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

said.
    Eva's eyes lifted to gaze at him. Her lips were tight. She was fighting to hold back words that he knew could at least give him a chance at understanding what she was going through. He wondered briefly why it was suddenly so important that he take her pain away, why it seemed like the most important thing in the world to him.
    "I can't tell you, Aaron. I mustn't," she murmured, turning her head away from him.
    Aaron felt his arm move and held it in check, hesitant about the wisdom of what he had almost done. But in the next moment his hand was stretching out, and it was touching her chin and he was turning her face back to him. Aaron felt her soft skin against his fingers. He saw that she was startled by the gesture, but she did nothing to make him remove his hand.
    "What is it, Eva? What's the matter?"
    Eva's eyes narrowed and she seemed to be examining Aaron, searching for an answer as to whether she could trust him, confide in him.
    "I don't know if I should tell you," she said.
    "Tell me what?"
    "It's so ridiculous. I can hardly believe it," she said turning away from him, loosening his touch on her face.
    "You and I have known each other a long time Eva. If you don't want to share anything with me, then I can understand," he said.
    Eva turned and looked at him, her eyes suddenly filled with a pleading expression. "Please don't misunderstand me, Aaron. It's not about you."
    "Then what's it about?"
    Eva sighed and lowered her gaze down to her tightly clasped fingers. After a moment's silence she seemed to finally make up her mind.
    Eva lifted her head and gazed at Aaron. There was a familiar determined look on her face. "It's about the ranch. And whether I'm actually going to be taking it over,"she said.
    Aaron frowned. "What do you mean?"
    Eva's brows furrowed. "My father's will was read to me today," she said. "It says I can inherit the ranch."
    "But that's good. Isn't it?"
    Eva shook her head with a short nervous twitch. "Not if I have to do what it says I have to do," she stated sharply.
    "What does it say?"
    Eva's eyes peered fixedly into Aaron's. He was momentarily taken aback by the sheer force of the way she looked at him. "It says that I have to marry to inherit the ranch," she said after a long pause.
    "What!"
    Aaron leaned back and sat bolt upright, frowning at Eva. She didn't move a muscle as she continued, speaking in a flat, monotonous tone. "And the man I have to marry is Jude Arabin," she said. Her head sank down and her shoulders sagged. It was as if the very life had been drained out of her with the saying of those words.
    Aaron felt his body jolt with shock and his hands suddenly felt cold. He was sure that his face must have turned pale. His throat tightened up and he couldn't even swallow.
    Aaron heard the gentle sound of quiet sobbing. He reached over and finally did what he thought he should have done a long time ago. He grasped Eva's arm with a gentle and tender touch.
    Eva looked up at him. Her eyes were red, but the tears hadn't appeared. Not yet.
    "Jude Arabin?" Aaron asked incredulously.
    Eva said nothing. She merely nodded in mute astonishment.
    "But that can't be," Aaron declared. "Your father would never have done such a thing."
    When Eva spoke her voice was soft. "He did. It's in the will," she said.
    Aaron shook his head. He continued to clasp Eva's arms, and he noticed that she hadn't done anything to prevent him from continuing to maintain his gentle hold on her.
    "It can't be right. He would never have wanted that," Aaron declared.
    "I saw the will. That's what it said," she murmured. Aaron could see that Eva was in a state of almost complete disbelief. He couldn't blame her.
    "So that's why you and Arabin were arguing?"
    Eva shook her head. "He doesn't know the contents of the will. Yet. But, he claims that my father told him that he would make a good husband for me."
    Aaron felt the indignation well up inside him. It was a raw, elemental force that coursed through his body.