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𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐀, Makayl, and Nicki walked down the busy street of Austin. The beautiful blonde's delicately gloved hand clutched the strap of her purse, while her pink beret sat perched atop of her beautiful blonde hair.

"The dinner was interesting last night huh? I think you handled it quite well with wicked Christie and her bratty friends." Makayl said as she adjusted her raspberry beret on her brunette hair.

Montana turned to her best friend and answered softly. "Maybe they will join her in Miami and they will grow to love it like she will."

Makayl chuckled then spoke. "Hopefully so. I just don't understand why she has to be so cruel to everyone around here." Nicki added, "She and Cal Blackwell are a match made in Heaven."

The beautiful blonde chuckled then glanced at her best friends. "Yeah. So what did y'all think about Mrs. Lydia Walsh?"

"I loved her. I think she will be a great addition to our friend group." Makayl smiled.

"Me too. I can't wait for her to meet aunt Stella and aunt Sam." Nicki smiled

Montana laughed as she adjusted her pink purse strap on her shoulder. "Me too. Something tells me the three of them will get along well."

"Well, this is us. See you later hon." Makayl smiled as the three reached the library. "Love you." the sisters said in unison

Montana smiled and embraced her best friends. "Bye. I love y'all too. Have the best day."

"You too!" Makayl and Nicki smiled as they unlocked the library and walked inside

Montana continued her brisk walk down the busy streets of Austin, and adjusted her pink beret, which accentuated her pink outfit perfectly. The beautiful blonde was pulled out of her thoughts when she heard..."Young miss! Hello, young miss!" a masculine voice called.

Montana turned her head, her beautiful blonde hair blowing in the warm, Austin breeze, and with a warm, compassionate smile, she spoke. "Yes? Can I help you?"

An older man, who was dressed like a butler, and who's cheeks were withered, spoke. "Is there a doctor in town?" he had a Bostonian dialect.

Walking towards the Mercedes-Benz in which the older gentlemen stood, Montana replied. "Yes, are you two gentlemen hurt?"

"No, not me, my employer, Mrs. Stafford-Smythe has grown gravely ill." the man said. "We were passing through, when she became ill."

Montana sat next to the elderly woman and took her pulse, then looked up at the older gentleman and questioned, "How long has she been like this?"

"An hour or so miss." the older gentleman said

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The Mercedes—Benz parked infront of the clinic and Doctor Jackson and Stella walked out of the clinic. Montana got out of the backseat and smiled at her mother. "Mom, doc, I've got a patient for y'all." the blonde smiled

The older gentlemen, whom the blonde learned name's was Windsor, and Montana, carried Mrs. Stafford-Smythe inside, while Stella held the door open.

"All right put her on the table." Doctor Jackson instructed.

"Her breathing is fine, pulse is steady." Montana said as she held Mrs. Stafford-Smythe's hand. "Her skin's clammy to the touch, doc."

"Mrs. Stafford-Smythe began slurring her words, and her sentences didn't make sense, then she collapsed." Windsor said in concern.

"Had she been drinking?" Doc Jackson asked

Turning to Dr. Jackson with an annoyed expression, Stella said. "Seriously? Are you kidding me? She doesn't look like an alcoholic, Doc."

"Of course not! Mrs. Stafford-Smythe has an occasional glass of Sherry, but she is a lady." Windsor said

Montana turned to Doc Jackson as well as her mother. "Y'all think she had a stroke?"

"It's possible." Stella said as she wrapped her arm around Montana. "There's not much we can do until she comes to. We'll have to move her to the back room, and keep her comfortable. We'll have Montana sit with her until then, all right?"

Windsor nodded, and kindly smiled in reply. "Thank you madam."

"Of course." Stella smiled. "Montana, you want to help me?"

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Later that afternoon, Mrs. Stafford-Smythe began to stir, as Montana and Windsor sat by her side. "Mom, Dr. Jackson, she's awake." the blonde called to her mother.

