Forever Dreams (Montana Brides) (33 page)

Trent put the gun down and hauled her against his chest. He buried his face in her hair. Gracie was okay, but by God, Jordan wouldn’t be so lucky when he got hold of him.

He kissed Gracie’s lips hard before he let her go to check on Jeb.

“Glad to see you’ve got your priorities right, boss.” A tight grin crossed Jeb’s pale face. “This little lady and your brother probably saved my life.”

“We put Jeb’s leg together as best we could from what’s in the first aid kit. The wolf sliced his leg clean to the bone.” She glanced down at Jeb’s leg, shuddering at the dried blood coating his boots. “Trixie got bitten on her back leg.”
 

Trent watched Gracie’s small hands flutter to her waist. He hugged her shoulders, and then bent down to talk with Jeb. “Steve will fly you and Gracie back to the hospital.” When Jeb tried to interrupt he stopped him in his tracks. “That wasn’t a question, it was an order. I’ll stay and look after Trixie until Jordan gets back. Then I’ll walk her down to the vet, load her in the float, and bring her home to the Triple L.”

Jeb looked him in the eye. “I don’t think her wound’s too bad. You look after Trixie, boss.”

Trent gave him an equally level stare back. “You know I will.” Trent nodded to Steve, and together they lifted Jeb across to the chopper while Gracie stayed with Trixie.
 

After Jeb was settled, Trent ran back to Gracie. “Your turn, honey. I’ll be back at the ranch later tonight. Will you do me a favor?”

Gracie looked up at him, her blue eyes full of raw emotion. He wanted to pick her up and hold her close, not send her miles away. “When you get back from the hospital, stay at the ranch. Please.”

She nodded. Trent gave her one last hug before she moved toward the chopper with Steve. Head down, she got on board, leaving the mountain, and leaving him.
 

Trent’s hands shook and tears clouded his eyes as he rubbed Trixie’s head. He could have lost Gracie today, and that scared him more than the danger of a renegade pack of wolves. He rubbed his arm across his face, watching the helicopter disappear into the distance. Gracie was an important part of his life. And he sure as hell wasn’t letting her board a plane to New Zealand without putting up the biggest fight of his life.
 

Trent arrived back home a little after eleven o’clock that night. After he’d made it off the mountain he’d headed straight into Bozeman to check on Jeb.

 
Kicking off his boots, he sat down heavily on the wooden bench in the mudroom. They’d been lucky for the last two years not to have had a wolf attack on the ranch. Today they’d not been so lucky.
 

He shrugged out of his jacket, putting his hat down beside him. The trappers and the vet would be back first thing tomorrow. He’d need to keep in touch with the cowboys watching the cattle in the mountains, as well as finish all the other jobs that couldn’t be left. Rubbing his eyes, he knew Sunday would be another long day.
 

He could hear someone fussing in the kitchen. His heart raced at the thought of Gracie in the next room.

“Is that you, Trent?”

He breathed deeply. Mrs. Davies appeared in the doorway.
 

“You look exhausted, Trent. I’ve got a meal put aside for you. Do you want me to reheat it in the microwave?”

Trent shook his head. “Not at the moment, thanks. Did Gracie stay?”

“She’s upstairs, sound asleep. Steve dropped her back after they’d seen to Jeb. The poor wee thing looked ready to drop on her feet. She had a big bowl of soup and a hot bath before she went to bed.”

“Thanks for your help today.” He leaned his head against the wall. “I don’t know how we could have done it without you coordinating the troops down here.”

A faint blush stained Mrs. Davies’ cheeks. “It was no trouble. Your mom arrived about an hour after you left. Between the two of us we managed to boss the men around without too much difficulty.”

Trent managed a tired smile.

“How are Jeb and Trixie doing?”

“Jeb’s flirting with the nurses at the hospital, so he must be feeling better. He’s got a track of stitches down his leg, but the doctors don’t think he’s got any permanent damage.” He yawned. “Trixie’s had the wolf bite cleaned and re-bandaged. The tetanus shot and the first dose of antibiotics didn’t go down too well, but I think that’s got something to do with Jeb not being around.”
 

