Cole's Montana Bride (Sweet,clean Western Historical Romance)(Montana Ranchers and Brides Series Book 7)

by Maya Stirling

  "Cole. What a surprise," she said. Her voice sounded like sweet music to his ears, more so when he heard the obvious pleasure in it.

  "Victoria. I was passing," he explained, removing his hat. He knew she wouldn't believe that for one moment. "Figured I'd call and see if we could maybe have a talk?"

  Victoria raised a hand to the collar of her dress. She glanced toward the parlor. A voice came from that direction. "Bring him in, Victoria," he heard Lucinda Carr say to her daughter.

  Victoria gestured with a welcoming hand. "Please. Come in," she said inviting Cole to enter.

  Cole followed Victoria into the hallway and toward the parlor. Before they entered the parlor Victoria paused and turned to Cole.

  "Cole. About earlier. I'm sorry," she said quietly and leaning her head close to him. Cole inhaled the sweet scent of delicate perfume and gazed into Victoria's eyes. "Nothing to be saying sorry about, Victoria. Me and my fool mouth. Don't know when to shut up. Always been my problem," he said.

  Victoria smiled at Cole. That one action made Cole's heart lift even more. She'd smiled at him. It was as if the events back on the trail hadn't even happened. He couldn't understand it.

  "We have some visitors," Victoria explained pointing toward the parlor. "I think you might find what they have to say quite interesting."

  Cole's felt his brows furrow. "Really?"

  Victoria's lips tightened and she nodded.

  Cole followed her into the parlor.

  He stood at the entrance and looked around the room. What he saw made him suddenly think that maybe coming here like this hadn't been such a good idea.

  Rose Edwards rose from the seat next to the divan and came toward Cole and Victoria.

  "What a delightful surprise," she said extending welcoming arms.

  But it was the smiling couple on the divan which really caught Cole's attention. What were Lucy Carter and Paul Edwards doing here? And why were they both looking so happy?

  "Have a seat, Cole," Lucinda Carr said pointing toward another chair. Cole glanced at Victoria and raised an enquiring brow. She didn't respond. Chairs were quickly arranged and before he knew it Cole was seated by Victoria's side facing the rest of the room as if they were both on show.

  Victoria hadn't said anything since entering the parlor but the look on her face told Cole that she knew something that he didn't. There was an excited glint on her eyes that he found strangely attractive. She was happy, and he didn't have a clue why that could be. But it looked like he was about to find out when Rose spoke up and addressed everyone.

  "Now that we're all here, I suppose an explanation is in order. And what an explanation it is," Rose said excitedly.

  Cole looked at Lucy and Paul. They were grinning at each other like two people who had just been told the most wonderful news.

  Cole looked around. Everyone looked so darned pleased. How come he was the only one who looked like he was worried about anything?

  "I guess everyone knows that, since coming to our little town, Victoria was helping out with a rather delicate matter," Rose said and glanced at Lucy Carter. Lucy smiled and nodded, rolling her eyes.

  "Trying to help out would be a more accurate way of putting it," Victoria said.

  Rose turned to Victoria. "And doing a very good job, my dear. I think everyone would agree that Victoria is a very good matchmaker. Wouldn't you all?" Rose said looking at everyone.

  Cole found that he had no option but to nod in agreement with everyone else. Victoria looked real pleased when he did that.

  "Thank you," Victoria murmured.

  Rose continued. "Lucy asked Victoria if she would help choose a husband. And I know that the two young men in this room were very honored that she considered both of them. Isn't that right?" Rose looked at Paul and Cole. They both nodded in agreement. Cole knew there was nothing he could say about the whole matter. This wasn't the place to be getting picky about details.

  "However I know that a certain person, who is not here today, had other ideas." Rose said with a mildly disapproving look. Cole knew she was talking about Lucius. "He seemed to figure that he knew what was best for his lovely daughter," Rose said smiling toward Lucy.

  The younger woman shrugged and glanced at Paul.

