The Promise Read online

  Catherine held the plate toward Matthew. “Just for you, Uncle Matthew.”

  He took one of the muffins and smiled at his niece. “They look yummy.”

  Sean held his cell phone toward Matthew. “They’re not the only thing that will make you feel better. Call her.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Yes, you can. Just tap the buttons and let technology do the rest.”

  “Technology won’t make her answer my call. I told her I can’t even be her friend.”

  Sean dropped the phone into Matthew’s shirt pocket. “Tell her you changed your mind.”

  “It won’t do any good. Ashley’s life is in New York, not Bozeman.”

  His brother shrugged. “It’s your decision.”

  Catherine slid the plate of muffins onto the kitchen counter. “Ashley’s nice.”

  Matthew tapped the end of her nose. “She is nice. Do you think Toby has found the cookies we made yesterday?”

  A giggle came from inside the pantry. “Daddy found them.”

  Nathan’s head appeared from behind the pantry doors. “Are they mom’s honey crunch recipe?”

  Matthew smiled. “How did you guess?”

  A cookie appeared in Nathan’s hand. “They taste just like hers.”

  “Yummy,” Toby said from beside his dad.

  Matthew handed Sean’s cell phone back to him. He wished all his troubles could be solved with cookies and muffins. It would have made his life so much easier.

  ***

  It took Matthew another four days to call Ashley and another day before he started worrying. He’d left three messages, asking her to call him. They’d both been upset when he’d left, but it wasn’t like her not to return at least one call.

  “Have you spoken to someone at the newspaper where she works?” Sean asked.

  “They said she was away from the office.”

  “What about the friends she talked about while she was here? Maybe they know where she’s gone.”

  Matthew had already contacted Harry, but he hadn’t returned his call either. “I’ll try Bonnie.”

  He half expected the call to go to voice mail, but Bonnie answered straight away. “Hi, Bonnie. It’s Matthew.”

  “Hi. How’s Bozeman?”

  “Much quieter than New York City. I’m sorry to call you, but I’ve been trying to reach Ashley. I’ve left a few messages, but she hasn’t returned my calls. Is she okay?”

  “She’s in Washington D.C.”

  “Is she still working on the story about Congressman Welsh?”

  “Didn’t Ashley tell you why she was going there?”

  Matthew rubbed his forehead. He didn’t know what Ashley had told Bonnie, but he was guessing it wasn’t much. “I haven’t spoken to Ashley since I left New York.”

  “That was two weeks ago.”

  “I know. I made a mistake.”

  “Don’t we all,” Bonnie muttered. “I’m surprised Ashley hasn’t returned your calls.”

  “Have you spoken to her?”

  “She called me last night after she arrived at her hotel.”

  At least Ashley was okay. “Why did she go to Washington D.C.?”

  Bonnie sighed. “She’s being interviewed for a job at The Washington Post.”

  Matthew’s heart sank. “I thought she liked living in New York?”

  “She does, but this job is exactly what she’s been looking for. Call Ashley tonight. She can tell you about the interview.”

  “I’ll do that. Thanks, Bonnie.”

  “No problem. Bye.”

  Matthew disconnected the call.

  “What did she say?” Sean asked.

  “Ashley went to Washington D.C. for a job interview.” He slid his phone into his pocket. “I’ll check the fences on the northern boundary. I should be back in a couple of hours.”

  Sean held onto his arm. “Are you okay?”

  “I will be. Amy and Nathan invited us for dinner. We need to be at their place by six o’clock.”

  His brother smiled. “You can drown your sorrows in one of Amy’s world famous desserts.”

  Not even the thought of his sister-in-law’s cooking made him feel better. His brain was telling him there was no point calling Ashley, but his heart was still as stubborn as ever.

  ***

  Ashley collected her suitcase from the carousel and headed toward the car rental counters. She’d stayed in Washington, D.C. until six o’clock that night, then caught a six-hour flight to Bozeman.

