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

by Maya Stirling

"I know, Hunter," she said grasping his arm. "But I had no choice."

  "So why didn't you return after Alice had Benjamin?"

  "I couldn't. My own pregnancy had progressed so far that I was not willing to risk the long journey home. Especially alone. So I decided to wait and give birth back East. Alice was a great help to me," Gretchen said. "I really had no choice, Hunter. You can see that can't you?"

  Hunter's eyes narrowed and his lips tightened into a thin line. "How could you have gone through that without my help?" he asked.

  Gretchen frowned. "Even in Montana, men aren't usually present at the birth of the their children," she said.

  "That's not what I mean. I'm talking about the months before that. When the twins were growing inside you. I never had the chance to take care of you. Make sure you were okay."

  Gretchen smiled at him, warmth suddenly filling her heart. "But you have the chance to do that now, Hunter. Every day from now on," she said.

  Hunter nodded and tried to smile, but she could see the confusion in his eyes. She could see the tension in his shoulders, the twitching muscle on his jaw. This wasn't easy for him to accept. It hadn't been easy for Gretchen to be separated from her husband under such unusual circumstances. But the results had been three healthy, beautiful children. Hannah. Lewis. Benjamin. And wasn't that all that mattered?

  "What are you thinking, Hunter?" she asked him, not even sure that she really wanted an answer to the question.

  Hunter looked at Gretchen and then along the platform. "Your cousin is planning to stay in Montana?"

  Gretchen nodded. "We all think that's what best for her. A new start."

  "Where's she going to live?"

  Gretchen reached over and took Hunter's arm once again. "Well. That's the thing. I was thinking that Alice and Benjamin could stay with us for a while," she said.

  Hunter's eyes widened. "With us?"

  Gretchen nodded. "The ranch is big enough, for now. Don't you think?"

  Hunter hesitated. "I suppose so. We've got enough rooms. But what's Alice planning in the longer term?" he asked.

  Gretchen glanced along the platform. Alice and her parents were chatting, but it was clear from Alice's expression that she was feeling some concern about how long Gretchen and Hunter were taking to discuss the situation.

  "This is a new start for Alice," Gretchen said. "It's a big thing she's trying to do. Give her and Benjamin a new start in a place where people won't judge her like they do back East. Maybe Chloe, Abby, Elise and I can help find a husband for her."

  Gretchen saw Hunter nod. She knew he'd seen how Nathan's wife Abby had overcome problems of coming from the other side of the country. Abby had found things hard to begin with, but now she was really settled down and living a happy life with Nathan and the children. Gretchen knew in her heart that it was possible for Alice to find happiness in Montana. It might even mean that she could find a husband to be happy with, someone who could be a good father to Benjamin. Anything was possible in this wonderful place.

  Hunter nodded. "I guess you're right. I mean, look at all the wives these ranchers have found in recent times. Nathan, Devlin and Trent have sure done well for themselves."

  Gretchen drew closer to Hunter. "Haven't we done well for ourselves too, Hunter?"

  She saw his eyes light up in that special way they did when she touched his heart with something she said. "You're right, Gretchen," he said, leaning in closer toward her. She caught the scent of leather and soap that was becoming so familiar every time she got close to her husband.

  Gretchen composed herself quickly. It wouldn't do for Alice to see Gretchen and Hunter kissing on the platform.

  "What do say, Hunter. Shall Alice and Benjamin come back to the ranch?"

  He nodded quickly. "There's going to be a heck of a lot of baby noise back at ranch HG," he said with a smile.

  Gretchen punched Hunter playfully on the arm. "I thought you liked the sounds of baby noise," she teased.

  Hunter rubbed his arm and his brows narrowed playfully. "You know that we're not going to get much sleep, don't you?"

  Gretchen reached up and laid her hands gently upon her husband's shoulders. "Who said anything about us getting sleep?" she murmured.

  Hunter's face turned a subtle shade of red. "Well...you know what I meant," he mumbled.

  Gretchen peered up into his eyes. "Of course I know what you meant."

  Gretchen went up on her toes and planted a quick kiss on Hunter's cheek. "Now, let's go and give Alice the news that she's going to living at the ranch for a while," she said.

  They both turned and Gretchen once again hooked an arm into the crook of the arm that Hunter offered her. Looking further along the platform she could see that Alice's expression had changed as she guessed that Gretchen's talk with Hunter had gone well.

  And as she walked arm in arm with her husband, a feeling of relief swept through Gretchen. Hunter had taken the explanation better than she could have hoped for. It couldn't have been easy for him to accept such an account of what Alice and Gretchen had been through. But she was glad that he had taken it so well.

  Perhaps they all had a good future to look forward to. Maybe she had underestimated just how mature Hunter had become during her absence. In any case, it all boded well for their future as a family, out here in Montana, in the only place she'd ever felt they belonged.

  It felt good to hold onto Hunter. And she knew that it would feel even better to be by his side for the rest of her life.

