Wild Montana Sky Quotes

“We'll ride along the river. It's a mighty pretty sight..." Puffy white clouds floated across the azure blue sky. Pine-covered mountains crowned with snowcaps folded down into foothills that ringed the valley. Beneath the clouds the play of sun and shadow cast hazy blue-green patches on the mountainsides. A distant large-winged bird rode on air currents before diving into a clump of trees.”
― Debra Holland, Wild Montana Sky

“The sky is the most glorious blue I've ever seen." Nick must have heard her quiet words. "I used to think there couldn't be a more beautiful blue in all the world." The sound of his voice pulled Elizabeth into his presence. She said with a curious glance. "What changed your mind?" He flushed though his green gaze remained steady on her, "I saw your eyes.”
― Debra Holland, Wild Montana Sky

“He picked up one of her hands, turned it over, and kissed her palm again before placing it against his chest. Her heart melted in response, and her knees threatened to follow.”
― Debra Holland, Wild Montana Sky

“He tenderly brushed a stray strand of hair out of her face. “Would you give me a daughter with your beautiful blue eyes?” he whispered, his face near hers. “First I want a son with your green ones.” Nick cupped her cheeks with his hands, leaned forward, and kissed her gently. Straightening, he smiled down at her.”
― Debra Holland, Wild Montana Sky

“Rides my demon horse, shoots a grizzly—my, my, proper Miss Elizabeth Hamilton, who’d ever have thought it?”
― Debra Holland, Wild Montana Sky

“Nick took the pistol from her, turned, and tossed it onto the grass. Placing his hands on her arms, he pulled her to him, the pressure of his fingers biting into the softness of her flesh. “I don’t know whether to shake you”—Nick emphasized his words with a joggle of her arms—“or kiss you.” His tone sounded playful, but seriousness glimmered in his gaze.”
― Debra Holland, Wild Montana Sky

“Elizabeth stood where he’d left her, a forlorn figure in a sodden blue gown, still clasping the pistol with both hands. His heart swelled with pride at her courage, but he also wanted to shake her for scaring ten years off his life.”
― Debra Holland, Wild Montana Sky

“Elizabeth Hamilton! What are you doing riding that horse? Nick’s going to be so angry with you!” “Nick’s not around,” Elizabeth said tartly. “Well, you’d better not break your neck. We’ve enough problems as it is.” “I won’t.”
― Debra Holland, Wild Montana Sky

“She’s better off without you.” Livingston narrowed his eyes. “I see which way the land lies. If I didn’t trust Miss Hamilton’s superior values and morals—” Nick’s fist snaked out, aiming for the banker’s nose. Livingston barely had time to turn his head before Nick’s knuckles connected with the man’s cheek, sending him stumbling back against the wall. The seascape crashed to the ground. With shock and disbelief in his eyes, Livingston slid to the floor, cradling the rapidly forming red mark on his face. Nick shook his head in disgust. Pity he hadn’t broken the man’s nose.”
― Debra Holland, Wild Montana Sky

“A man who’s courtin’ a woman shouldn’t disappear at the first sign of a little trouble.”
― Debra Holland, Wild Montana Sky

“Her mind whirled, fragments of pictures of him flashing in and out so fast she could barely settle on any one: the day he’d brought her from the railway station and stopped so she could see the view…the horseback ride beside the river when he’d said her eyes were the most beautiful blue he’d ever seen…teaching her to shoot…saving her from the grizzly bear…eating the saskatoon pie she’d baked…coaxing Lizzy to drink her lemonade…the magical night at the pool…his long-lashed green eyes glowing with love for her…”
― Debra Holland, Wild Montana Sky

“Nick began playing another piece—a beautiful one she’d never heard. The feelings in his eyes changed until they held love and compassion. “This is for you,” he whispered. Mesmerized, she became lost in the emerald enchantment cast over her by his gaze and the seductive music. Although not releasing her from her cares, the music soothed away the harsh edges so they didn’t cut so deep into her soul, giving her the strength to continue to bear them.”
― Debra Holland, Wild Montana Sky

“Elizabeth watched as Nick, alternating between teasing and coaxing, persuaded Lizzy to drink the entire glass of lemonade. He’s so good with her—with all the children. Someday, he’ll make a wonderful father. That unexpected warmth crept into her cheeks again. As if Nick read her mind, his eyes met hers. Elizabeth blushed. Surely he wasn’t having similar thoughts about her?”
― Debra Holland, Wild Montana Sky

“Elizabeth glanced over at Nick, striding along with Lizzy on his shoulders. Once in the shade, the child had perked up enough to giggle as she bounced along on her moving perch. Nick caught Elizabeth’s glance and winked.”
― Debra Holland, Wild Montana Sky

