A Bandit Creek Miracle Read online

  Amanda stifled a yawn as they arrived on the third floor. She stuck the key in the lock and opened the door to Room 303. A fresh lemon scent welcomed her as she entered. Even through her warm coat, the room felt chilly. She wrapped her arms around herself and shivered slightly. “Could you turn the heat up, please?” she asked, meeting Carl’s eyes.

  “Certainly, ma’am.” Carl set her bags on the carpeted floor and tinkered with the thermostat.

  Amanda almost groaned aloud in anticipation of snuggling under the covers in the king-sized bed. A small upholstered loveseat stood in front of the windows, a large wooden cabinet housed the TV set, and a wood-framed mirror hung above the built-in desk. Heavy draperies covered the window, blocking out streetlight. She spotted a microwave oven and bar fridge outside the bathroom door.

  “This will do nicely.” Amanda dug a tip out of her purse and handed it to Carl.

  “Thank you, ma’am. Sleep well. And don’t worry about any of those silly tales about ghost sightings you may have heard. Most of those tales are just fabrications of the imagination anyway.” With a smile, Carl exited the room and closed the door.

  Most of those tales? Totally exhausted, Amanda slid the security lock on the door into place and decided she didn’t care one way or the other. “I’ll race you to bed, Casper.”

  ****

  The next morning, Amanda awoke to discover a beautiful calico cat sound asleep at the foot of her bed. “Are you a ghost kitty, or the real thing?” she whispered aloud, smiling. The restful night’s sleep rejuvenated her.

  The cat uncurled itself and stretched. Amanda reached for her bedmate and tucked her into the crook of her arm. “How did you manage to sneak in here?”

  A loud knock at the door startled Amanda. “Coming,” she called and set the cat on the bed. She wore long-sleeved flannel pajamas and decided against searching for her housecoat. She padded across the carpeted floor and cracked the door open.

  “Good morning, Miss Bailey.” A young Native American girl, obviously a member of the housekeeping crew, attempted to peek into the room. “I don’t suppose you’ve seen a small cat, have you?”

  “Actually, we both just woke up.” Amanda threw the door open wide, revealing her new friend who’d curled into a ball on the bed. “I haven’t a clue how she managed to slip in here.”

  “She probably snuck in when she had the chance.” The uniformed girl strode across the floor and plucked the cat off the bed. Her shoulder-length braids bounced with each step as she retreated from the room. “I’ll return her to Miss Elsie, the hotel manager. The poor woman is quite frantic, and I’ve been looking everywhere for Miss Boots. Your room was my last resort.”

  “No problem,” she called and closed the door behind the housekeeper. She fluffed her hair with her hands. “It doesn’t say much for you as a woman, Amanda Bailey, when no one but a cat wakes up in your bed.”

  Amanda glanced at the bedside clock and almost fainted. It was ten minutes before noon! She’d slept for twelve hours!

  “Thank goodness it’s Saturday.” She shook her head. “Or you’d be making a wonderful impression on your first day at the bank.”

  Amanda showered and donned lacy underwear, black jeans, and a thick white wool turtleneck. She dragged a brush through her naturally-curly brunette hair and stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her locks had been shoulder-length, straight, and blonde before the total hair loss from chemo. Sometimes she still did a double take when she glanced in a mirror. But she liked her new look, a welcome change from bald. She applied pink lip gloss and mascara.

  “Time to look for something to eat,” she whispered aloud, slipping into her faux snakeskin cowboy boots.

  Just as Amanda prepared to leave her room, Catherine Branigan called and suggested they meet at Ma’s to become acquainted over coffee.

  “I’ll be the one resembling an elephant,” Catherine joked. “I can’t wait until my delivery date! How about three o’clock? Does that work for you?”

  “I’d love to meet you at Ma’s at three.” Amanda didn’t hesitate to accept the invitation.

  Amanda ate a quick brunch in the hotel restaurant before finishing her unpacking. She wandered the streets of Bandit Creek and stopped into a ladies’ wear shop and then strolled through the pretty park. At three o’clock sharp, she walked into Ma’s Kitchen.

