Montana Saga Chapter 10

The heavy silence in the room evaporates the moment

Rya and Henry walk down the stairs side-by-side. Henry

steps into the center of the room, completely relaxed

but holding everyone's attention. He looks directly at Grandma

Catherine.

"Catherine, I respect your faith. I'm glad you have that foundation

in our life. But I'm not there yet. Your granddaughter and I just had

a talk. She is a woman of deep faith, but she understands the struggles

of others. Henry places a possessive, supportive hand on the small of

Rya's back.

"You may want to follow her lead."

A heavy beat hangs in the air. Grandma Catherine's cheeks flush, but

before she can offer a defensive retort, Grandfather Joseph stands

up extending a hand of gratitude toward Henry.

"Thank you for your grace, Henry. Your exactly right. We're here to

celebrate Rya today. Catherine, let's leave it at that."

Nodding, a booming grin breaking across Uncles Dale and Brad's faces

along with Harrison, who nods approvingly in both Henry's and

Grandfather Joseph's direction with a satisfied grin and a thumbs up.

The room lets out a collective side of relief. Quietly, swallowing her pride

Grandma Catherine looks at Rya. "Happy Birthday sweetheart. I only want

what's best for yourlife and your ranch."

Rya walks over hug her grandmother. "I know grandma, thank you."

The Grandfather clock in Henry's living room chimes at the 11th hour.

"Well, I think we should call it a night and let you, Roman, Zach and

Mr. Grant turn in for the evening, Roman has a big day tomorrow."

Grandfather Joseph stated.

The rest of the Steahl family stood to their feet, along with Rya's best

friend Natalie Bloodstone who was resealing the cover of the canister that

Rya's blueprint and drawing of her fiber ranch and replanting program came

in. Natalie, Roman and Zach stood to their feet. Roman and Zach who, are the

not the most affectionate young men, step forward and hug Rya.

Rya opening her arms to receive them both at one time says,,

"Hey guys! thank you! Do I need to take both your temperatures? This isn't

like the both of you." she looks at them quizzically and chuckling.

"No. Nothing's wrong with us. It's our way of apologizing for missing our target

shooting range time with you and our dads today." Zach said apologetically

Rya looking at the young men unbothered says to them,

"You guys and your fathers had things that needed doing. There's always next

Friday afternoon. I'm flexible like that." Rya smiled back at them.

Henry and Harrison step forward taking their turns hugging her and telling her,

"We're sorry too, Rya. I had school reports to look over." Henry explained.

"And I had some ranch responsibilities that needed my immediate attention."

Harrison said to Rya apologetically.

"Guys, it's all okie dokie I assure you." Rya smiles and laughs.

Henry steps away from the group. They look at him with curiosity.

The front doors open, and the family files out into the cool night

air. Their curiosity is immediately answered when they spot one

of Henry's heavy, blacked-out armored security vehicles right next to her truck

Henry holds his hand out to her and says, "your keys, My Phoenix." he instructs

her. "I'll give them back to you after Roman's graduation party."

Joseph whispering to his wife, nodding in approval as he watches Henry exchange

her keys for the keys to his security vehicle, taking possession of her truck for safekeeping until after his son's graduation party. "Good man." Joseph replies.

Catherine smiles slightly, but shakes her head. "I still think he needs to give his life to Christ

Joseph."

Joseph firmly states to his wife,

"Listen to our granddaughter and Mr. Conrad. Let it be."

Catherine lets out a heavy sigh of defeat, finally letting the matter drop. The grandparents,

along with the rest of the Steahl family, Natalie Bloodstone, and Darren Onyx, board their vehicles waiting for Rya as her and Henry say good night to each other.

Rya tells Henry. "I have to stop by Darren's shop to pick up Roman's graduation gift. I bought him a 24ct gold belt buckle with his name on it. Do you think he'll like it?"

Henry's eyes almost fell out of his head. "Rya, he will be completely shocked and feel like

a king wearing a crown. You didn't have to get him anything."

"My King, I don't do things because I have to, I do them because I want to. If I did

things because I had to, they'd never get done." she chuckled.

In full view of her family and friends Henry, remembering their first kiss, takes her firmly wrapping her in his arms, she wraps hers tight around his neck, places his finger under her chin guiding her lips to his kissing her with possessive passion. She returns his kiss this this time, with loving fire. When he breaks the kiss he tells her, "Be careful My Phoenix, don't linger too long. If you're even one minute late past 12:45 I'm sending Harrison to get you."

"You won't hear me argue. I love you My King." words he hasn't heard from a woman

"I love you, My Phoenix."

Henry helps her into the truck, walks over to hers and opens the door retrieving her

weapon from the front seat and handing it to her. Then, pointing her keys at her truck,

presses the automatic lock, securing it. The family convoy pulls out of the Yellowstone driveway disappearing into the night. A black van tailed the convoy unnoticed

by the Conrad's and Grants...or the Steahl family. It was being driven by Gregory Landt with Thomas Harris and Nicholas Kiver The attackers hired by Jere Harrington, Rya's father.

"There's too many of them to make our move now. We'll have to wait until daylight when the other two and her grandmother Francine are with us. They stayed out of sight of the

Steahl mansion biding their time.