  "And that is what fathers do. They look after their daughters as best they can. And I think you'd agree that Lucius has been a very good father to you, Lucy," Rose said.

  Lucy smiled and nodded. "Oh, he has. Since my mama passed on, he has done everything he can to make me happy. I'm sorry he can't be here right now," Lucy said.

  Rose frowned. "He has one or two things to iron out with my husband. Banking things. Business matters. I'm sure you all understand."

  Cole looked at Victoria who just raised her eyebrows as if to plead ignorance.

  "He'll be along in a while. But for now, I believe that congratulations are in order," Rose said her voice filled with excitement. She stood and took her place in front of Lucy and Paul. "I have an announcement to make," she said.

  Cole looked at Victoria. There was a look of satisfaction in her eyes.

  Rose gestured toward Lucy and Paul. "I have the pleasure to announce that Lucy Carter has accepted the offer of marriage from my son, Paul Edwards."

  Cole felt himself rooted to the chair and his body became suddenly heavy and numb. How could that be! How in God's name had that happened?

  Cole saw Paul reach over and take Lucy's hand. "It will be my honor to become your husband, Lucy," he said.

  Rose, Lucinda and Victoria all offered their congratulations with one voice. After a moment Cole managed to get the words out of his mouth, and gave the couple on the divan his best wishes.

  Everything had become unreal. It was if he were in a dream and the people around him were phantasms engaged in some comical charade.

  But it was true!

  Lucy and Paul were going to be married. While Cole was happy for the couple, it really meant only one thing to him. But he wasn't sure he dare act upon the impulse that had stirred inside himself.

  Cole watched Lucinda and Rose standing over Lucy and Paul. His mind was a whirl of sensations and thoughts. The hubbub of conversation was a meaningless noise to Cole, because all he could think of was whether he dare do what had come to his mind.

  Victoria was still seated on the chair next to him. She hadn't joined her mother and Rose at the divan. She was sitting very still and for a moment Cole was convinced that she was waiting, biding her time. She looked so darned beautiful; so poised and elegant. Her face seemed to radiate an inner calm, the features soft and curiously expectant.

  Cole glanced over at the three women and one man at the divan. Now was the time; now was the moment of truth; the one time in his life when he had to act.

  Cole raised himself up straight in the chair and drew in a quiet, deep breath. He saw that his hands were shaking slightly but he took hold of himself and in a moment they were soon steady again. His heart was thudding and he was sure that Victoria must be able to hear the sound of it.

  Cole turned and looked at Victoria and he saw that she was already watching him, her eyes fixed on him, a calm look in them.

  Cole slid off the chair and went down on one knee and took Victoria's hand in one of his. The touch of her skin was sweet and warm. He saw Victoria's eyes widen and her bottom lip lower softly. The talking at the divan suddenly stopped and he knew all eyes must be on him. He didn't care because he had something to say to Victoria. The most important thing he'd ever say in his life.

  "Victoria. I don't know quite how to say this but I feel that I must. This is the right time for me to ask you," he said. Cole paused, searching for words. But they wouldn't come.

  Victoria raised a hand to her chest and smiled at Cole, encouraging him to go on.

  "You know how I feel about you," Cole continued. "How much you mean to me. And I know that I haven't always done right by you. But there is only one thing that matters. I love you today as much as I ever have. And beca
use of that I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy," Cole said.

  Victoria's face flushed with color, and her eyes brightened. She smiled at him once again, but still didn't say anything. She was leaving the words to him.

  Cole glanced over at the others and saw that their attention was fixed on him and Victoria. Eyes were wide and jaws had dropped and Cole knew he had their full attention. He turned one last time to Victoria, gently squeezing the fingers of her hand and noticing that she had done the same to his own fingers.

  Cole took a deep breath and then spoke. "Victoria Carr. Will you do me the great honor of agreeing to become my wife?" he asked feeling a weight shift from his shoulders as he uttered the words.