  EPILOGUE

  TWO MONTHS LATER

  Hunter hammered the last nail into the wooden plank, the final thing that needed to be done to complete the extension to the ranch house. He looked down from the top of the ladder. Gretchen's smiling face gazed up at him. The twins were inside with Mrs. Roper. As was Alice and Benjamin. These last few weeks had certainly been interesting.

  "Is that it, then?" she asked.

  "All done. Finally. Thought I'd never get the darned thing finished," he said dangling the hammer by his side. He gazed along the white painted wooden panels lining the exterior of the side of the ranch house. He'd done a good job, he thought to himself. It turned out he was quite the craftsman, after all. It had only taken him almost a year since beginning the work. And there had been times when he'd doubted his sanity for doing it, given the fact that his wife had gone and there weren't enough people living in the house to fill all the rooms.

  But that had all changed now. Right now the house was full to the brim. The way it was meant to be. It felt right.

  Hunter looked down and smiled at Gretchen. Yes. Things were so much better now. There were four adults and three children to fill up the house. That felt good, just thinking about it.

  "You must be tired," Gretchen said.

  Hunter wiped the sweat from his brow and gazed up at the sun. It sure was a hot day. He could do with a drink.

  "I am a mighty bit thirsty, now you mention it," he said.

  Gretchen gestured to Hunter. "Come down here. I've got a pitcher of lemonade on the porch table," she said.

  "That sounds real nice," Hunter said starting down the ladder.

  On reaching the ground he swept Gretchen into his arms and gazed deep into her eyes. "How did you know I'd need lemonade?"

  She shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know," she said smiling. "Just a hunch."

  Hunter turned and looked at his handiwork. "What do you think?"

  Gretchen cocked her head to one side, furrowed her brow and pursed her lips thoughtfully. "Maybe some of the work could have done with a professional hand," she teased smiling at him.

  Hunter pulled her tighter to him and leaned in close. He raised his eyebrows. "What do mean?" he drawled. "This is the best darned building work in Montana," he declared. "And you are the most beautiful woman in Montana." Hunter gazed into Gretchen's eyes, seeing the emotion welling up in them. He would never tire of telling her just how much he loved her. Never.

  As he pulled Gretchen even closer t
o him he felt her draw ever so slightly away from him. Hunter looked at her for a second, puzzlement filling his eyes. "What is it?" he asked.

  Gretchen looked deep into his eyes and he was suddenly sure she was about to say something. But then she seemed to check herself, fixing some stray hairs back into place that lay across the side of her face. "That lemonade will be getting warm," she said.

  "Let me see if your lips are just as warm," he said leaning in and kissing her. He felt Gretchen soften in his embrace. It was a feeling that he liked very much. The idea that he would have her all to himself from this moment on just filled his heart with a sudden physical joy. Hunter inhaled the sweet scent of her skin. It was an intoxicating scent that always made his senses tingle. And now was no exception.

  When their lips parted he looked deep into her eyes. "I love you, Gretchen," he whispered.

  She reached up and stroked his hair with the back of her slim fingers. "And I love you so much, Hunter," she said, her eyes bright and shining.

  They walked over toward the porch. Hunter kept his arm wrapped around Gretchen's waist as they moved together. He flopped down into the seat while she poured the lemonade into a glass. She handed it to him and sat down by his side on the long wooden seat. Hunter took a sip and pursed his lips quickly. "That sure is sweet," he said in surprise.

  "I know that's the way you like it," Gretchen said.

  Hunter looked out across the plain and into the far distance. The mountains always looked beautiful on days like this. However, with his beautiful wife by his side and the knowledge that inside the house there two little treasures awaiting their father, everything out there in the wilds of Montana looked so much more intense, even more wonderful than usual.

  Hunter saw Gretchen place her hands in her lap and he got the distinct impression she was composing herself.

  "Everything okay?" he asked her.

  Gretchen nodded, her lips tight.

  Hunter put the glass on the table. "Is there something bothering you?" he asked.

  "No. There's nothing bothering me. Quite the contrary, in fact," she said, a smile edging to the corners of her mouth.

  Hunter tried to suppress a smile himself. "What is it, Gretchen. You got something to tell me?" laughter bubbling into his voice.

  Her eye lit up. "It's funny you should say that," she said. "I do have some news to give you."

  Hunter felt a sharp pang of nerves take hold of him. He looked at Gretchen, but held back the words that came to the front of his mind.

  Gretchen turned to Hunter and looked at him directly. "It appears that we will needing the use of that extra room, after all," she said.

  "Do you mean..." Hunter started to say, but Gretchen interrupted him.

  "I mean exactly that. We are going to have a brother or sister for our twins," she said.

  Hunter felt a rush of emotion inside himself. His legs went numb and just knew that his jaw had dropped. He started to reach to take hold of his wonderful wife. "You're going to have a baby?"

  Gretchen nodded quickly, her eyes wide, her smile as wide as could be. "I'm going to have a baby, Hunter," she blurted out excitedly, her voice quivering with emotion.

  Hunter jumped up and threw his head back yelling in delight. The sound of his voice echoed out across the yard. His screams of joy made the few ranch hands who were busy over by the stables turn to see what all the fuss was about.

