AN: Hello all. Most of you probably don't know me, but that's fine. First off, thanks for choosing to read my story. Next, this used to be called something different but I wasn't happy with it before. I more happy with it and I'm sharing it with the world before I actually give it to the person it's meant for. Feedback is awesome and I would greatly appreciate hearing from you. Enjoy!

Chapter One

Skye Attenbury lighted from the old jack fence and onto the soft dirt of the road, happy no one was around to see her unladylike display. If Laurie, the housekeeper, had seen her, the old women would have scolded her mercilessly. It wasn’t that Laurie was all that worried about propriety, but Skye’s father, Laurie’s employer, was the sheriff of Moonlight Valley. They had a reputation to uphold. Skye entered the town limits and glanced around at the dusty, tired buildings and the dusty, tired people. She had always thought that the name Moonlight Valley was a little romantic for the town but perhaps the founders had high hopes. Or more likely, they named it after the hidden cave that had a lake as clear as glass in the center where the moon from the opening high in the ceiling could shine down, lighting the entire surface of the water. Most people didn’t wander into the mountains so far and so late to see the spectacle, but Skye was not most people.

"Howdy, Skye," Mr. Jamison greeted as she strolled passed him on the street, pulling her from her thoughts. She smiled kindly at him. Mr. Jamison was an old family friend and Skye's godfather.

"Hello, Mr. Jamison," she said, still smiling brightly. "How are you today?"

"Just fine, darlin'," he chuckled. "How are them ladies in the boarding house doing? Did they like the preserves Jean sent with ya last week?"

"They loved them," Skye replied. "I hear Mrs. Olsen's grandson is coming for a visit in the next week or so. She's very excited to see them."

"I can imagine," Mr. Jamison said. "You'd best be getting’ home, darlin'. You're daddy doesn't like you walkin’ around town alone and ya know it."

"I do know it," Skye admitted with a mischievous half-smile. "I also know that you would never tell him that I left Annie back with Henry in the apple orchard." Annie Lewis was supposed to be Skye’s “companion”—Skye thought “shadow” would be a more appropriate title. Henry Jenkins was more than a little gone on Miss Annie, so Henry and Skye had a long term agreement when it came to Skye’s outings.

"Ya always was a little troublemaker, Miss Skye," Mr. Jamison laughed, shaking his head. "Run along home now, before your daddy tans your hide." Skye laughed and headed toward the large house in the center of town. She didn't like this house at all. The ranch was her real home. She spent most of her time there when she wasn't at the cave.

“Where have you been, girl?” Laurie demanded when Skye walked into the parlor. “He should be here soon.”

“Just a little walk,” Skye shrugged and kissed the older woman’s wrinkled cheek. “Nothing to worry about. I’m well aware that he will be here soon. I just don’t like it.”

“You don’t have to like it,” Laurie said dismissively. “Now get ready. I have an outfit all laid out for you.”

“Why am I not surprised?” Skye smiled and started out of the parlor.

            “Hush you,” Laurie said and threw a piece of fabric at Skye’s retreating figure. “You’re the one who was late.” Skye simply laughed and headed for her room. It was to be an exciting week. Her father was getting married again. Skye sighed as she thought back to the day when her father had given her the news a few months ago.

“Enter,” his deep voice had ordered from his study when she knocked.

“You were calling for me, Daddy?” she had asked, sticking her russet-colored head through the door.

“Yes,” George Attenbury said. “Please sit down, Skye.” She did as instructed, curious about what her father was going to tell her. “There’s going to be some changes around here, Skye.”

“What kind of changes?” Skye inquired, suspicious.

“I’ve asked Joanna Trent to marry me,” he confessed. Skye sat in astonished silence for a few seconds.

“The schoolteacher?” she managed to choke out. “She’s half your age!” She’d known that he’d taken the young schoolteacher on a few drives out in the countryside, but she hadn’t realized just how truly attached her father was to the woman.

“That doesn’t change anything.”

“She’s only a few years older than me! How can you not see what’s wrong with this, Daddy?”

“Joanna is twenty-eight,” he said calmly. “You are nineteen. That’s more than a few years. I’m only forty, Skye. I do not want to be alone for the rest of my life and you need a mother.”

“No one will ever replace Mama,” Skye hissed.

