Aaron's Montana Bride (Sweet, Clean Western Historical Romance)(Montana Ranchers and Brides Series)

by Maya Stirling

  Eva held the gown tight and close to her. Her fingers felt slightly weakened and she grasped the edges of the outfit harder.

  After a moment Aaron broke the silence between them. "That dress looks absolutely beautiful on you, Eva," he said quietly.

  "Thank you," Eva said to him. She felt a sudden urge to reach up to him, shift away that loose lock of hair which had fallen over his forehead. But, she resisted the almost overwhelming impulse to do so.

  Aaron took a step back and Eva felt something sink inside her. "I'll leave you to try the outfits on. They're not all evening wear. I got some outdoor things to. I hope you like them. Maybe, if you feel like it, we could go for a walk. Get you some fresh air," he said looking suddenly awkward.

  Aaron started to make his way to the door. Eva hardened her resolve and reached out, placing a hand on his arm. Aaron stiffened and turned and Eva suddenly thought she'd made a mistake in reaching out to him. Perhaps he'd give her the answer she so badly needed. She only had to ask. Get rid of the uncertainty, the awful feeling of doubt that clutched at her.

  But, when she saw the expression in Aaron's eyes, the questioning there, the hesitation, the obvious eagerness to be gone from the room now that he'd done his duty, Eva restrained the need to speak about those things.

  "Thank you, Aaron. For the clothes. It was so kind of you," she said.

  Eva saw Aaron swallow and it looked as if the mere act of doing so had cost him a great deal of effort. He nodded and gave her a wan, vaguely unsettling smile.

  "It's an honor, Eva. It's the least you deserve," he said.

  And, with that, Aaron turned and left the room. Eva felt her grasp loosen and the blue gown fell, making a heap on the floor. Looking over at the boxes she wondered if she would have the strength to go over to the table and open the boxes one by one and see just what Aaron had chosen for her. Lifting the blue dress up off the floor, she placed it on the bed and started toward the table determined to find an outfit suitable for stepping out of Aaron's ranch house, and walking out with the man who had just been so uncommonly kind to her.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Eva looked mighty fine, Aaron thought as he saw her emerge from the front door of the ranch house a half hour later. He felt a flutter of nervous excitement as he looked at her. She'd put on the plain dark green outfit he'd chosen for outdoor use. And she looked real pretty. So pretty, in fact, that Aaron had to take a deep breath and restrain the impulse to let out a loud satisfied whoop.

  He felt like he'd been waiting all day, pacing back and forth on the porch. At one point he figured maybe he'd offended Eva by taking the things up to her room. Maybe she'd misunderstood his intentions in bringing her the clothes, even though it was clear that she needed them.

  But, looking at her standing there, with that smile on her pale face, Aaron knew he'd done the right thing.

  "Good afternoon, Eva," he said. "May I say, you look lovely in that there outfit," he said to her.

  Eva pushed back a loose lock of hair and smiled hesitantly. She pressed a hand down the side of the skirt. "It fits okay, at least. Maybe the color isn't what I'd have chosen, though."

  Aaron went to Eva and offered his arm to her. "Can I ask you to accompany me. Take my arm," he instructed her.

  Eva's eyes widened and she hesitated. She glanced back into the house. "Where are Mrs. Lang and Mrs. Bell," she asked.

  "I believe they are cooking up a lunch for you and I. If you're hungry enough, of course," he said.

  Eva smiled. "I am kinda getting tired of chicken soup," she said.

  Aaron smiled. "I don't blame you. But it sure has made you better, hasn't it?"

  "That and sleeping so much, I guess," she said.

  "How is your cough?" he asked, his eyes narrowing in concern.

  Eva placed a hand over her chest. "Not as bad as the first few days. But there's still a bit of a tickle from time to time," she explained.

  Aaron peered into Eva's eyes. He needed to be sure she was telling him the truth. This was the first time in a few days that she'd been out in the fresh air and he didn't want anything bad happening to her. "You sure about that. If you don't feel up to a little stroll with me, then you just say."

  Eva frowned. "A "little stroll"?"

  "Sounds kinds nice. Doesn't it?"