“If Livingston won her, he’d keep Elizabeth in a cage like a gilded bird and never let her blossom into the vibrant person she really was. Nick shook his head in disbelief. How could that man want to clip her wings? Elizabeth had glowed with pride at her achievement. Her blue eyes had sparkled with pleasure. Beneath the dusting of flour, her cheeks had been pink. For the first time she’d been totally relaxed with him. Despite her disheveled appearance, Nick had never seen her look happier, nor more beautiful.”
― Debra Holland, Wild Montana Sky

“As he tried to suppress a laugh, Nick choked, then raised his napkin to his mouth. But his eyes danced with emerald glee, and Elizabeth knew the napkin hid a grin.”
― Debra Holland, Wild Montana Sky

“As if sensing his thoughts, Elizabeth looked up. Her pale face still showed signs of strain. He winked at her to see if he could bring out the dimple in the left corner of her smile. It worked. Her skin pinked up, and the dimple briefly appeared. That seldom-seen dimple really did something to his heart. The tiny indentation changed her from the proper Miss Hamilton to his Elizabeth.”
― Debra Holland, Wild Montana Sky

“don’t want to pick saskatoons ever again,” she said in a small, fearful voice. “Now, honey, don’t you worry none,” Nick told her in an exaggerated drawl. “You’ve been picking berries here for years and never saw any ole bears until today.” He winked at her. “Besides, I don’t think that grizzly was after Miss Elizabeth. I think it was more interested in her basket of berries.” “Then why’d you kill it?” Sara asked, looking a little less fearful. “I saw that there grizzly, and I thought to myself, bear steaks! I sure do love bear steaks. And since your pa don’t let me keep any bears in the barn, I rarely get to eat any.” Sara laughed, and color returned to her cheeks. “Silly Nick. You can’t keep bears in the barn!” “Well, maybe not. But I couldn’t let an ole bear frighten a pretty little lady like Miss Elizabeth, now could I?” Elizabeth’s heart lightened at the compliment, but she pretended not to hear. As Nick reassured the child, she could feel the strain inside her ease. “We’ll get that bear’s head stuffed and mounted,” Nick continued. “Then Miss Elizabeth can hang it in her bedroom.” “Don’t you dare,” Elizabeth exclaimed in mock horror. “I’d never be able to sleep!”
― Debra Holland, Wild Montana Sky

“Nick leaped off the horse. Still pointing the rifle at the bear, he nudged the carcass with his foot, then lowered the rifle and turned to Elizabeth. She threw herself against him. His arm tightened around her. Setting the rifle on the ground, he pulled her close. Elizabeth clung to him, still too shaken to even burst into tears. Nick had saved her. She glanced back at the carcass, still hardly believing what had just happened, then shuddered and buried her face in his shoulder. “Elizabeth, are you all right?” She nodded, but didn’t lift her face. Her body trembled. A few relieved tears squeezed through her tightly shut eyelids. Nick reached up and stroked her hair, placing several comforting kisses on her head. “I was so frightened,” she murmured into his shoulder. “Thank goodness you came.” He pressed another kiss to her head. Elizabeth sighed in relief, her body shaky. Everything had happened so fast. But she was safe in Nick’s embrace, and she didn’t want to leave anytime soon. Nick scooped Elizabeth into his arms. She gasped, flung her arms around his neck, and clung to him. “Nick, I’m too heavy,” she protested. “Lighter than those hay bales,” he teased. “You make a better fit too.”
― Debra Holland, Wild Montana Sky

“Why don’t you take a turn now,” she suggested. “I want to see an expert in action.” A flush climbed his cheeks, but he took the Colt from her, reloaded, and stepped over to the steer. With an effortless lift of his arm, he rapidly shot five rounds dead center into the heart area. He lowered the gun, turned, and, lifting an eyebrow, waited for her reaction. Impressed by his quiet confidence, Elizabeth mirrored his raised eyebrow. “You make it look so easy.” Nick laughed. “Been shootin’ since I was Mark’s age.” She teased back. “That’s not so long ago.” “A man grows up fast in these parts. When you need to survive,” he spun the words into a drawl, “you learn to hit what ya aim for.”
― Debra Holland, Wild Montana Sky