  A decidedly pregnant blonde woman occupied the table Amanda had sat at last night, and she approached, smiling. “Catherine?”

  The woman’s head shot up and she blurted, “No, I’m Missy.”

  “Sorry, my mistake.” Amanda felt her face redden.

  The bell above the door tinkled and a tall, extremely pregnant brunette waddled inside.

  “Hi, you must be Amanda Bailey, my replacement.” The newcomer removed her sunglasses and extended her hand in welcome.

  “And you must be Catherine.” Amanda shook hands.

  Catherine motioned toward a table. “Why don’t we sit over here? These chairs are comfy, but we won’t require a block and tackle to extract me again.”

  With a coffee pot in hand, Lucy strode across the floor bearing down on them like a raging tornado. “Catherine Branigan, when are you delivering that baby? You swell up much larger, honey, and you’re going to burst.”

  “Can’t be too soon for me, Lucy. I feel like I’ve been pregnant forever.” Catherine smiled. “Now that Amanda’s arrived, I’m ready anytime.”

  “You’re not giving birth to anyone until you show me the ropes on Monday. On Tuesday, you can go to the hospital.” Amanda grinned.

  “What can I fetch you gals?”

  Before Amanda could open her mouth, Catherine leapt in. “I want a cup of that coffee and a sinfully large piece of apple pie. Lay a slice of cheddar on top and microwave it until the cheese melts nicely. Then top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, please.”

  Amanda’s jaw dropped as she mentally calculated the calorie count. What the hell, she thought. Toothpick thin waistlines were highly over-rated anyway, and she needed to gain a few pounds.

  “I’ll have the same,” she smiled while placing her order. Lucy headed off to the kitchen and Amanda met Catherine’s eyes. “How are you feeling?”

  “Except for a bit of morning sickness the first three months and chronic tiredness the past month or so, I’ve breezed through this pregnancy. My husband and I can’t wait to become parents.” Catherine sipped her coffee. “Mmm, Lucy brews the best coffee in town.”

  “But no decaf and none of them fancy lattes and such,” whispered Amanda, pulling off a remarkably good ‘Lucy’ imitation. While Catherine chuckled, Amanda discreetly pointed in the direction of the pregnant blonde seated on the other side of the diner. “I approached her, not realizing it wasn’t you.”

  “Missy Gibson, she’s a war widow. Gary was killed in Iraq in September 2010.”

  “Did she remarry?”

  Catherine shook her head. “She’s pregnant and unwed. Missy caused quite the scandal when she started showing. Folks gossiped, believed she spat in her hero husband’s face getting in the family way like that. She’s a lovely person, doesn’t deserve that treatment. I feel sorry for her.”

  “One night stand?”

  “Who knows? She’s never divulged the father’s name. Gary and Missy lived in California for several years. They moved here after Gary lost his job due to the poor economic climate. Soon after, his parents were killed in a car accident. Gary went into the military, leaving Missy living in his parents’ home, and when he was killed she inherited everything. She returned to California to visit an aunt several months ago, and she conceived about that time if my math is correct.”

  Lucy appeared at the table, set their pie in front of them, and stood back. “Get busy eating that before the ice cream melts.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Catherine and Amanda answered in unison.

  “Oh Lord, I sound like a local already,” chuckled Amanda. Small towns may not be her thing, but she certainly felt
welcome here. And she was making friends in record time.

  The ladies sampled their pie, groaning appreciatively.

  “Tell me about yourself?” Amanda set her fork down and cradled her coffee cup in both hands. “Have you lived here all your life? How did you meet your husband?”

  “I was raised on a ranch outside Miles City, and I met my husband at the annual horse sale in Miles City about five years ago. Oh, my, he looked so good in a pair of Wranglers!” Catherine grinned and paused to enjoy another bite of pie. “I know what new-girl-in-town feels like, but folks warm up given time. The Branigan clan hosts community get-togethers once or twice a year. Half the town shows up at the ranch with potluck dishes in hand for a fun party.” Catherine polished off her pie and slid the dish away.

  “I met your brother-in-law here last night.” Amanda finished her pie, set her fork on the plate.

