Hunter's Montana Bride (Montana Ranchers and Brides #8)

by Maya Stirling

  "I know mother. I understand that."

  There was a loud crash from upstairs. Gretchen looked at Beatrice in alarm, but her mother's smiling face immediately calmed her. "Sounds like everyone's belongings have finally been delivered to the room," she said.

  "I didn't realize we'd brought so much stuff," Gretchen said.

  "There's still more to bring over from Helena," Beatrice said. "We can have it brought over in the next few days. Do you think you have enough for the babies?" Beatrice asked.

  Gretchen sighed. "You know we can never have enough for them."

  Beatrice smiled reassuringly. "There are some good stores in Billings. I'm sure that anything you need can be easily had there."

  Gretchen felt a softness inside and realized it was a sensation of relief. There really wasn't anyone quite like her mother. She had always been there for Gretchen, no matter what the circumstances. Gretchen's overwhelming memories of her mother were of a woman filled with kindness, willing to give whatever support she could to her daughter, all the while providing a gentle guiding hand on the road of life.

  Gretchen felt momentarily blessed that her mother had come with her to the ranch, just to ensure that everything would be fine for her beloved daughter and precious grandchildren. Seeing how comfortable and satisfied her mother appeared gave Gretchen all the reassurance she needed. She was sure she was doing the right thing by staying at the ranch.

  There were more sounds of heavy footsteps from above followed by the sound of wood scraping on wood as furniture was obviously being moved around.

  Gretchen wondered just what Hunter was doing up there. She'd told him that the babies would have to sleep in the same room as Gretchen. But there had been one decision which had been left unresolved.

  Where would Hunter sleep? Would he sleep in the same room as Gretchen and the babies?

  Beatrice glanced up at the ceiling. There were voices being raised. Decisions being made about just where things should be placed. "Sounds like there's a war going on up there," she said. "Perhaps I should go up and help those men decide how to arrange a room fit for babies to sleep in," she said.

  Gretchen frowned. "I'm not sure that's a good idea, mama," she said. "It is Hunter's home after all."

  Beatrice gave Gretchen a stern look. "The home belongs to both of you. Don't forget that you are his wife," she said.

  "How can I forget that? Especially after what happened."

  Beatrice came over to the sofa and sat down by her daughter's side. "I understand it is going to be difficult for you to settle in here, Gretchen. You and your husband have to learn how to be a married couple all over again," she said.

  Gretchen's brows furrowed. "We haven't even started to be a married couple, mama. Don't you remember. I had to leave the day after our wedding?"

  "I know, my dear. And it was such a difficult thing for you to do. I can't imagine how hard that decision was for you to make. But you did what you did, and there's no going back to the past."

  Beatrice reached over and took Gretchen's hand in her own. "I have not the slightest doubt that things will work out fine between you and Hunter. You know I'm never wrong in my assessment of people. One thing I am absolutely certain of is that you are the finest young woman in these parts. And that, in Hunter, you have the finest man in Montana. Apart from your father, that is," Beatrice concluded with a broad grin. "Although I am contractually obliged to say that. As you know," she concluded with a rolling of her eyes.

  Gretchen started to laugh and she felt her eyes moisten. "Oh, mama. What is going to become of me?" she asked suddenly.

  Beatrice leaned in closer. Gretchen felt the warmth of her mother's presence fill her soul in the way it always had done, ever since she had been a child.

  "What you are going to do, Gretchen is take the best care you can of these two precious little people," she said glancing at Lewis and Hannah. "That's what you are responsible for now."

  "But Hunter and I have been apart for almost a year. How can we overcome that barrier between us? How can we start anew?"

  "It's only a barrier if you both agree that it is," Beatrice declared. "I'm sure Hunter wants you all to be happy. Sure, there will be things you both have to work out, but I have no doubt you'll both be able to do so," Beatrice said. "No matter what it takes," she said finally and very emphatically.

  Gretchen peered into her mother's eyes and saw a familiar look of quiet determination.