  Hunter saw that Gretchen was looking up at him. He went down on his knees in front of her and took her hands in his. "I'm so happy. Gretchen that's the most wonderful news," he said clutching her fingers tight.

  Hunter looked as deeply as he could into Gretchen's beautiful eyes. The bliss he saw there made his soul fill with triumph. They were going to have another baby. Perhaps this time there would even be twins again, although he guessed the chances of that happening again were probably pretty slim.

  Never mind that, he thought. The only things that really mattered was that they were going to have more children and that Gretchen was okay. And this time he was going to be by her side the whole time. Until the baby was born.

  "How are you feeling?" he asked suddenly, squeezing her hands gently.

  Gretchen smiled. "I'm fine. There's nothing to be concerned about. I feel good."

  "Only good?" he asked.

  "Not just good," she said quietly, leaning in closer to him, her face almost touching Hunter's. Her gaze burned into him with unrestrained gladness. "I feel wonderful," she admitted.

  "Well, that makes two of us," he agreed. He leaned in and kissed her lips, savoring the scent of her skin. Reaching up, he ran his hand around the back of her head, the softness of her hair gliding beneath his fingers. The kiss seemed to go on longer than usual. But that was fine by Hunter. He could spend the rest of his life kissing Gretchen and it would never be anything less than a pure delight.

  "Don't you want to finish your lemonade?" she asked him quietly.

  Hunter shook his head. "No need. Not when I can't get enough of the taste of your sweet, tender lips," he said.

  And once again Hunter leaned in and kissed his beautiful wife, just like he planned to do every day for the rest of their lives.

  THE END

  Thank you!

  Thank you for reading Hunter's Montana Bride. I hope you enjoyed it.

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  The Montana Ranchers and Brides series

  Montana ranchers and their search for brides in the 1880's

  An Amazon Bestselling series in Historical Romance

  These books are all clean romances that are also standalone stories which have some characters who appear in more than one volume. They can each be enjoyed without having read previous volumes in the series.

  Nathan's Montana Bride

  The Boston lady broke her promise to marry him, so the Montana rancher came to get her.

  Montana 1886

  Abigail Long had promised to become Nathan Grantly's mail order bride. But she had changed her mind at the last minute. The tragedy that had struck had made it unthinkable that she go to Montana and start a new life with a man she hadn't even met.

  Tall, handsome Nathan Grantly wasn't the kind of rancher to take no for an answer. The widower had a prosperous ranch to run and he needed a wife to bring up his young daughter. So Nathan did what came naturally. He came to claim his wife.

  Will Abby be able to resist Nathan and the lure of her new life in Montana? And what will Nathan do when he finds out the real reason Abby was reluctant to become his wife, and what it means for their future together? Can Abby fulfil her dreams in the wilds of Montana?

  Devlin's Montana Bride

  Handsome Montana rancher Devlin Cooper has no plans to marry, especially after being jilted at the last minute by his former fiance. But when he's faced with losing his ranch to a rival rancher the only option is to marry a beautiful stranger.

  Feisty Elise Macleod has no intention of giving in to her father's demands that she marry elderly rancher Bart Caulfield. He's just too old and too mean. Her only escape from the threat of a loveless marriage is to agree to Devlin Cooper's surprise proposal.

  If Devlin and Elise enter into a marriage of convenience they'll both get what they need. All they have to do is stay married in name only.

  But can they both resist the sudden attraction they both feel for each other? And can they overcome the obstacles that stand in their way to a future life on Devlin's Montana ranch?

  Trent's Montana Bride

  Montana 1886

  Recently widowed Chloe Wilder has a young baby to care for, nowhere to go, and an uncertain future. The last thing she expects is a marriage proposal from a rancher she barely knows.

  Successful ranch owner Trent McIntyre has just lost his best fr
iend. Trent never thought he'd have to marry, but he made a promise to Lucas Wilder that he'd look after Chloe if she was left a widow.

  Trent is a man of his word, even if means giving up his life as a bachelor with a reputation and settling down with a wife and baby.

  Chloe and Trent agree to marry. But it will be strictly a marriage in name only. Can they build a life together in Montana as a family, while resisting the obvious attraction they are both beginning to feel for each other?

  Joshua's Montana Bride

  Montana 1887

  Rancher's daughter Laura Thorne thinks an arranged marriage to a man she barely knows will give her the happiness she's never had growing up on a ranch. But when her husband-to-be rejects the idea of marrying her, Laura is left with nowhere to go and no hope for the future.

  In trouble ranch owner Joshua McKenzie has been a friend of Laura's family for years. So when he discovers that she has run away, it's up to him to rescue Laura from her difficulties. Having been sweet on Laura for so long, he's more than happy to save her from a potentially disastrous marriage.

  But, neither Laura nor Joshua expect that the only real solution to both their problems is that they agree to a marriage of convenience. Can Laura accept a second chance and the promise of married life on a Montana ranch with Joshua? Can Joshua find a way prove to Laura just how much she means to him? Will they both overcome the barriers to starting a new life together in the wilds of Montana?

  Aaron's Montana Bride