

  A Modern Montana Bride/Susan Leigh Carlton Name. -- 1st ed.

  Contents

  Kyle’s Modern Montana Bride

  Description

  Prologue

  Captain Kyle Thompson

  Civilian Life

  You Have A Son

  Ashley is Dead

  Where Have You Been?

  The Search Begins

  A Glimmer of Hope

  Wild Things Going On

  He Was Here

  I’m Here

  The Relationship Changes

  It’s Not Him

  On To Crescent City

  Come With Me Folks

  Meet Your Grandson

  The Return to Phoenix

  A Sad Goodbye

  If You Still Want Us

  A Wedding to Plan

  Boring Holes In The Sky

  A Wedding

  Epilogue

  About Susan

  Susan’s Other Books

  Description

  This is a western romance novella set in Montana, in the 2008-2012 time frames. It is the story of Kyle Thompson, the son and heir apparent of a wealthy Montana rancher.

  Kyle grew up loving to fly. He soloed in the family owned Cessna 182 on his sixteenth birthday. He obtained his private pilot’s license on his seventeenth birthday; He was also certified to fly the twin engine Cessna 310, owned by the ranch.

  In November, 2003, the senior senator from Montana, nominated Kyle for one of his two allocated appointments to the US Military Academy at West Point.

  He expected his girlfriend, Ashley Stewart, to be as excited about the appointment as he was. She was not, and told him in no uncertain terms she did not want, and would not have a boyfriend two thousand miles away.

  West Point won out, and when he entered the US Military Academy as a plebe, Class of 2008, he no longer had a girlfriend.

  After his mandatory six year commitment, was up, Kyle returned to Montana, where he planned to resume a normal life. This proved not to be the case.

  Prologue

  Kyle Thompson was the fifth great grandson of Cody Thompson and his wife Annabel. He lived on the TbarS ranch established by Annabel’s father, Caleb. The ranch grew in size with each generation and was now the second largest ranch in the state. As the only child of John and Catherine Thompson, he stood to inherit the TbarS someday.

  Kyle attended the Helena Public schools, where he lettered in football, basketball and baseball. He was quarter-back and captain of the Helena High School Bengals.

  His passion did not lie in sports; but was divided between flying and Ashley Stewart. He would have been hard-pressed to pick between the two. He had known Ashley since kindergarten and had only been flying since he was fourteen.

  Voted the most popular and most likely to succeed, he led an active social life, centered on Ashley, the best looking girl in school. Kyle had dated no one else after their first real date during their sophomore year.

  Ashley was one of two daughters of the vice-president of the First National Bank of Helena. Her older sister, Susannah was a quiet and studious girl, but Ashley was the opposite, one of the cheerleaders, and was named homecoming queen. She loved to party, and was invited to all of them, along with Kyle she attended most of them.

  Ashley was wild and would try anything. She tried marijuana at a party and liked the way it made her feel. She tried to get Kyle interested, but he was adamant in his refusal.

  They began experimenting with sex, and she yielded her pearl of great treasure during their junior year.

  In November of their senior year, Kyle received notice of his nomination to West Point. He told her about it the same evening as they sat in the car at their favorite makeout point overlooking the river.

  She became very quiet, and finally asked, “Are you going to take the nomination?”

  “Yes, I am,” he said.

  “Where does that leave me?” she asked.

  “What do you mean? Nothing changes between us. I love you, and that won’t change.”

  “You’ll be in New York and I’ll be stuck in Helena. Am I supposed to sit around and wait? she asked.

  “I’ll get leave and come home, for Christmas and I get three weeks in the summer,” he said.

  “And I’m supposed to sit at home? Look at all of the fun we could have if we went to either the U or Montana State,” she said.

  “I don’t want you to go. Kyle,” she said.

  “It’s what I want to do. West Point is a good school. Let’s don’t argue,” he said. He attempted to kiss her, but she turned her head. She moved his hand from where it had been resting on her breast, and scooted away from him, closer to the door.

  “You don’t get to do that anymore,” she said.

  “Aw, come on, Ash, you don’t mean that,” he said.

  “I’m not going to do it with you, until you come to your senses about this West Point stuff,” she said. “See how you like that. Now, take me home,” she demanded.

  “Why are you acting this way?” he asked. “This is a great opportunity for me.”

  “Your family’s rich, you don’t need opportunities. Are you going to take me home or do I walk? I’m sure somebody will come along and give me a ride,” she said.

  “I’ll take you home,” he said. “I can’t believe this.”

  “Believe it,” she said.

  He started the car and drove her back to Helena. Without a word, she got out of the car and walked up the steps and into the house.

  He drove back to the ranch. His mother laid her book down and said, “You’re home early.”

  “Ashley broke up with me tonight,” he said.

  “Do you want to talk about it,” she asked.