  “Jeremy attended the cattlemen’s meeting so my husband could stay home with me. David handles the cattle operations, and Jeremy operates his pet project: bucking horse breeding and training.”

  “Why do you call it his pet project?”

  “David is 34 and Jeremy is 31. Being the younger brother, Jeremy spent his entire life in his brother’s shadow. A few years back, he decided to prove himself, used some of his inheritance from his grandfather to start a bucking horse breeding and training operation. It has proven quite profitable and earned Jeremy a stellar reputation with the rodeo crowd.” Catherine leaned back in her chair and rubbed her round belly. “Their sister and her husband started a guest ranch operation a few years back. Not a lot of money in cattle these days, but the Lazy B flourishes with the various businesses.”

  “A ranch that actually makes money.” Amanda shook her head. “Most ranches barely eke out an existence.”

  “The Branigan mining fortune, earned a hundred-plus years ago, continues to grow through wise investments, and Arthur Branigan, the current patriarch, steers the ranch on a successful course. His two sons and daughter learned their business acumen from the master. The Lazy B Ranch flourishes today because of good management, tried-and-true business practices, and fearless diversification. Every member of the Branigan family works hard. They’ve earned everything they have.”

  Amanda smiled. “You sound proud to be a member of the family.”

  “I’m very proud of all of them, and I feel privileged to carry the Branigan name.” Catherine waved her coffee mug in Lucy’s direction indicating they’d like a refill.

  “I understand Jeremy’s passion for his bucking horses. I feel equally passionate about my career goal of earning a manager position of my own bank branch. And my dream is so close to becoming a reality I can almost taste it.” Amanda playfully held up her crossed fingers.

  “I know exactly how you feel. When I became manager of the Ellis Bank, my feet never touched the ground for a month.” Catherine grinned. “What else should I know about Amanda Bailey?”

  “Single, turned 28 last September, born and raised in Helena, big city girl. I almost threw a hissy fit when Susan suggested this assignment in Bandit Creek.” Amanda felt herself redden with the admission.

  “But thank goodness you accepted. Otherwise, I would have given birth in the bank vault and returned to my desk with a baby at my breast.” Catherine chuckled. “Tell me some more.”

  “My father’s a high school science teacher, and Mom’s a legal secretary. One brother is a dentist, and the other runs an insurance office. My sister is married to an attorney and they have two adorable little girls. The whole lot of them are terrible at math, wouldn’t think of pursuing banking as a career.” Amanda whispered and bobbed her eyebrows, “If I didn’t know better, I’d swear I was adopted.”

  “How do you stay so slim?” Catherine shook her head and glanced down at her middle. “I’d commit murder for your waistline.”

  Amanda contemplated whether or not to confide in Catherine, but she hoped they were becoming friends over coffee and pie. Could she trust Catherine to keep to herself something Amanda considered so personal? Somehow she didn’t fit the image of a relentless member of the local gossip brigade. Amanda took a deep breath. “A year ago, I was diagnosed with an advanced stage of cancer.”

  “Oh my God.” Catherine set her coffee mug down with a thud, spilling some of her refill onto the table.

  “I took disability leave from my position as assistant manager at the Helena branch. The good news is I survived the chemo and radiation treatments, and the doctors don’t believe the cancer will return. They proclaimed me ready to work, but Susan begged me for this one favor, on your behalf, before I returned to my old job.” Amanda felt the familiar pain pierce her heart, and she turned away.

  “There’s something more you’re not telling me. I can see it in your eyes.” Catherine reached for Amanda’s hand.

  “The doctors warned me due to the treatments I would probably never conceive a child. That realization still hurts, especially when I see…” Amanda pasted a smile on her face. “But at least I’ll live to a ripe old age, providing I survive my stint in Bandit Creek.”

  “You’re welcome at the Branigan ranch any day. You can change all the diapers you want, and cuddle babies to your heart’s content.” Catherine’s expression conveyed her compassion for Amanda’s situation.

  “Babies?” Amanda raised an eyebrow.