Mrs. Davies kissed his cheek. “You did well today. I’m going to bed now. Your mom said to tell you she’d be out tomorrow morning to give you a hand.”
 

“Thanks.”

Mrs. Davies left, and Trent dragged himself toward the stairs. Two weeks of tossing and turning had finally caught up with him. He needed a shower, and he needed sleep.
 

He’d dealt with the wolf attack as best he could. Tomorrow would be soon enough to talk to Gracie.

By the time he’d finished in the bathroom, the moon had climbed high in the sky. There was enough light coming through the windows to find his way to the bed, and sink into its softness. Trent slipped between the cool sheets and sighed. He stretched his tired muscles and nearly leapt out of bed.
 

Holy crap.
 

Gracie had tucked herself into a little ball under the duvet. She was so tiny he hadn’t seen her body curled up on the side of the bed. If she’d been asleep before, she wasn’t now.

“Hi, Trent.” Her sleepy voice drifted across to him.

He sat up, leaning on one elbow. “How are you feeling?”

Gracie rubbed her eyes and turned toward him. “I’m feeling better.” She took a deep, shuddering breath. “I felt really scared. The cows were terrified, and Jeb’s leg was a mess. I’ve never been happier to see a helicopter in my life. How are Jeb and Trixie doing?”

Trent’s eyes drifted over the shape of her body, half in shadow from the moon. “Jeb’s still in the hospital. The doctors said you did a good job of stopping the blood loss. He’ll be there for a few more days, and then he’ll be coming home to rest his leg. Trixie’s bandaged up and full of antibiotics. She should be fine.”

Gracie stretched and yawned.
 

“Nice t-shirt, honey.”

“Thanks, you always did have good taste in clothes. Is it okay that I borrowed it? I didn’t have any spare clothes here.”

“Take whatever you want. I’m just pleased you’re not hurt.” Trent rolled onto his back and looked at the ceiling. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but what are you doing in my bed?”

Gracie paused before answering. “I…umm. Well. I was worried. The wolves tore Jeb and Trixie up pretty bad and I thought they’d come back for you. I tried to go to sleep in my room, but it wasn’t working. So I came in here.”
 

If he reached across and touched Gracie’s face he knew he’d feel the heat of a blush staining her cheeks. He sat still, waiting for her to continue.

“If you want me to go back to my room, I’ll go. I just wanted to make sure you were safe.”

Trent swallowed the lump gathering in his throat. If he didn’t tell Gracie how he felt about her, he might never get the chance before she left his life for good. He cleared his throat, rolling back onto his side. Gracie hadn’t moved an inch.

“I don’t know how to say this, so I’m just going to blurt it out. If I get things a bit mixed up don’t worry about it. The thing is…well…I guess what I’m trying to say is that I love you. I loved you before we got married only I was too thick-headed to realize it. There’s no one else I want to spend the rest of my life with.”
 

Trent swallowed. Not a whisper of sound came from Gracie’s side of the bed. “You haven’t gone to sleep, have you?”

“No. I’m still awake.”
 

Trent peered at the outline of her body in the darkness. He could have sworn he heard a laugh in her voice. “You’re not laughing are you, Gracie?”

“Who me?”

She was definitely laughing at him now.
 

Trent groaned. He’d just declared his love to the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, and she’d started laughing at him. “Fine. Laugh away.” He rolled onto his back, scowling at the ceiling. “You wouldn’t be laughing if the love of your life nearly got mauled to death by a pack of wolves.”

“I didn’t get mauled,” she hiccupped. “I’m laughing because I’m happy.”

A mound of duvet rose in the air and a ball of cotton landed against his chest. A very warm and wiggly ball. Trent wrapped his arms around Gracie’s body and held on tight. She relaxed against him, resting her cheek against his chest. He could feel her breath against his skin, stirring his body into life.

She wiggled her bottom.

A groan rumbled through his chest. “Keep still you little minx. I’ve got something to ask you.”

