Aaron's Montana Bride (Sweet, Clean Western Historical Romance)(Montana Ranchers and Brides Series)

by Maya Stirling

  So now, Eva was out of her home, cast out by disaster, her future uncertain and living under Aaron's roof.

  That called for another swig of coffee.

  Aaron turned when he heard footsteps coming down the stairs. Doctor Lou Kennedy emerged from the house, holding his little bag, looking as weary as ever. Aaron had known the man for years. He trusted Lou, because he'd seen the man work wonders with some of his ranch hands. The injuries a man could sustain while working a ranch were often life threatening, but Lou had a knack for taking everything in his stride.

  Aaron stood. "How's she doing Lou," he asked.

  Lou nodded and pursed his lips. He looked pensive and paused before replying.

  "I think she'll be okay. But she's taken a lot of smoke into her lungs. It's gonna take a while for them to recover fully. She'll be weak on her feet for a while. Gonna need some good care," Lou said.

  "Then she's in the right place," Aaron stated confidently.

  Lou's eyes narrowed and then he smiled. "I'm sure she is, Aaron. How did the fire happen?"

  "I don't know. Yet. But I aim to find out. Eva nearly perished. If someone was responsible for starting the fire, then they're going to rue the day they were born," Aaron said firmly.

  Lou's brows furrowed. "That's for another day, Aaron. Right now you need to do everything you can to make Eva feel at home. She was telling me she'd planning on going back to the ranch in the next few days. I don't think that's a good idea. But, she wouldn't listen," Lou said.

  Aaron smiled. "She doesn't take kindly to persuasion. Even from a medical man," he admitted. "So what's the plan, Lou?"

  "Keep Eva quiet and make sure she gets plenty of rest," Lou said.

  Aaron took in a deep breath and frowned. "That's easier said than done," he said.

  "I know. But you're just gonna have to make her. Maybe those two housekeepers can give you a hand. I think you're gonna need all the help you can get," Lou said with a grin.

  Aaron had always marvelled at Lou's ability to handle complicated situations with an unusual calmness and dignity. And this time was no exception.

  "Looks like I'm in for an interesting few days," Aaron said.

  Lou stood and looked down at Aaron. "I'm sure you're more than capable of handling one feisty young woman and two busy housekeepers," Lou said. The doctor shook his head and Aaron was sure that the medical man was doing everything in his power to contain his laughter.

  "If you put it like that, I'm thinking that branding a whole herd of cattle single handed might be easier," Aaron said shaking his head.

  Lou nodded and placed a reassuring hand on Aaron's arm. "You're not a medical man, Aaron. But, I'm sure you'll do what's best for Eva," he said.

  Aaron already spent most of every day thinking about what was best for Eva, so he wouldn't have to work hard to do what Lou advised.

  Lou squeezed Aaron's arm. "I'm sure you know what you need to do," the doctor said.

  Aaron frowned and wondered what kind of conversation Lou and Eva had been having upstairs. Had they been talking about marriage and proposals? Aaron looked at Lou questioningly. "Are you just talking about health matters, Lou?" he asked.

  Lou smiled. "That's all I ever talk about Aaron. You know that. But there's more to making sure that people get better than just attending to their health needs," he explained. "Eva wanted to talk. And I listened."

  Aaron nodded and pursed his lips into a thin, tight line.

  Lou smiled. "I best be going. I figure you and Eva have got plenty to talk about. Just take it easy with her, Aaron. Try not to get her too excited over the next couple of days. I know she wants answers. But maybe she needs to be a bit stronger before she gets them," he advised.

  Aaron nodded. "I understand Doc. I'll make sure she gets her strength back before any serious talking gets done," he assured the medical man.

  Lou got on his horse and rode off.

  Aaron tried to comprehend what Lou had told him. It was going to be difficult to hold back from talking with Eva. Lou was right. Aaron hadn't been placed in the awkward position of having to lie to Eva. Aaron would never do that. He wasn't the kind of man who'd ever lied to anyone, preferring plain speaking, direct and honest dealing. There was no other way to live out in the wilds of Montana, other than to be a man who was known for being honest and straight.

