Joshua's Montana Bride (Sweet, Clean Western Historical Romance)(Montana Ranchers and Brides Series) by Maya Stirling Page B
Authors: Maya Stirling
Tags: Romance, historical 1800s
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means to me. Seeing you two like this. This is one of the best days of my life," she said.
Laura hugged her mother again. After a few moments Joshua stood and reached over to Laura. She looked at his extended hand. Her eyes narrowed in puzzlement. Then she reached over and took his hand and they both stood at the end of the bed.
Belinda smiled and cocked her head. "Look at you two. My! What a pretty couple you are," she declared.
Joshua looked down at Laura and saw the happiness written large on her face. For the first time that day he truly felt he had done the right thing. This whole thing wasn't only about himself. This wedding, this marriage was all about this wonderful woman, Belinda, who had been so kind to him over so many years. It was also about the equally amazing young woman whose hand he was holding. He looked at Laura and felt for the first time in his life that he had done exactly what life was asking him to do.
They turned and went to the door. With a last glance back at the bed Joshua was pleased to see that they had just made the most special woman in both their lives, one of the happiest people in Montana.
CHAPTER NINE
"And this is our room," Joshua said standing at the open door to one of the upstairs bedrooms on the McKenzie ranch. He invited Laura to step inside with an extended hand. Laura felt her booted feet freeze at the entrance. She looked inside at the wide double bed, the dressing table with white bowl on the top, the thick decorated rug that covered the floor, the high wooden wardrobe, half opened revealing all of Joshua's clothing hanging neatly there. He wanted this to be the bedroom they shared, right from the start, from their very first night as man and wife.
She frowned and glanced at Joshua.
"Our room?" she asked in as noncommittal a way as possible.
"It's kinda homely. Don't you think?"
Laura thought about the last few hours. It had truly been a day to remember.
They had arrived minutes before at Joshua's ranch to find it mostly deserted. The majority of the ranch hands were still over at the Thorne ranch enjoying the party. Over there, Joshua had suggested to Laura that they both make their way home to his place, leaving the celebration still in full swing. Once word had gotten around that the newlyweds were leaving there had been a gathering of folk in the yard, as Joshua had helped his new wife up onto the buggy. Laura had seen an eager eyed and smiling Belinda look down from her bedroom window, waving to the departing couple. There had been cheers and hats flying in the air as Joshua had driven the buggy away from the Thorne ranch, and then they were alone and driving along the trail back to Joshua's spread.
Joshua and Laura hadn't spoken much on the journey home. The full moon had illuminated the trail. Joshua knew the way to the ranch well enough to guarantee a safe journey to their new home. For that was what it was.
Their home.
Laura had felt a rush of relief at leaving the celebration behind. It felt curiously calming to be alone with Joshua. He'd always had that ability to settle her, even at the worst of times. And now was no exception.
Now she was at the ranch with Joshua. The place that until today he had called his own. Did he really expect her to just arrive at his place and be instantly at home in what had been, until today, his own private space?
Joshua had taken her on a brief tour of the ranch house. She had to admit it was well cared for. Mrs. Bell, Joshua's housekeeper, seemed to have done a good job of keeping the place clean and tidy. There were many signs of Joshua's personal taste around the various rooms. In spite of herself, Laura was momentarily fascinated to see the kinds of furniture he had filled the house with. His taste in curtains and rugs wasn't exactly to her liking, but he had a charming way of deflecting any criticism of his choices in decor.
It had felt strange to arrive at the ranch house when there was virtually no-one around.
Laura hugged her mother again. After a few moments Joshua stood and reached over to Laura. She looked at his extended hand. Her eyes narrowed in puzzlement. Then she reached over and took his hand and they both stood at the end of the bed.
Belinda smiled and cocked her head. "Look at you two. My! What a pretty couple you are," she declared.
Joshua looked down at Laura and saw the happiness written large on her face. For the first time that day he truly felt he had done the right thing. This whole thing wasn't only about himself. This wedding, this marriage was all about this wonderful woman, Belinda, who had been so kind to him over so many years. It was also about the equally amazing young woman whose hand he was holding. He looked at Laura and felt for the first time in his life that he had done exactly what life was asking him to do.
They turned and went to the door. With a last glance back at the bed Joshua was pleased to see that they had just made the most special woman in both their lives, one of the happiest people in Montana.
CHAPTER NINE
"And this is our room," Joshua said standing at the open door to one of the upstairs bedrooms on the McKenzie ranch. He invited Laura to step inside with an extended hand. Laura felt her booted feet freeze at the entrance. She looked inside at the wide double bed, the dressing table with white bowl on the top, the thick decorated rug that covered the floor, the high wooden wardrobe, half opened revealing all of Joshua's clothing hanging neatly there. He wanted this to be the bedroom they shared, right from the start, from their very first night as man and wife.
She frowned and glanced at Joshua.
"Our room?" she asked in as noncommittal a way as possible.
"It's kinda homely. Don't you think?"
Laura thought about the last few hours. It had truly been a day to remember.
They had arrived minutes before at Joshua's ranch to find it mostly deserted. The majority of the ranch hands were still over at the Thorne ranch enjoying the party. Over there, Joshua had suggested to Laura that they both make their way home to his place, leaving the celebration still in full swing. Once word had gotten around that the newlyweds were leaving there had been a gathering of folk in the yard, as Joshua had helped his new wife up onto the buggy. Laura had seen an eager eyed and smiling Belinda look down from her bedroom window, waving to the departing couple. There had been cheers and hats flying in the air as Joshua had driven the buggy away from the Thorne ranch, and then they were alone and driving along the trail back to Joshua's spread.
Joshua and Laura hadn't spoken much on the journey home. The full moon had illuminated the trail. Joshua knew the way to the ranch well enough to guarantee a safe journey to their new home. For that was what it was.
Their home.
Laura had felt a rush of relief at leaving the celebration behind. It felt curiously calming to be alone with Joshua. He'd always had that ability to settle her, even at the worst of times. And now was no exception.
Now she was at the ranch with Joshua. The place that until today he had called his own. Did he really expect her to just arrive at his place and be instantly at home in what had been, until today, his own private space?
Joshua had taken her on a brief tour of the ranch house. She had to admit it was well cared for. Mrs. Bell, Joshua's housekeeper, seemed to have done a good job of keeping the place clean and tidy. There were many signs of Joshua's personal taste around the various rooms. In spite of herself, Laura was momentarily fascinated to see the kinds of furniture he had filled the house with. His taste in curtains and rugs wasn't exactly to her liking, but he had a charming way of deflecting any criticism of his choices in decor.
It had felt strange to arrive at the ranch house when there was virtually no-one around.
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