  Victoria face lit up into the greatest smile he'd ever seen. She positively beamed at Cole. Then she leaned toward Cole and nodded. "I would be happy to become your wife, Cole."

  "Is that a yes?" he asked eagerly.

  Victoria nodded again. "Of course it is. Yes. I'll marry you, Cole," she answered, beginning to laugh. Victoria glanced over at her mother. Cole turned and looked at Lucinda and saw the tears streaming down her face.

  "Oh my," Lucinda said her voice cracking with emotion. She raced over to her daughter. Victoria stood and hugged her mother.

  Cole stood and watched them share the precious moment. Then Victoria turned and came to Cole. He took her hands and then lifted her right hand, planting a soft kiss on the back of her fingers. As his lips lingered on her soft skin he lifted his eyes and glanced at the woman who'd just agreed to make him the happiest man alive. He saw that she was gazing down at him, a look of purest joy on her face. And then she said the words that lit him up like a man possessed with joy. "I love you, Cole," she said softly.

  Cole gazed at Victoria, suddenly struck dumb, but filled with an exultant delight. He stifled the urge to yell out in celebration.

  "Well, I didn't expect that," Rose said, rushing across and hugging Victoria and then Cole. "Young man. You could have given us some warning," she said with a playful wag of her finger.

  Cole laughed. "It would have spoiled the surprise, Mrs. Edwards."

  "Call me Rose."

  Lucy and Paul came over to them. "We're so happy for you both," Lucy said. "Aren't we Paul?"

  Rose's son looked at Cole and extended a hand. "Congratulations, Cole. Looks like we both managed to win the women we love," he said. "Eventually."

  Cole looked at Paul and then glanced over at Victoria. "I suppose you're right, Paul."

  It didn't matter how they had done so; the details of what Lucius had agreed to with Paul's father weren't important. They would come out later. All that mattered right now was that Victoria had said yes. She was going to be his wife and he was going to become her husband.

  "Have you thought about where the wedding's going to be?" Paul asked suddenly.

  Cole looked at Victoria who just shrugged. "I'm figuring a ranch wedding might be kinda nice," Cole said. "What do you think, Victoria?" he asked her.

  Victoria glanced at Lucinda and there seemed to be a moment when they communicated almost without words. After a pause Victoria looked back at Cole and smiled. "I think a ranch wedding sounds just fine, Cole," she said, hardly able to contain the joy in her voice.

  And in that exact moment Cole realized that it was all true. He and Victoria were going to be wed, it was going to happen at the ranch, and that was where he was sure they were both going to live happily ever after for a very long time to come.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  TWO WEEKS LATER

  "Everyone's waiting, my dear," Lucinda said. Victoria looked in the mirror and saw her mother glancing over her shoulder, genuine happiness written all over her face. "Let me help you with that veil," her mother said starting to fuss with the delicate, white fabric of the veil.

  Victoria took one more look at herself in the mirror. The wedding dress still didn't look right. She couldn't figure out what was missing, but there was something else needed.

  "How do I look, mama?" Victoria asked nervously.

  Lucinda smiled and ran the back of her hand down the side of Victoria's face. "You look absolutely beautiful Victoria. I'm so proud of you."

  Victoria felt her eyes moisten. "I'm glad you're proud of me, mama," she said.

  "And Cole's eyes are going to pop out when he sees you for the first time like this," Lucinda said.

  Victoria frowned and glanced around the room. They were upstairs in the ranch, in one of the rooms Cole had provided for them to get ready. Victoria's personal belongings had been shipped form Helena and most of them had already been moved up to the ranch. After all, she would be moving into the ranch immediately after the wedding. Opened shipping boxes lay around the room, the contents spilling out and making the room look as untidy as Victoria's bedroom had done during the time she'd lived at her mother's home.

  But that already seemed like such a long time ago.

  Before she had left.

  Before becoming Cole's wife. Which was about to happen in a few short minutes.

  Lucinda went to the window and looked down into the yard. "Looks like everyone's here," she said.