  But, right now, the most important thing of all was making sure that Eva got better, and that Aaron eventually got the chance to give her his answer to the proposal that now seemed to have been made such a long time ago.

  However, Eva would have to wait, even if Aaron already knew exactly what he was going to tell her.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Aaron entered the kitchen to find Mrs. Bell and Mrs. Lang still arguing about the chicken soup. It seemed like they'd reached a compromise, agreeing to take turns and see which version of the soup Eva might prefer.

  They both gave Aaron a look that told him he wasn't exactly welcome in the kitchen. Both women were of similar mature years and both had a burly, robust physique that made argument an impossibility. Their friendly disagreement had given both women similar bright eyes and flushed cheeks.

  Aaron smiled, trying to defuse the good natured tension in the room. "That smells real good. I bet Eva would love some of it. Put it in a bowl and I'll take it up to her," he said.

  Mrs. Bell flashed a look at Mrs. Lang. Both women put their hands on hips simultaneously. "You planning on spending time in Eva's room?" Mrs. Lang asked. Aaron's housekeeper had a special tone of voice which she only used when she disapproved of something. And she was using it now.

  Aaron shifted from side to side. Words had suddenly deserted him. "Well. I thought she might want to taste whatever she can probably smell being prepared in the kitchen," he explained hesitantly.

  Mrs. Bell took a step forward wiping her hands on her apron. "And you thought it might be a good idea to take it to her?"

  Aaron frowned. These two women certainly had the art of making a man feel uncomfortable down to a tee. "I guess so," Aaron said.

  "You figuring on spending much time in that there room, alone with Eva?" Mrs. Lang demanded.

  Aaron felt his jaw drop and his throat felt suddenly, inexplicably tight. He got their meaning.

  "If you're hinting that there might be something inappropriate..." he began to say, but he was interrupted by Mrs. Lang.

  "I'm not hinting at anything Aaron Stewart," she said. "I'm being straight with you about the fact that a single man cannot just inhabit the room where an unmarried woman is currently trying to recover her strength," she declared. Mrs. Lang's tight bun of grey hair, pale skin and plump features gave her a forbidding and intimidating aspect. Aaron had relied on her for so much over the years. She'd proved to be a powerhouse of persuasion and indispensable when it came to keeping affairs in the Stewart ranch house running smoothly. One thing Aaron had learned was never to challenge his beloved housekeeper's judgment. He quickly figured, this time was not going to be an exception.

  "Eva and I are hardly strangers, Mrs. Lang," Aaron offered.

  Mrs. Lang shook her head. "I know you and her go way back. I've known that for longer than you think," she said with the raise of an eyebrow. "I've known there was something between you both. Even if you were the last to admit it," she said emphatically.

  Mrs. Bell nodded. "Seems like the men on these ranches don't know how to pay proper attention to a woman," she said.

  Mrs. Lang nodded. "You're right there, Mrs. Bell," she admitted. Mrs. Bell looked at Mrs. Lang and nodded.

  Aaron frowned. He couldn't believe that the two women had finally found something they agreed on. Even if it was over his own failure to be absolutely honest about himself and Eva.

  "Are you seriously saying I can't take some soup up to Eva," Aaron asked.

  Mrs. Lang tossed her cleaning cloth down onto the kitchen table. "What I'm saying is that we're going to be keeping a close eye on you," she said. "Isn't that right, Mrs. Bell?"
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  The other woman nodded vigorously.

  Mrs. Lang turned and ladled out some soup into a plate and placed it onto a tray. She handed it to Aaron. "Just you keep that bedroom door open, so we can hear what's going on between you and that sweet young woman," she said giving him a stern look that nevertheless had the faintest of smiles in it.

  Aaron took the tray and headed out of the kitchen as fast as he could. Upstairs, he knocked gently on the closed door. From inside he heard Eva's soft voice bid him enter. Aaron pushed the door open and stepped into the bedroom.