  “Oops.” Catherine whispered. “I’m carrying twins. That’s the main reason I’m the size of a sumo wrestler. I advised the Board of Directors at the bank, of course. At their insistence, I’m taking a month off before and then the full three months off after the twins are born. Otherwise, only my husband knows. We wanted to surprise everyone.”

  Amanda zipped her lip with a hand gesture. “Nobody’s going to hear it from me.”

  “Thanks.” Catherine patted Amanda’s hand. “Promise you’ll phone me at the ranch if you encounter any problems at the bank. I’ll help you out, even if I’m up to my ears in diapers and laundry.”

  “I promise.” Amanda helped Catherine out of the chair. They donned their winter garments and headed to the till to pay the bill. “I’m so happy you called. Monday morning won’t be nearly as stressful now that we’ve met.”

  Catherine shook her head. “You haven’t met the collection of characters I work with at the bank.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  On Monday morning, Amanda drove her BMW into the Ellis Bank staff parking lot. She realized after talking to Catherine that she’d be covering for her for four months instead of three due to the unexpected news that her associate was carrying twins. She’d felt the beginnings of a friendship form between them, and Amanda was trying her best not to begrudge Catherine the additional recovery time following the birth of her babies.

  Butterflies flitted about in her stomach despite meeting Catherine before jumping into her new job. Amanda took a deep breath and strode into the bank through the side door as directed by Catherine.

  Amanda recalled reading the brochure on Bandit Creek in her hotel room last night, including a brief history of the Ellis Bank. The hundred-year-old building had withstood the test of time, having been built shortly after Old Town flooded. Much of the interior appeared unchanged, without a hint of a musty smell in the air. A new steel vault stood in the back. She walked toward the front of the bank where three teller stations lined the wall to the right. An ATM machine was installed in the entrance, and an assortment of modern office furniture stood upon the original wide plank floors to the left. Telephones, computers and printers created the familiar hum of office noise in the room.

  A gentleman spotted Amanda and immediately approached her. “Good morning, Miss Bailey. I’m Walter Wainwright, the assistant manager.”

  Amanda smiled and extended her hand. She recognized him as the casually dressed gentleman she’d spoken with at Ma’s Kitchen on Friday night. Today, the fellow she’d mistakenly believed was a customer wore a slightly rumpled suit and white shirt open at the neck. A dark tie hung out
of his jacket pocket, ready and waiting for opening time. “Please, call me Amanda.”

  “And you may call me Mr. Wainwright.” He shook her hand and then grinned. “I’m just joking, Amanda. Everyone is on a first name basis until those front doors open. Then we’re all about business.”

  “As it should be,” added Catherine, approaching them. “Amanda and I met over coffee on Saturday afternoon. I feel like we’ve known each other for ages.”

  “Me, too.” Amanda and Catherine exchanged a quick hug.

  “I’ll let Catherine show you the ropes, and then I’ll steal you away for lunch at Ma’s.” Mr. Wainwright grinned. “The headlines in the Bandit Creek Gazette will read, ‘Assistant Bank Manager Woos Interim Manager’. We’ll cause a little scandal in town.”

  Amanda had picked up a bag lunch at the hotel, and she blanched, recalling the sweet wife seated across from him at Ma’s on Friday night. “Surely, you’re joking.”

  “Of course, he’s joking.” Catherine grabbed Amanda’s arm and herded her down a narrow hallway. “Let’s get you settled in, and I’ll introduce you to the other employees. Quite an eclectic crew but exceptionally good at their jobs.”

  At two o’clock Amanda wandered out of her office to fetch a cup of coffee and almost dropped her mug. Jeremy Branigan, the handsome cowboy she’d encountered at Ma’s on Friday night, stood at the center teller station, feet slightly spread, looking confident, in control. She caught herself checking her appearance reflected in the glass window of her office.

  He glanced her way and his eyes immediately appeared riveted to hers. Finally, he nodded. As a professional, she should engage him in conversation. But for some reason her feet rooted themselves to the floor. Her stomach flip-flopped and her heartbeat quickened at the way his plaid shirt strained across his muscular chest.

  “Nice seeing you again, ma’am.” His deep masculine voice rumbled across the short distance separating them like thunder on a rainy summer day.