“I know that, Skyleigh!” her father roared. “I’m not trying to replace her. I genuinely love Joanna. That should be enough for you.”

“I—I need to think,” Skye muttered, standing up. “I’ll be back.”

“You are not going to that cave, girl,” he ordered. “It’s too dangerous at night.”

“Daddy, you just said that I was nineteen,” she replied. “I’ve been going to the Moonlight Cave since I was twelve. I can take care of myself.” With that, she fled the room. She didn’t stop when Laurie called for her or to put the saddle on her horse, Flynn. She didn’t stop for fences or the tears streaming down her face. She didn’t stop until she got to the cave. The moon had just risen high enough to turn the water a glowing pale yellow. Skye sat at the edge of the pool and cried. It was irrational and she knew it, but she never was one to be rational when she didn’t have a mind to.

When she finally got home, it was past midnight and her father was incredibly worried. Since then, she had seen that Miss Trent and her father were truly in love. Miss Trent was a kind woman who was all sweetness when it came to Skye. Not the false sweetness girls like Penny Granger used to get what they want and hide their true colors. Miss Trent was completely genuine and Skye decided that the schoolteacher was going to be good for her father and maybe even for Skye herself. Now, a week before the wedding, Miss Trent’s younger brother was coming to stay until after the wedding.

Skye shook her head as she pulled her hair back up into a tight knot. She had never understood why everyone wanted a big, fancy affair for their wedding. Skye would have preferred a small little ceremony in the aspen grove behind her home when the leaves were changing color. But this was not her wedding and at the moment, she had to prepare for the arrival of her new uncle-in-law, Jace Trent. According to Miss Trent—who had also asked Skye to call her Joanna—he was twenty-four and “cuter than a button.” Her description did not bode well for the young man’s looks.

“Hey, sweetheart,” her father greeted her when she was finished getting ready. “How was your day?”

“Fine,” she shrugged. “Mrs. Ellis is recovering from a bout of influenza and Mrs. Olsen’s lilacs are blooming very well this year.”

“Good to hear it,” he said. “Are you excited to meet Jace?”

“I suppose so,” Skye replied. “He sounds like a nice enough man. Although, I doubt I’ll agree with Miss Trent’s assessment of his being ‘cute as a button.’ I daresay that means he has warts and a limp.”

“That’s my Skye,” her father laughed. “Always rational and pessimistic.”

“Realistic, Daddy,” she corrected. “Rational and realistic.”

“One day, you’re gonna meet a fella who wakes up the romantic in you,” Laurie said, walking into the room. “Mark my words, girlie.”

“I sure hope that day comes soon,” George groaned. “I want this rational creature out of my house.”

“Very funny.” Skye rolled her eyes, ignoring the twinge in her heart. “I hope you know that if he’s not here by nightfall, I’m still going to the cave.”

“For someone as ‘rational and realistic’ as you are,” Laurie observed, “you sure do spend an awful lot of time at the most romantic place for miles around.”

“I don’t go there because it’s romantic,” Skye sniffed. “I go to sketch and you know it.”

“Here’s how we’ll know when she’s fallen in love, Laurie,” George whispered conspiratorially. “She’ll start talking like normal folk and stop sticking that cute nose in the air. Never knew sending her to school in Baltimore would make her into a snooty little thing.”

“I don’t know how someone as free spirited as her can be so negative,” Laurie whispered back. “It’s like a bird who don’t believe it can fly.”

“If you continue talking about me as if I’m not here, I’ll just leave for the cave now,” Skye threatened. This talk of love was becoming ridiculous…and painful.

“I agree completely,” George said, ignoring his daughter who was fuming. “Maybe Jace will break down her sullenness.”

“That’s it,” Skye growled, throwing her hands up. “I’m leaving.” They laughed as she stalked out of the room, delighted at ruffling her feathers. Of course, she didn’t get very far before she ran into something warm and very tall.

“Why hello, sugar?” a deep masculine voice greeted her and strong arms wrapped around her waist. Skye looked up into dark eyes set in a rugged face. She was being held in the arms of a very tall, very handsome stranger. His blue jeans were dusty from travel and his boots scuffed and worn. Skye suspected they had been in his possession for quite a long time. His raven black hair was pushed back and tucked under an equally worn Stetson. A thick strand hung in his deep brown eyes and Skye had the sudden urge to brush is away. She shook herself slightly to clear her mind and realized that she hadn’t even attempted to escape or respond.

