Hunter's Montana Bride (Montana Ranchers and Brides #8) (11 page)

What a contrast to only a few days before when the house had seemed like the emptiest and most forlorn place in Montana.

His trip to town had been abandoned on the way. Hunter's mind had been too full of unanswered questions for him to be able to concentrate on a visit to town. On the way into town one of the hands had gotten a hold of Hunter and told him about a fence breach they were having difficulty fixing. Hunter had seized the opportunity to throw himself into work, desperate to forget the disagreement with Gretchen.

And it had worked. There was nothing like hard work to help a man forget about his troubles. And the fixing of the fence had proved to be handy and effective in driving the words Gretchen had spoken to Hunter clear out of his mind.

But, the minute he had started on home, that had been the moment when the same old doubts and fears had started to raise their ugly heads.

Why couldn't Gretchen tell him where she had been while pregnant with the twins? Hunter was sure that Gretchen was keeping something from him, but he couldn't figure out what it could be. She seemed to be under some kind of obligation. Something that clearly made it impossible for her to tell him what he so desperately wanted to know.

It was burning Hunter up. Not quite as much as how mad he had felt when she had gone away, but it sure was close. What would drive Gretchen to stay away like that? And not only stay away, but not tell her husband where she was. It had driven Hunter nearly crazy, and he'd had to restrain the urges to hunt his wife down by whatever means possible. It had only been the firm but consistent reassurance from Gretchen's mother, Beatrice, that had held Hunter in check.

And truly, at times, he'd felt like he was about to explode unless he got answers.

But he'd waited and he'd waited.

Now she was back, and he found that he still wasn't satisfied.

How could that be? He had two beautiful children and a beautiful wife who was now back where she belonged. By his side.

But Hunter still hadn't shown her how he felt about her; still hadn't crushed her in his arms and claimed her with a kiss that would show her the depth of his feeling for her. She was so incredibly beautiful. He'd almost forgotten how sweet it was to be by her side; how proud he felt at calling her his wife; how soft her skin was to the touch; how sweet she smelled.

Who was he kidding? He'd never forgotten those things. They had driven him near crazy while she had been gone. And now was no different. Every time he looked at her he felt like a new man; felt the same passion he'd always felt for this gorgeous Montana woman.

He paced nervously alongside the corral. He'd come outside because what he had to do couldn't be done in the house. Not with visitors present. And he knew that he had to do the one thing which had always come naturally to him whenever it came to Gretchen.

His thinking was cut short by the sound of the front door opening. He turned and there she was. Hunter instantly felt his heart beat faster, his breathing get tighter in his chest.

Gretchen looked somehow different than she'd looked earlier. She held her chin high and her shoulders back. Gretchen saw him and stepped out onto the porch, starting to make her way across the yard.

Hunter leaned back against the wooden railings of the corral and simply savored the sight of his beautiful wife making her way toward him. Her movements were so elegant, her poise so assured. The expression of delight on her face at seeing him seemed surprisingly genuine.

Hunter ran his eyes down the length of her figure enjoying the sight of how she held her hands clasped in front of her, the firmness of her figure and the slow, swirling of her blue dress around her legs. He loved the way her dainty booted feet kicked up little puffs of yard dust.

Gretchen Sinclair was a sight to behold and he wondered how on earth he could have even thought of having harsh words with her. Right now the last thing he wanted was to say anything unpleasant to this astonishing wife of his. Because that was what she was. An amazing, beautiful woman who had come back to him.

At last.

The whole time he'd been down with the ranch hands one thought had kept coming to him, irresistible and insistent. It had been that Hunter had been a fool, doubting Gretchen for even a moment. What right did he have to doubt her? Her reasons for doing what she had done must have been powerful and strong.

After their earlier conversation Hunter had felt a real curious mixture of emotions. He felt sorry that they had parted on less an good terms. He regretted that he'd obviously upset her. But the one thing that lingered a long time after they had gone their separate ways that morning was the way he felt about Gretchen. She had affected him in the most extraordinary way. A truly surprising way. Being so close to her had reminded him of just how much he loved her; how much he wanted her; how much he needed her.

So now, leaning back against the wooden railings of the corral, watching Gretchen come closer to him, Hunter set his mind firm. He was going to tell Gretchen how he felt, convince her that she was the most important person in Hunter's life. He was going to make sure that Gretchen was under no illusions about just how far Hunter was prepared to go to show her that he loved her.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

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?"