Trent clamped his hands on her hips. She wasn’t listening.

“I want you to marry me again. Here, on the ranch, in front of our family and friends. I want you to be part of my life forever.” Gracie stopped moving. He could almost feel her mind working overtime.
 

She pushed up on her arms, staring down at him. “Is this all about your need to have a family so that Jordan doesn’t run wild?”

Trent nudged a lock of hair over her ear, tracing the side of her face with his fingertips. “I love you. I’d give up the ranch if it helped you believe me. The ranch means nothing if you’re not part of my life. Before dad passed away he told me a man needs the love of a good woman to make his life complete. And he was right.”

Gracie slid her bottom along his body. “Not too good I hope.”

Trent groaned. “We can always negotiate the terms, honey.”

Gracie rolled off his body, flipping onto her back.

Trent gazed at her silhouette. “So is that a yes, or a no?”

“Jordan told me about the plans to convert the barn into a bunkhouse and create a working ranch experience. I think it’s a great idea.”

“Gracie, are you going to marry me or not?” He was worried. More than worried. He was terrified she didn’t love him enough to spend the rest of her life with him.
 

“And he’s really excited about managing the project.”

He didn’t know where this line of conversation was going, but he’d bet it didn’t have much to do with wedding bells. And it would have even less to do with a long night that didn’t involve much sleep.

“What made you change your mind?”

“Can’t we talk about this later, Gracie?”
 

She poked a finger in his ribs.
 

He took that as a no. “Jordan’s idea makes sense and he’s a natural around people. He knows what he wants to achieve and he’ll get there.” Trent heard Gracie moving. At least she was moving toward him, and not out the far side of the bed. That had to be a good sign. Maybe.

She snuggled up to his side and whispered in his ear, “So, cowboy. Do you want to get married next month before you’re forty, or the following month when you’re practically ancient?”

Trent let his breath out, hauling Gracie close. He groaned as she moved her hand along parts of his anatomy that weren’t showing any signs of old age. “I go for the young stud timeframe. Does that give your friends enough time to come across for the wedding?”

“Are you kidding? My friends have the market covered on unexpected events.” Her fingertips did some more wandering. “You could always be my partner at the wedding I’m going to in New Zealand.”

Trent’s breath caught in his throat as Gracie’s lips joined in the exploration of his body. “I’ll have to sweet talk Jordan and see…” He groaned. “Honey, if you keep that up, we’ll be going nowhere for the next couple of weeks.”

 
A chuckle drifted up from under the duvet. “I don’t think you’ll have any problems with Jordan. Now, what were you saying about young studs?”

Trent hauled her up his body, pushing her onto her back. Rubbing his lips along her jaw, he whispered, “I love you, Gracie McKenzie.”

“Love you too, cowboy.” Gracie reached up and gently kissed his lips. “For real and forever.”

The End

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Forever in
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Forever in Love

BOOK TWO IN THE MONTANA BRIDES SERIES

Excerpt

“What the hell?” Nathan dropped his pen and stared out the window of his father’s office. The half-light of dusk painted the Montana ranch in a soft pink glow, almost picture-perfect if it weren’t for the blue pickup truck roaring down the gravel driveway. Its horn cut through the still evening air, tapping out a tuneless masterpiece that set his trouble radar humming. He grabbed his jacket and headed toward the front door, wondering what mischief his sister had gotten up to this time.

Sally stopped her truck, leaping out of the cab before he’d made it off the porch. “What’s wrong?” he asked, not trusting the grin plastered across her face.

“Nothing’s wrong.”

Nathan had seen that smile too many times over the last twenty-seven years not to know something was going on.

“Guess who I’ve got in the truck?”

Nathan glanced at the tinted windows. Sally had a soft spot for strays, and she’d brought home more tourists and animals than anyone else he knew. Last time she’d said those words his parents had ended up playing host to a family from Los Angeles. They’d been looking for an authentic cowboy holiday. It hadn’t occurred to Sally that her parents might not want to show off their sprawling cattle ranch to city-slickers, or that they’d come smack bang in the middle of calving.