  Eva smiled and Aaron felt his heart swell at the sight of Eva's smiling face. "You always did have a way with words, Aaron," she said.

  "Must be all that reading of "Little Women", I guess," he said with a smile.

  Eva started to laugh a little but it triggered a quiet cough. Aaron was glad to see that the cough wasn't nearly as bad as before. Eva managed to get it under control pretty quickly.

  Eva hooked her arm into Aaron's. He gently guided Eva off the porch, watching her steps before starting slowly across the yard. At first Eva's steps were hesitant. Aaron didn't want to hurry her and he drew her hand close to his side. He felt her tighten her grip on him. That felt real good. Aaron had to work hard to disguise his pleasure at feeling Eva hold on tight to him. He glanced at her and saw her visibly concentrating, glancing down as she placed her booted feet one in front of the other.

  Aaron saw Eva take in a deep breath and gaze up at the sky. "It sure is a beautiful day," she observed.

  Aaron looked up. "It sure is. I guess the day's been waiting to welcome you out of that musty room. I don't know how you've put up with it so long," he said.

  Eva smiled and drew in more soft, even breaths. Aaron loved the sound of her breathing, seeing her battle the impulse to cough, and winning each time.

  "The air smells so nice," Eva said, her voice getting stronger.

  "Must be the scent of ranch Stewart," he teased.

  Eva smiled. "I think my ranch probably smells just as nice, right now," she said. "Even if it's in a mess." A shadow passed over her eyes.

  "I don't think it's that bad. Not according to what I've heard. A few of my men have been over. They said it'll take a bit of time, but it can be put back together again."

  Eva nodded. "That's good news. The sooner I get over there the better."

  Aaron squeezed her hand. "One step at a time. When you're good and ready," he said.

  Eva frowned. "You don't think I'm ready?"

  Aaron cocked his head to one side and said nothing in response to that. He looked ahead to the ridge by the side of the house and tried to decide whether Eva was strong enough to make it to the place he had in mind for them. He took one look at her determined features and figured she would be.

  "I thought we'd take a walk down to a place you might remember," he said with a raise of his brow.

  Eva's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

  "Do you remember the brook by the house?"

  Eva's brows wrinkled as she tried to recall. "Why would I remember that?"

  Aaron smiled. "It's funny how some folk just plain forget anything that's too embarrassing," he said with a grin.

  Eva stopped and fixed Aaron with a look that made him lean back a bit. "What are you talking about?"

  Aaron cleared his throat. "Do you recall one time you came over to my ranch with a real bee in your bonnet. You said I had some fixing to do on a fence that bordered your ranch. You were pretty adamant about the whole thing. You didn't take too kindly to me disagreeing, if I recall," he said.

  Eva's eyes rolled as she searched her memory. Maybe this hadn't been such a great idea, Aaron thought to himself. He began to wonder if Eva would like being reminded of a particularly humiliating episode, even if it was one that Aaron had recalled many a time with barely disguised delight.

  "When are we talking about?" Eva demanded.

  "About six years ago?"

  "That's a mighty long time. And you still remember it?"

  Aaron smiled. "I could never forget it, even if I tried," he answered.

  Aaron saw a flash of awareness and recognition in Eva's eyes. There was a sudden change of color on her face and then she started to shake her head. "O
h, no. Not that," she said.

  Aaron nodded. "Yes, Eva Gillespie. That."

  "Now, why would you bring me all the way out here and have me recall that?" she asked.

  Aaron leaned his head to one side and lifted a brow. "I don't know. I figured it might help us both realize just how far back we go," he said.

  Eva looked at him. "You know I've done everything I could to forget that," she stated.

  Aaron laughed. "Well. I will never forget the day that I helped Eva Gillespie out of the brook after she had fallen into the water and was sitting, looking mighty pretty, with her dress soaking wet and her face burning with fury," Aaron said with a broad smile, savoring the piercing look that Eva was giving him.

  "You pushed me in," she claimed, a reluctant smile starting to spread across her face.

  "I did not push you in. You tried to take a swipe at me after I refused to go and fix the fence. The fact that you missed and fell on your derriere into the water had nothing to do with me, Eva Gillespie," he answered trying with all his might to contain the laughter rising up inside him.

