Read Online Devlin's Montana Bride (Sweet, clean Western Historical Romance)(Montana Ranchers Brides series) by Maya Stirling - Free Book Online
Authors: Maya Stirling
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women around these parts to be equally eligible and handsome. The other man, Nathan Grantly, had just married a mail order bride from Boston. He stood casually to one side letting Trent do all the explaining.
Devlin trusted these two men implicitly. If what Trent had just told him was true, then things were bad.
"Are you sure that's what you heard?" he asked Trent.
The rancher's green eyes narrowed and he nodded slowly. "Yup. Apparently he's already got someone looking into it. Some lawyer creep in town."
"Which one would that be," Devlin said sarcastically. "There're so many of those around."
"Whoever it is, your marriage could be in trouble even before it's gotten started," Trent said quietly.
Nathan shook his head. "That idiot just doesn't know when to quit."
"Caulfield didn't get where he is by being an idiot, Nathan. If what Trent says is true then I've got to think something up real fast to stop him," said Devlin.
Devlin paused and tried to rack his brains. He'd have to think of something fast. And it would have to be so convincing that there would be no argument against it.
The door to the ranch house swung open quickly and Elise appeared. Devlin stiffened. "Don't say a word to Elise, boys. Not right now. In any case she's in a bit of a mood." He wiped some apple from his forehead. "As you can see, the lady has spirit."
Trent and Nathan smiled and tried to adopt a more casual demeanor than the seriousness of the moment called for.
Elise walked slowly toward the men. Devlin stepped forward. "Trent. Nathan. May I present my beautiful wife, Elise."
Trent and Nathan both bowed and took off their hats.
"It's an honor and a pleasure Mrs. Cooper," Trent said taking Elise's hand and kissing the back of it.
Elise was slightly taken aback by the forwardness of the gesture. "Never mind him," Devlin said with a forced smile. "He thinks he's a ladies man," he explained.
Trent turned and frowned with smiling eyes. "Really? That's what you think of me?"
Nathan stepped forward. "Pleasure to meet you. Devlin's a very lucky man," he said, his voice warm and sincere.
"Nathan here just got married himself," Devlin stated. "Had to go all the way to Boston to find himself a bride."
"Yes. But it was worth it. My wife is a treasure and she just loves life out here in Montana," Nathan stated.
"I'm glad," Elise said politely. She looked at Devlin. "Your conversation seemed to be about something of substance," she said to her husband.
Devlin averted his eyes.
"Looked like you all were talking about something real serious," Elise said, her gaze shifting questioningly to each of the three men.
"We're just real proud of Devlin here, getting married and all," Trent tried to explain. It didn't sound convincing to Devlin's ears.
Elise frowned. "You sure about that?"
Devlin went to Elise and took her by the arm. Time to do some serious reassuring. "You know what guys can be like."
Elise fixed him with a look. "Actually Devlin. I don't know what men are like. In case you hadn't noticed I'm a woman. And I only just got married."
Trent and Nathan both turned their heads away and tried to suppress a laugh. Devlin heard them both clear their throats.
Devlin looked toward his friends and seeing there was no support forthcoming stammered out a reply. "I...uh...well, of course," He sighed. "That was a stupid thing for me to say."
Elise peered into Devlin's eyes. "Is there anything I should be concerned about?"
Devlin's mouth opened as if to speak, but then he was cut short by the welcome appearance of Mrs. Mildmay at the ranch house door. "Are you all going to stand there all day or are you coming in here. There's some fine grub here that Mrs. Cooper spent a whole load of time cooking."
Devlin felt a rush of relief surge through him. Trust Mrs. Mildmay to come to the rescue.
"Sure Mrs. Mildmay. I'm sure that Trent and Nathan would just love to sample my wife's fine cooking."
Elise shot Devlin a harsh glance but he
Devlin trusted these two men implicitly. If what Trent had just told him was true, then things were bad.
"Are you sure that's what you heard?" he asked Trent.
The rancher's green eyes narrowed and he nodded slowly. "Yup. Apparently he's already got someone looking into it. Some lawyer creep in town."
"Which one would that be," Devlin said sarcastically. "There're so many of those around."
"Whoever it is, your marriage could be in trouble even before it's gotten started," Trent said quietly.
Nathan shook his head. "That idiot just doesn't know when to quit."
"Caulfield didn't get where he is by being an idiot, Nathan. If what Trent says is true then I've got to think something up real fast to stop him," said Devlin.
Devlin paused and tried to rack his brains. He'd have to think of something fast. And it would have to be so convincing that there would be no argument against it.
The door to the ranch house swung open quickly and Elise appeared. Devlin stiffened. "Don't say a word to Elise, boys. Not right now. In any case she's in a bit of a mood." He wiped some apple from his forehead. "As you can see, the lady has spirit."
Trent and Nathan smiled and tried to adopt a more casual demeanor than the seriousness of the moment called for.
Elise walked slowly toward the men. Devlin stepped forward. "Trent. Nathan. May I present my beautiful wife, Elise."
Trent and Nathan both bowed and took off their hats.
"It's an honor and a pleasure Mrs. Cooper," Trent said taking Elise's hand and kissing the back of it.
Elise was slightly taken aback by the forwardness of the gesture. "Never mind him," Devlin said with a forced smile. "He thinks he's a ladies man," he explained.
Trent turned and frowned with smiling eyes. "Really? That's what you think of me?"
Nathan stepped forward. "Pleasure to meet you. Devlin's a very lucky man," he said, his voice warm and sincere.
"Nathan here just got married himself," Devlin stated. "Had to go all the way to Boston to find himself a bride."
"Yes. But it was worth it. My wife is a treasure and she just loves life out here in Montana," Nathan stated.
"I'm glad," Elise said politely. She looked at Devlin. "Your conversation seemed to be about something of substance," she said to her husband.
Devlin averted his eyes.
"Looked like you all were talking about something real serious," Elise said, her gaze shifting questioningly to each of the three men.
"We're just real proud of Devlin here, getting married and all," Trent tried to explain. It didn't sound convincing to Devlin's ears.
Elise frowned. "You sure about that?"
Devlin went to Elise and took her by the arm. Time to do some serious reassuring. "You know what guys can be like."
Elise fixed him with a look. "Actually Devlin. I don't know what men are like. In case you hadn't noticed I'm a woman. And I only just got married."
Trent and Nathan both turned their heads away and tried to suppress a laugh. Devlin heard them both clear their throats.
Devlin looked toward his friends and seeing there was no support forthcoming stammered out a reply. "I...uh...well, of course," He sighed. "That was a stupid thing for me to say."
Elise peered into Devlin's eyes. "Is there anything I should be concerned about?"
Devlin's mouth opened as if to speak, but then he was cut short by the welcome appearance of Mrs. Mildmay at the ranch house door. "Are you all going to stand there all day or are you coming in here. There's some fine grub here that Mrs. Cooper spent a whole load of time cooking."
Devlin felt a rush of relief surge through him. Trust Mrs. Mildmay to come to the rescue.
"Sure Mrs. Mildmay. I'm sure that Trent and Nathan would just love to sample my wife's fine cooking."
Elise shot Devlin a harsh glance but he
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