Nathan’s Montana Bride (Sweet Historical Mail Order Bride Romance) (Montana Ranchers Brides series)

by Maya Stirling

  Nathan looked at Abby. "I gotta get cleaned up. We'll talk later. In the meantime leave Emma in peace for a while," he said.

  Abby frowned. "Are you saying you don't want me going near our daughter?"

  Nathan seemed taken aback by Abby's choice of words. After a moment he shook his head. "No I prefer you don't. At least until we've talked about this."

  With no further word he turned and walked away from Abby and closed the bedroom door behind him.

  Abby went to the kitchen and sat at the table. She drank a glass of water and closed her eyes, needing a moment of reflection.

  How dare he forbid her to see Emma. Who did he think he was?

  It had been a terrible day. A day she wished had never happened. How could she have been so stupid, falling asleep like that. She should have realized that the river was a danger to Emma.

  Nathan was right. It was her fault, in spite of Emma's forgiveness. Abby was her mother and mothers didn't let their children come to harm. Ever.

  And, Emma was Abby's. That was true. Abby's heart had already been so affected by Emma that the thought of anything bad happening to the little girl was unbearable.

  Nathan was right. She had to admit it to herself, albeit reluctantly.

  But he was being so harsh with her. The events of the river had obviously touched a raw nerve deep inside him.

  Abby wondered what other sensitivities lay hidden deep inside her husband's soul. He had been through so much, had suffered so terribly that Abby felt a strong sympathy for him. She really could see why the whole thing had affected him so much.

  Nathan loved his daughter. He had shown that he was willing to place his life on the line for Emma.

  Would he do the same for Abby?

  She couldn't answer that question yet. But she would have to show him that she was as determined as him to protect her family. He may not believe her right at this minute. And that was understandable. They were only starting out in their journey as man and wife. There was a lot for both of them to learn about each other.

  Abby drained the glass of the water. It was up to her to show him what she was made of. She'd show him just how far she was willing to go to keep her whole family safe.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  How could she have been so careless? How could she have let Emma get into trouble?

  Nathan finished drying himself off and tried to figure out what had happened down at the river.

  He'd told Abby. In no uncertain terms. He thought she'd understood him when he made his rules clear. They were the rules that were supposed to keep his daughter safe.

  Their daughter?

  Abby had said that in the hallway outside the bedroom. She had described Emma as their daughter.

  Had Abby already forged such a strong relationship with his daughter that she now considered Emma to be her own?

  That had taken Nathan by surprise. He'd tried to hide it. He didn't want Abby questioning the strength of his feelings about what had happened. He felt he had to make a stand on this issue, especially so soon in their marriage.

  He thought of how lucky it had been that he'd come back to the house and asked Mrs.Wardle where Abby and Emma had gone. When the housekeeper had told him they'd gone for a picnic at the river he'd figured it would be a fun surprise for him to arrive unexpectedly.

  It had been anything but fun.

  He shook his head. So much had happened in the last few days, his head was almost spinning. His life had been transformed by this woman who had agreed to enter his world, a strange place for her in every way. She had shown herself to be strong and determined and capable.

  Except in looking after their daughter.

  Was Abby committed to them? Or had she come here to Montana simply out of convenience?

  Nathan couldn't believe Abby was so mercenary. He was a better judge of character than that.

  How far would she go to ensure they had a future as a family?

  There was her silence about the issue which had appeared between them. Nathan could not get it out of his head that Abby had some kind of secret that she wasn't being honest about with him. No matter how many times he'd asked her she just wouldn't tell him what it was.

  It was burning him up to know what it was.

  Nathan lay back and closed his eyes. The silence in the house was comforting. The ranch affairs could be taken care of by his foreman. He had to be here in case Emma awoke and needed him.

  He closed his eyes and promised himself he'd take a short nap.

  He awoke with a start. The dream had come again and as usual it had woken him up. He pushed the images in his mind away as he always did at such times.

