Hunter's Montana Bride (Montana Ranchers and Brides #8) (3 page)

And that she was bringing back a truly wonderful surprise.

Two beautiful twin babies.

CHAPTER THREE

"This is your last chance to change your mind, Gretchen," Gideon said as he pulled the carriage to a halt under the high wooden gate that marked the entrance to the ranch. The wide wooden board that stretched between the high posts on either side of the trail had letters carved into them. "Ranch HG" it said. She remembered that Hunter had said he was going to rename the ranch after their wedding, but she hadn't realized he'd actually gone and done it.

HG. Hunter and Gretchen.

She peered ahead. There was the house. She felt a flurry of nerves in her stomach as she looked at the white painted panel front, the long porch that stretched along the front, the closed shutters of most of the windows. She could see that on the end of the house there was some kind of construction going on.

It was all exactly as Trent had described. Had Hunter actually been building extra rooms? Why would he have done such a thing? Only himself and Mrs. Roper had been living in the place this past year. There was more than enough room for two people. In fact, too much room.

Could it be true that Hunter had been building with other occupants in mind? Had he even expected Gretchen to return?

She found that thought strangely disconcerting. The idea that Hunter had been building in the hope that she would return made her draw in a deep, calming breath.

"Are you okay, my dear?" Beatrice asked.

Gretchen swallowed, in spite of her tightening throat and nodded. "I'm fine, mama. I think it's time to let Hunter know he's a father," she said bluntly.

Gretchen saw her mother frown slightly. Gideon exhaled a noisy, exasperated breath. "Well, he is still your husband, I suppose."

"Now, now, Gideon," Beatrice said. "Let's try to look on the positive side of all of this. Think of the grandchildren."

Gideon spun around. "I am thinking of them. And of our daughter and what she insists she must do," he said, his voice filled with the frustrations of the past few days. He'd tried so many times to dissuade Gretchen from coming back to the ranch; tried so hard to convince her that she was making a mistake; that her husband wouldn't accept her once he found out what had happened.

But, Gretchen had held firm, determined to have her way, something Gideon had taught her to do since she'd been a child. So it was curiously fitting that the very character traits he'd instilled in his own daughter should be the cause of Gretchen's determination to put the past behind them. All that mattered now was what was best for the children. Nothing else mattered.

And now she was about to present the husband she hadn't seen for nearly a year with the biggest surprise of his life.

She realized her entire body was filled with fear and uncertainty and those butterflies in her stomach just wouldn't stop dancing around. Gretchen saw her father shake his head and turn to face the trail that led to the front yard of the ranch.

"Let's get this over with, papa. It's what I want," Gretchen said. She glanced down at the face of her daughter. "It's what they need," she said with a melancholy smile.

Gideon flicked the reins and drove the carriage under the gate, on toward the ranch house. In the distance Gretchen could see some of the ranch hands going about the daily business ranch life.

Gretchen's eyes searched, trying to find any sign of Hunter. She couldn't see him in the corral or near the barn. She wondered if he would be at the house at all. Usually at this time he'd be out with the herd or dealing with damage to the fenced borders or work of that kind. Hunter was no stranger to hard work.

A sudden thought flashed into her mind, unbidden and previously unconsidered. After so long apart, would they both be almost strangers to each other? Would there be anything left of the relationship they'd built together? Gretchen sighed and clutched the basket.

And then she saw him, standing alone. It was almost ridiculous that he should just be standing on the porch, as if he was waiting for her. But there he was. She knew it was him, as much by the reaction she felt in her fluttering heart as by the sight of him. He was leaning against a supporting post on the porch. He looked casual and almost nonchalant as he rested his shoulder against the wooden support. She couldn't see the details of his expression but she knew it was Hunter.

And, with a sudden quickening of her heartbeat, she saw that he had noticed their arrival. She saw Hunter stiffen upright, his gaze locking onto the carriage arriving on his property. Gretchen saw him take a step forward onto the hard dirt of the yard.

The carriage drew closer and came to a slow halt in front of the ranch house. Gretchen glanced over at her mother. Beatrice blinked slowly and nodded. A slight smile creased the corners of her mouth. Beatrice steeled herself and turned to look toward Hunter.