  “There’s nothing to talk about, Mom. I told her about West Point, and she basically said if I go, it's over between us. She didn’t even consider whether I wanted to go or not, just what she would do. I think it is selfish on her part.”

  “I’m sure she’ll be all right after she thinks about it. You have gone steady for nearly three years now. She’ll think it through. Call her tomorrow,” she said.

  “I don’t know, she can be pretty stubborn when she doesn’t get her way,” he said.

  “If she’s that way, I guess it’s better you found out now,” his mother said.

  “Don’t say that, Mom. She’s the only girlfriend, I’ve ever had. I love her,” he said.

  “I’m sorry, son. I don’
t mean to trivialize this. I know she’s important to you. I don’t like to see you hurt. Would you consider not accepting the nomination?” she asked.

  “No, I want to go, he said.

  “It sounds as if you’ve made a decision. Now it’s up to her,: she said.

  “Yeah, she sounded as if she made hers too. It sure didn’t take her long to do it.”

  The next morning, he stopped to pick her up for school. He tapped the horn to let her know he was waiting, but she didn’t come out. Instead, her sister Susannah came out, and said, “She’s already gone. You didn’t know?”

  “No,” he said. “We had an argument last night, but I thought… I don’t know what I thought,” he said. “Thanks for coming to tell me, Susannah. I’d better get on to school.”

  They didn’t have any classes together, but they normally met for lunch in the cafeteria. He didn’t see her for the rest of the day either.

  During football practice he looked to where the cheer-leaders were practicing, but didn’t see her.

  That evening, his mother asked, “Did you and Ashley get things straightened out?”

  “No, when I stopped to pick her up, Susannah told me she had left already, and I didn’t see her at school,” he said. “I didn’t see her with the cheerleaders either. I think she blew school off today; I’m not going to chase after her,” he said. “I tried, the ball is in her court.”

  chapter one

  Captain Kyle Thompson

  Captain Kyle Thompson, USMA Class 2004, was on his second deployment to Afghanistan, in the command pilot’s seat of the AH64 Apache helicopter gunship. He command-ed a flight of two Apaches on a routine scouting mission.

  “Tiger 1 2, this is Tiger 1 1 Let’s go home. I’m getting low on fuel.”

  “Tiger 1 1, this is Tiger 1 2, roger that.”

  “Tiger 1 1 turning.”

  The radio crackled “This is Dixie 1, calling any support, vicinity of Fire station Zebra. Dixie 1 calling any support, Over.”

  “Dixie 1, this is Tiger 1 1 with a flight of two Apaches. Say your position, I say again, say your position, over.”

  “Tiger 1 1, this is Dixie 1. We are a squad of 10 Rangers, 2 KIA. 3 WIA. We’re two clicks west of Zebra, over.”

  “Zebra 1, this is Tiger 1 1, we must be right on top of you, Dixie 1 say your SITREP. I say again, state your SITREP.”

  “Tiger 1 1, this is Dixie 1, we have you in sight. SITREP critical bad guys have us surrounded, Popping red smoke. About 100 meters beyond the smoke, all around, in the rocks.”

  “Tiger 1, this is Tiger 1 1. Request permission to engage, over.”

  “Tiger 1 1, you are clear to engage. You are clear to en-gage.”

  “Tiger 1, this is Tiger 1 1, Roger on clear to engage. Moving in on west side.” As he moved in, he spotted a Taliban soldier bringing an RPG to bear on the chopper.

  Tiger 1 1’s X-Ray saw him too, and unleashed the chain gun slung beneath the AH64 normally controlled by the front seater or X-Ray. The X-Ray uses the chain gun to bring fire onto the enemy while the pilot lines the bird up for his rockets. The 30mm projectiles cut the insurgent down along with several others in his group.

  Tiger 1 1 continued to move in as his X-Ray now used the chain gun to bring a murderous fire to bear about 150 meters beyond the smoke. As he moved around, Kyle launched rockets at the larger targets. “Keep it coming, Tiger 1 1, you’re right on top of them,” shouted Dixie 1.

  Tiger 1 1 continued to move around using the chain gun. Finally, he called, “Dixie 1, Dixie 1, this is Tiger 1 1. We will hang around until we are bingo fuel. If you find anything, let us know, over”

  “Roger that, Tiger 1 1. You done good.”

  Later. . .

  “Dixie 1, Tiger 1 1. We have an inbound slick. ETA is ten. We are bingo fuel so we gotta to boogie on out of here. Good luck and we’ll see you back at the ranch. We’ll buy the first round.”

  “Roger that, Tiger 1 1, and thanks for the assist. Dixie 1 over and out.

  All US Army combat personnel keep track of their DEROS, the acronym for “date eligible for return from over-seas. DEROS is their get out of jail and return to the real world card. Kyle’s DEROS came two days after his return from the mission supporting the Rangers. He would not have a mission scheduled for the day before he leaves. It is considered bad karma.