  The room was dark. He guessed it was the middle of the night. He felt a sudden need to check on Emma. He looked at his watch. It was nearly four in the morning! He'd slept too much. Emma. What was happening? Who was with her?

  He made his way down the corridor toward Emma's room. The door was open just a slight amount. Mrs.Wardle must have been up all night, he thought. That wasn't fair on the woman who had a lot of work ahead of her in an hour or two.

  He peered into the darkness of the room. There was the faint glow of a small candle.

  Emma was sound asleep.

  And seated by the side of the bed was Abby!

  She had her back to Nathan so she didn't know he was there. What was she doing here, he thought. He'd expressly forbidden her to be with Emma. And here she was, defying him. He felt a surge of emotion. He drew in a deep breath and considered what to do.

  He didn't want to wake Emma. The last thing she needed was to be woken up by the sound of her parents arguing over who should be looking after her.

  He ran a hand through his hair. How long had Abby been here?

  Abby moved her head as if a noise had caught her attention. As she began to turn Nathan stepped back into the hallway and away from the door.

  He heard a noise from downstairs. It was faint kitchen sounds. He frowned. Surely Mrs.Wardle wasn't up so early.

  Nathan padded down stairs on his stockinged feet, trying avoid the creaking parts of the steps.

  Mrs.Wardle turned as he entered the kitchen.

  "Why aren't you with Emma?" he asked.

  Mrs.Wardle put down the mixing spoon that she was holding. "Because your wife insisted I get some sleep," she said.

  "What?"

  "In fact I've slept the whole night. Thanks to Abby."

  "The whole night. So who's been looking after Emma?"

  "Abby. She took over before midnight. She's been by your daughter's side all night," she said.

  "But I asked you to care for Emma," Nathan said aware of the irritation in his voice.

  Mrs.Wardle put a hand on her hip. "Mr. Grantly. When a child has suffered what Emma had to go through yesterday there is only one person in this house who should be by her side through the night. Since you have a ranch to keep going, then it falls to your wife to look after Emma."

  "But I asked her..." he began, but the words trailed off.

  "You asked her to do what?" Mrs.Wardle queried.

  Nathan shook his head. "Nothing."

  Mrs. Wardle took up her mixing spoon and pointed it at Nathan. "I don't pretend to understand what's going on between you two right now. But it's clear to me that you both have a whole lot of getting to know each other to be doing," she said with a frown.

  Mrs. Wardle thrust the spoon into a bowl and started mixing. "All I know is that you got yourself a wife up there who will do anything for that child. I can see it in her eyes."

  Nathan coughed quietly. Mrs.Wardle had a habit of delivering wisdom, often during the preparation of food.

  "She came to me and insisted I go to bed. She wouldn't take no for an answer. And she told me not to wake you."

  Nathan frowned.

  "You're a lucky man. Seems to me like you got yourself a real good wife up there. I think it's about time you started doing something to show some appreciation of that fact."

 
; Mrs.Wardle paused and fixed Nathan with a look. "Forgive the advice, but that's how I see it all."

  Nathan sat down at the table. "I guess you're right. I've been an idiot."

  "Don't go being all pitiful now," she said.

  "I'm not. It's just that this whole thing has been such a big change in our life. Me and Emma. We have to get to know Abby."

  "Well start doing it!" Mrs.Wardle said firmly. "Time's a moving on. Now let me get back to my cooking. You've got a lot of hungry men going to be waking up anytime soon. If they don't have their chow, you know what's going to happen," she said.

  Nathan stood. "Thank you Mrs.Wardle. I know you're right."

  There was the sound of rushing footsteps coming downstairs. Nathan frowned and glanced at Mrs. Wardle.

  Suddenly Abby burst into the room, her face pale with fright. "Nathan. Mrs. Wardle. It's Emma. She's got a fever."

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  They all ran to Emma's room as fast as they could.

  Nathan could see the sweat on Emma's brow. He knelt down by the bed and touched her forehead.

  She was burning up!