He was standing stock still, his hands hanging loose by his side. His dark eyes were wide in disbelief, their expression a burning gaze searing straight into Gretchen's core. She felt her legs and arms become numb, her fingers tighten into a ball. Tension locked her entire body tight.

Hunter looked exactly as she'd remembered every day since she'd left. His long legs were planted into booted feet which were splayed defiantly apart. His tall figure and wide shoulders seemed to be frozen, rigid and incredulous. Dark hair settled across his wide forehead. The normal healthy color of his cheeks had paled. His fine, narrow nose and full lips stood out against the deathly pallor of his face.

But, in spite of the obvious shock her husband was feeling, although he looked like he was having trouble staying on his feet, Gretchen thought he was still the most handsome man she had ever set eyes on.

Gretchen reached out instinctively and pulled the basket closer to her. It pressed hard into her side, but she felt a familiar reassurance. She saw Hunter's mouth drop open and his brows furrow.

Still, he was rooted to the spot. Still, he hadn't said a word.

Gideon tied up the reins to the front of the carriage seat and turned. He looked at Gretchen, an expectant look on his face.

Then Hunter spoke one word, his voice soft, barely audible, cracked with emotion, weaker than Gretchen recalled it, but filled with feeling that was entirely natural and to be expected under the circumstances.

"Gretchen?" he gasped.

He repeated her name again, this time more firmly, but still in a tone filled with astonishment. "Gretchen. Can it be you?"

Gretchen tried to smile but found that she was unable to do so. Like Hunter she felt rooted to the spot. She tried to stand, thinking that it was the right thing to do. A welcoming gesture. But, yet again, she found she could not move her body.

Then Hunter took a few slow steps closer and now he was almost by the side of the carriage.

Gretchen glanced toward her father. He was still sat firmly on the front seat of the carriage. A few steps more and Hunter had his hand on the side door of the carriage and he was so near to her that she could see the emotion shining in his eyes. The total disbelief.

"Am I dreaming?" she heard him ask no-one in particular. "Tell me I'm not dreaming," he said.

Up close he was as handsome as always. His dark eyes glistened and he peered so deep into her own eyes that she felt something stir deep inside. It was a familiar sensation. One that she'd known for all the years she and Hunter had been sweet on each other.

Gretchen reached over and laid her gloved hand on Hunter's. There was a rush of feeling all through her body as she touched him. Again. Familiar. Not altogether unwanted. She wrapped her fingers around his and squeezed ever so gently.

"You're not dreaming Hunter. It's me," she said quietly.

Hunter's face lit up, his eyes suddenly bright, color rushing back to his face. She saw him glance over toward Beatrice and Gideon. A questioning look appeared in his eyes. Gretchen could see him struggling to comprehend what was happening. His eyes came back to her and she heard him draw in a huge breath. His chest filled and he took a small step back. But he did not let go of her hand.

"What are you doing here?" he asked after a long pause.

"We're here because your wife, who is also my daughter, wants to be here," she heard Gideon say firmly. Gretchen turned and gave her father an admonishing look.

Hunter turned to Gideon. "What do you mean?"

"Only that my daughter has the foolish notion that this place should be her home," Gideon said angrily.

"Father!" Gretchen ejaculated. "Please. You promised you wouldn't say such things," she pleaded.

Gretchen looked at Hunter and saw that the color of his face had turned a deep shade of red. "Seeing as how you're the one who persuaded my wife to leave me without giving me a chance to find out why, I find that pretty hard to take. Especially coming from a man like you, Gideon."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Gideon demanded suddenly standing up at the front of the carriage.

Hunter still hadn't moved his hand from Gretchen grasp, but she could sense the outrage as his grip tightened on the side of the carriage.

Beatrice turned to Gideon. "Just you sit down, Gideon. Don't go making a fool of yourself. We only just arrived and your already picking on Hunter," she said.

Hunter looked at Gretchen's mother, a wry smile on his face. "I can look after myself, Beatrice. But I appreciate your kind words. It's good to see not everyone in this family has lost their mind," he said.