  For now, no one except her father and Bonnie knew she was here.

  After what had happened over the last few months, her dad had insisted on seeing her. To make it easier for both of them, they’d decided to meet halfway across the country in Montana.

  “Ashley!”

  She turned around and smiled at the man on the other side of the arrivals area. Her dad’s lean frame hadn’t changed since she’d last seen him. But the stress that had lined his face and left his shoulders stooped had disappeared. He was walking tall and looking like the man she remembered from before her mom became sick.

  “Hi, Dad. I didn’t think you were arriving until tomorrow afternoon.”

  “I caught an earlier flight so that we could spend more time together. You look great.”

  Ashley stepped into his open arms. “So do you. Married life agrees with you.” She hugged her dad tight. “I love you.”

  “I love you too, honey. How about I drive us back to the hotel? We could get some sleep, then meet for breakfast.”

  “I was going to hire a rental car as well.”

  “Do you need one? I can drive you where you want to go.”

  Ashley thought about Matthew and the messages he’d left on her phone. “I’d like to visit the Gray family ranch while we’re here. Will that be a problem?”

  “Of course not. It will give me a chance to see Matthew again.”

  She gripped the handle of her carry-on and ignored the butterflies running around her tummy. If thinking about Matthew made her nervous she had no idea what a few hours of his company would do.

  Her dad took her suitcase out of her hands. “My car isn’t far away. Did you have dinner on your flight?”

  Ashley nodded. “Thanks for coming here early, dad.”

  “I want to make the most of our time together. I haven’t seen you since Trisha and I got married.” He stopped outside the terminal building. “I wasn’t in a good place after your mom died, Ashley. I’m sorry if I said anything that made you leave Bozeman.”

  “It wasn’t you, dad. I’d already talked to mom about living in a different city. When the job was advertised in New York, it seemed as if it was meant to be.”

  Her dad wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “I’m proud of you, Ashley. Now let’s leave the airport before they lock the gates.”

  She smiled as she pulled her carry-on across the parking lot. If she’d learned one lesson over the last few months, it was that life was too short for regrets. And she didn’t want to regret not getting to know her dad again.

  “Who do you want to visit apart from Matthew?” her dad asked.

  “Logan Allen and my friend, Erin.”

  “Is that all?”

  “It’s enough for now. Is it okay if we visit the cemetery while we’re here?”

  Her dad slowed down. “I’d like that. Your mom would be proud of what you’ve achieved.”

  Ashley wrapped her hand around her dad’s elbow. “I think so, too.” Her mom used to tell her to dream big and reach for the stars. She’d done that and then some.

  Now all she had to do was work out if she wanted to reach for the moon.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Ashley opened the door to Angel Wings Café. Logan was sitting in the back of his wife’s eatery, reading the newspaper. The text he’d sent her yesterday was as unexpected as the messages from Matthew. A job had become vacant at the Bozeman Chronicle, and Logan wanted to know if she was interested in applying for the posit
ion.

  “Hi, Logan.”

  He looked up and smiled. “Welcome home.”

  “It’s only for the weekend.”

  “At the moment.”

  The gleam in his eyes made Ashley smile. “Still the same Logan Allen. Do you ever take no for an answer?”

  “Only where my wife is concerned,” he whispered.

  Tess, his wife, came over to their table. “I told Logan to be on his best behavior. Is it working?”

  “It’s too soon to tell,” Ashley said. “He’s just started his sales pitch.”

  Tess left a cup of hot coffee in front of Ashley and refilled her husband’s cup. “Play nice. I don’t want you scaring Ashley away. It would be great to have her back in Bozeman.”

  Logan grinned. “I might not need to push too hard. Why don’t you sit with us and tell Ashley why she needs to work with me.”

  “I don’t need to sit with you. Ashley already knows what it’s like living in Bozeman.” Tess looked at the front counter. “I’d better give Caitlin a hand. Would you like something to eat, Ashley?”