  "Don't forget you are my daughter, Gretchen. I've tried to bring you up to be strong. To take responsibility for your life. Unfortunately there are times when you think rather too much of other people before yourself. I suppose that is hardly a fault. But it isn't something I see in too many people. Nevertheless your responsibility is now to your own children and to your husband."

  Gretchen reached out an arm and wrapped it around her mother's shoulder. "Mother. You are so very dear to me. I can always rely on you to set me right," she said.

  Gretchen felt her mother nod her head. When she once again looked into Beatrice's eyes she saw that her mother's eyes had begun to moisten. "Don't cry, mama. Everything is going to be fine," Gretchen said.

  Beatrice nodded. "I know, Gretchen," she said wiping her eyes. "I just want you and Hunter and the children to be as happy as you can possibly be. That's all," she said, her voice cracking slightly.

  "And we will be," Gretchen said, glancing down at Lewis. "Won't we, Lewis?"

  And when the the baby looked up at Gretchen's smiling face he smiled right back at her. Both Gretchen and Beatrice burst into joyous laughter at the sight of Lewis's smiling face.

  Maybe things were, indeed, going to work out fine.

  *****

  Later that evening, after a tasty meal prepared by Mrs. Roper, they said their farewells to Beatrice and Gideon. Gretchen and Hunter stood on the porch, each with a baby held proudly in their arms. They waved to the carriage as it headed off down the trail toward Billings. Beatrice had informed Gretchen that she and Gideon would visit with some old friends in the town, before catching the train back to Helena. And that just seemed as fine a justification as Gretchen could think of for leaving Hunter and her to get on with the business of settling the children into their new home.

  Upstairs, the room had been laid out so that there were two beds. One was wide and large enough for Gretchen to lie on with the babies by her side, leaving plenty of room to ensure that she wouldn't roll over onto them during the night. Hunter had explained that he'd be going into town the next day to buy two cots for the children to sleep in. But, for tonight they would have to make do with this arrangement. Gretchen agreed that it seemed like a sensible, temporary solution. Glancing at the other single bed squeezed over by the window, she'd asked where Hunter would be sleeping. With a frown he'd explained that he'd be sleeping on the single bed. For now.

  Later, as Gretchen lay on the bed, with the two babies snuggled up next to her, wrapped loosely in soft bedclothes, listening to Hunter's steady breathing from the other bed, she tried to fathom the importance of what had happened during the day.

  What a momentous day!

  Here she was, sleeping in the same room as her husband, with their children by her side, having seized responsibility for their lives and come back to a place where she felt they all truly belonged.

  But, how come she was filled to bursting point with worry? What was that churning sense of anxiety that was gnawing away at her, even while she cradled her precious children; even while she listened to the sound of her husband's soft breathing on the other side of the room.

  For a brief moment it all seemed so very strange to be here, in this room. There was so much she had to learn about Hunter. She had so many questions she wanted to ask him. How had he coped while she had been gone? How had he survived the doubt and uncertainty of not knowing where Gretchen was?

  Gretchen knew that on more than one occasion Hunter had gone to her parents' home in Helena, searching for his missing bride. Gretchen's m
other had told her of how hard it had been to convince Hunter that Gretchen wasn't somehow hiding out in her parents' home, avoiding contact with her husband. They had even brought him into the family home and shown Hunter that indeed Gretchen wasn't hiding there for some unexplained reason.

  But, oh, how it had torn at her mother's heart to not tell Hunter the truth. Because to have told Hunter the truth would have broken a sacred vow. Perhaps Hunter wouldn't have believed the explanation, in any case. The combination of happenstance and obligation had conspired to wrench Gretchen away from her beloved husband.

  And he was a beloved man, in every sense. She peered across the darkened room at the figure of her husband, resting on the too small cot, the moonlight shining on his shoulders and his head. There would be time for explanations. From both of them. Gretchen was sure of that.