“Here, let me help.” Nick stepped behind her, reached around her body, and placed his hands over hers, steadying the rifle against her shoulder. At his touch, unusual tingling sensations coursed through her. “Look down the sights to the target,” he murmured in her ear. His finger pressed over hers, guiding her movement. Her whole body warmed at his closeness. Too aware of him, she couldn’t concentrate. She just closed her eyes and squeezed the trigger. The noise of the shot reverberated in her ears. The recoil of the gun sent her staggering back into Nick. His arms tightened around her. She lowered the rifle. “You missed,” Nick’s voice teased in her ear. Elizabeth’s heart raced. She relaxed against his chest, loving the feel of his strong arms around her.”
― Debra Holland, Wild Montana Sky

“The boy shows talent. The overheard words still rankled. Boy! At twenty-four! He’d like to see that banker do a man’s work around a ranch. He’d have blisters on those smooth hands inside of two hours. Not to mention how he’d feel after a long day in the saddle. Elizabeth wouldn’t be happy with Livingston. He knew it. True, the man had money, a large house, and a purebred pedigree—all the things she probably wanted in a man. But it wouldn’t be enough. He had instincts about her in the same way he knew horses—what they needed, how to touch them. In the last week, there’d been times when she’d thawed and shown her feelings. He’d bet anything a special woman lurked beneath her proper Boston exterior. With Livingston, that woman would never emerge. He straightened and ground a fist into his palm. He couldn’t step back and let Livingston waltz away with her. It wouldn’t be right. He’d have to change. Force himself past his shyness. Force himself to open up. Nick wasn’t sure how he’d do it. Aside from what he’d learned from Miz Carter, he’d not had any training in proper society manners. Now, he’d seen for himself how different things were in the East. But something in Elizabeth had touched him, something that went beyond social barriers, and he knew she’d sensed it too. He might not have much wealth to offer, but there were other things he could do to make her happy, and he’d love her with all his heart.”
― Debra Holland, Wild Montana Sky

“Elizabeth would probably never choose a ranch hand. But at least he knew she’d be around. And he thought he’d have time. Time to quietly woo her…to show his love through his deeds. It was too hard to get words around the crippling shyness he felt. Or, like what happened on their horseback ride, they seemed to be the wrong words. The chill night air pricked at his skin. Livingston had words, plenty of them. And an attitude to match.”
― Debra Holland, Wild Montana Sky

“In his vision, she picked up a silver-backed brush and stroked the long fall of hair. He imagined himself taking the brush from her hand. As their eyes met in the mirror, he’d sensuously stroke every tress. He could see himself picking up a lavender-scented lock, kissing it, and then kissing her shoulder, her forehead, her lips.”
― Debra Holland, Wild Montana Sky

“For the first time, she studied Nick’s face. Lowered eyelids hid his beautiful green eyes, making his long lashes stand out against his cheeks. He had the kind of fair skin that freckled and then tanned only after repeated days in the sun. His jaw rested on the violin. Without his hat, she noted his prominent cheekbones. The bump on his nose gave his face character, and she wondered how he’d broken it.”
― Debra Holland, Wild Montana Sky

“Once she looked across the table at Nick and noticed him watching her with a shadowed expression in his green eyes. For a moment, her happiness dimmed. Could he sense her attraction to Mr. Livingston? Their glances held, then he turned away to reply to a remark addressed to him by Miss Stanton.”
― Debra Holland, Wild Montana Sky

“From the corner of her eye, she caught Nick staring at their joined hands, a stormy frown on his face. Miss Stanton tapped him on the arm, and he looked at her.”
― Debra Holland, Wild Montana Sky

“The sky is the most glorious blue I’ve ever seen.” He must have heard the quiet words. “I used to think there couldn’t be a more beautiful blue in all the world.” The sound of his voice pulled Elizabeth into the awareness of his presence. She sent him a curious glance. “What changed your mind?” He flushed, although his green gaze remained steady on her. “I saw your eyes.”
― Debra Holland, Wild Montana Sky

“Do the girls swim too?” “Yes, Miz Carter lets them swim in their shifts.” Elizabeth raised an eyebrow at that. “What do you men wear?” Laughter glinted in his green eyes, and he slanted her a mischievous grin. “Since Miz Carter came here to live, we swim in old pants cut off at the knees.” Warmth crept up her cheeks. Bad enough thinking about a bare-chested Nick swimming in the pool without thinking of him naked!”
― Debra Holland, Wild Montana Sky

“Sara’s voice, begging to pet Star, brought him back to the moment. Nick looked away from Elizabeth, and she scrambled to her feet. “Of course, Sara,” she said. “I didn’t mean to be selfish. It’s just that I’ve never fallen in love with a horse before.” She shook the straw out of her skirt. “It’s had quite an effect on me. I forgot you were waiting.” What about me? Nick thought. Could you bring yourself to let some of that love spill over to me? He mentally shook his head at his fantasy and made an effort to sound normal.”
― Debra Holland, Wild Montana Sky