Read Online Hunter's Montana Bride (Montana Ranchers and Brides #8) by Maya Stirling - Free Book Online Page B

EIGHT

    "There is so much to do to look after those children," Mrs. Roper said smiling broadly and glancing down at the children. Gretchen had to agree.
    It was the next morning. Gretchen and Hunter were at the kitchen table sharing their first breakfast as a family. The two children were in their little baskets. Hunter sat next to Gretchen tucking into a plate of ham and eggs. The twins were right where they belonged. By their parents' side. It felt good to be seated by his side with the children next to them, Gretchen thought. The simple act of watching her husband eat his breakfast, while she gently shook the side of one of the little baskets gave her a basic and elemental pleasure.
    Gretchen took a sip of the coffee and placed the cup down on the table. "Where are you going today, Hunter?" she asked him.
    He looked momentarily surprised. "I wasn't figuring on going anywhere," he declared. He placed his cup down and fixed her with a questioning look.
    Gretchen nodded wordlessly. She looked across and saw the equal amount of surprise on Mrs. Roper's face.
    "I thought you said you had to go into town and buy these children of ours some of the things they're going to need," she said tentatively.
    "Don't recall saying that," Hunter said with a frown. "What do they need?"
    Gretchen sighed. "Oh, you know. Blankets. Maybe a couple of cots."
    "What happened to the ones back in Helena?"
    "They'll be coming soon enough. Mama said she'd send the things over once she and papa get back to Helena," she explained.
    Gretchen saw Hunter's knuckles whiten as he grasped his knife and fork. "Now that you mention it, maybe they should just leave that stuff where it is. I can get new things. The twins deserve that. After all, this is their new home," he said. "Problem is, I might not be able to go into town today," he said. He jammed the fork into his mouth and started chewing on the eggs.
    Gretchen glanced at Mrs. Roper who'd suddenly gotten real busy with what was on the stove. The housekeeper's eyes flickered toward Gretchen with a hint of puzzlement in them. "It's just that I didn't realize just how much the twins will need. At some point we're going to have to get the things that are on my list," she said.
    Hunter's eyes widened. "You've got a list?"
    Gretchen nodded. "Sure have. And it's a long one," she answered with a wry grin.
    Hunter frowned and started cutting the ham on his plate with quick, emphatic strokes of the knife. His brows had furrowed into thoughtful ridges.
    Gretchen hesitated before continuing. A sudden flurry of nerves started to tumble in her belly. Why was she asking Hunter to go to town? Did she seriously want him to leave her alone at the ranch on their very first day back together? It didn't look good, that was for sure. No wonder Mrs. Roper had given her such a curious look.
    Gretchen cleared her throat. "Maybe I should come with you," she offered tentatively.
    Hunter looked up, and she could see his eyes were considering what she'd said. "I don't think that's necessary," he said glancing at the twins. "You need to be here. With the little ones."
    Gretchen looked at Hunter and saw the sheer pride on his face. He was like a man transformed. The color of his cheeks changed every time he looked at the children; every time he even spoke about the children his features lit up with undisguised pleasure.
    Gretchen was quietly gratified that Hunter had taken to the children so quickly. She had known he probably would, once he had a chance to welcome them into his life. All the way home, during the train ride to Montana with her mother, they'd talked about nothing else except how Hunter would react when he finally met the twins. Her mother had tried to allay Gretchen's fears about how Hunter would react. Beatrice had been emphatic that once Hunter saw the twins, his heart would melt. And she had been right. Gretchen couldn't recall ever having seen Hunter looking like that.
    Mrs. Roper put some more eggs on Hunter's plate.