  “Not at the moment. I’ll come back with dad at lunchtime.”

  “Sounds good. I’ll see you later.”

  Ashley nodded and watched her friend refill another coffee cup on her way across the café. “Tess has worked hard to build her business.”

  Logan sipped his coffee. “She’s one of the most determined people I know. Did you get the job description I emailed you?”

  “I did, and I’ve read it from beginning to end. It’s a great opportunity.”

  “Is it great for you?”

  Ashley sighed. “It could be.”

  “That’s more than I expected you to say.”

  “Why is that?”

  Logan shifted in his seat. “I heard on the grapevine that you’ve been speaking to Des Malone from The Washington Post.”

  “How on earth did you hear that? The only people I told were Bonnie, Harry, and dad.”

  “I worked with Des for a few years. He called me to ask if I could recommend anyone for his team.”

  Ashley’s eyes widened. “And you recommended me, even though you want me to accept a job here?”

  “You’re one of the best reporters I know. It’s up to you which position, if any, you accept.”

  “You taught me everything I know.”

  “I’ll tell you a secret that I don’t tell many people. You either have the drive and imagination to be a great reporter or you don’t. And you, Ashley Fisher, have both qualities by the bucketful. All I did was fine-tune what you were already doing.”

  “Can I ask you a question?”

  “Sure. That’s why we’re here.”

  “Have you ever regretted moving to Bozeman?” She’d thought long and hard about this question. Before Logan joined the Chronicle, he’d worked as a war correspondent. If anyone knew how hard it would be to return to Bozeman, he would.

  Logan looked across the café at his wife. “My story is a little different to most. I had post-traumatic stress disorder when I started working at the Chronicle. I needed to sort out my life and Bozeman seemed like a good place to do it. Have I ever regretted moving here? No. I met Tess the first week I arrived. Most days I came into the café for lunch. On my worst days, she kept me sane. On my best, I managed to annoy her. Now look at us—happily married and never wanting to leave. But everyone’s different. You need to do what’s right for you. Having said that, we need you on our team.”

  “Did you work with Des Malone in Washington, D.C.?”

  Logan shook his head. “No. We were employed by the same news agency in London. Between assignments, we’d meet at the local pub and trade war stories. He’s tough but fair.”

  “Did you know he interviewed me yesterday?”

  “I didn’t, but I’m not surprised. How did it go?”

  “Better than I thought. His team is really friendly, and the salary is more than I earn in New York. One of the reporters showed me around town after the interview.”

  “Have you been to Washington, D.C. before?”

  “Once. Mom and dad took me when I was in high school. We spent almost two weeks visiting every museum we could find. It’s a wonderful city.”

  “What can I say or do to make working for me better than Des’ offer?”

  Ashley fiddled with the handle of her coffee cup. “There’s nothing you can do. Your offer was very generous.”

  “What’s stopping you from working with our team?”

  “A promise I made to my mom.”

  Logan seemed surprised. “You promised your mom you’d never move back to Bozeman?”

  Ashley wished it was that easy. “I promised I’d live my life to the fullest and never stop believing in myself. If I move back home, it would feel as though I was giving up our dream.”

  “We might not live life at the same frantic pace as New York or Washington, D.C., but we have our moments.”

  A smile slipped across Ashley’s face. “Somehow I don’t think Bozeman has the same number of crimes or dubious politicians that Washington, D.C. does. Am I wrong?”

  “No, but we do have billionaire ranchers, environmental activists, and lots of moose. That’s got to count for something.”

  “If you say so.”

  “At least think about my offer. If you decide to work at the Chronicle, we’ll figure out your start date and go from there.”

  Tess walked across to their table and handed Ashley a brown paper bag. “For you and your dad.”

  Ashley opened the bag and sniffed. “Yum, blueberry muffins. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. Did Logan convince you to apply for the job?”

  “Maybe.”

