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

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