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

  Gretchen's legs were shaking slightly. Every step she took closer to Hunter seemed to make her legs weaker, her stride less sure.

  Did he really have to look at her like that? His gaze was burning into Gretchen so deep she could feel the butterflies tumbling in her stomach. Her throat felt suddenly tight. Her lips were dry and when she tried to smile in his direction, keep up at least an appearance of calm, her lips just seemed to tighten up.

  Hunter was leaning back against the railings of the corral, his elbows crooked against one of the middle bars. His head was cocked to one side, and there was a smile on his face which stood in sharp contrast to the look of frustration she'd seen this morning.

  But it was his eyes that really caught her attention. They burrowed straight into her, making something uncontrollable shift inside her. Every once in a while his gaze ran up and down her figure, apparently finding great delight in what he was seeing.

  Gretchen could feel her heart thumping fast. Chloe's words were ringing in her ears. Her friend was right. This was the time to clear the air, try to get Hunter to see the situation from Gretchen's perspective. Try to get him to accept Gretchen's judgment for what it was. Her own choice. She knew he would understand, once she gave him a chance.

  So why was there a niggling doubt eating away at Gretchen? Why was she finding that look on her husband's face so disconcerting.

  Hunter looked like he wanted to eat Gretchen up. It was that plain and simple.

  Once she'd almost reached him, Gretchen tried to think what she should say, but he was one step ahead of her.

  "I see we've got visitors," he said with a smile. He glanced past Gretchen toward the house. "I've never seen so many children in one room."

  Gretchen smiled. She was only a few steps away from him. "It was a nice surprise," she responded. "Although I think Mrs. Roper was a bit worried she might not have enough cake to go round."

  Polite conversation. That's the best, she told herself. Now that she was a step away from him she was even more convinced of the necessity of keeping the entire conversation polite. She wasn't sure she could trust herself if he acted in a way that reflected the look on his face. What had come over him?

  "Come here," he said, extending his arms out toward her.

  Gretchen froze on the spot and then twisted her head around, looking back at the house. She glanced toward the stables. There weren't any ranch hands to be seen, and everyone else was busy in the parlor. She wondered if they could both be seen from inside the parlor. Maybe they were being secretly watched by their guests.

  Gretchen rung her hands. "I'm not sure that's a good idea. Not here. So public and all," she told him.

  Hunter's brow furrowed slightly, but he managed to maintain the smile of what looked like genuine delight at having Gretchen so close.

  He took a small step forward. Gretchen felt herself stiffen slightly and she took a similarly tiny step back. Hunter saw what she did and halted. "What's wrong? Aren't you glad to see me?"

  Gretchen smiled. "Of course I am. It's just that here. It's so public."

  Hunter nodded. "Well, let's find somewhere less public. It is our home, after all," he said.

  He offered his arm to Gretchen. She smiled and hooked her arm inside his. They started to make their way alongside the corral.

  "It's quiet out here," she said.

  "All the men are out with the herd. I spent the morning fixing a fence."

  "On your own?"

  Hunter laughed. "No. I had some help. But they needed to make sure I was happy with where they were repositioning the fence. There are borders to consider. Don't want to go starting a range war with any of my neighbours," he concluded with a grin.

  She felt Hunter draw her closer to him. She didn't resist him when he placed a hand on her arm and clasped it tight with his strong fingers.

  "Sure feels good to have you on my arm like this," he told her.

  Gretchen smiled and nodded. "I like it too, Hunter."

  She saw him respond with a widening of his eyes. Those eyes of his had always had a way of making Gretchen feel so different. His penetrating gaze could make her feel like the most desired woman in Montana.

  "It feels just right, somehow. Like you belong on my arm," he said. "How have the twins been this morning?"

  "They've been fine. Mrs. Roper has been so helpful. I think she's more excited than anyone that the twins are here," Gretchen said.

  She heard Hunter sigh in satisfaction.