  Mrs.Wardle said she'd get some cold water and towels. They needed to try and keep Emma cool.

  Emma's eyes were closed. She shifted her head imperceptibly from side to side.

  Nathan looked at Abby who had her arms wrapped protectively around herself. "How long has she been like this?"

  Abby shook her head. "I touched her forehead a couple of hours ago. It was fine then. But I've been here all night," she said.

  Nathan nodded. "I know you have." He gave Abby a reassuring smile. "It must have been hard staying awake all night, especially after the day you had yesterday."

  Abby looked surprised at his concern. "Well...I guess you're right. But I had to do it. You know that. Don't you?"

  Nathan smiled. "I understand you wanted to make sure she was okay. But right now we need to keep her cool. I'll get one of the hands to go into Billings and get a doctor."

  "A doctor!" Abby exclaimed. "You don't think it's that serious. Do you?"

  "We're not taking any chances," he said firmly.

  Mrs.Wardle arrived with the water and towels. They soaked them and covered Emma's forehead. The little girl sighed, her eyes still closed tight shut.

  Nathan went to send one of the hands to get the doctor. While he was gone Abby took her rightful place, by the side of the bed, right next to her step-daughter. Or was it real daughter, she thought.

  She was alone in the room for the moment. Mrs.Wardle had gone downstairs. Abby replaced the damp, cool towel and drew the blanket away from Emma.

  Nathan had changed, she thought. He had been almost kind to her. It was such a contrast to yesterday. What had changed his mind? She couldn't guess. But he had changed his attitude toward her.

  When she had looked into his eyes as he squatted by the side of Emma's bed, she had seen raw emotion. But not the anger of yesterday. It was fear she had seen on his face, tempered by a deep and intense love for his daughter. She realized that Nathan was a man driven by passion. It was a passion to protect and nurture. He'd been forced to take responsibility single-handed for bringing up his daughter. He'd fought hard to win Abby and won her.

  Little wonder then that he was a man with strong rules. Life had been harsh to him but he'd pulled through. The loss of a wife couldn't have been easy. The finding of a new one certainly hadn't been simple for him.

  Abby's brow furrowed. Nathan was a very special man and she was only beginning to understand him. It would take time. But, if Emma pulled through this crisis, Abby was going to make darned sure they would all have a long future together as a family.

  Nathan came back into the room. Abby could see he was out of breath. The sun was coming up and Abby wondered what the day held for her family.

  "I sent Lyle," said Nathan breathlessly. "But he's gonna be a while. It's a long way into Billings."

  "We'll keep her temperature down and try to get some fluids into her," Abby said.

  Nathan frowned. "Have you seen this kind of thing before?"

  "I nursed Florence when she was younger. She got caught in a thunderstorm one time and she came down with a fever. Lasted a while. But she pulled through."

  Nathan nodded. "I've never seen Emma like this."

  Abby reached over and laid a hand on his arm. "I'm sure she's going to be fine. Chicken soup will do the healing once the fever's down."

  "Chicken soup?" he asked.

  "Work's every time," she answered.

  They stayed by Emma's bed in silence for what seemed like a very long time. The silence in the room was only broken by the sounds of the ranch work from outside. Abby heard horses and the voices of men.

  She looked at Nathan. His eyes were fixed on Emma. His breathing was short and tight. His chest rose only slightly. He was frightened. She could see that. But they were together. The three of them would conquer this. She was sure of it.

  Nathan glanced at Abby and his mouth widened in a tiny smile. His eyes narrowed and he seemed to look into her eyes and agree with her assessment. Things were going to be okay.

  After a few hours they heard the sound of horse's hooves, and then Doc Wilson was in the room.

  He examined Emma, checking her temperature and pulse. He looked into her eyes, lifting Emma's eyelids with gentle fingers.

  Nathan explained the events of the fall into the river to the doctor.

  Doc Wilson listened and nodded his head.

