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

now.
    Later, as Gretchen lay on the bed, with the two babies snuggled up next to her, wrapped loosely in soft bedclothes, listening to Hunter's steady breathing from the other bed, she tried to fathom the importance of what had happened during the day.
    What a momentous day!
    Here she was, sleeping in the same room as her husband, with their children by her side, having seized responsibility for their lives and come back to a place where she felt they all truly belonged.
    But, how come she was filled to bursting point with worry? What was that churning sense of anxiety that was gnawing away at her, even while she cradled her precious children; even while she listened to the sound of her husband's soft breathing on the other side of the room.
    For a brief moment it all seemed so very strange to be here, in this room. There was so much she had to learn about Hunter. She had so many questions she wanted to ask him. How had he coped while she had been gone? How had he survived the doubt and uncertainty of not knowing where Gretchen was?
    Gretchen knew that on more than one occasion Hunter had gone to her parents' home in Helena, searching for his missing bride. Gretchen's mother had told her of how hard it had been to convince Hunter that Gretchen wasn't somehow hiding out in her parents' home, avoiding contact with her husband. They had even brought him into the family home and shown Hunter that indeed Gretchen wasn't hiding there for some unexplained reason.
    But, oh, how it had torn at her mother's heart to not tell Hunter the truth. Because to have told Hunter the truth would have broken a sacred vow. Perhaps Hunter wouldn't have believed the explanation, in any case. The combination of happenstance and obligation had conspired to wrench Gretchen away from her beloved husband.
    And he was a beloved man, in every sense. She peered across the darkened room at the figure of her husband, resting on the too small cot, the moonlight shining on his shoulders and his head. There would be time for explanations. From both of them. Gretchen was sure of that.
    Right now, the precious bundles by her side were the absolute priority. Not only for Gretchen, but also for their father. She had seen how Hunter had reacted to the children and it had filled her heart. There had been an instant connection to them which had been almost miraculous to behold. The love in Hunter's eyes was the same kind of love she'd seen in his eyes when they'd both been sweet on each other; the same look of adoration that had been written on his face all through the wedding ceremony.
    Gretchen thought of her wedding day. Memories of the day created a swell of emotion inside her. It had been the happiest day of her life. No exception. There had been so many people in attendance at ceremony which had been held at the ranch. Ranch employees had rubbed shoulders with townsfolk and owners of neighbouring ranches. Amongst the other ranchers had been Trent McIntyre and his wife Chloe, Nathan Grantly and his wife Abby, as well as Devlin Cooper and his wife, Elise. Add in a whole lot of babies and children along with various housekeepers and they'd ended up with a noisy but wonderful group of well-wishers crowded into the ranch house where the ceremony had been conducted graciously by the local minister.
    It had been a special and truly wonderful day. Everyone had been so happy to witness the joining of Gretchen and Hunter in holy matrimony. The reception had been as lavish as Hunter could make it, and been well received by every one of the guests.
    Later, after the guests had departed, and she had been left alone with her new husband, the time they had shared during the night had been filled with a sense of love and simple joy at being together at last, after so many years of being sweet on each other. Their union had been passionate, and Hunter had proved to be every bit the gentle and sensitive man she had always known him to be. And in the morning, upon awakening, the