  They continued to cross the yard. Glancing over at the house, Gretchen could tell that now they couldn't be seen from inside the parlor. Why was she reluctant for people to see her and Hunter together, especially in such an intimate manner as this? She wasn't sure, but right now she was glad that no-one could see them. It felt good to be alone with Hunter. Truly alone.

  They made their way across the yard.

  "Where are we going?" she asked.

  Hunter smiled. "Somewhere we can't be disturbed for a while. I want you all to myself," he said, his voice a low, vibrant growl.

  Those words sent a tingle coursing up her spine.

  Gretchen glanced ahead.

  Then she saw the cabin.

  It was their own private, very personal, space. It was a one storey wooden construction with a flat roof and a porch out front. It had been used before for the accommodation of ranch hands. But soon after Gretchen had become his sweetheart Hunter had made it into a place that was strictly off limits to anyone except himself and Gretchen. His sense of propriety had been so strong that he hadn't thought it right that he and Gretchen should spend any time alone and unchaperoned in the ranch house. Especially under the watchful eye of Mrs. Roper.

  So, the cabin had become their place of retreat.

  She felt him draw her arm close to him as she looked ahead at the path which took them through through a gap between the stables and the barn.

  They were walking so close together, their steps in almost perfect unison. Just like they had been so many times in the past when they had retreated to the cabin for the precious, quiet moments that had seared their way into Gretchen's memory.

  She glanced back at the house. "You don't think anyone will notice our being absent," she said.

  Hunter shook his head. "It's not as if we're far away. Mrs. Roper will guess where we are, if she needs to find us."

  After a few moments of silent strolling, their steps matching each other perfectly, they eventually came to the cabin. Gretchen felt a gratifying glow as she looked at the front door. Hunter released her arm and went to the front door.

  "I kept it tidy while you were away," he declared quietly. He turned the handle and opened the door. Gretchen went to the entrance and peered inside.

  It was true. The place was exactly as she remembered it.

  Hunter looked at her, an expectant look on his face. "After you," he said gesturing with a welcoming arm.

  He stood aside and let her step into the cabin.

  Gretchen looked around and breathed in the familiar scent of the small, long single room. Flowers. All over the room. The sweet scent of wildflowers. They had been placed in a vase on the wooden table in the center of the room and in different parts of the small room.

  Gretchen smiled when she saw the other important object in the room. Between the table and the small fireplace which was unlit, there was the love seat.

  Gretchen felt her breath catch in her throat at the sight of the love seat. The small upholstered divan was just wide enough for two people to sit comfortably close together. And Gretchen recalled sitting with Hunter as close as could be on many occasions. The memories made her face color slightly.

  On either side of the fireplace there were more flowers set atop small wooden tables. At the far end of the room, by the window there was a longer table, at which they'd often sat eating delicious meals. At the opposite end, on a shelf on the wall, there was the old familiar line of books. Her books. All the favorite novels she liked to read.

>   "What do you think?" she heard Hunter ask.

  Gretchen turned and looked at Hunter. "It's wonderful. Just like I remember it," she said.

  Hunter smiled and closed the door behind him. Gretchen went to the table and ran her fingers through the flowers. They were all yellow flowers. Her favorite color. The scent of them was so evocative.

  Gretchen smiled at Hunter who was just standing watching her with the same look on his face that he'd had at the corral.

  She remembered being here before they were married. Then, it had seemed like such a brazen thing to do. Now, though, they were man and wife. They had as much right as anyone to be here, in this cabin.

  So how come she still felt so uncertain?

  Gretchen went around and stood between the love seat and the fireplace. She watched as Hunter made his way toward her. He looked down at the love seat. "Remember this?"

  Gretchen looked at the love seat. The yellow floral patterned fabric looked clean and just as soft as remembered. A single soft, yellow cushion was propped at each end of the small divan. The ornately carved wooden edges and legs of the love seat looked like they'd been cleaned recently.

