Read Online The Montana Rancher's Bride (New Montana Brides) by Susan Leigh Carlton - Free Book Online Page A

floor. He was still shivering. “Move over,” she said. “You’re going to catch your death and make me a widow before I even get married. Now scoot.”
    He moved over. She found another blanket and spread it over him. She peeled back the covers and crawled in beside him. “Now turn over.” He did as she said. She molded her body against his. He put his arms around her. She held him until his shivering stopped, and he fell asleep in her arms.
    She felt him stir, and looked at him, anxiously. His eyes were open. “Hello,” she said.
    A panicked look crossed his face. “Did I… did we…?”
    “Hush, and hold me.”
    “Carrie, I…”
    “No, we didn’t. At least, not yet.” She looked at his face, and rubbed her hand over the stubble on his face.
    “I’m going back downstairs now. You gave me a fright the way you were shaking.”
    She gathered the wet clothes and took them with her. Downstairs, not knowing what else to do, she took them to the front porch and draped them over the swing and chairs to dry.
    When he came downstairs, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee welcomed him. Carrie had built a fire in the stove, and brewed coffee. The cook had brought over biscuits, scrambled eggs, and steak. “Good mor ning,” he said. “How long have you been up?”
    “An hour maybe. How do you feel this morning? Any signs of a cold?”
    “I feel fine,” he said. “You sure were bossy last night.”
    “I was afraid you might get sick. I didn’t want you to miss the wedding. I want you to be there.”
    “I intend to be,” he said.
    After he ate, he said, “I’m going to check on things. “I’ll be back in an hour or two, if they didn’t scatter too much after I left.”
    “You said y’all calmed them down. How do you do that?”
    “Oh, we sing or talk to them in a low voice. We move real slow, too. They’ll be settled after a bit. It’ll be all right.” He put his battered hat on and walked to the barn. She stood at the door and watched until he went inside.
    He came back in. “It’s all quiet now. Come outside and take a deep breath. It always smells so clean and fresh after a storm and the grass is even greener.”
    On the porch, she could feel a gentle breeze making its way through the trees , landing on her face. “It does smell good,” she said. “You know what? I want to get some seed and have flowers here, like your mother had. This is such a beautiful place, it’s a shame to have those dead flowers there. I also want to talk to the cook about a garden. I’ve always liked vegetables. Fresh ones would give us a little variety in our meals. I can find out from Letty or some of the church members about canning some and we will have them during the winter.”
    “Let’s get ready and go on into town, you can mail your letter, we can give Silas a list of what we need. Then let’s take Jack and Letty to dinner at the hotel. How does that sound?”
    “It works for me, she said.
    Case helped Jack get the church ready for the next day’s services. He gave him the marriage license, “Just so I don’t forget it”.
    In the kitchen, Letty asked Carrie, “What are you going to wear tomorrow?”
    “I ha ven’t given it much thought. Since we’ll be attending church, I thought I would wear one of my nice dresses,” she said.
    Letty grinned a conspiratorial grin. “Let’s knock Case’s socks off. Are you up for surpris ing him?”
    “Absolutely,” Carrie said. “What do you have in mind?”
    “We’re about the same size, don’t you think?”
    “I guess so. We look to be,” Carrie said.
    “I want to show you something. When Jack and I got married, Mother went all out. She had a gown made for me. It hasn’t been worn since. Want to try it on?”
    “Sounds like fun,” Carrie said.
    Letty got a box from a shelf in the closet. She wiped the dust from the top before removing it, and took out a pale green gown. “What do you think?”
    “It’s beautiful. Are you sure? I would hate to