Trent's Montana Bride (Sweet, clean Western Historical Romance)(Montana Ranchers and Brides series) by Maya Stirling Page B
Authors: Maya Stirling
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candle light. The color of it caught Trent's attention and his gaze was momentarily transfixed. She looked up just at that moment. Her eyes narrowed slightly when she saw he was looking at her.
She smiled. "What is it?" she asked quietly.
Trent shook his head. "Nothing. I was just wondering if you like Mrs. Ross' cooking," he asked.
She didn't look too convinced by what he said. Had she seen how he'd been looking at her?
"It's real good. I haven't had a meal this nice in a while. Harriet was a good cook, but it was usually simple, plain food," Chloe explained.
"This is really our wedding meal. We didn't get the chance to have a reception, so I guess this is the next best thing," Trent said.
"It's lovely, Trent. Really. It couldn't be nicer," she said. He was certain she was being sincere. There was a calmness about her since he'd returned with the clothes. He was glad she really liked the gown he'd bought for her. Buying clothes for women wasn't something he was used to. He'd been anxious that she would react badly to him buying her things. He'd been pleased that she had accepted it. There was nothing more important to him right now than making sure that Chloe and Evan were happy on the ranch. However he knew that it was going to take time. Trent took a drink of water and frowned. Patience wasn't exactly one of his virtues, and he knew it. But he'd have to do his best. After all, he had given up the life of an unattached ranch owner. It was a huge change for him, and one he was going to need time to get used to.
Toward the end of the meal the conversation shifted to Lucas. It was inevitable that the subject of his friend and her husband would come up on this night of all nights. At first she seemed reluctant and Trent felt like a fool for bringing it up. But after a pause Chloe opened up and started sharing with Trent some of her memories of the brief time she'd been with the father of her baby boy. Trent listened to her account of their struggles to get settled in Helena; Lucas' difficulties getting the kind of work he wanted; how it had taken Chloe a long time to get to understand just how proud and independent Lucas had been; their joy at the birth of their son and how it had brought them even closer together.
Trent's eyes misted up as he listened to the details of their life. He was surprised to even feel a pang of jealousy when he saw how Chloe's eyes lit up every time she spoke about Lucas. The glint in her eye told him that she still loved Lucas, even though he was gone.
How could Trent compete with that? Did he even want to compete with the obvious love and affection that still burned inside Chloe?
Trent busied himself with the plate of fruit, suddenly wishing that the meal could be over.
Chloe asked Trent what his memories were of Lucas.
Trent paused for a while and then spoke: "He was a fine man. The best I've ever known. If he hadn't have been, I never would have given my promise."
Chloe smiled. "He must have trusted you so much to even ask you that," she said.
Trent nodded. "The more I think of it, the more it seems like the greatest honor he could ever have given me," he said.
Chloe lowered her eyes and Trent realized he might have embarrassed her. "And it is an honor," he continued.
Chloe looked up and Trent saw that her eyes were glistening.
Trent felt like reaching out and covering her hand with his own. It was so close and he really wanted her to know how sincere he was being.
"I know we've talked here and back in Helena about this marriage of ours. It sure seems as strange to me as I'm sure it is to you," he said.
"It's not strange at all, Trent," she said softly her eyes fixing on his. "It's what Lucas wanted. I intend to respect that as much as I can," she concluded.
Trent felt something shift inside him when she said that. He was briefly lost for words. What did she mean, respect? Did she mean what he thought she meant. This was their wedding night after all.
"And so do
She smiled. "What is it?" she asked quietly.
Trent shook his head. "Nothing. I was just wondering if you like Mrs. Ross' cooking," he asked.
She didn't look too convinced by what he said. Had she seen how he'd been looking at her?
"It's real good. I haven't had a meal this nice in a while. Harriet was a good cook, but it was usually simple, plain food," Chloe explained.
"This is really our wedding meal. We didn't get the chance to have a reception, so I guess this is the next best thing," Trent said.
"It's lovely, Trent. Really. It couldn't be nicer," she said. He was certain she was being sincere. There was a calmness about her since he'd returned with the clothes. He was glad she really liked the gown he'd bought for her. Buying clothes for women wasn't something he was used to. He'd been anxious that she would react badly to him buying her things. He'd been pleased that she had accepted it. There was nothing more important to him right now than making sure that Chloe and Evan were happy on the ranch. However he knew that it was going to take time. Trent took a drink of water and frowned. Patience wasn't exactly one of his virtues, and he knew it. But he'd have to do his best. After all, he had given up the life of an unattached ranch owner. It was a huge change for him, and one he was going to need time to get used to.
Toward the end of the meal the conversation shifted to Lucas. It was inevitable that the subject of his friend and her husband would come up on this night of all nights. At first she seemed reluctant and Trent felt like a fool for bringing it up. But after a pause Chloe opened up and started sharing with Trent some of her memories of the brief time she'd been with the father of her baby boy. Trent listened to her account of their struggles to get settled in Helena; Lucas' difficulties getting the kind of work he wanted; how it had taken Chloe a long time to get to understand just how proud and independent Lucas had been; their joy at the birth of their son and how it had brought them even closer together.
Trent's eyes misted up as he listened to the details of their life. He was surprised to even feel a pang of jealousy when he saw how Chloe's eyes lit up every time she spoke about Lucas. The glint in her eye told him that she still loved Lucas, even though he was gone.
How could Trent compete with that? Did he even want to compete with the obvious love and affection that still burned inside Chloe?
Trent busied himself with the plate of fruit, suddenly wishing that the meal could be over.
Chloe asked Trent what his memories were of Lucas.
Trent paused for a while and then spoke: "He was a fine man. The best I've ever known. If he hadn't have been, I never would have given my promise."
Chloe smiled. "He must have trusted you so much to even ask you that," she said.
Trent nodded. "The more I think of it, the more it seems like the greatest honor he could ever have given me," he said.
Chloe lowered her eyes and Trent realized he might have embarrassed her. "And it is an honor," he continued.
Chloe looked up and Trent saw that her eyes were glistening.
Trent felt like reaching out and covering her hand with his own. It was so close and he really wanted her to know how sincere he was being.
"I know we've talked here and back in Helena about this marriage of ours. It sure seems as strange to me as I'm sure it is to you," he said.
"It's not strange at all, Trent," she said softly her eyes fixing on his. "It's what Lucas wanted. I intend to respect that as much as I can," she concluded.
Trent felt something shift inside him when she said that. He was briefly lost for words. What did she mean, respect? Did she mean what he thought she meant. This was their wedding night after all.
"And so do
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