  "Of course I do," she declared.

  Hunter suddenly flopped down onto the divan, extending his long legs out toward Gretchen. He sighed and reached his arms backwards, settling them on the back of the sofa.

  "You must be tired, what with all those guests," he said.

  Gretchen glanced over at the pile of books. "I see you kept my favorite novels," she observed. "Read any of them lately?"

  Hunter looked over at them. "I'm not much of a reader." he said. "But you already know that."

  Gretchen looked around the room. "I have so many beautiful memories of this place," she declared.

  "I kept it just the way you like it," Hunter explained.

  "I can see that," she answered.

  Hunter gave her a look that had a vague hint of puzzlement in it. He patted a hand on the empty side of the love seat. "C'mere. Sit by my side," he said gently.

  Gretchen nodded and sat down next to Hunter. The love seat was just wide enough for the two of them to sit. It's narrowness forced their hips to bump up against each other. It was the perfect size for a couple, the short length ensuring unavoidable closeness and intimacy.

  Suddenly so close to Hunter, she could see the ardent look in his eyes. There was a sheer joy at having her so close to him. She could see that, now that she was knocking shoulders against him, now that they were almost face to face.

  Hunter leaned in closer and drew his arm around so that it wrapped softly around her shoulders. Still, he said nothing. She felt him stroke her left shoulder gently. Their eyes met and Gretchen felt her lower lip soften involuntarily. She saw Hunter's gaze drift down to her mouth. His eyes widened at what he saw. Then he dipped his head and claimed her mouth with a soft kiss.

  Gretchen breathed in deeply, aware that Hunter's hand had drifted from her shoulder to the back of her head. With the softest of pressure he pulled her toward him. His lips were soft.

  Gretchen closed her eyes and savored the sensation of the first true kiss she'd had with her husband in a very long time. It seemed to go on forever, and her heart beat faster as his lip caressed her mouth with a tender, gentle touch.

  Gretchen reached out and laid a hand on his shoulder. They had kissed like this so many times, and on this very same love seat. But somehow all those previous kisses had never had the same quality of relief and longing that this one, perfect kiss had. It was as if the past months had faded away and they had been thrown back to a time which she had thought had been lost to them. This one kiss seemed to have the ability to momentarily wipe away all the anguish and heartache she'd felt. His tender lips were working a strange but familiar magic.

  Finally their lips parted and she felt an uncontrollable gasp escape her mouth. She realized she was breathing faster.

  She looked at Hunter and saw that his eyes were shining with love and sheer adoration. At least that was how it looked to Gretchen right now. She smiled at him. They still hadn't spoken to each other, sharing an almost perfect understanding. Moments like this were beyond words.

  Gretchen sighed and lay her head on Hunter's shoulder. She was sure she could hear his racing heart as she lay the side of her face against the soft material of his plaid shirt. Gretchen breathed in deeply, the scent of her husband familiar and comforting.

  She gazed toward the fireplace. She recalled how they'd sat in this very place in front of a lit fire with the chill wind blowing outside. Gretchen remembered how safe and secure she'd felt leaning against the man who had promised to marry her. She felt the same reassurance right in this moment and it made most of the troubling sensations she'd felt since that morning fade away.

  "The flowers are beautiful," she said eventually, glancing up at his face. "Thank you for remembering how much they mean to me."

  "I've kept them fresh here the whole time you've been away," he explained.

  "Really?"

  "While they were available, of course. I never knew when you'd be back, so I tried to make sure this place was spic and span. Just in case. And now, here you are. In my arms again," he said. "Where you belong."

  Hunter leaned down and kissed her on the top of his head, just like he had done so many times in the past.

  Gretchen tucked her head firm against him once more, wrapping her arm around the front of his chest. It felt so good to be here in his arms. It was almost as if the barrier that had come between them had been demolished in an instant. But she knew that wasn't true. That was her childish heart making simple wishes, hoping that their problems would just vanish, as if by magic. She knew things weren't that simple. Life had taught her that at least.