"Heaven's sake." Mrs. Stafford-Smythe said in a slurred speech, and tried to sit up

Dr Jackson and Stella walked to the back room, and Stella stood beside her daughter, as Dr. Jackson began to examine Mrs. Stafford-Smythe.

"Mrs. Stafford-Smythe, my name is Dr. Jackson, and I believe you've had a stroke." Dr. Jackson said

"My photos. Bags." Mrs. Stafford-Smythe said

"All right Mrs. Stafford-Smythe I need you to stay calm for me, alright, this is not good for you ma'am." Dr. Jackson said

Windsor placed Mrs. Stafford-Smythe's things on the bed beside her and spoke. "I have your bag madam, right here. All your things are inside."

"Her speech has been impaired." Montana said as she placed a consoling hand on Mrs. Stafford-Smythe's shoulder.

"Well, I don't think it's as bad as it could have been." Dr. Jackson said, and Stella looked at him with a raised brow. "Hopefully the slurring will diminish pretty quickly, and she'll regain coherent speech."

"Dr. Jackson, there's some paralysis on her right side, but her left side seems unaffected." Montana said. "As soon as she's well enough, I could help her do some physical therapy."

"She will need someone with her constantly, doc." Stella said as she wrapped her arm around her daughter

"Until we get a better grasp of her physical limitations." Dr. Jackson said

"I won't leave her side, doctor." Windsor spoke up

"It should be someone with at least rudimentary medical knowledge." Dr. Jackson said, then turned to the blonde. "Montana you'll help Mrs. Stafford-Smythe with her physical therapy."

"I accept Dr. Jackson." Montana smiled 

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"I still don't understand Dr. Jackson's whole attitude." Kellie said as she kept dinner warm on the stove.

"Mama said it best when she said he's just set in his ways." Montana said as she set the table

"He didn't have to be so harsh about it." Sam said as she helped set the table

"It took everything I had to bite my tongue." Stella said. "I'll be glad when he retires."

"Little Blue, you are going to prove yourself so indispensable, he will realize he's wrong." Hailey said as she took the butter out of the fridge and set it on the table.

"That's the idea." Montana smiled then walked over to get the plates, only to realize there was one too many. "Auntie Kellie, there's one too many plates for the table.

"We have a guest joining us for dinner." Kellie said as she placed the fried chicken on the table

Montana gave her great-aunt a quizzical look, then the door opened as Johnny, Robby, Nathan, August, Maverick, Aaron, and Jack walked through the front door

"Sorry I'm late." Aaron said as he hung his Cowboy hat on the coat rack

"Hey mom, hey aunties, hey cousin." Maverick smiled as he walked into the kitchen and embraced his aunts and cousin 

"Hey cousin. Hey big bro." Montana smiled as she embraced her brother and her cousin

"Hey sis." Robby smiled as he embraced his baby sister. "Mom told me about Mrs. Stafford-Smythe, and that doc said your in charge of her physical therapy. She's in good hands."

"Thanks." Montana smiled, then embraced her father. "Hey daddy."

"Hey blue." Johnny smiled as he embraced his daughter and kissed her temple

"Jack, c'mon in I want you to meet everyone." Nathan said. "This is my sister in-law, Kellie."

"Hello, welcome to our home." Kellie smiled as she gave him a motherly embrace, then walked back to the stove

"My daughter Stella Lawrence." Nathan said

"It's a pleasure meeting you, welcome to Austin." Stella smiled as she stood beside her daughter and Johnny

"Thank you, Mrs. Lawrence." Jack smiled

"This is my granddaughter-in-law, Hailey." Nathan said

"How do you do?" Hailey smiled as she shook Connor's hand

"And this is my granddaughter, Montana." Nathan said.

Montana smiled her beautiful smile, as she extended her hand for a handshake. "It's wonderful to see you again Jack."

Jack took Montana's dainty hand in his and shook it, then replied. "It's wonderful to see you again as well."