  Lieutenant Colonel Charles Tolliver was the commanding officer (CO) of the 1st Squadron of the 9th Cavalry. Each CO is required to talk to an officer prior to the expiration of his enlistment and explain all of the benefits of remaining in the Army. The Army did not like to lose the investment made in training an Apache pilot, so they made an effort to retain them.

  Most West Point graduates are expected be career officers, but Kyle did not choose to be one of these. He decided long before, to leave when his commitment of six years of active service for the privilege of attending the USMA at West Point was up. With the ten years plus the extension he had agreed to in order to get into the Apache gunship program, the military time amounted to a 11 years of his life.

  “Sir, I am going to leave and join the family business,” he said.

  “And what is the family business, Captain Thompson?” asked the colonel.

  “Sir, we own a ranch. It will be mine to run someday, and I want to get started,” Kyle said.

  “You’ll miss flying, I can tell you that for sure,” the colonel said.

  “Sir, the ranch owns a Cessna 310, and a 182. I intend to convince my father we should have a helicopter,” Kyle said.

  “Sounds like a big operation,” said the colonel.

  “It is, sir,” Kyle said, but did not elaborate further.

  After mustering out, at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Kyle flew into Helena Regional Airport on Delta. Like any pilot, Kyle is far more comfortable when he has the yoke in his capable hands. He breathed a sigh of relief when the plane made contact with the runway. His father and mother met him outside the security area. He had not seen them in over a year, and his mother had tears in his eyes when she spotted him coming down the concourse. Her only son was home safely. She could breathe easier now.

  Even though the TbarS had an airstrip, they had driven in to meet him.

  “It is so good to be home,” he said.

  “Would you like to eat some lunch before we head home?” his father asked.

  “No sir. I just want to get home, kick back, and enjoy the fresh air, without anyone shooting at me,” Kyle said.

  “Do the Stewarts know I’m home,” he asked.

  “The Stewarts moved away over a year ago, son,” his father said.

  “Where did they go?” Kyle asked.

  “There was a change of ownership in the bank. The new company wanted their own people in charge, and Ken lost out in the reorganization. He stayed with his old company but had to relocate,” his father said.

  “That’s too bad,” Kyle said.

  “It’s happening a lot more with the current economy. Consolidations and mergers are a regular occurrence. We’ve even had several offers for our place,” his father said.

  “Did you consider them?” Kyle asked.

  “Not for a minute,” his father said. “Your grandfather would crawl out of his grave if I even thought about it.”

  chapter Two

  Civilian Life

  Kyle spent several days catching up on his sleep and meals. After a week, he discovered he had put on ten pounds. He had lost weight while in country, but he did not want to balloon up, so he began to exercise and pay attention to his intake. He discovered Callie, the longtime family cook and housekeeper had decided he looked thin and this was somehow an affront to her sensibilities.

  He loved to run during his academy days and decided to take it up again. He started at a sensible mile per day, and gradually extended to five.

  One year later…

  A year spent working side by side with his father. He had turned into a sun bronzed, lean man born to the ranching life. After dinner
, he had adjourned to his favorite spot, the swing on the front porch. His mother had been to the mailbox that afternoon, and handed him a letter in a yellow scented envelope with no return address on the outside. The postmark said Phoenix.

  Ashley! He tore the envelope open, anxious to find what she had to say after all of these years. Wonder how she discovered I'm home? One of her friends probably called and told her. I don’t remember seeing any of our old friends since I got back. We had some good times in those days.

  A stirring in his groin reminded him of some of the times they enjoyed together. She was my first and I was hers. We knew nothing. Two teenagers enjoying life, and its pleasures. If she hadn’t been so stubborn about me going to the Point, we would have married and had a family by now. A wedding in the chapel, walking beneath the crossed swords. If only…

  A wave of disappointment washed over him, when he saw Susannah's name instead of Ashley's. It didn’t even have a salutation, instead, she asked him to come to Phoenix, where she now lived. “I have some important news, and I desperately need your help,” the letter said.

  Wonder what the important news is? Why couldn’t she put it in the letter? I’ll call this phone number and see what this is all about. It must be about Ashley. Ashley’s probably afraid to call herself and asked Susannah to break the ice for her. After the way she treated me, she should be nervous. I don’t know whether I want to help her or not.

  Sorry, Ashley, I’m not interested. It took six long years to get over you, and I’m not going back there again.

  He threw the letter in the wastebasket and went off to search for his father.

  Four days later…

  “Pop, I’ve been thinking of taking some courses at UM on ranch management. They’ve made a lot of advances, and we could probably benefit from them. What do you think?” he asked.

  His father said, “They’ve got a good Ag department at both Montana State and the University. I was at a meeting where one of the Ag professors spoke. They’ve even experimented with some cloning. So far, none of the offspring survived long term. A lab in Scotland cloned a sheep a few years back, and after they successfully bred her, she gave birth to live triplets. I hear Texas A&M has cloned several species.