  The bell above the front door jingled, and Tess scanned the café. “You can tell me more at lunchtime. I need to get another table ready.”

  Before Ashley could say goodbye, Tess was gone. “Is the café usually this busy?”

  Logan looked at the people walking toward Tess. “It’s becoming busier, just like the rest of Bozeman. We’re the fastest growing city in Montana. The county is upgrading our infrastructure to cope with the demand, but it’s come at a huge cost. If you were working at the Chronicle, you could write a report on our public amenities and infrastructure projects.”

  “Are you trying to make me work for you or go to Washington, D.C.?”

  “It could be an interesting story.” Logan grinned. “Whatever you decide to do, make sure you weigh everything up. There are a lot of reasons why Bozeman is a great place to live, and one of them is walking toward us.”

  Ashley looked over her shoulder and stared into the eyes of the man she hadn’t expected to see.

  News traveled fast in Bozeman.

  ***

  Matthew walked into Angel Wings Café and stopped. He blinked a couple of times before realizing that the woman sitting with Logan was real.

  Ashley was supposed to be in Washington, D.C., not drinking coffee in downtown Bozeman.

  Logan looked at him, then said something to Ashley.

  Her eyes widened when she saw him. “Matthew? What are you doing here?”

  “I should be asking you the same question. Did you get my messages?”

  “That’s partly why I’m here.”

  Logan cleared his throat. “I’ll leave you two to sort out your lives. Give me a call, Ashley, when you’ve made a decision.”

  “I will. Thank you for thinking of me.”

  “You’re welcome. See you, Matthew.”

  “Bye.” He stood beside the table, not knowing what to say to Ashley.

  She pointed to the chair beside her. “You could join me if you like? I have to meet dad in twenty minutes, but it would give us a chance to talk.”

  “Your dad’s here as well? Is everything okay?”

  “More okay than it’s been in a long time. Dad wanted to see me, so we decided to meet in Montana. I didn’t see your first message until I landed in Washington, D.C. I didn’t ca
ll you because I wanted it to be a surprise.”

  “I called Bonnie. She said you had an interview for a job at The Washington Post.”

  A blush skimmed Ashley’s face. “The editor of the investigations team offered me a job.”

  His heart pounded. “Are you going to take it?”

  “I don’t know. It’s a great job and the team is really nice. But Washington, D.C. is almost as expensive as New York.”

  “What did Logan think about the job?”

  “He thought it was a wonderful opportunity.”

  “When would you start?”

  “In six weeks.”

  Matthew felt like a ten-ton weight had landed on his shoulders. Ashley would be mad not to accept the job. It was everything she’d ever wanted.

  “Jasmine Alfredo was released on bail a couple of days ago. She’s resigned as chairperson of The Reaching High Foundation.”

  “Have you heard what’s happening with Congressman Welsh?”

  Ashley frowned. “He’s at home with his wife, waiting for his trial date. I spoke to Anita, the youth center manager. Someone has made an offer to purchase the warehouse. Everyone’s hoping the youth center will remain open.”

  Matthew waited for Ashley to ask if he knew who was behind the offer, but she didn’t. “If the warehouse is sold, the new owners would be heartless if they closed the center.”

  “Maybe, but the warehouse is in an area that’s being redeveloped. The building might be too valuable to keep as a youth center.”

  Tess brought a cup of coffee across to Matthew. “I’ve got your phone order at the front counter when you’re ready.”

  “Thanks.”

  Tess nodded and moved to the next table, taking her customers’ orders before refilling more coffee cups.

  A family sitting behind Ashley left their table. She moved forward, giving them more room to walk between the tables. “How are Catherine and Toby?”

  “They’re good. They liked the bubbles you sent them.”

  “I’m glad.” She looked down at her hands. “I was going to call you after lunch. Would you like two visitors this afternoon?”

  “You could come for dinner. Sean’s heading into town, so it would just be me at home.”

  The relief on Ashley’s face made him wonder if she was feeling as uncertain as he was.