“H—hello,” she stuttered. “Could you please let go of me?”

“Why would I want to?” he grinned, brown eyes twinkling with mirth. A small dimple appeared when he smiled and Skye thought she might melt. “Pull yourself together, girl,” she thought harshly. “Don’t be wooed by a pretty face.”

“Because my father is in the next room,” Skye suggested dryly. “And I don’t even know your name. Although, I suspect you’re Jace Trent. You were supposed to be here hours ago.”

“Is that so, sugar?” he asked. “And who might you be?”

“Skye Attenbury,” she answered, attempting to pull away. “Your sister is marrying my father.”

“Skye?” Jace repeated. “Like the blue sky above our heads?”

“Yes, like that,” she sighed. “Before you ask, my real name is Skyleigh but I couldn’t say it right when I was a child. It stuck and here we are. Speaking of where we are, would you kindly let me go?”

“Does everyone here talk as proper as you?”

Skye snorted. “Hardly.”

“That’s a relief. I can’t talk all purty like you do.” A little smirk adorned his handsome features and it unsettled Skye. But only slightly.

“Yes, I can see that,” Skye said. “Now why don’t you release me and just mosey on down to where my father is anxiously waiting for you.”

“So you can talk like a normal folk.”

“I thought I might try to speak your language to get you to understand.”

Jace laughed, letting her go. “I like you, sugar. Ya got spunk.”

“If by spunk, you mean I throw convention and rule to the wind, then I suppose I do.” Skye stepped back and brushed herself off. She wasn’t quite sure to make of Jace Trent. He was kind enough but almost too cheerful. Being a generally reserved and cynical spirit, Skye wasn’t sure how to handle him.

“Rules are a pain in the--,” Jace stopped himself. “—behind. I try to break as many as I can. What about you, baby blue? Do ya break the rules?”

“Not if the rule suits me,” Skye admitted.

“I like that answer,” Jace smiled. “I think we’ll be great friends, Miss Skyleigh Attenbury. That sure is a mouthful. I think I see why you shortened it to Skye.”

“I don’t make friends with cowboys, Mr. Trent,” Skye said, but there was a mischievous twinkle in her blue eyes. “Especially ones that think.”

“How do ya know I’m a cowboy, baby blue?” Jace asked, still grinning. “I could easily be a banker or a farmer.”

“No, you’re a cowboy,” Skye said, smiling openly now. A real smile. Not the ones she kept pasted on her face for such a long time. “You walk like a cowboy and talk like a cowboy. I would guess that your saddle bags contain a rope, spurs, a gun, and a knife. Are you planning on looking for work in the area?”

“Maybe if something comes along,” he replied. “Why? Worried I won’t be around?” He winked at her with a little half smirk.

“Quite the opposite,” Skye responded. “I’m counting down the days until you leave. Once you’re gone and Daddy’s married, I can go back to sketching in peace.”

“Skyleigh!” her father scolded. “Are you already harassing, Mr. Trent?”

“He assaulted me first, Daddy,” Skye defended herself. “Now if you don’t mind, I need to talk to Laurie.”

“Oh no ya don’t, baby blue,” Jace smiled and grabbed her wrist. “I’d like ya to show me around, if ya don’t mind.”

“I do mind, actually,” Skye replied while her father said, “She’d love to.”

 

Jace tried very hard not to laugh. He hadn’t expected to run into a beautiful girl as his welcome, but he’d take it any day. Skye was glaring at him now and he stifled another laugh. This little girl—she really was quite petite. The top of her head would barely brush Jace’s collar bone—was a challenge and Jace loved a challenge. She was very pretty, but seemed to do everything in her power to counteract that. She couldn’t have been more than twenty and it looked like she resolved herself to spinsterhood. Her pretty brown hair was all tied up in a tight widow’s knot and she stood stiff as a board when she was held to his chest; however, as she started to walk away, he saw a delightful little sway in her walk and he grinned even wider. Joanna’s wedding was on Thursday, so he had five days to break down Skye’s defenses. He watched her walk as she led him through her home. Oh yes. Jace Trent was going to enjoy this particular challenge.