Nathan’s Montana Bride (Sweet Historical Mail Order Bride Romance) (Montana Ranchers Brides series) by Maya Stirling
Authors: Maya Stirling
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control.
She knew that if she cried out he would know she was there. If he turned and saw her skulking in the dark, spying on his intimate moment, what would he think of her?
Abby could barely contain the emotion she was feeling. He wouldn't understand why she had followed him.
Nathan's voice carried to her once again in the cool night air. Abby leaned back against the tree, wrenching her eyes away from the sight of Nathan. She gazed up at the stars twinkling through the bare branches of the tree.
If he discovered her hiding behind this tree she would never forgive herself.
She peered quickly around the tree. Nathan still had his back to her and he was still speaking.
Now was her moment.
Abby stepped away from the tree and made her way swiftly and quietly off the flat area and back onto the track.
She could just about see the house down at the bottom of the rise. It was so dark she couldn't see in front of her feet and she had to gingerly place one foot in front of the other. The hill seemed steeper going down than it had coming up. Abby stumbled a few times but eventually she made it to the house. It was with the greatest relief she had ever felt that she ran up the stairs, threw open the door to the bedroom and leapt onto the bed.
Up on the hill Nathan decided to wait to give Abby time to get back to the house. He'd known she'd been there, behind the tree, the whole time.
He didn't want to embarrass her by acknowledging that he knew she was there.
But he'd had to come up here. Tonight of all nights.
He felt bad. Mighty bad.
He'd thought he would be able to put the past behind him; thought he was ready to move. But he wasn't. Yet.
He knew that now. He'd discovered it at the corral, gazing up at the stars with his new wife in his arms.
Just like he'd done so many times with Lucy.
Abby hadn't deserved his coldness. He felt bad at the abrupt way he'd treated her. He wished he'd been more sensitive. But the thoughts of Lucy had filled his mind just at the moment when he'd least expected them to.
The cool night air blew the lamp light so that it flickered over the headstone of Lucy Grantly.
He'd come here so many times since she had passed. It was his way of reminding himself that his time with Lucy hadn't been a dream.
He'd lost count how many times he'd made the long climb up the hill. This was off limits to anyone except himself. None of the hands were allowed up here on the ridge. It was a private place reserved for the owner. And he liked it that way.
Now, however, things had changed. He had a new wife. His family had been put back together again, albeit without Lucy.
He knew he'd have to move on sometime. That was why he'd been so determined to get Abby to be his wife. He wanted the best for Emma and he was sure that Abby was just right for his daughter. He felt it in his bones.
Tonight, though, he felt he'd been harsh to her, denying her a wedding night to remember.
Standing there on the ridge he didn't rightly know how he was going to make it up to Abby. But he'd have to, in some way or other.
CHAPTER TEN
Next day Abby was up bright and early. As she got herself ready for her first day as a rancher's wife she thought about all the different ways she could keep herself busy. She had to keep herself busy. Anything to avoid thinking of last night.
Looking out the window she could see that the ranch was already a hive of activity. She was sure there would be plenty of ways to take her mind of the terrible events of the previous night.
Nathan hadn't come to the bedroom at all during the night. She wondered where he could have slept. But, he was the owner. She was sure he had plenty of places he could lay his head down well away from his wife, if he really wanted to.
Abby felt the stab of irritation rise up in her again. She knew she should at least try to understand Nathan and his conduct of the night before. But right now she couldn't. All his declarations and ardent promises seemed
She knew that if she cried out he would know she was there. If he turned and saw her skulking in the dark, spying on his intimate moment, what would he think of her?
Abby could barely contain the emotion she was feeling. He wouldn't understand why she had followed him.
Nathan's voice carried to her once again in the cool night air. Abby leaned back against the tree, wrenching her eyes away from the sight of Nathan. She gazed up at the stars twinkling through the bare branches of the tree.
If he discovered her hiding behind this tree she would never forgive herself.
She peered quickly around the tree. Nathan still had his back to her and he was still speaking.
Now was her moment.
Abby stepped away from the tree and made her way swiftly and quietly off the flat area and back onto the track.
She could just about see the house down at the bottom of the rise. It was so dark she couldn't see in front of her feet and she had to gingerly place one foot in front of the other. The hill seemed steeper going down than it had coming up. Abby stumbled a few times but eventually she made it to the house. It was with the greatest relief she had ever felt that she ran up the stairs, threw open the door to the bedroom and leapt onto the bed.
Up on the hill Nathan decided to wait to give Abby time to get back to the house. He'd known she'd been there, behind the tree, the whole time.
He didn't want to embarrass her by acknowledging that he knew she was there.
But he'd had to come up here. Tonight of all nights.
He felt bad. Mighty bad.
He'd thought he would be able to put the past behind him; thought he was ready to move. But he wasn't. Yet.
He knew that now. He'd discovered it at the corral, gazing up at the stars with his new wife in his arms.
Just like he'd done so many times with Lucy.
Abby hadn't deserved his coldness. He felt bad at the abrupt way he'd treated her. He wished he'd been more sensitive. But the thoughts of Lucy had filled his mind just at the moment when he'd least expected them to.
The cool night air blew the lamp light so that it flickered over the headstone of Lucy Grantly.
He'd come here so many times since she had passed. It was his way of reminding himself that his time with Lucy hadn't been a dream.
He'd lost count how many times he'd made the long climb up the hill. This was off limits to anyone except himself. None of the hands were allowed up here on the ridge. It was a private place reserved for the owner. And he liked it that way.
Now, however, things had changed. He had a new wife. His family had been put back together again, albeit without Lucy.
He knew he'd have to move on sometime. That was why he'd been so determined to get Abby to be his wife. He wanted the best for Emma and he was sure that Abby was just right for his daughter. He felt it in his bones.
Tonight, though, he felt he'd been harsh to her, denying her a wedding night to remember.
Standing there on the ridge he didn't rightly know how he was going to make it up to Abby. But he'd have to, in some way or other.
CHAPTER TEN
Next day Abby was up bright and early. As she got herself ready for her first day as a rancher's wife she thought about all the different ways she could keep herself busy. She had to keep herself busy. Anything to avoid thinking of last night.
Looking out the window she could see that the ranch was already a hive of activity. She was sure there would be plenty of ways to take her mind of the terrible events of the previous night.
Nathan hadn't come to the bedroom at all during the night. She wondered where he could have slept. But, he was the owner. She was sure he had plenty of places he could lay his head down well away from his wife, if he really wanted to.
Abby felt the stab of irritation rise up in her again. She knew she should at least try to understand Nathan and his conduct of the night before. But right now she couldn't. All his declarations and ardent promises seemed
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