Nathan’s Montana Bride (Sweet Historical Mail Order Bride Romance) (Montana Ranchers Brides series) Read Free

possible matrimony and then you confirmed that you would be my wife. I was very happy Abigail," he said, using her full name once again.
    Abby's lips tightened and she stared at Nathan. She didn't know what to say. His account of things was entirely accurate, save for the last part, when she had ceased their correspondence, something she had done for good reasons, none of which she was inclined to share with him now or ever.
    "And then there was silence," he said. "You stopped writing to me. Why?"
    Abby remained tight lipped.
    "Why would you do such a thing. Isn't your word worth anything?" he asked.
    "Of course it is," she blurted out, outrage rising inside. She lowered her head and stared at her gloved hands resting on her lap. Her fingers were clutched in a tight ball.
    There was a long silence and then Nathan reached over and briefly touched her hand. His touch sent a shock through her, prompting Abby to raise her head quickly, her eyes widening.
    "Please do not touch me. It is not seemly," she stated firmly.
    Nathan withdrew his hand. "I apologize if I offended you," he said softly.
    Abby searched the room for any sign   that Florence and Emma might be returning. She wanted this conversation, this entire meeting to finish as soon as possible.
    "Mr. Grantly. You must appreciate the difficulty you have placed me in. I receive a card from you informing me that you have arrived in Boston for the purpose of meeting with me to discuss our impending matrimony. An arrangement which I was under the impression was no longer possible. Against my better judgement I agreed to meet with you, accompanied by my loving sister Florence, acting as my chaperone. Upon our meeting you present me with the fact that you already have a daughter, whose existence you saw fit to conceal from me. Now you have the audacity to ask me to be your mail order bride and go and live with you on your, no doubt extensive ranch in Montana. You can see how all of this could place me in a very awkward position, not to mention the discomfort it causes me."
    Abby finished her quiet summary and gazed directly into Nathan's eyes. He merely nodded slowly. "So will you come to Montana and be my wife?" he asked with a quirk of his eyebrow.
    "Oh!" Abby ejaculated with a gasp. "You are being extremely difficult about all of this," she complained.
    "I don't think I am. You gave me your word. One way or another I won't be denied."
    Abby was transfixed for a moment by the bald simplicity of that last statement. What did he mean?
    "I am telling you I cannot become your wife," Abby declared.
    Once again the papers rustled around them. Abby had the sudden desire to be out of the hotel. Looking up she was relieved to see Florence and Emma reappear.  
    Abby stood up. "I have given you my answer Mr. Grantly. I hope you have the decency to accept it."
    Nathan looked up at her and cocked his head to one side. For a moment Abby felt very conscious of his gaze as she stood in front of him. Then she drew herself up and walked away from Nathan Grantly toward her sister.
    Within moments Abby and Florence had said their hasty goodbyes in as polite a manner as possible under the circumstances.  
    It was with the greatest relief in her life that Abby took Florence's arm and headed out of the hotel. She did not look back toward Nathan and Emma, even though she knew that that was the thing she most wanted to do.

    Nathan stood with Emma and watched Abby and Florence walk out of the door to the hotel.
    He had tried his best and he had failed. From the moment he had boarded the train in Montana he had suspected that this would prove to be a fruitless errand. And indeed it had turned out to be so.  
    But what a beautiful woman Abby Long was! She had taken his breath away. She was so elegant and refined. He worried that even if she had agreed to be his wife on the ranch in Montana she would find it hard to fit in to such a life.
    But Nathan had seen evidence of the strength which had