  They'd invited lots of guests from the town. A mixture of townsfolk and men from the ranch. Thirty people in all.

  Lucy and Paul would be there. They'd already married in a beautiful ceremony at Lucius' home. Rose and her husband of course. And Lucius would be attending, now that he'd come round to the idea that his son in law was also the son of the banker who controlled the various bank loans upon which Lucius relied for his business to keep on running. That had had nothing to do with Lucy and Paul getting married. Nothing at all. But it had helped focus everyone's mind. And in any case Lucy had always been sweet on Paul, so it all had turned out right for everyone in the end.

  And it had certainly turned out right for Cole and Victoria. Glancing at herself in the mirror Victoria sighed and tried to convince herself that she was actually about to marry Cole.

  At last.

  After all she had been through. After taking a path in life that had seemed so right at the time, but that had just ended up bringing her back to Cole.

  Where she belonged.

  There was another flurry of activity, with her mother fussing and being busy, making sure that the flowing white wedding dress looked just right. When her mother finally handed Victoria the petite floral bouquet, Victoria clutched it tight in her hands and knew that the final piece was in place.

  Lucinda looked at Victoria, her eyes filled with tears. "Your father would have been so proud if he could have been here," Lucinda said.

  Victoria hugged her mother. "I know, mama. I'm sure he's looking down on us with a big smile on his face."

  Victoria felt movement against her shoulder as her mother nodded. Then Lucinda went to the door and opened it. "You ready?" she asked Victoria.

  "I am," Victoria said firmly.

  Lucinda followed Victoria downstairs. At the foot of the stairs Victoria could hear the voices of everyone crowded into the sitting room.

  She glanced at her mother who smiled.

  Victoria took a deep breath, went along the hallway and stood at the entrance to the sitting room. The room was decorated with every variety of flower from this part of Montana. The colors were vibrant and made the small sitting room feel alive. Victoria took a deep, calming breath and inhaled the scent.

  All the guests was squeezed shoulder to shoulder into the room, but they'd left a narrow passage down to the front of the room to where Cole stood next to the minister.

  Cole.

  His eyes were fixed on Victoria. She saw his jaw drop at the sight of her and she felt immediately calm. Guests turned, glancing at the bride. Victoria saw smiles and nods of approval. Her heart was beating fast and her breath felt short and tight. But then she looked again at Cole and the expression on his face made her take the first step into the room.

  She saw Cole turn and face the minister who gave her soon to be husband a g
entle pat on the shoulder. Victoria felt like she was walking on air. She clutched the bouquet tight. She tried to swallow but her throat was suddenly dry. By the time she took her place by Cole's side she realized she was beginning to shake.

  Then an amazing thing happened. She glanced over at Cole and he smiled at her. That was all. The simplest thing in the world. A smile. But it was all she needed for the nerves and the worry to evaporate in an instant. The warmth of his smile filled her soul. The glint in his eye captivated her as it always had done. As it always would.

  As long as she was by Cole's side everything would be fine. She knew that now.

  Calmness filled her like a wave, and she turned and looked at the minister. He raised a querying brow and Victoria nodded to him.

  The words of the ceremony flowed over Victoria, covering her in a warm glow, the bright radiance of love shining on her, and on the wonderful man standing next to her. Every word the minister uttered became a part of her; every word she said in response was spoken with absolute sincerity and joy.

  And when she heard Cole say his vows to her, heard his sweet, strong voice promise to cherish her forever, it was all she could do to contain the bliss and gladness in her heart.

  Finally the minister pronounced them man and wife. At the minister's bidding her new husband moved toward Victoria. She saw the love in his gaze and made absolutely sure that her own eyes were filled with as much love as she could see in his.

  She saw the smile on his face that told her she'd succeeded.

  And, when Cole's lips met hers, the applause of the guests and their sighs of approval sounded as if they were coming from a long way away.

  Victoria knew she was where she belonged.

  In Cole's arms.

  Forever.

  THE END

  Thank you!

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