Sweet Home Montana (The McKaslin Clan) by Jillian Hart

It had stuck in her heart like a piece of the hushed Montana morning. No, she would describe him not as lonely but invincible. That’s how he looked silhouetted by the sunlight, as rugged as the Rockies dominating the horizon behind him.
    Aubrey plucked the beaters from the open drawer. “He hasn’t dated anyone that I know of since he came back from Seattle. No one special, anyway. How about you, Lauren? Are you dating anyone special?”
    Why did she have a feeling that her sister’s question wasn’t entirely innocent? “I’m not really looking to date.”
    “Sure. I understand.” Aubrey plugged the beaters into place. “It’s tough to meet the right guy, isn’t it?”
    Still seated cross-legged on the counter, Ava rolled her eyes. “Here it comes. Brace yourself, Lauren.”
    Brace herself for what? Lauren glanced around, looking to the other women around the room—her sisters. Rebecca was shaking her head in mild disapproval, stirring gravy at the stove.
    “What?” Aubrey asked them innocently. “I was just making conversation. Getting to know more about our baby sister.”
    “You’re trying to find someone for poor lonely Caleb.” Ava didn’t bother to hide her amused grin. “Hel- lo? You can’t fool me.”
    “Well, I guess I didn’t mean it like that. I was just saying that he’s lonely and Lauren isn’t dating anyone special. So, why shouldn’t they be friends?”
    Lauren thought about Caleb this morning and a cozy curl of happiness wrapped around her heart. Friends would be nice.
    “Besides, we all know how hard it is to find the right man.” There was no mistaking Aubrey’s happiness as she reached for the butter dish.
    “There are a lot of Mr. Yucks out there,” Ava agreed. “I know. I’ve dated most of ’em.”
    That seemed to make everyone laugh. Actually, she pretty much agreed with Ava. Her past had been filled with Mr. Yucks, thanks to her mother. And during her grade school years, even Lauren figured out how trusting the wrong men—and every one of them was wrong—could lead to heartache and devastation.
    “I’m just saying,” Aubrey said over everyone’s good-natured comments. “I got lucky with William. Ava, Fate took favor on you with Brice—”
    “And probably a little pity,” Rebecca winked.
    “Probably!” Ava agreed. “Lauren, William proposed to Aubrey at Katherine’s wedding reception right here in Gran’s backyard. Talk about romantic. She didn’t suspect a thing. He kneeled down to pop the question in front of all of us. It was super.”
    “It was,” Aubrey chimed in happily.
    “What about me?” Rebecca piped in from the stove. “I know you guys don’t like Chris, but he really does love me. And it just proves that Aubrey’s right. It’s extremely hard to find the right guy. You’ve got to have the same values and you need to have lots of things in common. And, right there, how hard is that to find?”
    The lightness faded from the room. Apparently the sisters didn’t quite agree. Aubrey abandoned the mixer and crossed the few yards to the stove. She put her hand on Rebecca’s shoulder and gave her a sisterly hug.
    “Rebecca, you are worth so much to us. Remember that. The right man will love you even more than we do.”
    “Oh, he does,” Rebecca insisted.
    Lauren’s stomach cinched up. See, this was the silver lining in growing up the way she had. She couldn’t be easily fooled by some guy. She’d watched it happen to her mom. Rebecca had grown up with Dorrie, who was obviously the most wonderful mom ever, and with older sisters and Spence looking out for her.
    All of them, she realized, had a faith in relationships that she didn’t understand.
    “As for Caleb,” Aubrey continued as she sliced fresh cucumbers from the garden. “He was engaged a few years back, but it didn’t work out. He’s been alone ever since.”
    Lauren winced. How many times had she heard that now?
    Ava picked up where her twin left off. “Plus, Caleb has