"Wait a minute, you two know each other?" Johnny asked as he looked between his daughter and Jack

"We've been acquainted, yes." Montana smiled. "We bumped into each other on the way home."

"Well, you two can tell us all about it over dinner. It's ready, something simple tonight. Fried chicken." Kellie said

After plates were loaded, wine was poured and the food was blessed, the group began eating. Maverick went to reach for a biscuit, until...."Maverick, honey, guests first." Kellie said

Montana, who was seated next to her father and her brother, spoke as she passed the basket of biscuits to him. "Would you like a biscuit, Jack?"

"Thank you." Jack smiled, as he took a biscuit from the basket. "Montana, August told me you took care of my uncle in his last few weeks. That was very kind of you."

Montana gave Jack a warm compassionate smile, which gave him butterflies, then she replied, "Well he was a very kind man. I just wish there was more we could have done for him."

Jack's blue eyes twinkled as he stared at Montana, and found himself smiling fondly. She was truly amazing. Stella smiled as she noticed the way Jack smiled at her daughter and had a feeling Montana would be seeing Jack more often

Noticing the way Jack was looking at his daughter, Johnny spoke. "So tell me, you bumped into my daughter the other day." Johnny said in a rather protective manner. "Don't you watch where you're going?"

"Oh boy." Aaron said as he ate his mashed potatoes and gravy

Montana, who was seated next to her father, spoke. "Daddy, it's alright. It was an accident."

Johnny scoffed, then picked up his tea glass. "So, my nephew tells me you wanted to hire someone to fix up your uncle's place instead of doing it yourself. Is there a reason for that?"

August who was seated next to Aaron, rolled his eyes. "Seriously Johnny?"

Stella, who was seated next to her daughter-in-law, gave her husband a stern look of warning. "John, don't start."

"Actually sir, I just graduated from law school. I know all about writs and torts, and the right of Habeas Corpus, but nothing about working on a ranch." Jack respectfully said

Montana chuckled as she ate her fried chicken, then patted her father on the shoulder. During the dinner, Montana and Jack fondly smiled at one another, while conversations crossed the table.

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After dinner, the men stepped out on the front porch, while the ladies cleaned the kitchen. Montana was off in her own little world, she was thinking about the events of today. Mrs. Stafford-Smythe, and now Jack

"The front porch look dreamy to you?" Sam asked as she gave Montana a plate

Montana turned to face the brunette, then smiled. "I'm sorry aunt Sam, did you say something?"

"Oh, don't play that." Hailey said as she wiped the table. "We saw the way you and Jack were looking at one another.

"Hailey, we weren't looking at each other any kind of way." Montana said as she put the plate away

"Mhm." Stella said as she put the condiments away.

"We weren't." Montana defended

"Yeah, okay." Kellie said. "We were your age once too, honey."

"Why does he have to be so good looking?" Montana asked, then snapped herself out of it. "No, that's the last thing I should be thinking about right now. I just got the job of my dreams. I'm tending to Mrs. Stafford-Smythe, and that's one step closer to medical school."

Meanwhile on the front porch, the men were drinking beers, and listening to the old radio. Robby and Jack were having their own conversation

"You know, I'd be happy to help you, August, and Nathan fix up Drew's place." Aaron said as he and Jack stood outside

"I'll do it as well." Robby said

"Would you?" Jack asked and Robby nodded. "Thank you. I'll pay you both of course."

"That's very kind of you, but there's no need." Aaron said

"I can't let you bothwork for nothing, Aaron." Jack said

"You'd be allowing us to repay a debt to a good friend." Aaron said

"Thank you all." Jack said.

"Of course." Robby said, we'll see you first thing in the morning. "By the way, I saw the way you looked at my sister."

"What?" Jack asked

Robby chuckled then replied, "Yeah, my dad's pretty protective of her. Montana also has a feisty attitude, she can also kick ass. She's opinionated, and outspoken, so I'd watch out if I were you."

"I think I can handle it." Jack said as he looked back in the house and his blue eyes met those of Montana's violet blues