  "I did not try to take a swipe at you," she said. Aaron could tell that she knew he was joking with her, trying to lift her spirits. It looked like he was succeeding. It sure felt good to see Eva smiling like that, even if there was a flicker of indignation hovering in those beautiful eyes.

  Eva folded her arms across her chest and peered at Aaron. "Looks like you still enjoy thinking of me landing in that water," she said.

  Aaron laughed and shook his head. "I never walk past that brook without recalling the day," he said.

  Eva shook her head and then smiled, at last giving in to Aaron's teasing. "At least I got you to fix the fence," she declared.

  "It was the least I could do. It was worth it, just to see your face when you were sitting in that water."

  Aaron crooked his elbow and extended it toward Eva. "Shall we?" he asked her.

  Eva shook her head, hooked her arm into his and they started to walk slowly toward the brook.

  When they made it to the brook Aaron could sense that Eva was tired. He didn't know quite how he knew, but he could feel it in his bones.

  "You want to sit down?" he asked.

  Eva looked down at the grass. "Here?"

  "Yeah."

  Aaron took off his jacket and placed it down on the ground. Eva sat down and he took his place next to her. The sound of the gently running water had a gently relaxing effect on Aaron. They chatted about the past. Recollections seemed to come easy. Aaron was enjoying every moment of sitting by Eva's side. It was so good to see Eva laughing and showing the warm side to her character that Aaron had always known lay hidden beneath her feisty exterior.

  Eventually there was a lull in the conversation which seemed to go on forever. They just sat by the brook, enjoying each other's company. Eventually Aaron glanced at Eva. "Am I forgiven?"

  "For what?"

  "Reminding you of things best forgotten?"

  Eva smiled. "Of course you're forgiven."

  Aaron nodded. "Thanks for that. Thought I'd gotten myself into your bad books," he said.

  Eva frowned. "Now why would you get into my bad books, Aaron?" she asked.

  "I know the kind of person you are, Eva," he said, suddenly thinking that it might have come out wrong.

  Eva turned to him and her eyes narrowed. "And what kind of person would that be?"

  Aaron swallowed. The challenge in her gaze had a curious effect on him, and he had to do everything in his power to hide that effect. "I've already told you. Haven't I?"

  Eva rolled her eyes. "Oh, yes. When you brought me the clothes," she said. "What was it? Elegant, beautiful?" Aaron loved the sound of her voice when she was being teasing, making fun of him.

  "Strong minded," he completed. "Don't forget that."

  Eva grinned. "As if I could."

  Aaron leaned in a little closer to Eva and he noticed that she did nothing to maintain the distance between them. "I'd say that was the one thing about you that has always attracted me, Eva," he said softly.

  He saw Eva's eyes widen in surprise at his choice of words. "Purely in a professional capacity, of course," he suggested.

  Eva's brow tightened imperceptibly. "Purely professional. One rancher to another," she said with an emphatic purse of her lips.

  Once again he knew she was teasing him and he felt a tingle of delight. He moved closer to her. There was only one thing he wanted to do right now, he told himself, looking at her mouth, it's haughty expression challenging him, asking him if he was willing to answer to the impulse rising up inside him.

  "But seriously, Eva. I've never known anyone quite like you. Heck, it's been real difficult to make sense of how I've always felt about you," he said.

  Eva's gaze narrowed and he saw her features soften, all pretence vanish in an instant.

  "You did a good job of hiding it, Aaron," she said.

  "Well. What did you expect? With your pa and all, everything seemed to be about arguments and conflict over the ranch. I never had a chance to tell you anything about what I was thinking," he said.

  Eva shifted and paused before asking him the next question. "And what exactly were you thinking all these years, Aaron?"

  He looked into her eyes, saw the assent there, felt the need to lean in close and he did exactly that. He kissed Eva softly, tentatively seeking her answer. Feeling her acceptance of his lips he reached across and curled his fingers through her hair, drawing her closer, his lips savoring the gentle touch, the sweetness, the taste of her. He felt her breath soft against his face, heard the sound of her breathing mingle with the delicate dance of the water from the brook.

