Joshua's Montana Bride (Sweet, Clean Western Historical Romance)(Montana Ranchers and Brides Series) by Maya Stirling Page A
Authors: Maya Stirling
Tags: Romance, historical 1800s
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sacrifice, but he had to admit that today would be an exception. If he couldn't celebrate the joyous union with Laura, then there had to be something seriously wrong with him, he thought.
All the ranch hands were there. Spontaneous applause broke out as Joshua pulled the buckboard to a halt and helped Laura down off the seat. Joshua felt an irresistible rush of pride as he watched Laura step down, all evidence of her previous upset replaced by a wonderful, wide smile. She looked so darned beautiful. Standing by her side, with everyone around smiling and clapping, made Joshua convinced that, whatever the circumstances of their coming together, he had done the right thing in marrying Laura Thorne.
Eli stood at the front door of the ranch house alongside Mrs. Cole, who was inevitably and uncontrollably overcome, crying into her apron.
Laura took Joshua's elbow. "I want to go up to mama right away," she said. Joshua nodded and followed Laura into the house, leaving behind the cheering well-wishers.
Upstairs they made their way to Belinda's room. Laura knocked gently on the door. Belinda's voice called to them from inside. They entered and saw that she'd already been helped to sit up. A thick bunch of pillows supported her. The first thing Joshua noticed was the transformation in Belinda's face. It was lit up with an eager, joyous expression as she watched Laura and Joshua make their way into the room. Joshua was suddenly conscious of how he and Laura looked as a couple. Belinda's eyes were wide and her smile was even wider.
"There you are," Belinda said extending her arms in welcome. "The newlyweds. Come here, Laura. My baby. You're all married now," Belinda said.
Laura went to her mother, sitting down on the side of the bed and hugged her tight. Joshua watched as mother and daughter shared a private moment that obviously meant a great deal to both of them, judging by the muffled sobs that he was sure he could hear.
Belinda looked at Joshua. "Come here, Joshua. My son-in-law at last. Let me see you. My oh my. You sure look handsome in that suit," Belinda said.
Joshua felt himself blush as he went to Belinda and sat down on the edge of the bed. "I'm sorry you couldn't come to the wedding," he said to her.
"It doesn't matter. I'm sure it was beautiful. Look at me," she said. "You wouldn't have wanted me there, spoiling the whole thing."
"Hush mama. Don't say such a thing," Laura said and looked at Joshua. "Isn't it silly of mama to say that?" she asked him.
Joshua was momentarily taken aback by Laura's question. "Sure. We missed you. If you could have been there it would have made a perfect day even more perfect. If that makes any sense," he said noticing the approving grin Laura was giving him.
Belinda waved a hand. "Tush. You and your flattery," she said with a smile. "All that matters is that you two are man and wife. I'm sure the ceremony was perfect."
Laura frowned. "It would have been. Eli was there. He almost did enough to spoil it," she said.
Belinda frowned. "Laura. Don't say such a thing. Eli's real happy to see you married. He told me so himself," Belinda said.
"I'll bet he's happy to be getting rid of me," Laura said.
Joshua was concerned that Laura was starting to get herself riled up. It seemed that any mention of her brother just set her off. He reached over and touched Belinda's hand. "Are you coming downstairs, Belinda. Look's like Mrs. Cole has put together quite a spread."
"Call me mother, Joshua. That's what I am from now on. Your mother."
Joshua smiled at her and nodded. "Okay. Mama. I'd love to see you downstairs."
Belinda shook her head. "It's enough that I've seen you two like this. Married and happy." Belinda clapped her hands and smiled. "You've made my day. The both of you. Now get along and have some fun on your wedding day. Don't mind me. I'll be fine. Mrs. Cole's bringing me something. Cake, I think."
"Are you sure, mama?" Laura asked.
Belinda nodded. "You don't know how much this
All the ranch hands were there. Spontaneous applause broke out as Joshua pulled the buckboard to a halt and helped Laura down off the seat. Joshua felt an irresistible rush of pride as he watched Laura step down, all evidence of her previous upset replaced by a wonderful, wide smile. She looked so darned beautiful. Standing by her side, with everyone around smiling and clapping, made Joshua convinced that, whatever the circumstances of their coming together, he had done the right thing in marrying Laura Thorne.
Eli stood at the front door of the ranch house alongside Mrs. Cole, who was inevitably and uncontrollably overcome, crying into her apron.
Laura took Joshua's elbow. "I want to go up to mama right away," she said. Joshua nodded and followed Laura into the house, leaving behind the cheering well-wishers.
Upstairs they made their way to Belinda's room. Laura knocked gently on the door. Belinda's voice called to them from inside. They entered and saw that she'd already been helped to sit up. A thick bunch of pillows supported her. The first thing Joshua noticed was the transformation in Belinda's face. It was lit up with an eager, joyous expression as she watched Laura and Joshua make their way into the room. Joshua was suddenly conscious of how he and Laura looked as a couple. Belinda's eyes were wide and her smile was even wider.
"There you are," Belinda said extending her arms in welcome. "The newlyweds. Come here, Laura. My baby. You're all married now," Belinda said.
Laura went to her mother, sitting down on the side of the bed and hugged her tight. Joshua watched as mother and daughter shared a private moment that obviously meant a great deal to both of them, judging by the muffled sobs that he was sure he could hear.
Belinda looked at Joshua. "Come here, Joshua. My son-in-law at last. Let me see you. My oh my. You sure look handsome in that suit," Belinda said.
Joshua felt himself blush as he went to Belinda and sat down on the edge of the bed. "I'm sorry you couldn't come to the wedding," he said to her.
"It doesn't matter. I'm sure it was beautiful. Look at me," she said. "You wouldn't have wanted me there, spoiling the whole thing."
"Hush mama. Don't say such a thing," Laura said and looked at Joshua. "Isn't it silly of mama to say that?" she asked him.
Joshua was momentarily taken aback by Laura's question. "Sure. We missed you. If you could have been there it would have made a perfect day even more perfect. If that makes any sense," he said noticing the approving grin Laura was giving him.
Belinda waved a hand. "Tush. You and your flattery," she said with a smile. "All that matters is that you two are man and wife. I'm sure the ceremony was perfect."
Laura frowned. "It would have been. Eli was there. He almost did enough to spoil it," she said.
Belinda frowned. "Laura. Don't say such a thing. Eli's real happy to see you married. He told me so himself," Belinda said.
"I'll bet he's happy to be getting rid of me," Laura said.
Joshua was concerned that Laura was starting to get herself riled up. It seemed that any mention of her brother just set her off. He reached over and touched Belinda's hand. "Are you coming downstairs, Belinda. Look's like Mrs. Cole has put together quite a spread."
"Call me mother, Joshua. That's what I am from now on. Your mother."
Joshua smiled at her and nodded. "Okay. Mama. I'd love to see you downstairs."
Belinda shook her head. "It's enough that I've seen you two like this. Married and happy." Belinda clapped her hands and smiled. "You've made my day. The both of you. Now get along and have some fun on your wedding day. Don't mind me. I'll be fine. Mrs. Cole's bringing me something. Cake, I think."
"Are you sure, mama?" Laura asked.
Belinda nodded. "You don't know how much this
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