  But for now all she wanted was to rest against her husbands shoulder, hearing his soft regular breathing and feeling his firm arms holding her exquisitely close.

  However, sooner than she wanted, she knew that she would have to follow Chloe's advice and broach the subject of whether Hunter was prepared to trust Gretchen. Whether Hunter was willing to listen to what she had to say, as well as what she could not speak of.

  Lying here in her husband's arms she worried if this blessed moment was about to be shattered.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Hunter was in heaven and he knew it.

  He felt like he had been transported back to a sacred place where all that existed was himself and his precious wife. Nothing else in the world seemed to matter, now that he had Gretchen in his arms, seated in their special place, the cabin where they had shared their deepest secrets and their most tender moments.

  Hunter took in a deep breath and drew Gretchen closer to him. Her warmth not only affected his body, but also his soul. He felt connected to her once again. He was glad that she liked the flowers; pleased that his decision to bring her to their special cabin seemed to have awakened long buried feelings.

  This place had always been special. It had been where he and Gretchen had come for a quiet unchaperoned time together, even if Mrs. Roper had insisted on being able to drop in at any time, just to ensure that every sense of propriety was being observed. Hunter smiled as he recalled the many times Mrs. Roper had taken advantage of that privilege, and how gratified she had been on finding that Hunter was a man of his word. He would never have considered behaving in any way other than that of a perfect gentleman. Gretchen was too special for Hunter to treat her with anything less than total respect.

  And now she was here. Once again, as on so many occasions in the past, they were crushed, ever so pleasantly, together on the small love seat he had ordered for them when they had been sweet on each other.

  Hunter had found out that yellow was Gretchen's favorite color. He'd found the seat listed in one of the mercantile catalogs. He'd ordered it immediately and waited impatiently for its' delivery.

  Gretchen had been thrilled when he had first brought her to the cabin. The love seat had turned out to be the perfect thing fo
r those long, lazy afternoons and the cool evenings spent just being in each other's company.

  Hunter sighed and looked down at Gretchen. "Are you happy?" he asked her simply.

  She glanced up at him and nodded, smiling warmly. "Happy as could be," she said.

  "I'm glad," he said pulling her even closer to him.

  Hunter reached down and placed a finger beneath her chin. She lifted her face up to him and he dipped his head down kissing her lips with a soft, tender caress. He relished the delicate softness of her lips, the quiet sound of her breathing, the warmth of her skin. Hunter closed his eyes and allowed the awareness of Gretchen to completely overwhelm him, take possession of him.

  He sensed that she was reaching up her head, eager for his kisses. That fervent desire matched his own. Hunter reached a hand around and supported the back of Gretchen's head. It felt so good to run his fingers into the fragile softness of her hair.

  Hunter realized his own heart was beating even faster. He drew his head back up. Their lips parted and he saw a brief flash of disappointment on Gretchen's face. Her eyes narrowed questioningly.

  Hunter smiled down at his wife. "I love you," he whispered suddenly conscious of how long he'd waited to be able to say those words again.

  Gretchen's face flushed and her eyes widened. The corners of her mouth creased to form her mouth into a small, satisfied smile. He heard her draw in a deep, satisfied breath. She gazed up into his eyes, and he was momentarily stunned by just how beautiful she really was. The woman he held in his arm was the perfect woman; the only woman for him. He wondered how he could ever have doubted that she would come back to him.

  "I love you, too, Hunter," she said after a pause.

  Hunter felt his pulse begin to race once again. He quickly drew her close and she settled her head against his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and hugged her tightly, savoring her presence.

  Hunter looked across at the flowers by the fireplace. Their color seemed somehow brighter, more luminous. He felt Gretchen rest a hand on the front of his chest. He took hold of her hand, wrapping his fingers around her fingers, realizing that he never again wanted to let her go.