  Then, as quickly as it had started, the kiss was over. He leaned back and quickly glanced into her eyes. Seeing the look there, the query in that gaze, Aaron suddenly felt that he hadn't done the right thing. Even if somehow, what he'd just done felt utterly and completely selfish. Here she was, trying to recover her strength, regain her natural powers of health, and all he could think of was his own selfish desire to satisfy an urge which had been hiding within him all these years.

  "I'm sorry, Eva," Aaron said quickly. "I shouldn't have done that."

  Eva's mouth dropped open and she reached a hand across to his. "No, Aaron. Please don't say that," she said.

  Aaron shook his head. "I don't know what came over me," he said.

  "You don't have to apologise, Aaron."

  Aaron leaned away from Eva. "That wasn't the act of a gentleman," he said.

  Eva smiled softly at Aaron. "I think it was the act of someone who is trying to tell me something," she stated.

  Aaron looked at Eva. Her eyes were fixed and expectant. Was she ready for an answer to her proposal? Was that what she meant? Dare he risk giving her that answer? Was it too soon?

  "I'm sorry Eva. I should have known that it's too soon for any of this," he said. "You're still trying to get back on your feet."

  Aaron stood up quickly, straightening his shirt and reaching a hand down to Eva. "Can I help you up?"

  Eva looked up at him and paused. Aaron was sure he saw a familiar crinkle of impatience settle on her face. But, as quickly as it had appeared, Eva soon had it fully under control. She sighed and reached up and let Aaron help her up to her feet. He lifted his jacket up, slipped it back on and extended his arm to Eva.

  "I believe there is a lunch awaiting us back at the house," he said.

  Eva hooked her arm into Aaron's. "I'm famished," she said with mock emphasis. Aaron had always known that Eva was a proud person, but in this instant, he was amazed at just how far she would go to disguise her disappointment. And, as they started back toward the house, that was the one thing that Aaron Stewart felt more than anything else.

  It looked like the only thing he had achieved by kissing Eva Gillespie, as delightful as that first kiss had been, was to make her even more confused and disappointed, and to make her even more uncertain about whether he really and truly wanted to be he
r husband.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Aaron had kissed her.

  As they walked back to the ranch house, that one thought kept running through Eva's mind, uncontrollable and insistent.

  Aaron's kiss had been gentle with just a hint of need. His lips had been soft and ever so sweet. But what had he meant by it? What was he trying to tell her? Eva knew they'd both held at bay an attraction to each other over the years. She was learning that now. But, why was Aaron taking so long to give her an answer? Was that his answer? One spoken without words?

  The two of them didn't speak as they walked side by side. Twice Aaron's arm nudged against Eva's, but on each occasion he quickly took a step to the side, putting distance between them.

  Did he regret what he'd done? It seemed that way to Eva. Immediately after their lips had parted he'd glanced nervously into Eva's eyes as if searching for a response. But, Eva had been so taken by surprise, and delighted by his tender attentions, that she was lost for words, or any kind of acknowledgment of what they'd both experienced seated on the grass by the brook.

  Eva glanced up at Aaron as they finally made their way across the yard. She wondered if she should stop him, say something to him, even ask him for the answer she so badly wanted. But, the moment just didn't feel right. He looked so confused, his brows knitted tight, his lips thin.

  "There you both are," a voice called out, dragging Eva back to the present. Mrs. Lang stood at the front door, wiping her hands on an apron, her face flushed from labors in the kitchen

  "I was beginning to think you weren't coming for lunch," she said.

  Eva glanced up questioningly at Aaron. His mouth twisted into an apologetic grin. "We got to talking," he explained to his housekeeper.

  "Everything's ready," Mrs. Lang said gesturing inside the house.

  Stepping up onto the porch Aaron stood to one side and motioned Eva to go in ahead of him. Eva followed Mrs. Lang down the hall to the dining room. When she entered she was amazed at the sheer size of the spread which had been laid out on the long, wooden table. The finest china dishes were laden with vegetables, fried chicken, small steaks and bread. There was a large soup tureen in the center, a long handled ladle resting by it's side. The smell of freshly cooked lunch filled the small room. It made Eva's stomach groan. She placed a hand over her middle and gave Aaron look, just to see if he'd heard the sound. He gave her an understanding grin.