  Eva's eyes widened when she saw who it was. "Aaron!" she exclaimed pulling the bedclothes up to her chest. Aaron immediately noticed that her color was improved. The pale cheeks of earlier had been replaced by a much healthier rosy color. She looked so much better, but there was still a tiredness in her eyes. The shadows hadn't quite disappeared, and he wondered whether they were caused only by physical exhaustion or by the worry she was so obviously enduring.

  "I thought you'd like some soup," he said looking at the tray. "You have no idea how much trouble this little plate has caused between Mrs. Lang and Mrs. Bell," he said with a smile.

  Eva tried to respond with a smile of her own, but Aaron could see how much effort it caused her in the attempt. "It smells delicious." she said raising herself up higher against the pillows at her back. "Even from here. I was wondering what they were cooking up," she said.

  The fresh air from the slightly open window made the room smell fresh and feel cool. Aaron went to the side of the bed and laid the tray down on the side table. He glanced at Eva. Up close she did look much improved. She'd pulled her hair back into a neat bun, and her collar was buttoned up tight.

  Eva straightened the bedclothes and Aaron carefully placed the tray on her lap. As he laid the tray in front of her Aaron was intensely aware of being so close to Eva. Especially in light of what the two housekeepers had said to him in the kitchen. Aaron sat down on the chair by Eva's bedside.

  Eva gazed down at the plate and lifted the spoon. "I guess they think I need this. Is it some sort of secret recipe?"

  Aaron rolled his eyes. "You don't want to know. However, if you don't like it, I'd probably keep that to myself, if I was you," he said with a sly wink.

  Eva smiled. She raised the spoon and took a small sip of the soup. Aaron saw her flinch as she swallowed. "You okay?" he asked quickly.

  Eva finished swallowing and nodded. "I'm fine. Just that the darned coughing has left me with a sore throat," she said.

  Eva took another sip from the spoon. This time, when she swallowed it didn't seem to hurt as much. Aaron was glad to see that.

  After a few moments Eva looked at Aaron and narrowed her eyes. "You don't have to stay if you don't want to," she said softly.

  Aaron frowned. "I'm happy right where I am," he declared.

  The truth was, he was savoring the experience of watching Eva eat. There was something gratifying about seeing her doing something he knew would help her regain her natural strength. Even something as simple as seeing Eva eat had a curious effect on Aaron. Right now, there was nowhere else he wanted to be.

  "Well. It is your house," Eva said.

  Aaron grinned. "I still had to negotiate the right to bring you that soup, though," he said.

  Eva's brows creased. "What do you mean?" she asked, and then took some more soup.

  "Seems like the good ladies downstairs figure I should leave you all alone up here. At least until you're feeling better," he said.

  Eva grinned. "Are you telling me they don't want you in my room?"

  "That's the gist of it, I guess," he admitted.

  Eva shook her head. "What do they think is going to happen?" she queried with sly glance.

  Aaron quirked a brow. "Maybe they figure you and me being unattached and all, makes things a bit awkward," he said.

  Eva paused, the spoon hovering in front of her lips. A flicker of recognition appeared in Eva's eye. Aaron saw it and wondered what she was thinking. Did she take the mention of attachment as a hint? Was she thinking that Aaron was hoping she'd bring up the subject of the proposal? Aaron could see Eva thinking hard. She took some more soup and forced a hard swallow. It looked like this time it wasn't a painful throat that was causing her difficulty. More like a tight throat caused by some troubling thoughts.

  "I don't know what in the world could have given them that idea," she said eventually.

  Aaron shifted in his seat. Maybe time to change the subject. "What did the doc have to say?" he asked Eva.

  Eva sighed and Aaron wondered if it was an expression of relief. "He thinks the smoke did some temporary damage to my lungs. But he figures I'll get over it. The thing that bothers me the most is that I can't get up the strength to drag my darned legs out of this bed," she said quickly shifting her legs under the covers in a way that suddenly caught Aaron's full attention. In spite of himself, he wondered what Eva's legs looked like under the bedsheets. From where he sat he could see the impression of their length and the dainty shape of her feet.

  Immediately he thrust that insistent thought out of his mind, but not before it caused an obvious and visible change in the color of his cheeks.

  Eva's eyes flashed at Aaron and he knew she'd seen the change.

