Zack's Montana Bride (Sweet, Clean Western Historical Romance)(Montana Ranchers and Brides Series) Read Free Page B

daughters." She gestured to the small girl seated on the front bench. "Daisy. Say hello to Mr. Buchanan."
    Daisy stood up and curtseyed. "Pleasure, Mr. Buchanan," she said in a tiny, thin voice that sounded a little tired. Zack felt a tug at his heart. The little girl was so cute and so well schooled in good manners.
    Lydia gestured toward the rear bench. "Kate." The older girl curtseyed in similar fashion. "Mr. Buchanan. Mighty nice to meet you," she said with a smile, all politeness and good graces.
    "It's an honor to meet you, Kate," Zack said. Kate's face lit up when he said that.
    With a final gesture toward the dark haired girl next to Kate, Lydia introduced her oldest daughter. "And this is Gretchen. My eldest," Lydia said. Zack caught the briefest of glances from Lydia, as if she were trying to explain something to Zack.
    "Gretchen. I'm mighty pleased to make your acquaintance," Zack said. And then he bowed, placing a hand across his heart. "It's a real honor to meet all of you. I'd like to welcome you to ranch Buchanan." When he raised his head he saw that all three of the girls were looking at each other in astonishment.
    Zack was aware that he perhaps should temper his enthusiasm. He didn't yet know how Lydia had explained the situation to the children. How much detail she'd given them about the plans. But, they certainly seemed happy. Well, two of them at least. Zack saw that Gretchen was giving the ranch house a real good look. He wondered what was going through her mind.
    Zack glanced at Lydia and saw that she seemed pleased at his gesture of Montana courtesy.
    "Let me take some of your bags," Zack said moving to the back of the buggy and undoing the straps that held the small number of cases. "Is this all you brought with you?" he asked Lydia.
    She nodded. "Don't worry there's more to come. I've arranged for the shipping firm to transport some more of our things. It'll take a few weeks though." She glanced at the first of the trunks Zack was trying to get his arms under. "In the meantime, that should do us," she explained.
    Zack tried to lift the trunk but quickly set it back down with a thud. "Whew. What have you got in there?"
    Lydia smiled and the children giggled. "The bare essentials," she said.
    "Is that all?" Zack asked jokingly. "Feels like you've got some gold bars in there," he said.
    "You know how children are. They like to have their own things everywhere they go," Lydia said with a glance at her daughters. All three frowned.
    "When can we see the rest of the ranch," Gretchen demanded suddenly.
    Zack glanced at her and raised his eyebrows. "I figured you'd all like to get settled in first. I think my housekeeper has some plans to feed you all first. How does that sound? Are you hungry?"
    Gretchen glanced at her sisters. Kate spoke up. "We haven't eaten much today. Have we, Mama?"
    Lydia ran an embarrassed hand along the side of her face. "We had a packed lunch," she explained to Zack. "But it didn't last long."
    Zack nodded. "I see. Well I'm sure Mrs. Brodie can do something to fix that," he said. "Meantime, if you'll all follow me, I'll show you to your rooms."
    Zack heaved up the trunk into his arms and started toward the porch. With a glance behind him, he saw that the children had leapt down off the buggy and were following behind their mother in well organized straight line.
    Zack pushed the door open with his foot and stepped into the hallway. He stopped at the foot of the stairs and turned. Mrs. Brodie appeared from the kitchen, wiping her hands on an apron.
    "My oh my. Look what we have here. What beautiful children," the housekeeper enthused. She reached out a hand and pinched Daisy's clear skinned cheek. "And look at you. Aren't you lovely," Mrs. Brodie exclaimed.
    Zack straightened, trying not to drop the trunk. "Mrs. Brodie. May I introduce Lydia, Gretchen, Kate. And the person whose cheek you just tried to remove, is Daisy," he said trying to hide the fact that breathing was starting to