  Right now, the precious bundles by her side were the absolute priority. Not only for Gretchen, but also for their father. She had seen how Hunter had reacted to the children and it had filled her heart. There had been an instant connection to them which had been almost miraculous to behold. The love in Hunter's eyes was the same kind of love she'd seen in his eyes when they'd both been sweet on each other; the same look of adoration that had been written on his face all through the wedding ceremony.

  Gretchen thought of her wedding day. Memories of the day created a swell of emotion inside her. It had been the happiest day of her life. No exception. There had been so many people in attendance at ceremony which had been held at the ranch. Ranch employees had rubbed shoulders with townsfolk and owners of neighbouring ranches. Amongst the other ranchers had been Trent McIntyre and his wife Chloe, Nathan Grantly and his wife Abby, as well as Devlin Cooper and his wife, Elise. Add in a whole lot of babies and children along with various housekeepers and they'd ended up with a noisy but wonderful group of well-wishers crowded into the ranch house where the ceremony had been conducted graciously by the local minister.

  It had been a special and truly wonderful day. Everyone had been so happy to witness the joining of Gretchen and Hunter in holy matrimony. The reception had been as lavish as Hunter could make it, and been well received by every one of the guests.

  Later, after the guests had departed, and she had been left alone with her new husband, the time they had shared during the night had been filled with a sense of love and simple joy at being together at last, after so many years of being sweet on each other. Their union had been passionate, and Hunter had proved to be every bit the gentle and sensitive man she had always known him to be. And in the morning, upon awakening, the world had seemed boundless and full of opportunity for the newly married couple.

  A curling twist of nerves started in her stomach as her memories came to that fateful day.

  But, before she had a chance to recall any of that, she felt Hannah stir by her side, and within a few moments the little girl started to cry out. The sound of the little voice filled the room with a surprising forcefulness and insistence. Gretchen reached across and drew the blanket back, whispering to her daughter. She heard the sound of Hunter shifting on the other bed.

  "What's wrong?" she heard him ask, concern filling his voice.

  Gretchen continued to attend to Hannah, worried that Lewis would also become equally unsettled. So far the little boy hadn't stirred, despite the noise his sister was making. Gretchen checked Hannah and concluded that the first thing which had come to her mind was indeed the case.

  "I think she needs changing," she told Hunter.

  Gretchen saw Hunter sit up on the edge of the bed, running his fingers through his hair. By the light of the moon Gretchen was sure she saw Hunter's eyes widen in alarm.

  "Changing? What do you mean?" he asked hesitantly.

  Gretchen smiled to herself in the dark. "You know. Changing," she said tentatively.

  There was a long pause. "Do you mean what I think you mean?" Hunter said eventually.

  "Well, it does happen, Hunter. Babies need changing pretty regularly," Gretchen said.

  Hunter stood up quickly. "So. What does that involve?" he asked. Gretchen was sure she detected an edge of anxiety in his tone.

  "The usual," Gretchen said.

  There was a knock on the door. Hunter went quickly to the door and thrust it open. Mrs. Roper was standing in the hallway with a candle. "Is there anything wrong?" she said, her eyes wide.

  Gretchen sat up on the bed and looked at Mrs. Roper standing there dressed in her white nightgown. "Hannah needs changing," she explained.

  Mrs. Roper sighed. "Is that all? Thank goodness," she said entering the room. "Let me give you a hand Gretchen."

  Gretchen smiled, picking up Hannah who was still making plenty of noise. "I'll be fine Mrs. Roper. No need to disturb your sleep," she said.

  "I was still awake anyway," the housekeeper explained.

  Mrs. Roper went to the bed and gazed down at Gretchen and the babies. "Oh, my. What a sight for sore eyes," she said, a warm smile on her face.

  Mrs. Roper turned quickly and looked at Hunter. "You still here?" she asked him in a curt voice.

  Hunter stiffened and his brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

  "Just what I say. What exactly do you think you're going to do?" Mrs. Roper asked Hunter defiantly.

  Hunter looked questioningly at Gretchen, obviously seeking some kind of assistance. Gretchen shrugged her shoulders.