  "You'll be up and about in no time," he said hurriedly.

  "I hope so," Eva said. "I need to get back to the ranch and check out the damage."

  "The only damage you need to think about is what happened to your lungs in that fire," Aaron said firmly.

  "But I have to see what kind of a state the ranch house is in. There will be work to supervise. I don't know how long it's going to take to get the place back to how it was," she stated.

  "It's going to take a while. In the meantime you're staying here," Aaron told her with a raise of an eyebrow.

  "Is that an order, or a request?" Eva asked.

  The corner of Aaron's mouth creased into a smile. "You can take it any way you want, Eva," he said. "Right now, you just need to focus on getting better."

  "But I feel fine. Really I do."

  Eva shifted her legs impatiently under the covers. Aaron had always known that patience wasn't one of Eva's virtues. She hated to be tied down, confined. He knew that whatever happened, the next few days were going to be real interesting. Eva Gillespie just wasn't the kind of woman who'd settle in a bed for longer than she had to.

  "That's for the doctor to decide. He said he'll come and check you out in a couple of days. That means you are going to stay right here and make the most of the time you've got to recuperate."

  Eva frowned. "But what am I going to do. I can't just lie here all day, staring out the window. I'll go crazy," she said.

  Aaron smiled as he watched the irritation consume Eva. "Look. If you can't take my word for it, then you can try dealing with those two ladies downstairs. I'm figuring that they aren't going to let you move one inch out of this room until you're good and ready," he said.

  Eva sighed loudly and quickly took another slurp of soup. This time she did it too quickly and, with a shudder she sucked in a deep, noisy breath and then broke into a series of convulsive coughs that had Aaron reaching for the tray. He laid the tray on the side table and quickly wrapped an arm around Eva's shoulder. Her face turned red as she gasped, trying to stop the involuntary spasms that shook her body.

  Aaron sat down by her side and held her close, feeling her shake and tremble. He hated to see her suffer, feeling every rasping cough as if it were his own. There was no thought about whether it was appropriate for him to be sitting on her bed, supporting her, cradling her against his chest, hoping that the coughing would subside. He didn't care about propriety. All that mattered was that she needed his help, and that he was here to provide it.

  After a while she got her coughing under control. Her breathing was fast and noisy as he held her close. It felt good to have her this close. He reached across and moved stray hairs away from her pretty, wide forehead. Eva looked a
t him and he could see the pain and tiredness in her eyes, even if she tried hard, as always, to hide how she felt.

  "Are you okay?" he asked quietly. "Do you need a drink of water?"

  Eva shook her head. "I'm fine," she said. "Looks like you're right. I might need a bit more time to get back on my feet," she admitted.

  Aaron was suddenly aware of holding her, and now that she'd stopped coughing, there seemed little reason for him to continue. The truth was, he didn't want to let her go. It felt somehow right to be here by her side. He felt Eva tighten and he took that as a signal for him to let her go.

  Aaron shifted off the bed and sat back down on the chair. He saw Eva watch him, and wondered if she had noticed his awkwardness, even the reluctance with which he had let her go.

  "Do you want more soup?" he asked her.

  Eva shook her head. "No. I think I've had enough."

  "Maybe you need to rest. I've taken up enough of your time," he said.

  Eva reached a hand over and touched his arm. "You don't need to go," she said. Her eyes were brighter than they had been moments before. Aaron could see small beads of sweat on Eva's forehead. Her lips were slightly pale and the coughing had left a rosy color to her cheeks. How could it be that he found her beautiful, even when she was hardly well, even when she was clearly struggling to regain her health? She looked so delicate lying back against the pillows, so fragile, that it was all he could do to restrain the urge to lean over and adjust her pillows. Anything to make her feel more comfortable.

  Aaron smiled. "I think there are a couple of ladies downstairs who'll be counting every minute I've spent up here," he said with a grin.

  "I guess you're right." Eva smiled, and seeing her do that immediately made Aaron feel a whole lot better.

  He stood up. "I'm sure Mrs. Bell will come and check on you. In the meantime, you get some sleep. I'll look in on you later," he said.