Gretchen looked at her father, pleading in her eyes. "Papa. Please. We only just got here," she said.

Gideon sat down, but Gretchen could see he was breathing deeply through flared nostrils. Her father's jaw was set tight as his gaze flashed from Hunter to Beatrice.

And it was then that the amazing thing happened which changed the entire tenor of the moment, turning the mood from antagonism to something altogether different. It was caused by the sweetest sound that Gretchen had ever heard in her life, and one with which in recent weeks she had become all too familiar.

One of the babies started to cry. A quiet, gentle sweet sound.

And it was at that moment that Hunter finally withdrew his hand and took one long step backwards. His jaw literally dropped and his eyes widened. He peered inside the carriage and saw the basket.

Gretchen felt her heart fill with all manner of emotions, none of which she could put into words. She gazed at Hunter and his eyes met her own. There was the briefest flash of a question in his gaze and she could only nod her head in wordless confirmation.

Gretchen reached down into the basket and rolled back the blankets. Ever so gently, she lifted out the little crying baby and laid her gently upon her shoulder, patting her back as gently as she could. The little girl had on the sweetest pink outfit. After a moment the baby girl stopped crying, settling softly against Gretchen's shoulder, cooing gently.

Gretchen looked at Hunter. His face had locked into a frozen mask of shock. Gretchen smiled at Hunter and somehow, from some place deep inside himself he found the strength and self possession to smile back at Gretchen. But he looked completely and utterly stunned.

Hunter looked toward Beatrice who merely nodded. Everyone seemed to have been silenced by the sound of the crying baby. So it fell to Gretchen to formally introduce Hunter to one of his own children.

"Hunter. I'd like you to meet Hannah," she said softly, all the while gently rocking the little girl against her shoulder.

Hunter's eyes peered at the little girl. He took one step closer but once again was stopped in his tracks by another sound. The same sound as before.

The other baby started to cry.

Hunter's head whirled around and his gaze locked on the other basket.

Beatrice reached down and lifted up the other little bundle of joy, just as Gretchen had done moments before. Beatrice settled the baby against her shoulder and rocked the little one, trying to quiet the soft but insistent voice.

Beatrice smiled at Hunter. "And say hello to Lewis," she said softly, looking with genuine affection at the pretty features of the little boy she held in her arms.

Hunter reached a shaking hand up and ran his quivering fingers through his dark hair. Gretchen was suddenly concerned that this otherwise strong and robust rancher was about to pass out on his own front yard.

Hunter's eyes narrowed and he smiled, cocking his head to one side. "Are you telling me that I'm a father?" he asked, his voice filled with incredulity.

Gretchen pulled Hannah closer to her, hugging the little one as tight as she possibly could. She nodded. "Uh huh. It's true. This is your daughter," she said. She looked over toward her mother and Lewis. "And that is your son," she announced, thinking that, as she uttered them, the words sounded simply amazing.

Hunter let out a lengthy gust of breath that seemed to completely empty his lungs. He bent forward and grasped his knees. Once again Gretchen was worried he was going to pass out.

After a few moments of trying to calm himself Hunter looked up and strode over to the carriage and thrust open the door. Gretchen could see the intense emotion on his face, the burning need to touch his child, the desperate desire to make sure all of this wasn't some strange illusion. Gretchen turned Hannah so that Hunter could see her face. When his eyes met those of his baby daughter Hunter's composure completely cracked. His eyes filled with tears and Gretchen could see him swallowing back the emotion that was welling up inside him.

Hunter reached out and placed gentle hands on Hannah's tiny little shoulders. "Hannah," he whispered, his eyes filling with tears and wonder. For a moment all Hunter did was stare in amazement at the beautiful baby.

Then he turned quickly. Beatrice held out little Lewis. Hunter reached out and touched Lewis on the shoulder. "Lewis," he said. He had a hand on each of his children now. Gretchen thought that the look on Hunter's face just couldn't be put into words. But it was wonderful nonetheless.

It seemed to Gretchen that Hunter could barely even utter the names of his children. It was as if he'd lost the power over any other words than the names of his newly revealed children.