  "I was going to give Gretchen some help. If I could," he said tentatively.

  Mrs. Roper strode over to Hunter and started to usher him out the door. "Never you mind that for now. Plenty of time for you to learn about such things later," she said.

  Gretchen had to contain her laughter as she saw Hunter succumb to the pressure of his housekeeper's forceful, pushing hands. In the hallway he turned and looked back into the room, his eyes wide with a combination of incredulity and barely disguised relief. He raised a hand as if to say something, but he was cut off as Mrs. Roper closed the door firmly.

  Mrs. Roper turned to Gretchen. "Now. Where are all the things we need?" she asked.

  And in that moment Gretchen just knew that the next few days were going to more than a little bit interesting.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  After he left Gretchen and Mrs. Roper, Hunter decided it would be best to sleep in the next room. Give Gretchen some space to look after the twins.

  As he closed the door to the small bedroom, he could hear the sounds of the crying children and the concerned voice of Mrs. Roper, no doubt savoring the chance to assist Gretchen in looking after them. Hunter flopped down onto the small single bed and lay his arm across his forehead.

  What a day it had been. Gretchen had finally returned, only not in any way that he could have imagined possible. She had come home and presented him with an instant family. It was as simple as that. He'd hardly had even a moment to take it all in, let alone comprehend what all of this might mean for his life.

  Hunter drew in a deep breath and listened to Gretchen and Mrs. Roper fuss over the changing of the children.

  His children!

  How could that be possible? Then Hunter recalled the wonder and desire of their wedding night. How he'd had to try so hard to contain his passion, be sensitive to Gretchen's needs and uncertainties. The memories had been burned into his mind. It was no real wonder to Hunter that the beautiful children in the room next door were the result of the most memorable experience of his life.

  A smile crept to the corners of his mouth and he felt a surge of pride well up inside himself. How could he not be proud of those two beautiful little bundles of joy.

  With a shake of his head, Hunter allowed himself to be overcome by one single, unalterable thought.

  Hunter Sinclair was a father.

  And he'd had no idea. He thought of how hard it must have been for Gretchen, dealing with the pregnancy at the same time as being apart from her new husband. Why hadn't she told him? Surely she could have sent him some kind of news that she was expecting. What had forced he
r to keep such a thing secret? Had it been pressure from her parents? Hunter knew that he and Gideon didn't exactly see eye to eye, but that hardly justified denying Hunter knowledge that he had been about to become a father.

  So, what was the reason for the concealment? What had driven Gretchen to keep the most important thing in Hunter's life hidden?

  There was a scream of delight from the next room and Hunter smiled when he heard Mrs. Roper teasing the babies with babbling sounds of her own. He heard Gretchen laugh and he felt his heart beat faster at the sound of her sweet voice.

  It was so incredible to have her back in his life. Even if the circumstances weren't anything he could even begin to comprehend. She had gone away, and now she was back. So how come he wasn't completely overcome with happiness that she was back?

  He rolled over onto his side and lay the side of his face against his arm. Gretchen still hadn't given Hunter a full explanation about where she had gone. She still hadn't told him what she had been doing while she'd been away. And until she did, he knew there was going to be a barrier between them. That happiness he'd experienced after their wedding had been sublime, a truly special thing. The losing of Gretchen had almost crushed him.

  Only one thing had allowed him to hang on to hope; only one brief exchange had let him hang onto the possibility that they would be reunited; that he would get a second chance at loving his wife.

  He remembered the visit to Gretchen's parents at their home in Helena. He'd been burning up with anxiety about Gretchen's leaving and he'd gone to her parents' house a week after she'd left. Hunter had needed answers that were more than the vague assurances that Gretchen had given him that she would be back very soon. The short time he'd spent at her parents' home had given him the certainty that Gretchen wasn't somehow hiding out at her parents. He'd taken some kind of relief from the fact that she hadn't left him and gone back to live with Gideon and Beatrice. But there still hadn't been an answer to the most important question of all.