  "We'll wait and see. If she wakes up make sure she drinks water. Not too quickly, mind. Just a sip at a time. Let her sleep and rest. Time will tell if the fever will break. But I think you probably saved her from the worst by getting her out of the water quick and making your way home just as fast."

  The Doc looked down at his patient. "She's a strong little one. Don't forget I delivered her. So I know she's got spirit."

  Abby saw Nathan's brighten at the recollection of Emma's birth. It was good to see his own spirits being improved by the doctor's advice.

  The Doc took his bag up and made to leave. "If she gets any worse don't hesitate to call me out again."

  The Doc looked over at Emma and Abby saw a sadness settle on his face.

  "Thank you for coming Doctor,"Abby said extending a hand.

  The Doc shook her hand. "Nice to meet you Mrs.Grantly. Emma's going to be fine," he said, trying to make his words as reassuring as possible.

  After the Doctor left Abby and Nathan were once again alone in the room. Nathan and Abby took their places on seats next to the bed.

  After a long, silent pause Nathan spoke: "Looks like you were right," he said.

  "I'm not a Doctor," she admitted.

  "But you're a wise mother," he answered quickly.

  Abby was surprised at his description of her. "Wise? I don't think so. I wasn't very wise yesterday."

  Nathan drew his chair closer to her. "Listen Abby. I was too harsh with you yesterday. I know that now."

  "It was understandable, Nathan. You were worried. You were right to be angry."

  Nathan flinched at the word. "I shouldn't have been like that with you."

  He leaned in closer. She felt the large, strong presence of him next to her. His presence dispelled some of her own fears, made her feel temporarily at ease, even in the midst of this terrible crisis.

  "I'm sorry Abby. It won't happen again," he said softly.

  Abby's eyes peered into Nathan's. There was utter sincerity there. She was absolutely convinced by his words. She smiled at him. "Thank you Nathan. I won't let you or Emma down again. I promise you," she whispered.

  Emma shifted in the bed and the towel fell from her forehead. Abby leaned over and replaced it with a fresh one.

  It was going to be a long day, but for Abby, things had just gotten a whole lot better. Although it promised to be a long day, she'd survive it as long as Nathan was by her side.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  "You two need to take a break
," Mrs.Wardle said quietly. The housekeeper stepped gingerly into Emma's room.

  Abby had to admit she felt tired. It was almost evening. She and Nathan had been by Emma's bedside the whole day. From time to time they'd whispered to each other. Little fragments of conversation had punctuated the long day. Mrs.Wardle had brought coffee to them both to keep them awake. But the sheer number of hours seated by the bed were beginning to take their toll on both Nathan and Abby.

  "I guess you're right, Mrs.Wardle," said Abby.

  "I can hang on a bit longer if you want to go lie down," said Nathan.

  Mrs.Wardle placed a firm hand on Nathan's shoulder. "I don't think so. You two need some fresh air at least. Both of you get out of here before we wake Emma up," she said quietly.

  Abby glanced at Emma. The fever was still there but it seemed to have lessened slightly.

  Reluctantly Abby stood and Nathan did the same. With a last glance at Emma they both made their way out of the room.

  "Let's get some air," Nathan said.

  Abby followed him outside. They each paused at the door to take in a deep breath.

  Abby hadn't realized quite how dark and airless Emma's room had been. The sun was going down and the activity around the ranch was getting slower.

  "It sure is nice to breath some Montana air," Nathan said.

  Abby nodded. "I can't wait to bring Emma out here again."

  She looked over to the corral and remembered how happy Emma had been on the horse, the first day that Abby had been on the ranch.

  "Let's stretch our legs," Nathan said.

  Abby followed him across the yard.

  They went to the tree with the swing. Abby sat on the swing, momentarily feeling like a little girl again. It had been a long time since she had been on a swing like this. She swayed back and forth.

  Nathan watched her, obvious pleasure in his eyes.

  Nathan sighed and looked out across the valley. Down there, past the trees, was the river, the source of life in this valley and also the source of disaster.